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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3199, 15 May 1871, Page 2

We notice a silly little effusion in the " Evening Post," iv which our splenetic contemporary falls into his usual error —of laying at Mr Fox's door, or of that of his Ministry, the acts of Mr Stafford. He tells us that the Militia Office and Resident Magistrate's Court lately held at Rangitikei are now removed to Mr Fox's pet Marton. It so happens that there has been no removal at all. The Militia Office bas for a long time past been at Marton, and was fixed there, we believe, by Major Marshall, commanding the district during the Stafford Government, because it was the most central and most important position in his district. As to the Resident Magistrate's Court, for years past alternate sittings have been held at Marton and Bull's, and were so held long before Mr Fox took office, the arrangement resting, we believe, with Mr Buller, R.M-, and no change having taken place at all that we have heard of. As to the railway line, which it is rumored will cut Mr Fox's estate into segments, we have already made some cursory remarks. Further enquiries only show that the insinuation that Mr Fox's interest is as much consulted as that of the public is as contemptibly stupid as it is malicious. We should think that it will not be very pleasant for a gentleman who has been expending money for many years in making paddocks, fencing and cultivating according to his own fancies, to see all his plans and favorite schemes so rudely disconcerted. But this we do see, by looking at a map, that it will be a very much better line than if it went by " Bull's," where it would open up only sandhills on one side, and skirt the sea shore instead of opening up the extensive block towards the hills. But at any rate we will guarantee that Mr Fox had not and will not have a voice in deciding the bearings of the line, which like all others will depend upon the decision of Mr Blackett, the head of the Government staff. Our contemporary had better say at once that that gentleman is a tool in the hands of members of the Government, for the purpose of giving them jobbing advantages and improving their private estates. That of course is what he means ; why does he not say it, and not insinuate it in a cowardly fashion ? He has, we observe, made some progress in his recent researches into the law of libel, and he is likely very soon, we understand, to learn a little more experimentally. As his knowledge of it improves, we hope to see a corresponding improvement in the tone of his articles ; yet one would think that bis recent attack upon a private gentleman having involved him in an expensive lawsuit, that he would have waited till he got it settled before venturing to insinuate that a gentleman like Mr Blackett would so disgrace an honorable profession and so prostitute a high official position.