handling of a court case has been delivered to Governor Thorold Masefield.

But Deputy Governor Tim Gurney said yesterday: "We cannot yet say what's in it.

"It is still subject to discussions between the Governor and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.'' Mr. Gurney added that Government House had as yet received only extracts from the report -- carried out by top English lawyer John Roberts QC -- and the full report had still to follow.

The probe was ordered after allegations that senior Crown counsel Khamisi Tokunbo brought influence to bear on the handling of a minor assault charge against landlord and former Progressive Labour Party candidate Rodney Smith in Magistrates' Court.

Controversy over the Smith case erupted in October last year when it was brought forward from the original December 1 date and held in Magistrates' Court at the unusually early hour of 9 a.m.

Mr. Smith told the court then that he understood the case would be "dispensed'' with.

Crown counsel Leighton Rochester, however, told Magistrate Archibald Warner that he had no knowledge of that and asked for the case to revert to the original date.

The proceedings were watched by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions William Pearce and the case was handled by another prosecutor the following day.

Mr. Warner opted to bind Mr. Smith over -- but stressed the independence of the courts.

And he said: "Somewhere along this process, somebody tried to interfere with this process.'' Mr. Smith later declined to say with whom he had discussed the case at the Director of Public Prosecutions chambers.

And Mr. Pearce issued a strong denial that there had been any attempts at interference.

It is understood that the entire report is unlikely to be made public -- although a statement could come from Government House as early as next week.

Mr. Gurney said: "We want to get a conclusion as soon as possible -- this has dragged on for a long time and we need to move on it.

"I'm hoping that by next week we should be able to explain more of it.'' GOVERNOR GOVERNMENT GVT