THIS MAGISTRATE'S AND WARDEN'S COURTS.

West Coast Times, Issue 111, 25 January 1866, Page 3

THIS MAGISTRATE'S AND WARDEN'S COURTS.

to Tin; kdi'cou or tub wiist coast tdii:3.

Sin, — One of tho greatest inconveniences tho public of Ilokiiika aro subjected to, is that of tho Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts. There soms to bo no settled form of practice, no rules of Court, and no order. At one time tho Magistrate sits in tho Supremo Court building, at another timo ho sits at the AVurden's Court, and at. another in tho Camp messroom. Now how in tho name of foituno can a suitor bo supposed to know to which of those thi cc tribunals he is to go ? No ouo tells him, and in fact, even tho clerks themselves cannot inform him. It must also bo a great annoyance to those worthies themselves, because whenever a 'suitor has* made a mistake and cannot find out tho proper court wherein his imit is pending he either applies to tho Magistrate upon sufficient affidavits, to have iho ea^o re-heard, or" takes out a frcdi summons, so that it has to come up lor hearing a .second and perhaps a third time. Now, Mr. Kdkor, tho remedy for this evil is ko simple, that you will agree with me, the public will derive a material benefit if it bo adopted For instance, what trouble would it take the Court to post outside of tho Camp, on tho post, 'or at tho Warden's oflice, where and when the Magistrate or Warden intends to sit, and they intend to try the civil and criminal eases/ And, then, how much lighter would it make the duties of tho Magistrate, and facilitate tho business of the Courts, if two or three days in the week wero appointed to hear the civil cnsc.s, and tiio remainder, tho criminal.

Another jnatter to which I may call your attention. Mr. Editor, and that is tho unfair rule of imposing upon tho Magistrate tho onavous duty of copying all tho evidence himself. "Now, where is tho necessity for this trouble ? It is well enough for , tho Judge, of the (Supreme Court to copy the evidence in his note-book, but ho only sits in his capacity as criminal judge i'our times in tho year; ho does not, like tho magistrate, sit every day. Therefore, 1 think, Mr. Editor, you will agree with me that if they havo not .suflioient clerical ass'.stanco the Government ought, and are in duty bound bo'.h to the public and the magistrates to afford extra assistance. By adopting those measures tho administration of justice would bo properly earned out, and tho public of Ilokitika would derive no material benefit therefrom.

By inserting the above in your valuable columns you would oblige,

' Yours v truly, War. Le.vhw Barrister, ilokitika.

January 18, 1800.