The press.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 130, 9 January 1867, Page 2

The press.

WEDNESDAY, JANPARY 9, 1867,

We have seldom read a more amusingly characteristic article than that which appeared yesterday in the Lyttelton Times. It is now well known that early in last week the proprietors of that journal sent in a protest to the Provincial G-overnment against Mr. Fitz Gerald continuing his contract as official printer for the current year, on the ground that he had since incapacitated himself from holding it by accepting the office of Comptroller. The question was immediately referred by Mr. Fitz Gerald to the G-eneral G-overnment, and on Saturday thedecision of the Attorney-General was forwarded by telegraph to the j effect that the protest against him was entirely unfounded, and that there was nothing whatever in the Act to prevent him, as Comptroller, from completing the engagement he had eater,' i i.iLo wit'll the Provincial Government. This opinion of so eminent a legal authority as the AttorneyGeneral the Lyttelton Times finds it convenient to ignore, and, repeating in varied phase the assertion that the two engagements are incompatible, takes the opportunity to indulge in the two-fold pleasure of singing its own praises as a jealous guardian of the public interest, and throwing out a swarm of insinuations against a political opponent. It has a great deal to say about the importance of the Comptroller's duties, the possibility of his being brought under Government influence, the unseemliness of a public officer being connected with both General and Provincial Governments ; and it is evidently by a resolute effort of Christian charity that it ventures to express a hesitating belief that Mr Fitz Gerald may possibly be innocent of any intentional violation of duty or wilful fraud, and may perhaps have been only a victim arts of some "less scrupulous advisers." "We should like to know why, if the public interests are so deeply concerned, nothing of this was said last week while the matter was under discussion. And why, if the Lytte Uon Times has any charge to bring .against Mr FitzGerald did it not say it out manfully to his face, instead of remaining silent till he was known to be safe in Wellington, and then attacking him behind his back ? The whole affair is a purely personal one. The proprietors of the Lyttelton Times were exceedingly anxious to get the Government printing, are mortified at losing it, and ready to adopt any means of wresting it from their successful rival. Besides, if this office could by any means be put out of the field they would be the only printers left to tender, and could get the contract at their own price. It was a capital speculation, and any move that was likely to bring it about may have been worth trying. But to profess that the strenuous at tempts made to remove the Government printing from this office were prompted solely by a desire for the public good is a flimsy pretence which will not blind the public themselves. At all events we do not remember to have been edified by any similar display of disin- j terested zeal for the public welfare when Mr Crosbie Ward was at the same time printer to the Provincial Government of Canterbury and PostmasterGeneral. We are a loss too to understand on what grounds our contemporary designates the acceptance of Mr FitzGerald's tender by the Provincial Government as the " perpetration of a job," or a "questionable manoeuvre." The Act says the Comptroller ehall hold "no other place of profit or any political appointment whatever " —the places of profit specifically mentioned being those of Members of the Executive and Superintendent. Clearly the Comptroller may, so far as the Act is concerned, carry on private business, as printer or anything else; and if as a printer he enters into a temporary contract with a Provincial Government, offered to public tender, his tender being the lowest, it is clearly absurd to call that accepting a place of profit, or to accuse the Government of perpetrating a job. The fact of the accepted tender being the lowest proves the absence of all jobbery. The matter, after all, lies in a nutshell. Our contemporary has got his facts by the wrong end, and thinks that Mr. FitzGerald was already Comptroller when he tendered for the printing, which is a mistake. He has the printing contract certain; that is past praying for; the only point is whether the fact of his holding that contract renders him ineligible for the Comptrollership. If it does, he has not been gazetted, and the appointment will not be made. The AttorneyGeneral says distinctly that it does not; our contemporary maintains that it does. But the question is one that concerns the General Government only, and in deciding it we suspect they will pay more regard to the deliberate opinion of the AttorneyGeneral than to the uuselfish remonstrances or even the personal imputations of the Lyttelton Times,

Oahthbbtjbt Bipeb Association. —The distribution of the prizes won at the late meeting at Hillsborough took place last evening in Latimer square. A general parade of all the Christchurch companies was called for half-past six at the Drill-shed, but owing to the unsuitableness of the hour it was nearly seven before the companies mustered in any strength. After the usnal drill the volunteers, under the command of Major White, were marched off to Latimer square, where they were met by the cavalry, and a hollow equare formed in front of the platform, put up for the convenience of the distributrix, Mrs Cracroft Wilson. Considerable interest was manifested in the event, and a large number of visitors were present. Mrs Cracroft Wilson having addressed the volunteers in a few happy remarks, distributed the prizes, which were placed on a table on the platform, each of the successful competitors being called from the ranks to receive his prize. After the prizes had been awarded, Major White returned thanks on behalf of the volunteers, and three cheers were given for the ladies and for the president of the society, F. A. Weld, Esq The companies then formed fours, and were marched past the platform into town. The following is a net of the winners of the different matches : —First match, competition for Mr Weld's prize—Not won. Second match, companies' competition —No. 6 Company. Third match, open to all members of the C.R.A. —Ist prize, Private Niemann ; 2nd prize, Sergeant Miller; 3rd prize, Private Inne9. Fourth match, open to all members of the Volunteer Foree —Ist prize, Sergeant Rule; 2nd prize, Captain Cook; 3rd prize, Sergeant Brown; 4th prize, Sergeant-major Drquhart. Fifth match, open to all members of the Volunteer Foree —Ist prize, Sergeant W. Wright; 2nd prize, Corporal Frew; 3rd prize, Sergeant Pavitt; 4th prize, Sergeant-major Urquhart. Sixth' match, open to all members of the Volunteer Foree —Ist prize, Ser-geant-major Allison ; 2nd prize, Corporal Frew; 3rd prize, Private Whale ; 4th prize, Sergeant Rule. Seventh match, open to all members of the Volunteer Force—let prize, Sergeant W. Wright ; - 2nd prize, Private Niemann ; 3rd prize, Corporal Berry ; 4th prize, Sergeant Papprill. Eighth match, open to members of the C.V.C. —lee prize, Cornet Slater; 2nd prize, Private Ayers ; 3rd prize, Sergeant Taylor. Ninth match, open to all members of the C.R.A.—lst prize, Captain Harman ; 2nd prize, Sergeant R. Wright; 3rd prize, Private Sowden. Tenth match, Chairman of the Association's prize—Sergeant-major Allison. Eleventh match, Consolation —Ist prize, Private Dixon ; 2nd prize, Private Shepherd. The Civic Election. —Messrs. Anderson, Hislop, and Wilson, it appears were proposed at the meeting yesterday without their consent. We hear however that all these gentlemen will go to the poll. Fibb.—About mid-day yesterday a house situated near the six-mile peg, the property of Mr Tisch, was burnt to the ground. The house was a long distance from any other, and was totally destroyed before any resistance could be made. The building has not been occupied for the last six weeks. It was insured in the London and Lancashire office for the sum of £400. The origin of the fire is unknown. Accident. — A eerioue accident happened on Monday to Mr Hedgoman, sen., whilst engaged in cutting timber in the bush just below Major Hornbrook's flagstaff. A tree in falling displaced a large boulder, which fell on him, fracturing his leg and one of his arms in two places. His groans attracted the attention of some children who were fortunately in the bush at the time, who gave an alarm, and assistance bsing obtained a stretcher was procured, and the unfortunate man was conveyed to the hospital.