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Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1061, 15 March 1882, Page 2

It is to be hoped that the late, visit of theHdh-Mt'R^leston may have the effect Q^OBeaffig-Jhe Ministerial eyes to the importance of the Inangahua district, and the almost unlimited extent of its resources. During his stay, he candidly expressed himself equally surprised and gratified at what he saw, and his trip will probably -prove "of advantage both to the district and to the Government Elsewhere we have referred to the need there is for additional police, and, we may now add, magistrates. At the present time there are only two Justices of the Peace in the Reef ton district, Messrs Bowman and i ff&nnan, and the sooner some addiare made the ing gone to the North Island for his health. Mr Brennan also is engaged in business that sometimes takes him away for days, and the place is then absolutely magistrateless. The Resident Magistrate and Warden's Courts only sit every three weeks, and thus justice frequently halts for want of administrators, and wrong is not infrequently occasioned. At the present time, with one single justice, any prisoner arrested for any other offence than drunkenness, no matter how trivial it may be, must wait till the sitting of the next R.M. Court, as the law requires either two honorary justices, or one Resident Magistrate, to adjudicate on everything else. If anyone be falsely accused he is actually punished with about three weeks imprisonment for being innocent If, on the other hand, he be guilty,- he will snffer that extra term before being brought up. There are plenty of gentlemen of good standing and means in the district, who would gladly undertake the duties attached to the magistracy, who would neither disgrace nor dishonor the positioned who wouldzealously perform the duties incumbent on them. Surely, therefore, there can be no possible objection to placing on the roll as many names as will mcct v with the requirements of the locality. Were this done many cases that now are postponed at great loss and inconvenience to those interested could be promptly and expeditiously dealt with, and in fact, with the exception of very serious charges, the honorary bench could keep the police sheet clear, as well as the list of small debt actions. Ministries are generally ready enough to gratify their friends with the title of J.P. in places where the genus is found in profusion, so it cannot be too much to ask them to make appointments of the kind in a district where it is so abundantly clear their services are really so greatly needed and would be so serviceable to the public. As things are now, justice frequently and necessarily halts, whilst, if more magistrates are created, all difficulty is at an end, We trust therefore, that we shall see in an early Gazette notification that such a course has been pursued.