The Globe. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1002, 11 September 1877, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1877.

One of tlie latest acts of the City Council lias been to take steps to bring under the notice of the Government the pressing necessity for a more suitable Magistrate’s Court. For some time past it has been evident that the building now used for this purpose is not only totally inadequate for the purpose to which it is devoted, but that its continuance involves great waste of public time. Built in the earliest days of the settlement, neither in architecture nor internal arrangements is the Court anything of a credit to us as a city. Indeed, greatly the reverse, and visitors who come amongst us do not scruple to express their wonder that in a place reputedly so wealthy as Christchurch, justice should be so meanly lodged. But this is not the worst phase of the question. To officials and those whose business compels them to spend many hours every day in so unhealthy a place, it is a very serious matter, in winter it is draughty, the roof resembling a shower bath in the facility with which the water finds its way through on to those beneath, whilst in summer the heat and closeness is almost unbearable. The rooms, too, which are allotted to the magistrate and clerks are mere hutches, with no convenience for comfort or the despatch of business. The public portion of the building in which has to be transacted the very large amount of public business which has grown up, is a disgrace to any city like Christchurch. When two persons are in the office together it is inconveniently crowded, and any more who come have to wait about in dark unwholesome passages until their time arrives. Some time ago, prior to the decease of Provincial Institutions, it was proposed that a Resident Court should be built, and a site belonging to the Government, in close proximity to the Supreme Court was spoken of as the most suitable. This was suggested to meet the convenience _of the magistrate and the profession who frequently have occasion to make use of the Supreme Court Library for law books. However, the matter never went beyond talking about it, and the result has been that the administration of justice has been conducted under the most disadvantageous circumstances. No one who has had to do business at the Magistrate s Court will deny the great want that exists for a change being made, and the only wonder is that some steps have not long ere this been taken to awaken the Government to the necessity of it being done. Now that the City Council have formally, through the representatives for Christchurch in the House, done this, it is to be hoped that though late in the day no time will be lost in at once setting about the work. In the meantime, and until suitable quarters are provided for the Resident Magistrate department, the Provincial Council Hall, might be temporarily utilised lor the. purposes of a Court. If the remonstrance of the City Council should have that weight with the Government which it deserves, they will be entitled to the thanks of the city, and one oi their last official acts will not be the least useful they have performed during their official career.