CLERK TO THE BENCH.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 46, 25 November 1882, Page 3

CLERK TO THE BENCH.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. A public meeting was held at the Town Hull last evening to receive the reply of the .Minister of Justice to a letter forwarding resolutions pissed at the meeting held on November 3rd. J. H. Fry, J.L\, was in the chair, and read a letter from tlie Minister in which he stated that he did not consider the appointment of a resident Clerk of the Court at Feilding necessary. A letter apologising far his absence, was read from Mr D. H. Mm-artliur. A letter was also rcul from J. Stevens, M.H.K., in which lie informed the chairman that he (Mr Stevens) would visit Wellington shortly, when he would impress upon tliu Minister the necessity of complying \vilh the wishes of the s«uilers. : Mr Sliervrill considered a petition would probably have the desired effect, and proposed that Messrs Goodbehere and Dr Johnston be authorised to prepare a petition and malic the necessary .irr.ingernents for obtaining the signatures f the people. Mr Lewers considered thnt if the Clerk of the Court visited Feilding every alternate day thediiTiciilty would be overcome. He thought the Minister might make this conct ssion when he would not enre to stultify himself by re-appointing a resident cleric. The train accomiuoda- ; tion made this proposal feasible. Mr Goodbehere and Mr Slierwill both quoted instances where not only personal inconvenience but actual monetary loss had been inflicted on ind'v duals by the want of a Clerk of the Court. Mr Loudon suggested that a deputation to wait on the Minister would have the best effect, and would propose that Messrs Johnston, Goodbehere and Sher will be appointed a committee to collect •statistical information as to ihe revenue collected in Feilding. 1 Dr Johnston supported the views of the last speaker and considered the sums of money that went into the Treasury from the Manchester Block would show the Minister that the settlers had a strong claim for consideration. The figures quoted in the local journal could easily be put in a tabulated form, and handed to a deputation, who would thereby be enabled to force their claims on the Minister. The Mayor elect and Mr Fry would be a good deputation, and would obtain more attention than a petitien. Proposed by Mr "SherwJil, seconded by Mr Goodbehere, tliat Messrs Johnston, Goodbehere, and Sherwill collect sufficient information in re the income derived from this settlement, for a deputation consisting of J. H. Fry, Kaa., and F. Lethbridge, Esq., the Mayor efect, to lay before the Minister of Justice. — Carried. Proposed Mr Lewers, seconded by Mr Lethbridge, that this meeting passes a hearty vote of thanks to the three members of the House, who had interested themselves on behalf of the settlers in this block, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each of them. — Carried. A vote of thanks to ihe Chairman closed the proceedings.