AUCKLAND

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 11, 7 May 1845, Page 4

AUCKLAND

The Colonial Secretary.—We must confess we are frequently pained to witness the constant necessity that occurs for his Excellency the Governor to explain every little mat : t.r of account which the Council require. In other colonies the Colonial Secretary is the right hand man of the Governor, and all matters of detail are left to him ; but here, we are paying £600 to an individual who is uot only utterly inefficient for the office, but who really cannot explain the most trifling matter of account connected with his department. The Governor on Tuesday was obliged to take out of his hands the explaining to Mr. Whitaker some trifling matter connected with the contingencies. The garbled and unintelligible jargon the Doctor was labouring to offer Mr. Whitoker on the subject was ridiculous, No doubt Dr. Sinclair is an exceedidnly good ornithologist ; but we do not think the colony is in a situation to pay £600 a year for such a profession. We require an experienced practical man for a Colonial Secretary, and more especially when he is paid more than twice the sum for which an efficient person might be obtained, who would relieve his Excelled jy of a great deal of trouble and labour which he is now necessarily obliged to perform. We in common with the public regret this, as there is no doubt his Excellency has enough on his hands without having added to it the drudgery of the Colonial Secretary's duty.— Auckland Chronicle. If the Governor could but be an unseen hearer of the universal expression of public opinion upon the utter inefficiency of Dr. Sinclair for the office he holds, we verily believe his Excellency himself would be ashamed to retain him in his present situation. If the people are to be burdened with this gentleman at an expense of £600 annually, we do hope that his Excellency will at least use his authority to restrain the Doctor's supremely ridiculous efforts which he now and again makes in the Legislative Council: we cannot fail to perceive that they are almost as painful to the Governor as they are disgusting to the people. Perhaps the colonists would do well to petition the Home Government for his removal, and thus save the Governor the unpleasant necessity of asking him for his resignation.— lbid. Messrs. Heale and Whitaker.—These gentlemen made a.determined stand on the question of the Estimates, particularly the latter, who acquitted himself with great credit; but what availed his talented and strenuous opposition, when such noodles as Sinclair, Shepherd and Co., invariable form a majority. Surely the time cannot be far distant when the people will insist on a different state of things, when they will have a voice in the imposing of taxes. — Ibid. , Surveyors' Department.—What can be a more crying injustice than that the people should be burdened with the payment of £1,600 this department, and this in direct violation of the charter, which directs that the Survey Establishment should be paid out of the land fund. It is quite true that his Excellency stated he would not be bound by the charter. This, however, is not extraordinary, when his Excellency knocks down ordinances and charters as so many nine pins.—lbid.