BUSINESS AT THE RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1178, 17 May 1884, Page 3

BUSINESS AT THE RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, GERALDINE.

TO THI EDITOR, Sie, —‘Punctuality is the soul of business,’and up to the present time we bare bad nothing to complain of as to the regularity with which cm respected Resident Magistrate puts in his appearance on the Bench on the regular monthly Court days. Thursday last, was unfortunately, an exception to the rule. I say unfortunate, because a heavy calender of cases was set down for hearing, and I know of an instance in which - some females, who were Interested in one of the cases to be heard, had to leave their homes at 5 o’clock on that morning in order to be in time to be present at the opening of the Court, Surely, sir, some public explanation by Mr. Baddeley in regard to his non-attendance is due. It is a well-known fact that should any individual—whether plaintiff, defendant or witness, in any case —happen to be absent when it may be called on for hearing, the direst consequences may ensue, but nothing is said or contemplated in the Resident Magistrate’s Act should the Resident Magistrate himself not make his appearance. I think, sir, that such an omission in the Act should have the attention of the Legislature on its reassembling, whereby the Magistrate as well as others connected with cases to be brought before the Court should be fined fer non-attendance. Serious incon- I venience to many resulted through the non-holding of the Resident Magistrate’s Court here on Thursday last. As this is the first occasion on which I hare had to complain'*iii the matter I trust our R.M. ■ will, in futnre, when he cannot attend, I , so arrange that two or more J P.’s may take his place for the time being.—l am, etc., JIJSTITIi. Geraldine, May 16th, 1884.