THE WAIKAIA COURTHOUSE.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 404, 28 October 1884, Page 2

THE WAIKAIA COURTHOUSE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — On Wednesday last, being at Waikaia, I was prompted by curiosity to look in at the local Courthouse, where a great i amouut of business was going on. Cases were being disposed of rapidly, and consequently the Government coffers were being considerably replenished. While I sat in the deplorable hovel in which this important business was being conducted, and viewed the makeshift fittings with which the interior is decorated — for instance, an old case labelled ; ' St Mnngo Soap," crammed with valuable document.s,and an old ship chest or two probably originally the property of one of the earliest settlers — it occurred to me that such parsimony and cheeseparing in the present and ptst must prore a benefit in the future to this much neglected district, otherwise what becomes of the money ? Surely a few pounds might be spared to erect a decent building in which to hold our courts and deposit the deeds and records appertaining to the different businesses transacted here. But no 1 The charity oE a resident is appealed to for a piec* of old tin to block up a hole in a damaged wind >w frame to protect the unfortunate constable (»vho acts as clerk) from the inclemency of the weather. I hope on my next visit to findjm alteration for the better.— l am etc , Rover.