Native Lands Court Judges.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 147, 27 May 1885, Page 2

Native Lands Court Judges.

' The Napier 2 T elegr<aph aays : — It isstated that the . Government have resolved to dispense with the services of three of the Native Lands Court Judges, and appoint three other gentlemen to the vacant offices. The retiring judges are said to be Mr H. T. Clarke, Mr L. O'Brien, and Mr E. M. Williams. Each of these gentlemen are entitled to retiring pensions of £300 a-year. Mr H. T. Clarke received his first appointment under the Government m 1843, holding the office of Civil Commissioner at Auckland, and afterwards of Resident Magistrate at Tauranga. Mr L. O'Brien entered the Government service m 1855, and was Registrar of the Supreme Court, and Revising Officer for the province of Auckland. Mr E. M. Williams was appointed Resident Magistrate of Waimate m 1861. Whether these three gentlemen retire from their present appointments of their own free will and accord we are not m a position to say. Neither do we know whether they have been superseded m order to enable the Government to exercise patronage. As we have said above, they will retire on pensions of £300 a-year each, and their places will be filled by others at i-600 ayear, the country thus losing £900 ayear. The gentlemen whose names are mentioned to fill the vacancies are Messrs .McDonnell, formerly well-known as Colonel McDonnell ; J. A. Wilson, of Tauranga ; and R. J. Gill, of the Native office.