THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5215, 8 December 1877, Page 3

THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Slit, —How is it that in a large commercial town like Wellington we have no District Court for the recovery of amounts beyond the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate (viz., £100), aud the trial of criminal cases of miuor magnitude ? At present, if a suitor is owed £l3O or £l5O, he must either abandon the difference between those amounts and £IOO (the limit of magisterial jurisdiction), or take his case into the Supremo Court, which only sits once in three months, and most probablypay his solicitoratleast£soonaccountof costs in the first instance to carry the ease iuto that Court; whereas if we had a District Court, with monthly sittings, and jurisdiction up to £2OO, the plaintiff could have his claim adjudicated on within a reasonable time, and at reasonable costs, and without making any deduction. Dunedin and Auckland each has its District Court; but not only have these cities that privilege, but the Resident Magistrate in each place is a lawyer, whereas Wellington, the capital of Now Zealand, has no District Court, and .the Resident Magistrate is not a lawyer. Perhaps it is considered we are sufficiently blessed by having the seat of Government here, and that we ought to be thankful for such and like mercies.

If the District Court, with_ criminal jurisdiction, was established here, with a circuit including Napier, Poverty Bay, Masterton, &c. (all which could easily be undertaken by one Judge), there would be a considerable saving to the colony ; in fact, I believe the amount saved in criminal cases alone would more than pay the Judge's salary, whilst the benefit to the public at large would be in a still greater ratio. Whilst on this subject I would urge the appointment of a Royal Commission (as proposed I think by Mr. Rees) to inquire into and report on the administration of justice generally throughout New Zealand.—l am, &c, Vox Popoxi.