THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3177, 19 April 1871, Page 3

THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE INDEPENDENT. SlB, — I observe in a letter published in your papor of the sth April, bearing fche signature of "Wellington," the following sentence : — "Ifc is said that he (Mr Finni more) received some £100 for selling the Patea lands for the General Government, exclusive of advertising, fee., and fclmfc not having been employed by the Provincial Government on similar terms to sell the Mamwatu he has taken umbrage and therefoi'e his opposition." The writer continues— "Be this as ifc may, the electors care very little about such matters." Now I beg fo differ with your correspondent, and to assert thafc fche electors do care about such matters. Mr Finnimore is loud in his denunciations against the Government afc the way fche public money has been expended ; yet ifc does not appear that he made any objection to the receiving of this £100 for his commission. The same amounfc of land was sold the other day at Manawatu, by the Provincial Government, and tho cost for selling it was only £29. If Mr Finnimore is as patriotic as he would have v. believe he is, let him return the difference, (£371) to the Treasury. Ifc must be admitted, that £400 is nofc a bid day's work for a man, and that, it is awtully annoying to be disappointed when another such a haul is almost within your grasp. I remember Mr Pharaiyn in his place in the Provincial Council, when moving for a return of the expenses attending the lato Manawatu land sale, stating "That he thought it would be a much better phin to employ an ordinary auctioneer to sell public lands, as ifc would be found to be a le s expensive mode, certainly more so than sending up the staff of tbe Surrey Office. He had adopted the plan of employing an ordinary auctioneer to Bell the confiscated land he had recently put into the market, and the returns were considerably improved by so doing." Now, if Mr Finnimore got £400 for selling the Patea lands, ond the " sending up the staff of the Survey Office" cost on'y £29, I do not B?e tho gain that has been effected by the employment of an ordinary auctioneer ; nor does ifc augur well for economy in the future government of the province by the General Government, the latter incurring an expense of £400, and the Provincial Government getting the same service done for £29. — I am, &o, Common Sense. Featherston, April 15, 1871.