THE SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 15, 14 October 1879, Page 2

THE SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

» . Very loud complaints are heard on every side against the action of " the Crown " in insisting that all Manawatu witnesses in cases to be heard by the Supreme Court must be in at tendance at "Wanganui on Monday, October 27, at 10 a.m. At that hour the Court opens, but as the preliminary business (including swearing of grand and petit jurors, Judge's charge, &c.) will take at least an hour, there will only remain about two hours until the arrival of the first train from Foxton, which reaches Wanganui at 1.20 p.m., in ample time for the business after the midday adjournment. As there are a very large number of cases on the calendar, it would be no trouble whatever for the Crown Prosecutor, Mr Fitzherbert,to arrange for a Wanganui case to come on first, by the close of which there can be no doubt the train would have arrived. It is a great hardship to some 40 or 50 men engaged in business that they should be compelled to leave their homes on Saturday afternoon, when, for all practical purposes their attendance on Monday afternoon would answer equally weU. In fact, we believe the Court would be doing only a just act, if say Tuesday or Wednesday were fixed for the cases from this end of the judicial district, as those from

Wiingaimi &:e almost certain to take up a considerable time, and as it is a gross hardship for business men to be detained from their homes a single hour longer than is absolutely necessary. A very great saving would also be effected by such a course as we suggest. We hear there are about 50 witnesses to go from Manawatu to the sittings, and as each witness is entitled to 8s per day, a saving of nearly £50 would be effected. In these " hard times," even the Government might practice such judicious economy. We commend these views to the Crown Prosecutor and Sub-Inspector Goodall.