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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 4, Issue 192, 25 May 1861, Page 5

To Hie Editor of the HawTce's Bay Herald,

Siu, — In reading the JZawlte's Bay Herald of last weel» I observed under the Estimates, Police Inspector £140, wherein it appears Mr. Laserre, the former Paymaster of Roads, seems to be strongly recommended to the situation jointly with that of Paymaster. Mr. Tucker endeavours, feebly, to assure the public that there is no objectiou to or complaint against the present Inspector, yet questions his education, and believes the Paymaster, both from experience and education, the better fitted of the two ; and he also adds that it would be a considerable saving to the public purse. Now, I think what may be wanting in education on the one part by the present Inspector, will be equally wanted in time and attention on the other part. If Mr. Laserre is up the country as Paymaster, he cannot be in town as Inspector; so, to save the public money, he must haye a Sub-Inspector to do his work, he, Mr. Laserre, receiving the honor and pay only. This strange amalgamation of offices .must truly be under the rose, irrespective of the public or public purse ; it might be called by another name, say " Ingenuity." It scents very fortunate the present Inspector has other views as stated by Mr. Ormond, a recommendation for a bush license. Had he been solely depending on his situation, it must indeed have been very humiliating to have his failings so embellished after disposing to the best of his ability, and without any just fault his duty. "Why not have seen his defects before, not engage a man to a high duty and in a few short months disgrace him. What assurance have any Government officers for the future, even with their diplomas. A change of the weather- cock, and the wind is altered. If the Council would act with more straight-forward-ness and less duplicity in masters generally, their constituents would rest satisfied.

Better and more honorable, and more pleasantly on all sides, to have called the Inspector into the office and stated thus—" I wish, my dear friend, you to assist a relative of mine by throwing up your situation, as I wish him to take it, he being short of employment, and you about entering business," — I doubt not a candid answer would readily have been given, and that answer — " with pleasure, sir." Such simple plans as these would save much trouble and altercation, which too frequently do not improve- by being prolonged, O. MO'EES.

To the JEditor of the Hawke's Bay Herald. Snt,— You will much oblige me by allowing me to contradict agross misrepresentation made by Mr. "Worgan in your issue of the 11th inst. Mr. "Worgan has kindly stated that the gentleman who proposed him abstained to record his vote in his favour. How Mr. "W. arrived at such a conclusion I cannot understand ; and if Mr. W. was the only person to consider in the matter I should not trouble you- with this note, but beg to inform your numerous readers- that the Petane List will give the lie to the charge. Hoping, for the future, Mr. W. will first learn the truth, and make the statement afterwards, I am, &c. G. CHABLTON. Meanee Spit, May 20th, 1861.

To the JEditor of the Smoke's Bay Herald. Sib,— Can you inform me whether Mr. H. P. Stark really intends to resign tho seat in the House of Representatives he obtained under false pretences, in accordance with the terms of his written reply to the requisitionists ? or whether, as he is reported to have said repeatedly out of doors, he will see the electors d first? Yours, &c., ONE (XF THE REQTJISITIONISTS.' [OuE correspondent should address Mr. Stark himself. We can give him no information. — Ed.]

To the Editor of the HawMs Bay Herald. * Srß— Seeing that, during the last session of the Provincial Council, one of .the members of the present .Jixecutive— then m the opposition— prated perpetually about retrenchment and economy, and bitterly inveighed against the present government for thwarting his efforts m this, direction,— it was not too much to anticipate that, when ho himself cameinto power, he would reduce to practice the very proper and correct opinions he formerly enunciated, instead of which, the extravagance of the government with which he is connected has been unbounded. Many of the formerly over-paid officials have had an increase voted to their salaries ; and not a word has been heard of retrenchment except in relation to useful public works, many of which had been cat down considerably. It is an undoubted fact that Government clerks, who work, or pretend to work, about Jive hours a day, are paid nearly double the salary that a merchant would pay the same persons for working nine.

And what will "be thought of those whom Dr. Hatchings very properly calls "the pensioners of this blessed government •" or, rather, of the conduct of the powers that be with reference to them. An officer who, for many months, has not, according to Mr. J. D. Ormond, worked more than one day out of six, although all the time drawing a large salary, is— discharged of course. No ; but another officer, one with whom no fault has ever been found, is discharged to make room for him I /•hen, again, a draughtsman, for whose services the Chief Surveyor long since declared there was no use; is voted £50 as salary for his nominal services in that capacity to the 30th June; after, through the independence of the Provincial Engineer, an attempt to foist him upon that department had failed.

Tours, &c, ECONOMIST.