CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 31, 30 January 1862, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Hawks's Bay Times.

Sm, —The new policy of the Governor, in reference to native lands, the prompt advan-

tage already taken by two or three of the more eager, and perhaps I might say the more unscrupulous of our community, the past culpability of some of our magistrates, call for the serious consideration of the public. I trust, sir, you will spare me space in your journal for a few remarks on the latter portion of the subject. The farce, if not fast becoming tragical, has at all events long ago become nauseous. The imbecility of Government in not having for months, if not years, enforced obedience to the law is now being felt, and no wonder if the confidence of the people is lost. Magistrates have transgressed, and no punishment has followed. Colonists of New Zealand! a statute has been broken by the Justices of the Bench of tire Province of Hawke, and they have neither been suspended nor wholly removed from the Bench! Englishmen at home 1 lovers of justice everywhere ! gentlemen expressly appointed to see the law respected, have themselves grossly transgressed , but no retributive punishment has followed ! Yes ! Hawke’s Bay boasts the disgraceful preeminence—that throughout the Queen’s vast dominions—her continents, islands, and provinces, in Hawke’s Bay only her English bred magistrates have broken the law, and are now enjoying the profit of their wrongdoing ! Sir, I should feel very much grieved if I thought that any other feeling than indignation at this gross outrage upon public feeling and opinion actuated me to offer these remarks, but it is not palatable for one Englishman to appear upon any charge before another who had openly transgressed a statute of his country, and had not been called to account. If such a wrong could be aggravated, it would be to know that the culpable justice was in receipt of the public money, no matter for what, worse if for nothing at all; but I contend that a man in receipt of his country’s money, and holding a commission of the peace, is, beyond all other men, bound to respect to the. very letter all the statutes of his country. The foregoing remarks have been prompted by the reliable information I have received that there is a gentleman in Hawke’s Bay who is in receipt of about <£3oo a year, besides contingencies. The wmrk performed for this sum is of the most nominal nature ; in fact the money might be saved, and the country as efficaciously served. This gentleman, in addition to his office, has added the healthy occupation of a sheep-farmer—a very honest and commendable employment when legally carried out. Until lately, the law said no English subject should rent or lease native land, and that any person making payment to natives for depasturing sheep, &c., did an illegal act. The gentleman to whom I now 1 particularly refer is a justice, whose function it is to endeavor to keep all English law' inviolate. Now, sir, it is pretty generally known that this person is included in the category of delinquents,— that he has sat upon the Bench and adjudicated upon a case when he himself has been a transgressor ! I hope, for the dignity of the Bench, —I hope, for the honesty of the Government, that this will be inquired into. What! one man to be made to appear before another, and both guilty ! Forbid it, Heaven ! Magistrate and transgressor personified! Well, Truth is stranger than Fiction. Napier, Jan. 22, 1862.