COROMANDEL. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.— June 4.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3405, 15 June 1868, Page 3

COROMANDEL. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.— June 4.

IBsfore HL* C. Lawlor, Esq., J.P., »nd J. Fkuoi, Esq., J.P. Inhbs v. Rebye.— This was * claim of four shillings for * day's wages. It appears that plaintiff -was employed to work on the Kapanga Claim at odd jobs at the rate of sixpence an hoar. He worked for one week, and received an order for the amount of his wag^s. On the Monday following lie came to work, and then did not appear attain for a fortnight, when he oame to claim the above amount for Monday's work, and on defendant refusing to pay him he summonsed him before the Court. — Mr. Reeve, in his defence, stated that he had employed plaintiff at bis own request, and had paid him up to the baturday, his reason for not paying the above amount being, that he bad been put to serious inconvenience and loss by plaintiff's not coming to work after the Monday; that he had kept the placa open for him for some time, and that having sent to inquire for him ha heard that plaintiff did not intend coming again; and that, although plaintiff hid pleaded illness for not coming, it was his duty to have sent a message to that effect. He therefore did not feel himself justified in paying the amount. This ended the case.— Their Worships, havinghwdthe evidence, pasied judgment for defendant, with costs.

f. may here remark that this is the first case that has been disposed of since Mr. Lawlor s resignation as; Magistrate ., It is, I believe, the intention of the Justices to meet fortnightly for the despatch of civil cases, &c. The Court was rather inconvenienced by there being no constablein attendance, the last one having resigned, finding his pay inadequate to supi port him. This is the second constable that has resigned daring the quarter, and it does not seem likely that anyone will be induced by the email remuneration to fill that post, so that people must either serve their own summonses, or go without. I am also sorry to observe that, since the removal of the polioe from this district, crime has much increased. _ There are at present six licensed houses in the district, and it can hardly be expected th»t order can be preserved and crime suppressed without some show of authority. The case of the Court here at present is similar to that of a man who, having his legs fast tied, is bid to walk, and of course is unable bo do so. I trust a change in these matters will be made shortly. The Rev. Mr. Fulljames preached a farewell sermon last Sunday, in the school-room, previous to his intended departure for Mercury Bay. The service was] well attended. Mr. Westmoreland, who is on a visit down here, kindly presided at the har« monium. I herewith, forward you for insertion another address from the natives of the district to Mr. Lawlor, on the occasion of his resigning his appoint* ment as magistrate. This is the second requisition received hy Mr. Lawlor from the natives, expressing th@ir k desire for him to continue among them as Tino kai Whakawa ; and the fact of it being quite unlooked for renders it the more acceptable : — "Kopataki, May 26. "Friend, Mr. Lawlor, — Salutations to you. Hearken. We have a permanent word — tbat it, we, belonging to the various branches of the'Ngatitamatera tribe, wish you to remain constantly as Resident Magistrate for the "dittrict of Coromandel, because we have no wish to receive any other Resident Magistrate after you, for we should not be able to understand his proceedings. Tou are the only person that the, tribes understand, and therefore we wish you to remain permanently for this district, and not to be removed at all. We have seen for the last five years your npright and straightforward conduct. This is all we have to say." [(Signed by<Te Moananui and 55 others.) The following is a reply, forwarded to the Maori* by Mr. Lawlor :— "Coromandel, May 8, 1868. " Salutations to you, my friends, belonging to the various branches of the Ngatitamatera, and the rest of the Maorisin my district. Your word* have reached me, and, like the sun, they warm and cheer me, for they tell me that you are not only pleated with ray work and the manner in which I have done it, but you also express a wish th»fc I should remain permanently with you as your Magistrate. lam glad to hear you say this, because it shows that you now begin to understand our laws, and therefore wish me to continue my duties among you, in order to be governed by them. How different these feelings are from what they were when I first came among you J Do not suppose that I have ceased my work among you from any wish of my' own, for I desire to remain with you always ; but the Government, although they are perfectly satisfied with my service?, do not consider they have money enough to keep me on, no that with them rests the question. But, be this as it may, as long as I live in your district you tball always have the benefit of my counsel and advice, for I shall still look upon you as my children, and endeavour, as your parent, to teach you your duty. " Enough. From your old attached Magistrate, "Ljlwxob."