THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1877.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 23, 1 June 1877, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1877.

■ 1 The attention of the Minister of Justice bas been very properly called by the County Council, to the condition of the lock-up at Beefton. Tbe building is in a most shameful condition, and reference to the subject revives a public question wbich bas too long been overlooked. Under the existing order of things, tbe magistrate here refuses upon seemingly good grounds to commit debtors to the local gaol. Tbe consequence is that all commitments are made to Westport, but before tbe order of the Court can be carried into effect, the bailiff steps in with a demand of £10 for tbe conveys ance of the defaulter to tbat place. Now it can be readily seen that in the case of small debt judgments, where tbe alternative of imprisonment follows failure in the payment of perhaps an insignificant instalment, creditors hesitate to pay a sum — it might be twice the amount of tbe judgment—in order to give effect to the order of the Court, and so the decisions of the Bench, in the majority of these cases, are rendered utterly imperative. To illustrate a case, a man is sued for a debt of say £4s, judgment is obtained against bim, and following it a distress warrant is issued, Which upon being returned nulla bona the next step for tbe creditor is to issue a judgment or fraud summons, at tbo bearing of wbich an order is made by tbe Court for the payment of the debt, in say four monthly instal. inents, and in default of tbe first payment one months' imprisonment in Westport gaol. The time for tbe first payment comes round in due course and default is made. Now here, nnder the present system, the power of the Court to enforce its order practically ends For owing to tbe condition of tbe local lockaup, none but drunkards

are entertained tbere, and therefore unless the creditor comes to the rescue and paya the bailiff a sum, it may be twice or thrice in excess of the judgment, the debtor remains master of the situation, and can laugh at the power of the Court. We all know that money .risked in issuing summonses against debtors is at the best but a doubtful investment, but how much more doubtful ia the case of enforcing an order for imprisonment P and tbe obvious consequence is tbat in nine cases out of ten, tbe creditor looks upon tbe first loss as the best, and leaves the rest to the future. Now this is a condition of things which should not be for a day tolerated by any community of the Colony. The advisability of removing the lock-up from its present situation to its proper quarter — tbe Court House Reservehas been frequently urged, and if would bave beeu well bad tbe Council embraced this recommendation in tbe report to the Minister. The idea of re-roofing and patching up the present gaol is an absurdity. The time has arrived when we have a right to ask for something more ihan this. A community which has grown to the proportions and importance of this must needs carry its demands a step further. Kumara, a community which has scarcely yet attained the first year of its existence, already possesses suitable gaol accommodation, comfortable police quarters, Court-house, and in fact all necessary public buildings, and that to on an extensive scale. Here, though our existence as a community dates back some five or six years, all we possess in the way of public buildin»s is a Court-house of abaut onethird tbe required size, police quarters there are absolutely none, and for the rest we have already said sufficient. Now tbis is a condition of things of which we may very justly complain. Without the least disparagement to other goldmining centres on the West Coast, we may justly say that in point of permanence and productiveness precedence will be readily conceded to the Inangahua, and this being so it is difficult to understand why in this particular matter we should have been left so far behind our neighbors. It is true tbat tbe General Government at length has announced aa intention of removing one at least of the grounds of com plaint referred to, but the Council and residents will themselves be very "much to blame if they allow the matter to rest there. These complaints have been urged so often that they have grown tedious from iteration, and all that now remains for tbe Council or the inhabitants is to lay the whole of their wants before the Minister of Justice in the form of a public petition, and we feel assured tbat if tbis is done we shall obtain all we desire.