The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, MONDAY, NOV. 13, 1865.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 787, 13 November 1865, Page 2

The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, MONDAY, NOV. 13, 1865.

Although the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce is about the most useless and slowgoing body of its kind, it now and then makes a spurt in the way of doing or •attempting to do something—and, singularly enough, makes a mess of almost everything it takes in hand. It has at times fussed a good deal about the tariff, the Panama route, and a few other things, but nothing has resulted, and -we shrewdly suspect the General Government have an idea that the Dun edin Chamber is composed of a lot oi talkative people, who are not worth caring about. We ask our readers if they can remember any really useful thing that has emanated fro n or been initiated by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce ? We cannot remember any occasion on which the Chamber has taken any action even on public questions, except at the direct instance of the Daily 7 nn-<s. If our morning contemporary comes out with a leader ©n any important question in which the

mercantile community have any interest, and winds it np by calling upon the Chamber to do something, straightway a meeting is convened by the indefatigable secretary, and some half-dozen members are got together, and they pass certain resolutions and there the performance closes. In nine cases out of ten the resolutions of the Dunedin Chamber might quite as profitably be employed in lighting the cigars of their framers for all the influence they have exerted on the commercial affairs of the province or colony. Once or twice, however, the Chamber has apparently made itself felt, and one of these occasions regarded the appointment of the extra Resident Magistrate in Dunedin. It will be remembered that the General Government, in the first instance, prosed to appoint, or did appoint, the Hon. Mr Coutts Crawford, a Wellington gentleman of irreproachable character, learned in Geology, but ignorant of law. The Dally Times protested very properly against the appointment of an unqualified person to such a post of importance, and called upon the Chamber to memorialise the Government, The Chamber, of course, did as the Times bade it, and the result was that Mr Crawford’s appointment was cancelled or abandoned. After this, there was some talk of Mr Heggitt receiving the appointment, but the paltry salary proposed to be given him, induced him to decline the honor. With the last stage of the matter the public have been 'made acquainted during the last few days, and it is with regard to the unjustifiable impertinence of the Chamber that we have now to make a few comments. It appears that on its being rumored that the Government had some intention of appointing Mr Mansford the Resident Magistrate at Port Chalmers to sit three days a week in the Court of extended jurisdiction at Dunedin, the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce disapproved of the plan, and met for the purpose of giving expression to that opinion. Instead of calling a meeting of the members, the Committee assumed to themselves the right to pass a resolution, objecting to Mr Mansford’s appointment, on the alleged ground that “ he did not possess the confidence of the community.” Apart from the sublime impertinence of such a resolution emanating from some half-dozen self-opinionated men, it is a most unwarranted slur upon the reputation of a public officer who has hitherto faithfully and efficiently performed the duties of his office. Mr Mansford can alibi’d to disregard this undeserved attack which, like most of its kind, has only served to evoke strong public censure of its originators. The respectful attachment and approval of the inhabitants of Port Chalmers is a conclusive proof of the falsity of the assertion that he did not enjoy the “ confidence oi the community.” Bat Mr Mansford is a public officer occupying a responsible position, and the public have a right tc leain by what authorhy the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce has libelled him, and for what reason. Mr Mansford’s magisterial duties have of necessity involved many important in commercial and maritime law ; and we are unaware that exception has been taken to them. On the contrary, we believe that, legally regarded, Mr Mansford’s decisions are supported by the opinions o' the profession. The attack on him by the Chamber of Commerce appears to be purely gratuitous ; it is we venture to say not supported by public opinion, and w( ire at a loss to conceive its purport. I the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, for reasons of their own, disapproved of Mr Mansford’s appointment they would have been perfectly justified in resolving that they disapproved. Unlit is a very improper thing for a few indi s'ldnals, who even collectively form but a small section, to arrogate to themselves the opinions of the whole community. I : the members of the Chamber of Commerce,

collectively and individually, have the slightest, spark of gentlemanly or honorable feeling, they will record an apology to Mr Mansford for the undeserved and gratuitous insult they have inflicted upon him.