MR JOHN QLUViER'S REMOVAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1802, 29 March 1888, Page 3

MR JOHN QLUViER'S REMOVAL

Mr John Oilivier presided for tha la *t time at the R.M. Court this morniu?. At the conclnaioa of tho business, Mr Purnell said »8 this was the last occasion on which Mr Ollivier would preside at the Gourt, he had bssn askad by the other members of the Bur practising at Ashbartoa to express h's own and their deep regretat Bis Worahlp'a retiteaidi 1 . While Mr Ollivier had Hat In that Oocrt he (Mr Purnell) had always felt mach impressed with tie gent übillt/ and practical sagacity which His Worship had brought to bear upon the oaeaß submitted to him, and wlthoat wishing ia any way to reflect upon the gentleman appointed to sucoeed Mr Cllivler, whose ecqaaintance he had not yet had the pleasure of making, he (Mr Purnell) felt snre that It would be difficult for the Government to find Mr OlHvler'a equal m these respects. They hoped that Mr and Mia Oilivier had etlll a long and happy life ; end although the exigencies of tho Government apparently required Mr Ollivler'a retirement from the post of Resident Magistrate, they trusted that the people of Canterbury would yet enjoy the beDefit of Mr Ollivier'a talents and experience m some other publio Cftpacl y. Mr Clayton a!ao expressed his regret at Mr Ollivier'a retirement. All persons with whom he had come m contact deplored the lobb of Mr Olllvler's services. Mr Ollivier expressed his deep thanks for the kind sentiments which had bean expressed towards him, and he would leave tha Court with very deep regret. He felt that to a certain extent he had been cruelly dealt with by the Govern* ment. Some time ago — before Mr Baddeley bad been appointed here— he had been invited to attend the Court, and he made an offer which was practically accepted by the Government, but they shortly afterwards informed him that Ashburton wanted a Magistrate resident there, and such a Magistrate they meant to have, and under these clronmstancaß he was asked to give way. When Mr Baddeley was removed, Government •sked him (Mr Ollivier) to renew bio offer, and Mr Baeth&m, Mr Whitefoord and himself) were asked to confer as to what should be done to fill the vacancies caused by Mr Baddeley going to another district. Hie offer, was accepted. His position ho might tell them was honorary ; he never was a stipendiary Magistrate. He had aoted as S..M. In Lyttelton for something like 10 years, and he had never accepted any payment for his services. He Bought the office of Magistrate at that time, because he had not sufficient to do m his position of andltor. He felt deeply for tha manner m which they had recently taken np the cudgels m bis defence. When ha received notice that he would be removed from here on the 31st ha had sent word to Wellington stating that if he ware removed, 'Lyttelton would be declared vacant the came day. He hoped Ashbarton would not be treated the same as Lyttelton had bean. There they were told that the Justices would have to undertake the work of tho Court, all the superior cases to be taken <o Ohriatchurch »nd if they did not agree to this course the Court woald be oloaed altogether This conduct, Mr Ollivier characterised as coercion, and he hoped Aahburtun would

not be treated Id tha came way, though he understood that m future a Magistrate wo aid only attend once a fortnight. He fef t hart at the manner In which*he had been treated by the Government. After thirty jeara eervice of the publio ho, the Other day, received threo weeks not'o3 that h's rer?lcoa vnuld be absolutely desponsod with at the ond tf the^ resent mouth Aa a matter of fact the Government had not the smallest control over him, he Let t his appointments from the Governor. However, be had communicated with Sir 'Harry Atk!n3on so that the latter might get hla Excellency to cancel the Warrants appointing him (Mr Olllvler), because ho would not oonnent to net for j&e Govefiamsnt again m any capacity whatever. If God granted him health, ha trusted the day Was not far distant when he would again be a candidate for Parliament, and then he misht make hie voice heard In the colony, He again the gentlemen "of the bar for their finteasion of wlU.toWardi him. v