Borough Matters.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 250, 25 April 1895, Page 2

Borough Matters.

The following is n precis of a letter addressed by the Mayor, Mr W. A. Sandilands, to Mr Jobn Stevens, M.H.R. : — " Complaints are bringcontinuously made to me in my official capacity' as Mayor of the great loss, trouble, and inconvenience that is caused to suitors find others by reason of there being no resident clerk of the court here The increase of settlement has tended naturally to largely increase the business of the Police an.i Magistrate's courts, and in consequence of there being no resident clerk business relations with the court have become most unsatisfactory. Complaints arc loud and continuous and great lo<s of valuable time is entailed upon the settlers MrDeiyhton, who acts as clerk of the court here is cletk, also, at Jlnrton, Bulls and HunterTille, and has not the time at his disposal necessary to devote to the duties pertaining to his office here That this court contributes more than its fair share of revenue for the present benefit derived from it there can be no doubt, and figures can be produced to show such to be the c:ise. Again, the local constable is bailiff of the court. and though he is a most efficient, hard-woiking and painstaking officer, his police duties take up ?o much of his time that he can devote only a very limited portion thereof to the bailiff's work The local press has time and again drawn attention to the matters 1 now write upon, but it seems we arc to receive no consideration at all. I do not think that there is a district of its size and age in the colony such as tint surrounding Feildin»-, which contributes so largely to the geneMl taxation of' the country ar d which receives fo very little in return. All our wants have been shelved from time to timo by ench successive Government and the neglect we have received is nothing short of a scandal. The Hon. the Premier was waited upon by a deputation some time ;>go, during one of his visits to Feilding and the matter of the court was particularly pointed out, to him and he gave a distinct promise to the deputation that tin; request then m.ide for a resident clerk and extra police supervision should be attended to on his return to Wellington. As to the complaints of the public which I iiave set Forth, I can fully endorse them and justify the same as I have for the last twelve years carried on the practice of m}' profession as a solicitor in Fcildinsr. I trust that you will lay this matter before the Hon. the Minister of Justice without delay, and that as a result of your intervention f shall be. able to publicly notify the fact that at last a Government has been found that has lent a willing ear to the wants of a much neglected community. I am, etc., W. A. Sandiland*, Mnyor."