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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 33, 13 February 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

To the Honorable the Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay, in Session assembled. The Petition of the undersigned humbly sheweth, That on the 18th December last ho was informed, for the first time, on good authority that Mr. Gill the Provincial Engineer intended to resign his appointment, and that His Honor the Superintendent was in communication with Mr. C. Weber, with a view to.appointing him his successor. That your petitioner believing he had a prior claim to the appointment immediately made application for it.

That His Honor the Superintendent expressed some surprise at the application and stated that he wished it had been made a fortnight earlier, at the same time informing your petitioner that the appointment was still in abeyance, and that any written application would be received, and your petitioner accordingly addressed the following letter to His Honor:—

” Napier, 18thDecember,!SGI. “ Sir, —Being informed that Mr. Gill intends to re ign his office and return to England, I beg to solicit tho appointment of Provincial Engineer. “ Before removing from Wellington to Napier I was given to understand at that time (August, 18511) that Mr. Gill intended to leave New Zealand within six months, and that I should then obtain the appointment of Provincial Engineer ; but finding eighteen months later that it was st : " uncertain when Mr. Gdl would leave, and that there was not full work for both of us, I proposed to take charge of the works within my district for half pay on condition that I was allowed at the same time to undertake private work, and this Your Honor is aware was agreed to ; but now that Mr. Gill has resolved on leaving I beg to offer myself as a candidate for the office—at the same time from the nature of my present employment under the Government, I naturally expected the offer of this appointment whenever it should become vacant.”

I have &c„ —Your petitioner having received no reply to the fore going, on the IGth January enquired of His Honor the Superintendent, whether tho said application had been taken into consideration, and was informed in reply that on the 7th December the appointment had been offered to Mr. Weber, who had subsequently expressed his willingness to accept it, and that His Honor intended to appoint Mr. Weber Provincial Engineer as soon as Mr. Gill resigned.

Your petitioner humbly submits that the prospect of succeeding Mi*. Gill in his appointment of Provincial Engineer was the chief inducement to him to remove to Napier from Wellington. That his appointment as Director of Works places him next in gradation to Mr. Gill. That by appointing Mr. Weber Provincial Engineer and passing over the claims of your petitioner, an imputation is cast upon his character and abilities, which he hopes his conduct has not merited.

That ITis Honor the Superintendant never expressed any dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Works, or complained that your petitioner had in any way neglected his duty, and by expressing regret that he had not made earlier application for the appointment admitted indirectly that there was no ground of complaint against him. His Honor states that the offer was made to Mr. Weber under the impression that your petitioner would not accept it, and was desirous rather to withdraw from the Government service altogether: but your petitioner is ignorant of having said or done anything that could be so construed except that he volunteered, about 15 months ago, a reduction of his salary, because he was not fully employed ; and this can hardly be fair ground for refusing him full employment and full pay now that a vacancy has occurred.

To the objection that application was not made in time, your petitioner states that ho did not delay a single day in applying for the appointment after ne was credibly informed that Mr. Gill was going and relying on his appointment as next in office to that gentleman, expected to be informed of the vacancy whenever it occurred, and to receive the appointment to which your petitioner believes he has a rcsonablo claim ; and having briefly stated the grounds of such claim, humbly submits the case for the consideration of your Honorable Council.

Your petitioner therefore humbly prays your Honorable Council to take the foregoing statement into consideration, and grant him such relief as in your judgment shall appear fit. And your petitioner will ever pray.