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Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 175, 15 June 1871, Page 7

The " great unpaid " of Auckland are not ovev-zealous in the performance of their duties, judging from the following, which avg extract from the " Weekly News " :— On Saturday another of tho.se vexations delays occurred at the Police Court, in consequence of the difficulty of finding magistrates to discharge the duties of the Court. Mr. A. Clark and Mr. W. T. Buckland were the two whose duty it was to give their attendance ; but, owing to the indisposition of the former, he was unable to be present. No reason has been assigned for the non-at-tendance of the latter. Mr. Cunningham, Clerk of the Court, started off to "catch a magistrate." The hunt was very exciting. All the principle thoroughfares were promanaded in vain. The shadows of many magis trates were seen flitting round corners, down right-qf ways, &c, evidently eluding the importunities of the well-known Clerk of the Court. Ou going up Shortland-street, Mr. Cunningham caught sight of one before the magistrate saw who was making rapid strides towards bin:. As in the case of the Yankee story during the late war, a quick evolution aud a "backward march " at the " double-quick " was the result, and one anticipated prize again got off. Really, such playing at hide and seefc is too bad ; it is bringing the magisterial office to something worse than contempt. Mr. R. F. Porter was at last secured, but he was able only to dispose of one drunkard.