The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 20 Sep 1878 1
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)
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FORBES.
Thursday.
A large meeting, convened by requisition to the Mayor, was held here last night in the Court-house. All the business men and most of the influential residents of the district were present. The business was to consider the recent alteration in the mail arrangements with Sydney. The mail now arrives here two hours later than formerly. By the new arrangements mails lie from twelve to fourteen hours in Forbes Post-office before delivery. Many strong and vigorous protests were made against the change, and a general feeling of indignation at the want of consideration for this end of the line was expressed. It was resolved to send a memorial to the Postmaster-General, praying that the former hours of arrival and delivery be adhered to. Subsequently it was proposed to urge the Government to proceed with erection of a new Court-house at once, and when the question was put, whether a change of site with the present School of Arts ground was desirable, with one exception every individual present answered affirmatively.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 15 Jan 1879 2
DEPUTATION.
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Photo ID: SRNSW 4346_a020_a0200-00067¬.jpg
COURTHOUSE AT FORBES.
On Monday afternoon a deputation, consisting of Mr Coonan, MLA; Mr Bodel, Mayor of Forbes; Mr W Brooks, of the Forbes Times; and Mr Dunn, solicitor, of Forbes, waited upon the hon Minister for Works, at his office, in reference to a new courthouse at Forbes.
Mr COONAN, in introducing the deputation, stated that a sum of money was placed on the Estimates at the beginning of 1878—the sum of £8000—for the erection of a courthouse at Forbes. As yet, however, there had been no contract called for, and the people of Forbes were anxious to know what was going to be do in the matter.
Mr BODEL pointed out that the courthouse was urgently needed. There had been some differences between the townspeople as to the site, and they wanted to exchange with the School of Arts ground. That matter, however, was now all settled, and they were only waiting for the Government to call for tenders.
Mr BROOKS stated that the School of Arts committee would be satisfied to have the building at present used as a courthouse removed to the ground which they occupy, and that it should be used by the Government as a courthouse while the new building is being erected, which would save the Government paying rent.
Mr DUNN explained that the School of Arts committee as well as the people generally would be satisfied to use the old courthouse afterwards as a School of Arts for some time to come. The land was adjoining, and it would not be much trouble to remove the courthouse to the adjacent section.
Mr COONAN said the rent the Government would have to pay for a courthouse during the time the new one was building would be something considerable, and if they removed the present courthouse to the School of Arts ground it would save this rent. Further, if the contract were called for now, as the new post office is in course of erection, the same clerk of works could superintend both buildings.
Mr LACKEY, having sent for the papers, informed the deputation that plans for the new courthouse had been prepared and submitted to the Colonial Secretary, in whose office they now were. He promised the deputation that he would urge the matter on, and see that it was carried through as speedily as possible.
The deputation thanked Mr Lackey and withdrew.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 7 Mar 1879 3
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)
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FORBES.
Thursday.
The present Court-house arrangements are altogether inadequate to the amount of business transacted. The public hope that there will be no delay in accepting tenders for the new court-house.
The weather is very hot.
The town is full of visitors.
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Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 25 Oct 1879 4
RAILWAY EXTENSION TO FORBES.
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ON Thursday a deputation of gentlemen, most of whom were from Forbes, and consisting of Mr Coonan, MLA, Mr Combes, MLA, Mr Macintosh, MLA, Mr W Brooke, JP, Mr John Bodel, JP, Dr Macqueen, and Mr JT Dunn, waited on the Minister for Works to urge the claims of Forbes to railway extension.
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Mr Bodel presented a petition to the Minister from the bench of magistrates at Forbes, asking for more accommodation at the new court-house than was intended under the present contract. Mr Lackey promised to see the colonial architect on the subject.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 23 Jan 1880 5
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
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FORBES.
Thursday.
A strong public opinion is expressed here that the new court-house building should have a second story. The walls are now up 14 feet, and if any additions are decided upon, intimation should be made to the contractor at once. A colonnade for it is indispensable, especially when it is remembered that our summer temperature for months together is over 100 degrees.
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Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 8 May 1880 6
FORBES.
May 4.
