The Palmerston North Supreme court, District Court, and Magistrate's Court are held in the local Court House, a substantial brick and plaster building, erected in the year 1899, to replace the former building, which was destroyed by fire in October, 1897. It contains complete accommodation for the various sittings of the Supreme Court and District Court, and possesses a Supreme Court library. Three sittings of the Supreme Court are held in the year, the District Court sits quarterly, and there are weekly sittings of the Magistrate's Court. The Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. A. D. Thomson, also acts as Registrar of the Supreme Court. Mr. C. J. Hewlett, Clerk of the Court, is Deputy-Registrar, Sheriff, and Clerk of the Licensing Committee.

Bell, Gully, and Cooper Barristers and Solicitors, Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North. The Palmerston North branch of the wellknown Wellington firm of Messrs. Bell, Gully, Bell, and Myers was established in the year 1902, with Mr. Cooper as local resident partner.

Mr. Harold Riddiford Cooper is the youngest son of Mr. G. S. Cooper, late Under-Secretary for the Colony. He was born in Wellington, in December, 1876, was educated at the Collegiate School, Wanganui, and was articled to Messrs. Skerrett and Wylie, of Wellington. He remained with this firm for six years, qualified as a solicitor in 1898, and as a barrister in the year 1900, and in 1902 joined the firm of Bell, Gully, Bell and Myers as resident partner in Palmerston North. Mr. Cooper is a member of the executive of the Chamber of Commerce, has been a steward of the Manawatu Racing Club for some years, and is also connected with athletic and social clubs. In the year 1902 Mr. Cooper married the only daughter of District Judge Haselden, and has one son.