A DESIDERATUM FOR WANGANUI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1915, 1 September 1863, Page 3

A DESIDERATUM FOR WANGANUI.

(From tbe Chronicle, August 27 tb.) Some eighteen months since there seemed a probability of our having the sittings of the Supreme Court localised in Wanganui. Representations of the hardship which was imposed upon witnesses, by their having to journey to Wellington, bad been made to the Ministry and backed by the Provincial Government ; the judge was consulted ; and the various itnpedimeuta mutually considered, and finally resolved into one — the want of increased accommodation in our gaol. With a view to obviate this, the present enlargement of the gaol was authorised, and we may now therefore fairly begin to moot the matter again, and so prevent its being shelved perhaps for a very long time to come. There are four Supreme Court districts — namely, the Northern, the Middle, the Canterbury, and the Otago and Southern Districts, presided over respectively by Judges Arney, Johnston, Gresson, and Richmond — the latter being helped for the present by Judge Gresson at Invercargill. Sittiogs are held at Auckland by Judge Arney on the first of March, June, September, and December, and occasionally at New Plymouth; by Judge Johnston at Wellington, on tbe same dates as those of Auckland, at Nelson on the 16th May and November, and at Napier on the Ist Februry and August ; by Judge Gresson at Canterbury on the same dates as those at Wellington, and at Invercargi!J on the 10th January and July ; and by Judge Richmond at Dunedin on the same dates as those at Canterbury. Every province, Marlborough excepted, is thus supplied with the services of the Supreme Court in its chief town, and in its chief town only. It may, perhaps, at first sight, be thought that we are not warranted in asking for the Supreme Court at Wanganui, since double sittings take place in no other province; but such an argument must be effectually silenced by the fact that the Government and the Judge have already admitted its advisablity, and were only prevented from authorising it by the want of accommodation in our local gaol for the safe custody of prisoners committed for long sentences. The population and wealth of Wanganui are greater tban any other secondary town, and the distance from the provincial capital imposes so heavy a tax on the time, and so great a pull on tbe pockets I of prosecutors and witnesses, that crime is sometimes allowed to go unnoticed, rather than submit ts the ills which its being brought before the magistrate would cause. If Judge Johnston's opinions on such a practice really be those imputed to him, we need briug no other argnment thau this to bear ; but we fear it is not now brought to his notice for the first time, and that there must be some other than the ostensible reason operating to prevent his sitting here. Whether the little additions just made to our R.M. Court will satisfy the Judge's objection we have no means of knowing ; but if they are not, and the expense required to satisfy should be out of all proportion, it would be an easy matter to continue the present practice of incarcerating our criminals at Wellington, It would surely be very much more conducive to the ends of justice that prisoners should be tried here, and if guilty should be sent to Wellington for punishment, than that prisoners, prosecutors, and witnesses should all have to go to the trial at Wellington. We certainly expected to hat c seen much more done to the Court-house and Gaol out of the recent vote of tbe Provincial Council, and should think there must be a handsome balance still in band to meet the expense of any further additions that the Judge may require. We are aware it may be said the Judge has no time — that he has already to attend Nelson and Napier, and cannot be expected to visit us here; but such an argument is altogether out of place. If the time of the Judge would be unduly trenched upon, his large district onght to be curtailed , for as the wants of the communities increase, so must tbe means for supplying them be also increased. We very, much doubt however, whether the visit of the Judge to Wanganui twice a year, would be found to interfere with bis present duties ; whether his Honor would not in fact look on it more as a recreation than otherwise, if it were not for his aversion to journey in the small class of steamers which frequent this port. Indeed we very much doubt whether it is not our own supineness that tends to keep Supreme Court matters, with us, in statu quo. So long as a community are satisfied with things as they are, there is often very little disposition in the powers that be to interfere with them, and we hope that the Bench will at once bestir themselves in this matter, so that if it be needful to have the sanction of the Assembly to anything, the approaching opportunity afforded by its meeting may be taken advantage of.