DISTRICT COURT FOR WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5219, 13 December 1877, Page 2

DISTRICT COURT FOR WELLINGTON.

TO THIS EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sin, —With reference to your able leader on the above subject in yesterday’s Times, I would remark, iu support of the argument in favor of the establishment of a District Court iu Wellington, that in Otago, in addition to the Supreme Court with a resident Judge, there are no less than three District Courts, presided over respectively by Judge Bathgate in Dunedin, Judge Harvey on the goldfields, and Judge Ward ou the coast ; and these are not found to be too many. Then again, in Dunedin the Resident Magistrate is a lawyer, and there is also a Mayor’s Court for the hearing of watch-house aud such like cases. Why has Wellington been left out in the cold ? Surely if Sir George Grey has such a paternal feeling for this city as he would lead us to believe, he would urge (through the Minister of Justice) the establishment of a District Court here, especially when it is asked for both by commercial men and the legal profession, and is nothing more than her bare right. It may be urt'ed by the Ministry that economy and the cutting down of expenses is their policy. Well, if such be the case, I venture to affirm

that the establishment of a District Court here, embracing Napier, Poverty Bay, and Masterton, would prove a considerable saving to the country. In fact, the direct cost of such a Court for salary and travelling expenses would be mors than counterbalanced by a saving on the other hand in the keep and transit of prisoners, witnesses, &c. Moreover, the proposed district would not be larger than could easily be worked by one Judge; in fact, it would not involve a greater outlay for travelling expenses than the goldfields district in Otago alone; for where'the latter is all done by coach, this could all be done by steamer, except Masterton.

The due administration of justice in this colony has hitherto been considered of secondary importance in State affairs, whereas in England and most of the colonies it holds a primary rank. Here in New Zealand any old barn is considered sufficient for a Court House, and the whole machinery and promptness of justice is equally uucared for. Why does not the Chamber of Commerce move in the matter? This is surely a subject worthy of their consideration, and I doubt not, if properly represented to the Minister of Justice, would meet with due attention. —I am, &c., Mercator. December 12.