The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 3 Aug 1888 ¹

COUNTRY NEWS.
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(By Telegraph.)
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.)
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Bathurst, Thursday.

At a meeting of the Bathurst City Council last night, a letter was read from the Colonial Secretary’s Department stating that a communication had been received from the Department of Justice with reference to the old gaol, and that instructions had been issued for the demolition of this building. The council passed a resolution thanking the Department for prompt action.

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The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Tue 14 May 1889 ²

THE MINISTER FOR JUSTICE
IN BATHURST.
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    On Saturday morning a deputation, composed of the Mayor and Aldermen and Messrs J Meagher, FJ Fisher, and WC Kelk, JsP, waited upon the Minister for Justice, who was in the city as a visitor, to bring before him certain matters requiring attention. The deputation was introduced by Mr WH Paul, member for Bathurst.

    The Mayor said that the matter of principal importance which they wished to bring under the notice of the Minister was the delay which was taking place in the work of removing the old gaol. The building had been an eyesore to the citizens for many years, and now that the new gaol was occupied they were anxious to have the old pulled down as speedily as possible, so that the Council could have the remainder of the Park on which it was standing properly laid out and planted.

    Mr Paul said they had always been led to believe that as soon as the new gaol was finished the prisoners would be removed, the old building taken down, and the land handed over to the City Council. But the prisoners had been out of the building for twelve months, and very little had been done towards removing the building. Some time ago the volunteers had asked for one of the walls for the purpose of building an orderly room, but they were not now prepared to take it, and the matter remained as it was at first. He understood that the Minister had made arrangements for the prisoners to remove the old building, but at the rate at which the work was proceeding the ground would not be cleared for the next five years, as would be seen when the Minister went over the place with them. Hey therefore wished to urge the speedy completion of the work, so that the ground could be handed over to the Council for the use of the citizens. It had been said that part of the land was to be set apart for building a watch house, but the whole town was strongly opposed to this, as they wished every thing removed that would remind them of the old prison, and the Park when all was clear would only be a small one—the area being only bout 7 acres, without the Court House and the other public offices. They would point out to the Minister where they considered the watch house could be erected on the Court House ground, without further encroaching on the Park. There was also another matter they desired to bring under the notice of the Minister, and that was in reference to the temporary removal of the Police Magistrate from Bathurst. Mr Lee was also Coroner and Licensing Magistrate, and although Mr Suttor had just been appointed to act ad Chairman, one seat would be vacant in Mr Lee’s absence, and as Mr Webb, the other Licensing Magistrate, was likely to be away from Bathurst for some time, the busi- [sic] of the Court would be greatly interfered with. Only last Monday some cases had to be adjourned from this cause, and another Magistrate should be appointed. He understood that Mr Jago Smith was willing to accept the position. Then there was no here to sign Supreme Court writs during Mr Lee’s absence, which was an inconvenience to suitors. And in case of fire or sudden death, necessitating an inquest, inconvenience was caused by the Coroner’s absence; while in the case of minors wishing to get married, delay and inconvenience was caused, Mr Lee being the legal guardian. Only recently two young women were anxious to get married ³ (laughter) and there was difficulty through their not being able to take the oath, which in one case was administered in an informal manner. The citizens felt that although the unpaid magistrates did their work well and had arranged to perform all duties within their sphere during the over two or three months Mr Lee expected to be absent, it was not fair that Bathurst should be left without someone to act in his place, and they urged the appointment of someone temporally to the office; or in the event of Mr Lee’s removal, that the office of Police Magistrate should be filled as soon as possible.

    It having been decided to delay further remarks until the Minister visited the old gaol.

    Mr Gould, in reply, said that in the first place he must express the pleasure it afforded him to come to Bathurst. He always thought it desirable that a politician should, as far as possible, make himself acquainted with every part of the country, for it was evident that he could then better judge of the reasonableness of the requests made by the people, and whether they ought to have attention. This was only a flying visit to Bathurst, and he would not be able to see as much of the place as he desired. With reference to the old gaol he might explain that some time ago it had been decided that one portion of the wall should be given to the volunteers to build a drill shed and that the other portion should be sold as soon as possible; and they might rest assured that that part of their request would be carried out without unreasonable delay. The question of hading over the site was a matter upon which he could not give a decided answer, but he would give attention to it with the view of carrying out their request. The matter of the site for the watch house should also receive attention. With regard to the removal of the Police Magistrate, they were doubtless aware that he had been appointed to act for two months in the place of the Stipendiary Magistrate who was on leave. He could not tell them whether it was intended to remove him entirely or not, but he would see that his removal should not cause any inconvenience that could be avoided. As soon as possible every arrangement should be made so that the matters referred to might go on as smoothly as before.

    Alderman Boyd sought to open up the question of market dues, but it was pointed out that the matter was purely one for the Corporation to settle.

    The deputation then accompanied Mr Gould to the old gaol, and pointed out the slow progress which had been made in the work of demolition. After this a tour of the Court House was made, and this over, Mr Paul thanked the Minister for his courtesy and attention, at the same time expressing the hope that no time would be lost in having the matters which had been referred to properly adjusted.

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The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Thu 13 Jun 1889 ⁴

    OLD GAOL MATERIAL.—Messrs Howell, Green and Hawke announce the sale by auction on 26th inst, of the old building material within the gaol, which is now in course of demolition. Some of the timber, &c, is said to be exceptionally good.

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Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 27 Jul 1889 ⁵

BATHURST.

June 23.

…
    THE OLD GAOL BUILDING is fast disappearing. Wall after wall is being demolished; and the bricks, or rather those which are serviceable, are being carted away for duty in new erections. Most of these bricks are in a perfect state of preservation, and are considered a superior article to that manufactured at the present day. The demolition of the old “jug” is doing good to numerous workmen and carters who are employed in clearing off the materials.

 

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¹  The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 3 Aug 1888, p. 8.

²  The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Tue 14 May 1889, p. 2. Emphasis added.

³  Author’s note: Difficult to believe that marriage equality could have crossed the gentlemen’s minds.

⁴  The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Thu 13 Jun 1889, p. 2.

⁵  Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 27 Jul 1889, p. 13.

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