WELLINGTON.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 185, 8 March 1848, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

In our last we mentioned the receipt, on the previous evening, of Wellington papers to the 19th uk. Since then we have been enabled to glean from them some matters of local interest, the principal of which will be found below. All appears to have been quiet at Wanganui for some time past; so far so that the officer commanding the Royal Artillery, had gone back to Wellington with eight of his men. Several officers of the 65th had explored the river as far as Pukahika without meeting any hostile demonstration whatsoever, and would have gone on to Taupo but for the pecuniary demands of the natives for their services as guides, which the officers deemed exorbitant and therefore rejected. Judging from the Newspapers, the people of Wellington would seem to be rather impatient to get to work with the New Charter as the precuisor of many good things. As yet the only effect felt of its operations has been in sundry appointments involving the one thing certainexpense. We are still somewhat in the dark with regard to his Excellency's proceedings after his return to Wellington from Akaro* ;

and therefore cannot say how much or whether any of the " golden vision" was then realized. His Excellency seems to have made short work of the Court of Requests however. By a notice dated the I4th ult., that Court was formally extinguished, and all claims and demands of a Civil nature not exceeding Twenty Pounds were transfered to the Resident Magistrate or any two or more Justices of the Peace. This notice appeared publicly in the Wellington Government Ga« zette of the 1 Yth February, and has been sub* j mitted to with all imaginable complacency. ! No similar notice has yet graced the columns of the Auckland " Government Gazette,'' The Wellington notice, with the Editorial comments thereon of the Independent of Feb. 18, are subjoined :— The Lieutenant Governor directs it to be notified for the information of the Public, that no Court of Requests will be holden for the Southern District or Division of New Zealand, from and after the 18th initant,and that the Office of the s»id Court will close upon that day ; and further, that from and after the said 18th instant, all claims and demands of a Civil nature, where the debt or damage claimed shall not exceed £20, may be heard and detet mined by th Resident Magistrate, oi any two or more Justices of the Peace, pursuant to the provisions of the Resident Magistrate's Court Ordinance, session 7, No. 16. By His Excellency's Command, AbFRED DOME7T, Colonial Secretary. ""Colonial Secretary'^ office, Wellington, Feb. 14, 1848. Our readers will perceive by a notice extracted from the Government Gazette, that the Court of Request! is finally abolished, the business of that Court having been placed under the cognisance of the Resident Magistrate, or two or more Justices of the Peace, in accordance with the terms of the Resident Magistrate's Court Ordinance. We cannot allow this circumstance to pass without bearing testimony to the zeal and integrity of the late Commissioner, Mr. Strang. Though performing a most onerous duty, and though impoisible to please all the disputants, that gentleman retires with the approbation of the many who have had occa. sion to bring matters before him. It is asseit'd that increased expenses will be entailed on the recovery and settling of debts, owing to the present change. We trust thii will not prove to be the case. Courts of Requests were established with the laudable intention of lessening or preventing law expenses, and though circumstances may hate rendered it nece«s»ry to place the same within the jurisdict on of local Magistrates, we can see no reason why the public should be mulcted of larger amounts than those hitherto demanded.