FAREWELL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1918, Page 3

FAREWELL.

TO MR T. HUTCHISON, S.M. At the conclusion of the business at die Westpoit Court on Tuesday afternoon, Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., and Warden, who retires on superannuation at the end ai' the month, said as this would be the last time he would be in Westport, he wished to say that Westport and the Duller were not in his district. He came here as a temporary Magistrate and bad protested against doing so. He was sure a single Magistrate could not do justice to the distiict he had with Westpoit and the Duller added to it. He protested, but was told to do his best. Dut all he could do was to give Westport half a day fortnightly, which was monstrously inadequate. It was manifestly unfair for a single magistrate to cover a distance of 200 miles. That was, approximately, the distance., between Okarito and Karamea. It was manifestly unjust to expect a town of the importance of Westport to he content with a half day’s sitting, and that the latter half of the day, when possibly thev had a jaded Magistrate to deal wjth. It said much 'for th e patience of members of the Bar that they had tolerated this. IE they were impatient, b R thanked them for not giving articulate expression to it. He only hoped in future much better provision would he made for holding court here more constantly in keeping with the imporance of Westport. He wished to sa.y good bye. Ho supposed it would he natural to have a certain feeling of regret to part when one lias been engaged on work he has carried on exclusively for a quarter of a century. Dut his feelings were of relief from a thankless task. ° However much a Mag : strate spent his energies he could expect no thanks from the Justice Department of New Zealand. His reward was the knowledge that his work was faithfully done. He wished the Ear long Hfe and 'prosperity and in conclusion would sav. “Kai Ora.” Mr Cottrell, on behalf, of the Ear. said he appreciated very much the work Mr Hutchison had dope amongst them. When thev first, beard that ;t was proposed to work Westpoit from Orcvmouth, thev were somewhent dismayed, knowing the extent of the distort. _ comprising Murchison. Westport, Denniston, Karamea and Seddoirffile. They ha’’dlv expected a. Angle Magistrate to be able to undertake the work. He thought he was right in saying, since Mr Hutchison took over the work, he hnU hard v micsed a. fortnightly sitting at Westport. He had often to cover long distances. The members of the Dm- had had the benefit, of his rinc experience m cases thev brought before him. His ripe in dement and foresight were of great help to them in getting through the business miickly. Mr Coitre’l concluded bv expressing the well wishes of the Bar for Mr Hutchison in h's retirement on well-earned superannuation.