The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1869.

Dunstan Times, Issue 382, 13 August 1869, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1869.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than theswonn

The necessity which exists that a sitting of the Supreme Court in both its civil and criminal jurisdiction should be held in some central position on the goldfields, also that there should be the necessary gaol accomodation is daily becoming more and more appa rent, and much public inconvenience is the sesult. The District Court and Court of Appeal held at Clyde supplies us with the means of redress in matters pertaining to mining complications and with the working of which we have no cause for complaint, while debt and bankruptcy cases, not involving large amounts can be readily dealt with, and comparatively speaking by a very inexpensive and simple process. But we require more than this, and now that we have become a settled community, surrounded by all the many comforts and conveniences which a civilized life demands, it is nothing out of place to ask, that the Government should at least keep pace with the people and supply us with the means of adjusting those complicated matters the satisfactory solution of which involves such nice points of law as to bring into requisition the somewhat cumbrous machinery of the Supreme Court. In its criminal jurisdiction, a sitting of the Supreme Court is even nr ore necessary, the committal of a prisoner to Dunedin entails a large amount of expense and trouble, let alone a serious loss of time upon a considerable number of persons not in

a position to afford it, and who rather than be principals or witnesses in any case, where the breach of the Law is liable to result in a committal for trial, choose to submit to injury, or connive at the Law’s defeat as the least of the two evils. A gaol at Clyde would effect a great saving to the country, inasmuch as the very serious expense of providing a proper escoi-t to ensure the safe custody of prisoners while en route to Dunedin would be obviated ; this in numerous instances is a great injustice to persons accused, who perhaps after all may be innocent of the crime attributed to them,!and’who are afterwards discharged beggars upon the streets, left to find their way home one hundred and fifty miles distant, in the best manner they can. We may go further than this and stigmatise the system as one of positive cruelty, and i n asking for a gaol, we °re only asking that the common lights of humanity shall be conceded to it, even though it be in error. There is no town so centrally situated, or at such equal distances from the various centres of mining industry as Clyde, and there cannot possibly exist any difference of opinion other than that Clyde is the proper place for the holding of the required Supreme Court Sittings, as well as where a gaol should be built. The new Town Hall can be made to conveniently answer all the purposes of a general Court House, and we see no reason why even the Resident Magistrate should not hold his Court there. The building has been constructed at the joint cost of the Government and the 1 citizens af Clyde and it would seem nothing more than reasonable to demand that, besides being applied to purposes of pleasure, a civic palaver hall, or a place wherein to hold public meetings, it should be made do duty as our Law Courts, and we really think that if the Corporation are serious in their desires to promote the prosperity of the Town, as wf 11 as the convenience of the district they should at once cause to be attached to the building the nccessaiy offices, and also provide any other accomodation which the holding of the requisite Courts in their various jurisdictions would require. This being done, and its being represented to the General Government what we have accomp islmd towards forwarding the ends of j nstice, the sittings of the Supreme Court would in all probability be conceded, and a gaol built as a matter of course. The Corporation of Clyue through having only jurisdiction within its Municipal boundaries, represents at the same time very many interests, whilst its moral influence is recognised by a considerable number of persons scattered over a great range of country, and its opinions may be considered as expressing those of the public of the Dunstan district. To secure what we now ask, interests Alexandra and Cromwell equally with Clyde, no local jealousies should be allowed to interfere in this matter j what we ask, is for the common good of all, and if the three Municipalities will only act as one, and with individual voice demand that the goldfields shall possess equally with all other large and settled communities the necessary facilities for obtaining legal redress in civil matters, as well as for the punishment of criminals would be readily complied with.