DISTRICT COURT. Hamilton, Thursday, March IBth, 1875.
Before His Honor, Judge Beckham. His Honor took his seat on the bench for the first time in the Waikato at 1 1 o'clock. Mr Hay, the senior member of the bar present, addressed the Court as follows :—: — May it please your Honor — On this the opening 1 day of the District Court at Hamilton, before proceeding to general business it becomes my pleasing duty as well as my privilege, as the senior member of the bar here to ask your Honor's indulgence and attention for a few moments, whilst I make some brief observations, which 1 trust will not be considered unappropriate on the present auspicious occasion. — In this district your Honor, Justice has for a long time been administered by a Resident Magistrate and Justices of the Peace, having in civil matters the limited jurisdiction of £20, I may here take the opportunity of stating that they administered it honestly, efficiently, and well. I should not be doing my duty, indeed far less, were I not on this occasion to offer a passing- tribute of well deserved praise to our present worthy Resident Magistrate, who I am sure is entitled to the greatest oredit for the very capable manner in which he has for a long period discharged the onerous and multifarious duties imposed upon him by the Government. As I before remarked the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate's Court was limited to £20, which was quite inadequate to the requirements of the district. For a long time your Honor; this District has been rapidly growing in importance, in prosperity, and in wealth, and it became apparent to those who were in the way of observing such things that disputes and differences were constantly arising amongst the settlers, involving questions of great legal precision and amounts far beyond the jurisdiction of the then established Court. This state of things was duly represented to the Government, and a change was strongly advocated by the local press, and 1 am happy to say that that representation and that advocacy has resulted in the establishment of a District Court. The people of Waikato are indeed fortunate in the establishment of that tribunal in their district, but they are infinitely more fortunate in the appointment of the Judge to preside over its sittings. It seems to me that in the appointment a high compliment is paid to the District by recognising its importance to such an extent as to deserve the judicial care of your Honor. Your Honor's long and honorable judicial career in this colony is so well known that 1 need scarcely advert to it, but I cannot resume my seat without sincerely congratulating the people of Waikato upon the appointment of a gentleman to be their District Judge, whose large and varied experience is, I may say, co-extensive with the existenoe of the colony, and whose untiring patience,, whose great legal acumen, and whose oven handed impartiality coupled with uniform courtesy, has earned for him a name which will not soon be forgotten in the history of this country. As to the relations which should subsist between the Bench and the Bar I have very little to say. I have simply to assure your Honor that the Bar will at all times cordially co-operate withy our Hanoi- in furthering the ends of justice and upholding the majesty of the law and the dignity of this Court. We shall also at all times be prepared to give your Honor such assistance and advice as maybe within our power and your honor may require, and [we trust that our efforts may meet with your Honor's approval and merit that courtesy and con-
w <>W earnest wish that your Honor will long cdhtinue to occupy the judicial seat in this. Court.
Lb Quesne y Reid.. This was an action to recover the sum of £22*17s 2d. The first count of the plaintiffs declaration alleged that £19 17s 2d was due from defendant to plaintill on an account stated between them. The second count was for £10, amount of damages clue torn* defendant to plaintiff for that plaintiff had delivefl^ to defendant 30& bushels of wheat to be ground at defendant's mill, but that defendant had negligently an <J unskilfully ground the same. M * O'Neill appeared for plaintiff, Mr Hay and Mr Whitaker for defendant After a considerable amount of evidence had been taken for plaintiff, a non-suit was recorded with costs. Martin v. Coleman. Claim £21 15s, on promissory note. Judgment for plaintiff^M? full amount aDd costs. ' T. AND X MORRIN VG.W. D. HAY. J Claim £41 iQj on promissory note. Judging for plaintiff for full amount and costs.
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Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 443, 20 March 1875, Page 2
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784DISTRICT COURT. Hamilton, Thursday, March I8th, 1875. Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 443, 20 March 1875, Page 2
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