Page:The Present State and Prospects of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales.djvu/153

 grants for building places of worship, and aid for schools. There is a supreme court, presided over by a judge, who is appointed permanent resident judge at Port Phillip, but who is created first one of the puisne judges of the supreme court at Sydney, to which in certain cases an appeal lies. The court-house is a very creditable building. It is in the style of a Gothic house, and is built of fine sand-stone. It would have a good effect were it not overshadowed by the gaol, an ugly oblong building of a dark, dismal coloured stone, well enough for a gaol, but, by its juxtaposition to the court-house, destroying the effect of both. The courthouse is situated about a quarter of a mile from the town, already too straggling a place. Had indeed the system of concentration been applied to the town, instead of the country, it would, in my mind, have been better for both.

There is also a Court of Requests for the town of Melbourne and county of Bourke, presided over by a barrister. The jurisdiction of this court extends to causes of action not exceeding £10. The number of cases adjudicated on in 1843 amounted to 3163, involving property to the amount of £15,182. There are four newspapers in this town—one at Geelong, and two