The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5135, 7 September 1877, Page 2

The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1877.

Cqmplaints have often been made here as to the manner id which the business of the Resident Magistrate’s Court is conducted in the matter of serving, or rather non-serving summonses. In reference to this subject, we observe in a Dunedin paper that Mr.-Hansford, R.M. at Port Chalmers, had his attention called’to'it; and promised that he would make inquiries, and have. the matter represented in the proper quarter. The Guardian says “It is stated• that• Wellington during the Parliamentary season is the city of refuge for all kinds of adventurers from different parts 'of the colony, and that many of the visitors leave a host’of pnxioua inquirers and sorrowing creditors behind them. 'lt is alleged that summonses forwarded to the Empire City, instead of being served, are quietly pocketed or pigeon-holed, and great difficulty is encountered in getting processes served by the Wellington bailiffs,,who, it was broadly affirmed, had a peculiarly slovenly method of performing their functions.” Without endorsing the 7 whole of our contemporary’s remarks, we believe it is quite true that there has been considerable laxity in the matter complained of, but now such very general attention has been called to • it, we may reasonably expect that an’ alteration for the better will shortly take place, if indeed'it has hot already been brought about. The' loss, delay, and inconvenience often caused to clients by a want of punctuality in serving the processes issued by the Court have been very great, and in some instances, if all accounts be true, have amounted to a positive miscarriage of justice, and people have really been very patient in bearing it so long, without bringing heavy pressure to bear upon the officials, whoever they may be, on whom the blame rests.