"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1873.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 195, 9 August 1873, Page 2

"OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1873.

The District Conrts Hill has passed its second rending. It is p»o|iostd to give power to District remits to decide upon nil tulmipialratiqu cases oil actions for tlie execution of (ra&ts, ull actions for redenijition or for enfprcing eijy mortgage, charge, or lien, nil actions for specific performance ; provided tliat not more thun the §am of ASUO is involved. t No doajjt Dibtriot Courts

are m themselves of great benefit to suitors for small amounts, ;is tlie costs aro very much less than j they woufd be if the cases were taken into the | Supreme Court. Another advantage thafc will accrue ' to some of those who are unfortunate enough, to be compelled to go to a court of law for the'settlement of their affairs is that the J,udgeao? the Court are to be endowed with ppweca to diapose of equity c.ises. The above is the bright side of the quei tion. There is to be balanced against the advantage of having in some cases cheap and speedy law, the risk there is of cases after trial in the inferior being referred to the Supreme Court. Many of those J gentlemen who would necessarily be appointed to the position of District Judges have not received a li»ga& education, and would therefore be quite unalpje. to decide nice cases of law ox practice, consequently th^ superior court wonld be frequently cilled upon to rectify their blunders. An instance came under our notice in a neicrb hour ing province — the District Judge being a 1»,.i-.0.^, — in which ji bout qai,^ half of his decisions . m d rulings during Iwo sittings were reversed by the Coiufc above, at great cost to the litigants. Much as wo should like 1 o see the publio placed in a position to get cheap law, we should be sorry to see accuracy sacrificed for its sake. It was pointed out by one of the speakers to the motion for the second reading that the office of Judge of the. Supreme Court would bo reduced to a sinecure ; if it were probable that this would be the ease the District Courts Bill would be a great boon to the public. It is to be feared, that the Judges will be kept pretty fully employed in hearing cases sent from below. The Judges of our I Courts havQ always, maintained a high reputation for ability and integrity, and have commanded the respect of the people for themselves and the law they administer. To give equal or yearly equal powers to men of inferior ability it is to be feared will lower the dignity of the Bench and lessen the respect the people almost invariably evince for the law. The course that suggests itself as a better is to lower the fees payable on cases heard in the Supreme Court.

»We bo.ye been shown a letter from Major Jackson, M.11.1v.. to a gentleman in Ngamawahia, under date August 1. He says " that the petition from the settlers had been presented tha,fc day ; also one from the chairman of meeting of settlers, held at Hamilton, on the same subject. The Government have stated that it is their intention to push the railway from Mercer to the frontier afc once. It has been decided to take the line by way of Ngaruawa.hia ; the route from that place is nob yet decided upon." We learn by telegram that the railway will cross the liver at Ngamawahia. • The opeiation of the Native Lands Act, 18G5, and the Native Lands Act, 1867, has been suspended by proclamation in the New Zealand Qazfitte, within the following boundaries:— "All that piece or parcel of land in the Upper Thames District, Province of Auckland, within the following boundaries: Commencing at Cc Pourewa, thence to Te Waipnna^ thence to Huekaraiuea, thence to Mangakahika, thence to Pnapuatanotu, thence to Hakihaki, thence to Ngatamahinerua, thence to Tearoaroaparetapu, thence to Te llakerake o Kaulere, thence to Okoukou, thence to Te P&bangahangn-a-.te-inoho, thence to Waitioka, thence to Kampnko. Whence to Te Parapara, thence to Mangakaiwhiua, thence to 1 amvhivi awhara, thence \&Phtakakariti, thence to Kapaaheneraugi, thence to Tuai opaki, thence along the Slangawhero, thence to Tapangahue, thence to 'lakapau it comes out at Waihou, thence to Marohapuku, thence to Parupavu, thence to Papaneke, tbejice to Tarawhati, thence to Mangauui-waitearifei. thence to Te Wairere, tVence to Parcaaui, thence to FnlielntT), thence to Wbarekahu, thence to Karengorengo, thence to Kaiiioata, thence to Te Bangaakiui, thence to Poukaiorft, where i'c joins Pourewa, the slariing point." We have received notice of the following religious services proposed to be held 10-morrow in this district ; — Church of England — Ngaruauahia 11 a.m., Cambridge 11 a.m., Hamilton 6.30 p.m., Alexandra 11 a.m., To Atvamutu, p.m.; Wesleyan Methodist — Te Awamutu 11 a.m., Pu^crimu 3 p.m., Cambridge 6.30 p.m. We are glad to notice that the stockyards for the reception of cattle before and after crossing the punt at Ngaruawahia are at last completed. We have to acknowledge the receipt from the Government Printer of No. 4 of Hansurd-, and Colonial Treasurer's Financial Statement.