The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1884. AN R.M. FOR MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1621, 28 February 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1884. AN R.M. FOR MASTERTON.

Some few yeara ago we found it necessary.-to agitate fov.a clerk in tho R.M, office to be stationed at Masterton becauso the periodical visits of Mr Freeth from Feafcherston at that time were insufficient for tho transaction of the .legal business cf : this neighborhood. An assistant clork was duly placed in this' town and then it was found necessary for the chief clerk to take up his residence here. We next turned our attention to the necessity of an improved court building and after some vexations delays the town obtained a structure which meets its requirements and we might be supposed now to "rest and be thankful." Unfortunately -there is still it want and that.is the presence of a magistrate to despatch the business that daily crops up at our court, We have one or two J.P.'s who are active and obliging, but Ihoy cannot be continually neglecting their private business to'act as substitutes for a paid magistrate, It is evident that either there must be a new and considerable creation of J.P.'s or a resident magistrate living in the town, The former remedy is a doubtful one, and Masterton contributes bo largely in legal fees to the Consolidated Revenue that it has a perfect right to demand from the Government a local paid magistrate. .We do not know, that it can request the removalof Mr Wardeli, : to Masterton, Featherston is still, nominally, the chief courthouse of the Wairarapa and the residence of. its KM. The business of that court, however, has diminished, while the business at Mas!erton has -increased tenfold. We do not, how.ever, desire to make a claim for Masterton at the expense of Featherston. That tow*! Btiipiuii almost a vestsa tewtto

;Mr "WiARDELii. Apart from this, however,Masterton has a legitimate claim | for a local Resident Magistrate, its i legal business demands the service's of one. Mid it"is paying by the court fees collected within its borders for one, and' 1 we flfiall'ieel it our duty to urge this' local want on'the notice of ment till it i« satisfied. The Borough Council has very properly raado it its business- to see that a coroner is appointed for this district, and it might, while it is in communication with the authorities at the big wooden building, point out. that.if a Resident Magistrate were stationed at Masterton, this officer would be the best possible coroner that could be selected.