Mr Wardell.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1840, 4 June 1886, Page 2

Mr Wardell.

Mb Wardbll received a cordial welcome from the members of the Wellington Bar on bis return to the Bench on Wednesday. Mr Shaw, in the coarse of a congratulatory speech, expressed the satisfaction felt by the profession at seeing his Worship restored to health and able to take his seat on the Bench. The vacancy had been filled ably and satisfactorily, but “ there were no friends like old friends,’ 1 and Mr Wardell’s familiar face was very welcome to all. He (Mr Shaw) would like to add that he thought some provision ought to be made by which the abilities of Resident Magistrates would be properly utilised. The public duties performed on the Bench did not wear him out so much as the extra judicial work that might well be performed by one or two members of the Commission of the Peace. There was no reason why the system in vogue at Home should not be adopted in the colony, and the police work and the extra judicial duties be carried out by Justices iu a separate Court, while the Magistrate should attend to civil business only, and wben that was finished should be free from the routine of signing warrants of distress and of commitment, &c. The proof of the pudding was in the eating. Mr Crawford, who had occupied the Bench for many years, only saved his health by resignation; his two successors had killed themselves ; he (Mr Shaw) was a young man, and bad withstood the strain, though he felt it severely ; and Mr Wardell had already injured his health. He (Mr Shaw) trusted that the Department of Justice would take some means of relieving the Resident of the colony from the mere routine work.

A meeting of Wellington and Hawke’s Bay members of the House was held on Wednesday to consider the railway proposals. Mr Geo. Beetham presided, and the following other members were present Captain Bussell, Messrs Smith, Wilson, Maoarthur, Buchanan, Bruce, and Dr Newman. The following resolutions were carried That no money be allocated for new railways out of the proposed loan of £1,500,000 ; that the energies of the Government should rather be devoted to carrying on all railways already begun to a paying point, and that sufficient money be allocated ont of the loan to complete the connection by the Gorge between Napier and Wellington.’' “ That the Government be nrged to make some provision out of the proposed loan for necessary road works.” The above resolutions were carried unanimously.