THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 22, 1880.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 22 September 1880, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 22, 1880.

In connection with the threatened abolition of the "W"est Coast District Judgpfhip, we learn from Wellington that the whole of the District Judges throughout the Colony have received a notice similar to that forwarded to h : a Honor Judge We«fcon. It is thought th^fc Government have been moved to thiei coursa in order that they might he free to proceed with the projected re»constitution of judicial districts. How far this rumor is true we are unable tp Bay. but shall be glad to find that it is so, for ia that case we feel assured the claim of Judge Weston to re-appointment can* not be overlooked. In paying this we do no refer to the matter as one individually affecting Judge Weston. To do this we should probably be aiming at something which would be in the highest fcgpe distasteful to his Honor. We refer to the subject purely in its public aspect as affecting tbe administration of Justice and the honor and integrity of the Bench In this light then, it did a day or (wo back when the announcement reached us, appear inexplicable that any reason could be found by {.he Government sufficient to iurluce them to so ill requit the high qualities Judge Weßten baa ever displayed on the Bench. Ifc is for thece we contend, because they are all that nre to be contended for in the administration of justice. S"o better teat of the estimation in which his Honor's adminiatralion is held over the whole of the Wesfc Coast could be adduced than that so gracefully expressed by the Presa during the past weak, and no Government should roughly sacrifice a judicial officer who baa won such opinions in the discharge of his functions. The whole action of the Government in tbia matter comes in tbe nature of a surprise. At the last ss t« ting of Parliament a Kiyal Commis sion was appointed to inqu're into the whole question of the constitution nDfl practice of District Courts, and it would have been thought that the Report of that Commission would have open aw'tifed before rushing into important chnnges, which might possibiy b.e, found afterwards to be in conflet with Ihe recommend 'tion of Ihp Commissi'in. The need for retrenchment would hardly seem to justify the step taken by Ihn Government, for all 'lntcnn be vet known, it may be thai the Commission will recommend the absorption by District Courts pf much of the I'ostipss now confined to the Supremo G-nrt. So Mist, in "any case the step taken by the Government seems'somewlin'r premature.