The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 2 Sep 1901 1
COUNTRY NEWS.
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Wagga, Sunday.
Photo ID: SRNSW 4346_a020_a020000165.jpg
The sheriff (Mr CE Maybury) has visited Wagga for the purpose of inspecting the new and the old courthouse, with a view of determining whether the next circuit court, on September 24, should be held in the small courthouse in the new building or in the old courthouse. He decided in favour of the latter as providing greater accommodation.
The Minister for Works has given instructions that tenders be called for the erection of a clock tower in the new courthouse. The original plan has been modified, and provides for bricks being used instead of stone. The plan provides for a tower of imposing appearance.
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The Wagga Wagga Advertiser, Thu 3 Apr 1902 2
WAGGA CIRCUIT COURT.
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WELCOME TO THE JUDGE.
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The April sittings of the Wagga Circuit Court were commenced at the local court house yesterday.
Before the business commenced, Mr G Martin, PM, briefly extended to his Honor, Mr Justice Stephen, a welcome upon opening the first Circuit sittings in the new Wagga Court House.
On behalf of the practising attorneys of the town, Mr George Coleman also extended a welcome to his Honor, and congratulated him upon the opening of the new court house.
His Honor said that had he known it was intended to present him with an address of welcome he would have been better prepared to acknowledge it. He felt a peculiar pleasure mingled with regret at being the judge to open the Supreme Court sittings in the new Wagga Court House. He said regret because there was a strong probability that he would never again preside at this court. He had been for 15 years on the bench, and next month he was entitled to retire. He did not wish to retire, but the time would probably not be very long before he did so. He said that as long as the world lasted court houses would be necessary, crimes would be committed, and until the millenium [sic] there would be litigation. That being the case it was right and proper that suitable accommodation for the administration of justice should be provided for those whose duty it was to be associated with the business of the court. He did not include only the Supreme Court judges, but the arduous duties of the District Court judges, magistrates, officials and gentlemen of the press required that the surroundings should be made as comfortable as possible. It was only right and proper that accommodation should be provided for the public also. He congratulated the Wagga district on now having such a court-house, and one that was worthy of the town. It was only natural that the people belonging to the town should take an interest in their public buildings. The administration of justice should be associated with surroundings commensurate with the very important duties which had to be carried out. The Legislature, army and navy, and the press were constantly brought before the public. Not so the court. Therefore, the public should be led to appreciate the administration of justice—they should be educated to observe in some respect the administration of justice, and for that end it was a right and proper thing that the surroundings should be adequate and sufficient to inspire an interest in the proceedings. These conditions were fairly fulfilled in the case of this court, and he congratulated the people upon their possession of such an acquisition to the town.
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Wagga Wagga Express, Thu 3 Apr 1902 3
MR JUSTICE STEPHEN.
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HIS RETIREMENT SUGGESTED.
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A brief, but nevertheless pleasant, incident marked the opening of the Circuit Court at Wagga yesterday forenoon. On his Honor Mr Justice Stephen, taking his seat on the bench shortly after 10 o’clock, Mr George Martin, PM, extended him a welcome on behalf of the townspeople, and congratulated him upon opening the new Court-house for the business of the Supreme Court. Mr Martin also expressed the hope that his Honor would frequently preside in the Court. Mr George Coleman, on behalf of the legal practitioners of Wagga, also felicitated his Honor upon his being the first Supreme Court judge to preside in the new Court-house.
Photo: Peter de Waal
His Honor said that from one point of view he had a peculiar feeling of pleasure in congratulating the residents of the town and district on the acquirement of such a building. “There is one tinge of regret in it,” remarked his Honor, “for a strong probability is that I may not preside here again. Of course I speak only of the probability—the strong probability. I have been nearly 15 years on the bench, and next month I shall be entitled to retire. I do not mean to retire next month. I hope to continue for some little time longer.” His Honor went on to say that he would probably not remain on the bench until his turn to preside at Wagga again arrived. He presumed that so long as the world existed the course of justice would have to be administered, crimes would be committed, and there would be litigation. It was fitting, therefore, that those who spent their lives in the arduous task of administering justice should be provided with every convenience and comfort. He included in the list the District Court judges, magistrates, jurors, and the gentlemen of the press, who were entitled to consideration equally with the others. Accommodation had long been wanted, and it was not right that the people associated with the administration of justice should have to discharge their duties in mean and contemptible buildings. People were very much influenced by the eye, and he thought it only right and proper that the buildings used for the administration of justice should be commensurate with the importance of the duties to be performed. Buildings were an educative feature with the people, whom it was always sought to inspire with a respect for justice, and those condition were fairly fulfilled in the erection of the new Court-house.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 7 Apr 1902 4
MR JUSTICE STEPHEN.
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OPENING THE NEW WAGGA
COURTHOUSE.
On Tuesday last the April sittings of the Wagga Circuit Court were opened. Before the business commenced (says the “Wagga Advertiser”) Mr G Martin, PM, briefly extended to his Honor Mr Justice Stephen a welcome upon opening the first Circuit sittings in the new Wagga Courthouse. On behalf of the practising attorneys of the town Mr George Coleman also extended a welcome to his Honor, and congratulated him upon the opening of the new Courthouse.
His Honor said that had he known it was intended to present him with an address of welcome he would have been better prepared to acknowledge it. He felt a peculiar pleasure mingled with regret at being the Judge to open the Supreme Court sittings in the new Wagga Courthouse. He said regret because there was a strong probability that he would never again preside at this Court. He had been for 15 years on the Bench, and next month he was entitled to retire. He did not wish to retire, but the time would probably not be very long before he did so. He said that as long the world lasted courthouses would be necessary, crimes would be committed, and until the millennium there would be litigation. That being the case it was right and proper that suitable accommodation for the administration of justice should be provided for those whose duty it was to be associated with the business of the Court. He did not include only the Supreme Court Judges, but the arduous duties of the District Court Judges, magistrates, officials, and gentlemen of the press required that the surroundings should be made as comfortable as possible. It was only right and proper that accommodation should be provided for the public also.
Photo: Peter de Waal
He congratulated the Wagga district on now having such a Courthouse, and one that was worthy of the town. It was only natural that the people belonging to the town should take an interest in their public buildings. The administration of justice should be associated with surroundings commensurate with the very important duties which had to be carried out. The Legislature, army and navy, and the press were constantly brought before the public. Not so the Court. Therefore the public should be led to appreciate the administration of justice—they should be educated to observe in some respect the administration of justice, and for that end it was a right and proper thing that the surroundings should be adequate and sufficient to inspire an interest in the proceedings. These conditions were fairly fulfilled in the case of this Court, and he congratulated the people upon their possession of such an acquisition to the town.
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 2 Sep 1901, p. 8.
2 The Wagga Wagga Advertiser, Thu 3 Apr 1902, p. 2.
3 Wagga Wagga Express, Thu 3 Apr 1902, p. 2.
4 The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 7 Apr 1902, p. 8.