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WATER SUPPLY.—The water survey party are still in the neighbourhood of Forbes, but as they are so very reticent, it is not in my power to communicate much of their doings. People however earnestly hope that they may get their share of the thousands, now voted nearly three years ago, as soon as possible, for a proper and adequate water supply is the greatest boon a town can have. And talking about aqua pura, why does a paternal government make no provision to save the large amount of water, which is already running to waste from our nearly finished handsome new courthouse. The slate covered roof is provided with good spouting &c, but the whole of the rain water goes to waste, no tanks having been provided for its reception. There is plenty room to sink a large tank, and if a pump was placed in it a great boon would be conferred, not only on the court officials but also on all suitors, who have business there.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 2 Feb 1881 7
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
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FORBES.
Tuesday.
Great surprise is expressed at the delay in opening the new Court-house for business. Everything is ready for occupation, still the building remains under lock and key, and the business of the Court has to be conducted in a very unsuitable building. with the thermometer over 100̊.
The weather is again very hot, with signs of rain.
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Evening News, Tue 22 Feb 1881 8
LATEST TELEGRAMS
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(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT).
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FORBES ITEMS.
Forbes, Tuesday.
The new court-house was opened for business yesterday without a demonstration of any kind. There is no police magistrate, and both the land agents and CP’s are absent through illness. Suitors and land selectors growl deeply.
The weather is again intensely hot; the thermometer was 108 deg in the shade yesterday.
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Evening News, Sat 26 Feb 1881 9
COUNTRY AND MINING NEWS.
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(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT).
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FORBES.
February 22.
THE NEW COURTHOUSE.—The new courthouse, which had been finished for a long time, and which, through some inexplicable trickery was not allowed to be taken possession of, has now been opened at last. A letter having been received from Sydney that everything connected with the building was finished, some gentlemen belonging to our temple of justice quietly took possession on Friday last, moving in all their paraphernalia next day. A telegram had previously been sent to the clerk of works, Mr Wilkie, who was absent in Condobolin, requesting him to forward the key to our local bench of magistrates, but that person with his now well-known courtesy did not even deign to acknowledge the message.
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In connection with the court matters there appears latterly to be a sort of a fatality hanging about the officials connected therewith. In the first place our PM, Mr Fred Dalton, disappeared on the 20th of November last; then both the Lands Agent and the CPS were laid up with the measles, and now both of the latter gentlemen have been so ill again for weeks that they are totally unable to attend to their respective duties. Telegrams have gone done apprising the heads of the departments about these matters, but till now no provision has been made for the proper working of the court machinery. A local gentleman who discharged the duties of both Land Agent and CPS some few weeks ago most efficiently might have been requested to act again, particularly as not an hour now passes that one does not hear the most bitter complaints of people who, on coming from a distance, are sorely put about in not being able to have their business attended to, and they certainly have the greatest cause to exercise that particular privilege of Britons, ie to growl. In connection with the opening of the new courthouse, which is a really handsome and commodious building, our townspeople quietly wonder how it is that no demonstration of any kind took place such as is usually indulged in at other places; there was even a member of the legal profession present to congratulate the bench on their first sitting; only one gentleman sat in solitary glory at the attorneys’ table, and he, though at first taken to be the probable attorney for the abovenamed Rogers, he turned out to be a butcher from the rush at Temora.
THE SCHOOL OF ARTS.—According to an understanding arrived at between the committee of management of the Forbes School of Arts and the Government, the former body have now taken possession of the old courthouse, which in future will be used as the local School of Arts. The committee are making the necessary alterations, which when finished will make an excellent building for the purpose designed. Requisition in the proper quarter to obtain the old courthouse furniture for the use of the School of Arts has also been made by our members Messrs Cooke and Bodel, and it is very much to be desired that the request will, or rather should be granted, as a distinct promise to that effect had been made by Mr Suttor, when Minister of Justice, to the School of Arts committee. The new courthouse, being amply and well furnished, the old furniture would be very much out of place in it, and a promise given should be kept.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 27 Aug 1881 10
In the Legislative Assembly yesterday.
Ministers replied to questions respecting the fencing and tank at the new courthouse at Forbes; the proposed establishment of a circuit court at Forbes;
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 20 Sep 1878, p. 5.
2 The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 15 Jan 1879, p. 6.
3 The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 7 Mar 1879, p. 5.
4 Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 25 Oct 1879, p. 781.
5 The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 23 Jan 1880, p. 5.
6 Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 8 May 1880, p. 902. Emphasis added.
7 The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 2 Feb 1881, p. 5.
8 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 22 Feb 1881, p. 2.
9 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Sat 26 Feb 1881, p. 3.
10 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 27 Aug 1881, p. 4.