THE NELSON EXAMINER. Saturday, May 15,1869. New Of The Map.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 39, 15 May 1869, Page 2

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Saturday, May 15, 1869. New Of The Map.

Journals become more necessary as men become more equal and individualism more to bo feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they serve only to secure liberty; they maintain civilization. Db TOCQUEVII.I.B, Of Democracy in America, vol. 5, 230. The Council with commendable zeal got through the Estimates during the present week, but there are two or three votes on which we should have offered a few remarks had our space permitted. In dismissing an officer of the General Government, and appointing his successor, the Council have placed themselves in a false position. Those members who voted for the dismissal of the Land Commissioner can know nothing of the duties of the Land-office, and most unwisely disregarded the warning given them by the Speaker, who has had opportunities of seeing what these duties are. The vote will simply bring ridicule on those who supported it. Another vote was the reduction made in the salary of the Engineer. So far from this being a saving to the province, it will, unless we are greatly mistaken, have an opposite tendency. The Engineer, as is well known, is not a man who observes office hours, but gives up to his duties much time that cannot be claimed of him. A zealous public servant receiving liberal treatment, is liberal towards his employers, and the gain is often on the side of the latter. This has been the case with Mr. Blackett. But it is not in human nature to return good for evil, nor can we expect the Irish reciprocity of seeing the benefit all on one side. We have no other object than the public welfare to serve, but a more ill-advised step than to disgust an important public servant like the Engineer of Public Works, could not have been taken, and we hope the Council will reconsider its vote before the Appropriation Act shall pass.