The “Government Gazette"

Auckland Times, Volume 2, Issue 54, 23 January 1844, Page 2

The “Government Gazette"

For Saturday last, contains the following appointments, notices, &c. &e.: First -By virtue of the recent Supreme Court Ordinance, the Colony is divided into the North and South districts, with separate jurisdiction. Appointed to the Northern—William Martin, Esq,, Chief Justice; to the Southern --Henry Samuel Chapman, Esq., with a Circuit Court at Nelson, to be held on the Ist of April and Ist of October, in each year. His Excellency the Governor has appointed Major Bunbury to conduct the duties of the Government during his temporary absence. John Jermvn Symonds, Esq,, is appointed additional Police Magistrate for the Southern district. S. E. Grimstone, Esq., is to be Secretary to the Government for the Southern district. Andrew Sinclair, Esq., Colonial Secretary, James Coates, Esq., Clerk of Councils, and R. A. Fitzgerald Esq., Registrar of Deeds, are appointed Commissioners, pro tem, to examine the public accounts of the Colony. His Excellency causes it to be notified that Government salaries, fyc, will in future be paid quarterly. JSome notices in reference to the form of issue of Land Grants are also published. We "understand that in the issue of a Grant for a claim to Mr. J. S. Polack, a reservation of droits of the Crown has been re-introduced. Surely there must be some mistake in this. It was very well to make such reservation in New South Wales.where formerly settlers were invited to accept of the waste lands of the Crown, with a liberality as wide as the heart could desire, and much wider than sound discretion would have permitted*

bat after a grant has been awarded in acquittal of an investigated claim, or where a title is given in acknowledgment of purchase and payment, the reservation of " rights " of the Crown cannot be seriously contemplated. The Crown has no right, title, or interest in the matter, - saving only, the power of pronouncing judgment through the Commissioners. If lands, bona fide the property of the Crown, be sold, subject to tnese regulations, that is anothermatter : - Caveat emptor ! —they won't "find many purchasers and the Crown may keep lands, rights, and all. This matteris a serious novelty; and if it is really contemplated, application should be made to trie Supreme Court in Equity, and failing redress there—to the legislate Several changes among the Government officers, besides those Gazetted, have taken place, Mr. Tucker is to be c'hief clerk of the Audit; Mr. Turner goes to the Post office; and Mr.'Conneli is to try his hand under the Colonial Treasurer.