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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5391, 8 July 1878, Page 2

It is so much the fashion in those days—a fashion copied from and encouraged by men in high places—to denounce the Civil Service of the colony generally, and to malign whole departments as well as individuals in 'the ranks, that it is refreshing to lind that even one of the civil servants is lucky enough upon retiring, after long and faithful service, to carry with him a public and grateful recognition of such service from those who have had the best opportunity of judging of its value. In another column will be found a report of the proceedings in the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday last, upon the occasion of Mr. Crawford’s retirement from office. The compliments to Mr. Crawford were certainly merited, and the assurance given by Mr. Brandon that no one, even amongst persons adversely affected by the judicial deoisionof the magistrate, doubted his impartiality or fairness, or the earnestness of his desire to do right, will find an echo from the people out of doors. The work of the Resident Magistrate’s Court in Wellington has greatly increased, necessarily, within the last few years, whilst it is notorious that facilities for conducting the business, in the shape of office accommodation and otherwise, have not kept pace with the increasing requirements. In this way no doubt complaints which have occasionally been made about delays, can be reasonably accounted for and excused. There is now some certainty that within a short space of time better accommodation for the officers and a sufficient increase of the staff will obviate those difficulties or delays in the complete transaction of what may be called the mechanical work of the Court which have been the grounds of the complaints to which wo refer.