THE APPOINTMENT OF JUDGE WARD.

Evening Star, Issue 2895, 30 May 1872, Page 2

THE APPOINTMENT OF JUDGE WARD.

The following letter respecting the ap? pointment of Judge Ward was laid on the Provincial Council table by the Provincial Secretary on Tuesday Superintendent’s Office, May 27, 1872. ' Enclosed I have the honor to forward resolutions passed by the Provincial Council relative to the appointment of Mr Ward $s District Judge ; also a copy ol a memoiudum addressed, by me to the Provincial Secretary on the subject of the first resolution. I had, as you are aware, considerable correspondence both with yonrself, Mr Justice Chapman, and Mr WilgAU,.6wy upon the subject of the extension and location throughout the Province of the District Courts. The appointment of any particular individual as judge was flutter which rested entirely, with the General Government, and with which the Provincial Government is not concerned. There is therefore no allusion to any individual in the voluminous memoranda and correspondence in the hands of the Provincial Government. Intimation to. this efifect. was .given to the mover of the resolutions in the Provincial Council, who was that the whole correspondence was open to perusal in the Government office. I think it right to (state that I dissent from the views erppespej by

the Provincial Council relative t« the matter in question; inasmuchas that after the state? ment made to me personally by Mr Wilson Gray, to the effect thst thc-proper discharge of the business of the Courts on the goldfields would occupy the whole of his time, I considered the appointment of a second judge was necessary, and that in the filling up of that appointmeut, the General Government has exercised a wise discretion. A nother reason which recommended the appointment to my mind was, that it would tend hot oaly to promote the public convenience, hut also economy. There is nothing to prevent the sittings of the Court to be so regulated as to enable the Government to dispense with the services of some four or five stipendiary magistrates. Signed, J. Macandrew, Superintendent. To the Colonial Secretary.