HAMILTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1402, 15 May 1868, Page 3

HAMILTON.

(from our own correspondent.) , May 12. . In my last I reverted to the rumour that was afloat, in Hamilton, viz., that our worthy 3.M. was about to lobo his appointment, but as it did not appear in your columns, I conclude that it .has in some way gone astray. It appears that there was some truth in that report, for I have heard since from good authority that Mr. Searancke' is- to be superannuated, and thus, for some Government stroke of policy, we are about to lose tho services of a : gentleman who, of all men, is most fitted for the position he holds in the Waikato. Tho feeling of our whole community is one of regret that such a thing should be ; not only in Hamilton, but in the whole Waikato, the feeling is tho same. Any one who has seen that gentleman in Lis judicial capacity on the bench, the patience with which he investigates every C'iso brought before him, and th« impartial manner in which he dispenses justice to all, can but wonder greatly what has induced tho Government to take such a step that would imply that our Resident Magistrate was no longer capable of performing the duties of his office. The regret of the inhabitants of this district at losing both a kind friond and an impartial judge has caused them to petition the Uovernnor, Sir G. F. Bowen, that he may bo allowed to remain in his present office. The following is r. copy of the petition, which contains some hundreds of signatures:— "To Hia Excellency Sir Geobgk Ferguson POWBN. " Tho memorial of the undersigned inhabitants of Waikato, residing under the jurisdiction of W. N. Searuneke, Esq., R.M., humbly Bheweth that your memorialists have heard with extreme regret that your Excellency's advisers have in contemplation the removal of that gentleman by superannuation or otherwise, from his present position of Besident Magistrate of the Waikato District. " Wo beg to assure your Excellency that as a private individual we hold him in high esteem, in his judicial capacity he commands our fullest confidence and respect, and wo venture to hope, that on reconsideration of the subject, he may be allowed to remain in his present post of chief magistrate of the ministerial bench of our locality. " And your memorialists, will, as in duty bound, ever pray, &0., &o." If churches make a people religious, thon the ffamiltonians ought to be the most religious people in tho Waikato. We have already three ohurches at East Hamilton, another, the Episcopalian, is in courso of erection at West Hamilton, and last week Mr. Pennington, of the Hamilton Hotel, was the person selected to erect a Wesleyan church at the same sido of the river. The church is to be similar to the one at Cambridge. It is to cost about £150, and will seat 100 people. Great preparations are being made for the visit of His Excellency tho Governor. Mr. Thomas Hill, butcher, has killed some of the finest mutton we have yet seon in the Waikato, and the beef in waiting for His Excellency cannot be surpassed, while other people are equally busy in making arrangements for his Excellency's visit, so that it is very certain that the loyalty uf tho Hamiltonians cannot be doubted, and his reception will be enthusiastic.

At the Besident Magistrate's Court, to-day, before W. N. Searancke, Esq., Hosident Magistrate, and Captain East, J.P., tho -following cases for nonattendance at Militia parade were heard :

Mr. W. Martin, charged with a breach of tho 16th section of the Militia Act, 1808, waß fined la. and costs. Mr. F. P. Foster, oharged with a breach of the 3rd section of the Militia Act, fined Is. and costs.

Messrs. Coombej, Morrison, Rostborough and Mercer, were fined Is. each and costs for a breach of the 3rd section of the above Act. Mr. J. Goodfellow was finod Is. and coßts for a breach of the 16th section of the above Act. Messrs. A. Bruce, and W. Bruce, were fined Is. each for a breach of the 15th section of tbe>bove Act. Seven cases of breaches of the said Act were either dismissed or withdrawn, and one case was adjourned till the 6th June next. • It will be seen from the foregoing, that we nave not yet done with soldiering, or rather playing at soldiors in the Waikato.