THE SUPREME COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3297, 13 September 1873, Page 2

THE SUPREME COURT.

After the strong observations which fell from Mr Justice Chapman yesterday afternoon in the course of the argument in the case of the Masonic Hall Company v. Hard wicke and others, it is not to besuposed that the Government will expend the LSOO voted by the Provincial Council in patching up the present deformity which does duty for a Court House. It appears at one time to have been in contemplation to purchase the Masonic Hall and convert it into a courthouse ; but the Judge, who is of opinion that only a properly designed building will answer the pui pose, sethis face against the idea. This much came out in consequence of Mr Barton having remarked that at one time it was thought the Government intended to purchaase the hall for a Court, whereupon the following conversation took place between His Honor and the bar

His Honor : It is utterly unfit for it! Mr Barton: I perfectly agree with your Honor, I have to spend my masonic life there, and have no desire to spend any other part there.

His Honor: The attention of the Legislature ought certainly to be called to the want of a proper Court House. You are a member of the Legislature, are you not, Mr Barton? Mr Barton : I have been turned out of it, your Honor. His Honor: Well, I do not like to attack the Government in the absence of its representives, but this matter ought certainly to be looked into. But Mr Stout is a member of the Council, and he should take a pride in endeavoring to have a proper Court House. The Government should not go in for patching up any old building, but should have a new building altogether. They could commence with an expenditure of L 6,000 or L 7,000. Mr Barton: They will very likely have it at Mussel Bay, your Honor. His Honor : I had an excellent site suggested to me. It was where Bedford House used to stand. There is about an acre of ground there, and the situation would be very convenient for the public generally, and yet far enough out of the line of traffic not to be noisy. But you had better continue your arguments in the present case, from which we have slightly diverged.

It behoves the Government to at once take steps to act upon bis Honor’s suggestion by acquiring a suitable site. The inconvenient situation of the present Court House and the discomfort which is experienced by all persons having business in it are matters of notoriety, and cannot be put up with much longer.