ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 35, 16 December 1843, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the SoutJiern Cross: \ Sir, — Knowing that your columns are at all times open to the exposure of real abuses, more especially in these hard times to the unnecessary expenditure of public money. I have taken the libeity to inform you of the following facts :—: — | Some time since, our Police Magistrate was compelled to reside at Russell, a considerable distance from the scene of his duties, and in consequence hud to be supplied with a boat and boat's crew, which cost the Government nearly .£4OO per annum. .Representation of this having been made through the columns of the Bay of Islands Observer, Government graciously permitted the Police Magistrate to take up his quarters at Kororarika. One would have thought that the consequence attending this, would hive been the dismissal of at least a portion of the boat's crew, they being no longer required to pull him to and from Russell ; but no such thing has taken place ; at the present time, are to be seen five men (the boat's crew) loitering about the beach from week to week, having literally nothing to do, but still receiving their pay; even the boat, 1 have been informed, has been handed over to the customs, for the last three months. Three men out of the five now employed, are termed Constables (the Coxwain taking rank as Sergeant of Police) and are kept solely for the convenience of the Police Magistrate-, never doing duty as Constables in the town, and have in several instances, when called upon by the Chief Constable to assist him, refused : Such is the state of our Police here, that the Chief Constable in cases of riot cannot do his duty ; not being assisted by those who are paid by Government for that very purpose. We are supposed to have six Constables here, but where are they ? How are they employed ? Three to pull the Police Magistrate about the Bay, one is employed as Sheriff's Officer, another as Gaoler, and the Chiet Constable alone to do duty in the town. This is the manner the public are treated, who pay so heavily for protection. The Police establishment of Kororarika alone forms an item of upwards of .£l2OO per annum in the expences of the colony. Such shameful expenditure of public money demands an immediate reform ; and it is to be hoped that Governor Fitzroy on his airival, will look into the way the public money is expended, and where abuses really exist, will thoroughly purge them. Should you deem the foregoing facts worthy of insertion in your valuable paper, I hope it will produce a good effect. In conclusion, may I ask as a favor an answer to the following questions :—: — Ist. Why should the public be tnxed to support a boat's crew consisting of rive persons, who have not a boat ? 2nd. Is it absolutely necessary for a Police Magistrate to have in his retinue five men at an expence of four hundred pounds per annum to the public, for whom he has no employment ? 3rd. Are you aware that a Water Police Establishment exists in any portion of the colony ? I am, &c, JOHN BULL. Kororarika, November Cth, 1813.