The Christchurch Magistrate's Court is close to the Supreme Court, and occupies a single-storey stone building. Besides the courtroom, there is the ordinary complement of offices and apartments. The public office is entered from the northern side. The court has ordinary and extended jurisdiction within the city of Christchurch and district, extending to the Waimakariri river in the north and nearly as far south as the Rakaia. Mr. R. Beetham is the Stipendiary Magistrate, and Mr. W. Martin is clerk of the court. It should be stated that Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., is in charge of North Canterbury, and holds sittings at Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Akaroa, and other centres.

Mr. Richmond Beetham, Stipendiary Magistrate and Chairman of the Christchurch Licensing Committee, was born in 1836 in Horneast e, Lancashire, England, and educated chiefly at the Elizabethan Foundation School in his native place. In 1856 Mr. Beetham came out to Victoria, and three or four years later crossed the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. He entered the public service in 1862, as Receiver of Land Revenue on the Otago goldfields, was appointed Restdent Magistrate in 1863 and has been respectively at Queenstown, Napier, and Timaru, being transferred to Christchurch in 1881. Mr. Beetham was married in 1863 to a daughter of the late Mr. William Swainson, F.R.S., a well-known naturalist.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. R. Beetham.

Mr. Helyar Wedderburn Bishop, Stipendiary Magistrate, who resides in Christchurch, and is in charge of the North Canterbury district, is a Coroner, Commissioner of the Native Land Court, and a Licensed Interpreter. He was born on the 12th of March, 1851, in Hampshire, England, was educated at Winchester and came to Lyttelton in 1868 in the ship “Mermaid,” with the intention of joining an elder brother who was sheep-farming in North Canterbury. He afterwards removed to Motueka near Nelson, where he engaged in hop-culture until 1872, when he went to Wellington and for some time was employed in teaching a school. In July, 1873, he entered the Government service, being attached to the Native Department. He was sent to Hokianga in April, 1876, as clerk and interpreter of the resident magistrate's court, and secretary and interpreter to the late Judge Maning, better known as “Pakeha Maori” the author of that delightful book, “Old New Zealand.” In 1882, Mr. Bishop was appointed resident magistrate for the district of Bay of Islands, with residence at Mongonui Subsequently his district was extended to include the whole of North Auckland, with head-Quarters in Auckland city. He was removed to Christchurch in 1893. Mr. Bishop is attached to the Church of England, being a member of the Diocesan Synod, and of the Standing Committee of the Diocese and a Church Property trustee. He is married and has two sons and one daughter living.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. H. W. Bishop.

Mr. Walter Martin, Chief Clerk of Court and of the Licensing Committees for Christchurch, Riccarton, and Avon, was born in 1854 at Leamington, Warwickshire, and educated at the High School, Christchurch. Mr Martin entered the service in 1869 as a cadet in the magistrate's court. In 1876, he was appointed second clerk, and in 1880 became clerk of court at Ashburton. He was transferred to Onehunga in 1884, and to Invercargill in 1886, where he was sheriff of the Supreme Court and clerk of the district court until 1897, when he was promoted to his present positions in Christchurch. Mr Martin has always been interested in cycling and was a vice-president of the Invercargill Cycling Club; at the time of his leaving that town he was president, was created a life member and presented with a gold badge in recognition of his services. Mr. Martin is a delegate of the same club to the New Zealand League of Wheelmen. He was married in 1886 and has three daughters.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. W. Martin.

Mr. James Turnbull, Chief Bailiff of the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, was born in 1859 at Lyttelton, and was educated in Christchurch. He served his apprenticeship as a cabinet-maker, and before joining the public service was engaged for some time in various occupations. He was appointed assistant-bailiff in 1882, and was promoted to his present position in 1891. Mr. Turnbull is a member of the American Order of Oddfellows, being attached to Lodge “Ridgley,” in which he has passed all the chairs including that of noble grand; has filled the position of district deputy-grand master of the North Canterbury District, and has been returned four times as representative of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, For some time he was a member of the committee of the Canterbury District Public Service Association, He was married in 1883 to Miss Berry, of Christchurch, and has two sons and three daughters.

Mr. Alexander Adam Mair, formerly Second Clerk of the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, was born in Invercargill, his father being Mr. Alexander Mair, an old and respected colonist of Southland. Mr. Mair joined the department as a cadet, in 1885. Subsequently he was appointed successively to the Wellington, Timaru, and Wanganui Magistrate's Courts, and in September, 1896, was promoted to the position of Clerk of Court at Riverton. He was appointed Second Clerk at Christchurch in May, 1898, and is now (1902) Clerk of the District Court and Magistrate's Court at Hokitika.