ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AT CLIFTON.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 970, 5 September 1871, Page 2

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AT CLIFTON.

(to the editor.)

Sir — As it might be interesting to they -; public in general to know how justice is 1 administered up. country, at the remote distance of sixteen miles from Greymouth, I might state that after two or three sham' Court days, we have at last been favbre^d with.a visit from the Warden, on the, 23rd . ultimo. It is to be regretted that a district such as the New River should receive so little attention from those in authority. Fancy, those who, after the preceding Court day. (which/ was held . on, the 28t£ day of June), taking out summonses for . the 19th day of July, under the impression that there would be a Court on that day. But no, they were doomed to disappointment, as it so happened that there, had- , been a few showers of rain on that "morn- " ing and the previous night, so after people (to the number . of forty or fifty) had gathered from German Gully, No Name, and /the surrounding districts, and ; in.-~ curred expenses by travelling, and loss of jj^ time, which LSO would not coyer, they had to go home to wait another adjourned Court of fourteen days. The day. came,; > but Mr Revell did not. : It is scarcely necessary to say that the complaints, were many and loud, but the miners had to be contented with matters as they were, -theCourt; being adjourned for other three weeks. After a lapse of two months, the industrious" individual (who- draws something to the tune of LSOO a-year for bis services) made his appearance at Clifton 5 1~~ but no matter how plaintiffs . and de-JL fendants may be inconvenienced by such arrangements.. The old proverb, "that ,5 it is an: ill wind that blows no person U good," was fully exemplified on tne ilast ■•■.«.- Court day, when one witness residing only four miles away was allowed L 2 for his three days' servics, although" it was ■ attempted to be shown' Ihtft 3c ;washot the faxilt of any person except the Warden; and that the two extra days?/ service was. not. owing .to .the. default .of *■ ..either plaintiff 6r defendant.- : But ' this 1 /argument was quickly met by "Hold your tongue." Much as we have heard about neglect on. the NelsonjSouth-West Gold Fields, 1 challenge a^y person to prove that any place on the Coast of such long-standing and importance -was ever -„ ignored to such an extent. ' It would Apjjr / be out of place to suggest thatonocca-~ sions when a Warden is-. unavQidably^de^i^ taiiied on any Court day, to make it a rule to attend on the followingday, butat present it appears: tha.t a rainy day, qr any; other plausible excuse, is to the Warden "a Court day saved. P -*- Hoping that you will do me the»kin<U | „ ness torinaert this,rrl reoiaiu, #9., f / *] ; ■ , /."' '. ':.. ", .. \ "'., ;\' a! Mxnb'r, 1 ' , r Clifton, Aug: : 3D,;;B7J.; .;; - ; ,-• '••-'•