LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 705, 27 January 1855, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Sir — I have been reading the debates upon the supplementary estimates, and am disgusted to see time so frittered away in squabbling upon petty points, while the public good is allowed to go to the wall. No one appears to deny the necessity of the office of Resident Magistrate ; it is not a sinecure, nor an office which might remain in abeyance for a time without injury to any one, but a really useful appointment, and the suspension of whicb, would cause an entire stoppage of many important functions of the province ; amongst othere, no Jury List could be made, and therefore no sittings of the Su> pretne Court coulu take place ; ■no publican's licenses could be issued, &c, &c. The"rexed question " seems to be, how and by whom ia this important functionary to be paid? Last session I think the debate was perfectly legitimate, and for one, I should have been delighted to have seen the expenses transferred from the Provincial list, to the estimates of the General Assembly, biit how\is it that after all the debates that took place in tnta province, when the sum was actually plsced (upon the estimates of the General Assembly it wad afterwards struck off? Dr. Monro , who was a principal objector to the sum being placed on the Provincial List, is also a member of the General Assembly, wby did he not in bis place there endeavour to get the thing settled and.to set the question at rest ? He does, not tell us why the sum was not allowed to remain upon the estimate?, but says, the best plan would be for the province to disgorge the sum received for fines and fees, and then perhaps the General Government would pay the past expenses of tbe department. It appears that tbe first Ministry had this idea, but why was it not carried out? We know that the " Crisis " made sad bavoc among their plans, but still a question bo important to the province should not have been overlooked, and I think the public has a right to ask of its representatives in the General Assembly why they did not bring tbe question to a settlement. The public neeras placed like the unfortunate individual of old, who between two stools found himself upon the ground ; both Councils refuse to pay the salary of the appointment, and therefore tbe affairs of the jrovince may go to destruction until the dispute is settled. How is it that the estimates for the Harbour department was allowed ? The Provincial Council has no control over that branch of the sarvice, and yet

the expenses are voted. Is it not the business of the Council having such large sums of money at their disposal to take care that everything required by the province, and not provided for from other source, should be properly maintained ? The public is getting tired of so much didactic babbling, and would like to see b little Common Sense.