THE COMBINATION OF OFFICES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XI, Issue 776, 5 December 1854, Page 3

THE COMBINATION OF OFFICES.

We have often heard the objection taken to the two offices of Superintendent and Governor being united in the same individual ; for that the one might, on some occasions, come into collision with the other ; and that the same person could not fairly perform these discordant offices. This objection has just received an extraordinary practical refutation, as the following case will prove. The facts, we have from an excellent source, and believe they may bo implicitly relied on :—: — The Resident Magistrate, Thos. Beckham, Esq., after a long service — upwards of a dozen of years— requested from his honor Colonel Wynyard, as Superintendent, leave of absence ; and to proceed to Sj'dney by the 'William Denny.' The Superintendent took the case into favorable consideration ; — acquainted his Worship that he was to be superseded in his office of Commissioner of Police by another person, and that the

required leave of absence would be granted. Preparations for leaving were at once begun, and had been going forward for a few hours, when to his infinite surprise, His Worship received another letter from Colonel Wynyard, in his capacity of Governor, stating that leave of absence could not be granted. To complete the farce, a letter wus sent — a°? we have been credibly informed— by His Worship, thanking His Honor Colonel Wynyard the Superintendent, for the leave of absence which had been so kindly granted ; but expressing regret that he could not avail himself of it, as Colonel Wynyard the Governor, had refused the indulgence. Yes, to such a state of child's play — worthy only of Punch and Judy — has our Government been reduced. Colonel Wynyard, as Superintendent, gives Mr. Beckham leave of absence ; but Colonel Wynyard as Governor, orders him to remain at his post. We heard a few days ago, of even a more elaborate display of the same political thimble-ringing, arising out of a request from the Provincial Council to the Superintendent, to procure if possible, from the commander of the Forces a party of soldiers to act as a guard near the" hard labor men from the jail. This appears a simple enough request as we have stated it, but to pass it through the official juggle will be found a matter of great difficulty. Let us try: — Colonel Wynyard the Superintendent, has to be requested to ask Colonel Wynyard the Governor, to ask Colonel Wynyard, the Colonel of the 58th Regt., to ask Colonel Wynyard, the Commander of the Forces for the necessary soldiers aforesaid. And the answer ought to be equally formal and elaborate, viz. : — Colonel Wynyard the Commander of the Forces requests Colonel Wynyard, the Colonel of the 58thltegt., to acquaint Colonel Wynyard, the Governor, that Colonel Wynyard the Superintendent, cannot be allowed a guard of soldiers for the hard labor men as aforesaid. We would just ask if it be possible for absurdity to go further? or if it be any wonder that the same person when .performing the duties of one office, should flatly contradict himsfelf, when he comes to perform the duty of some of the other offices. Is it possible for any one man's head to follow the one grain of sense through these -multifarious offices ? Or, in this political thimble rigging that the pea should be occasionally lost sight of altogether. Verily, the gullability of the people of Auckland is great.