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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1225, 14 December 1882, Page 2

A great drawback to the dwellers on the East Coast of this district is the absolute want of a Magistrate in their midst. Capt. Preece pays peri idical visits, it is true, but those visits are few and far between, and not satisfactory to the public for those reasons. If the Government cannot find it worth their while, from economical or other reasons, to appoint a Resident Magistrate for the East Coast who shall travel between Tologa Bay and the East Cape, holding Courts on stated days at various places as he goes and returns, they should at any rate without delay appoint a number of Justices of the Peace from amongst the European residents right along the Coast between the two points mentioned. There should also be Native Assessors appointed who should act with them. As things are now, if a constable wants a warrant signed be has to ride from the East Cape perhaps, or any intermediate point, into Tologa, or perhaps into Gisborne, to get it done. This is utterly absurd, and can be so easily remedied that it seems almost wonderful that the Government have not initiated the matter without waiting to be asked. There are many Europeans of good repute residing on the Coast who would gladly, for the sake of the security it would afford to the public, undertake the duties of a J. P. There should be periodical Courts held at Tokomaru, Awanui, and other places along the Coast where people might be saved the expense and trouble of riding down to Tologa, which they are now forced to do for the prosecution of a perhaps a trivial criminal case, or the recovery of a perhaps paltry debt. We should think that in view of the travelling expenses which Capt. Preece must incur, and having a due consideration for the in-

convenience and hardship which he must inevitably undergo in. his periodical visits to the Coast, the Government would find it far more economical to adopt some such plan as that which we now suggest for the furthering of the administration of justice on the East Coast. We feel sure that such a scheme would meet with the approval of the residents as bringing them an economical advantage and a sen«e of security which hitherto they hr.ve not l»tn allowed to enjoy. The hopes of the Coastal residents regarding this master are at present centred in Mr. Allan McDonald, M.R.R., who, they feel sure will make a representation of the matter in the proper quc.ter, in the hope of obtaining for them a convenience which they have every right to ask.