Mr Wardell.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1821, 16 April 1886, Page 2

Mr Wardell.

Thb Evening Post recently gave currency to a rumor that Mr WardeU—who has lately been very ill—was about to resign his position as Resident Magistrate at Wellington and retire on a pension. Ur Wardell has since positively denied that be has any intention of retiring from bis position, and adds that he will probably soon be able to resume his official duties, seeing that his health is rapidly improving. We sincerely trust that Mr Wardell may continue to hold bis post ae R M. at Wellington lor some years to come. Still, it cannot be denied that the work required of Mr Wardell is intolerably heavy tor a man of his age. In truth, the holder of the position of Resident Magistrate at Wellington is worked like a galley slave. Year by year the civil and criminal business of the Resident Magistrate’s Court there has gone on rapidly increasing until it is now far too heavy lor any one man to manage. There ought to be an assistant Resident Magistrate at Wellington, and the work could then be divided between two men. There is something fatal connected with the office of Resident Magistrate at Wellington. The overwork killed bright,' kindly, and able Mr Mansford, who sank under its pressure and died after a brief illness. The same overwork laid aside Mr Hardcastle, who got sick leave, tried a voyage home, and finally came back to the colony to die. We have no doubt at all that overwork has had much to do with the illness of Mr Wardell. If that gentleman cau have an assistant Resident Magistrate to take part of his work he may get on very well for a few years yet. Blit should Mr Wardell hold on to bis post and do the work single handed, we very much fear that his health will permanently break down under the strain. It is a crying shame on the part of the Government that the best men should thus be called upon to sacrifice health and life itself in trying to perform excessive and unreasonable official work.