A MAGISTRATE'S DIFFICULTIES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12904, 9 September 1907, Page 7

A MAGISTRATE'S DIFFICULTIES.

Buildings erected by tho Government -for tho uso of tho public have usually S *otne little deficiencies, however -well _? Intentioued , tho builder is, and however tho Government is to meet the jijraw* of tho people of tho locality }W*J».*no "Otago Daily Times"), but j*T*? n<3W «oufthonst» at "Waikotiaiti : v!W? w> havo fallen considerably short 'uLHI?. °™"n«'*y requirements of a At tlie sitting on Thurs,™Vi Major Keddell, who presided, . «ame forward at the opening of the ; «W V aTId > Sravoly seating himself in i Wβ'Waco usually occupied by the clerk i"7 Court, explained to tho various > Jα i n of the B" r th »fc he w«e sorry :!* f» ye to *ay that if ho took his eeat •Iwti : / hmch thcv vouM probably be &St J>r to . £OC that ho vcaa fitting there SJt*' 1 wmg to tho height of tho bench £2Tm c *?*, bating accommodation. Ho S'-SELiS"! , * otm humovir, that bo |po«W* U wae highly that

they ehj&old know that he was there, and that he should also bn aware of their presence, and that he should be able to got an occasional glimpse of tho witness to sco his demeanour during examination. All the members of tho Bar fully sympathised with his Worship, Mr Stilling remarking that if any professional man wished to reach the solicitors' table from the body of the court ho had the pleasing option of clambering ovor the top- of a rather formid&ble-looking barricade or of crawling underneath it. His Worship looked a little sceptical at this statement, but was subsequently convinced that it was quite accurate. Not tho loast amusing feature of tho courthouse is a door which has a most txtraordinary method of closing iteelf. This was shown when his Worship was leaving tho bench at tho luncheon adjournment, and it was discovered that tho leading to his room had closed itself, and could not bo opened without the assistance of tho constable, who explained that tho door waa frequently guilty of tho same conduct.