GOVERNMENT PATRONAGE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1174, 17 November 1871, Page 2

GOVERNMENT PATRONAGE.

[EVENING POST. J The exercise of patronage by the Government is a fair and legitimate subject of enquiry by the Legislature, We are, Iherefore pleased that the manner in which the Government disposed of Mr Walter Buller and his " sparrow-skins," together with the Wanganui Resident formed the subject of debate on the estimates. As far as the debate has gone these facts are undisputed : Mr Buller applied to Mr Stafford, in 1867, for assistance to publish a book on New Zealand ornithology, and that his application was not even acknowledged; that towards the cloye of 1870, he renewed his application to the Colonial Secretary through Dr Hector, and offered his collection of birds to the Museum for ,£3OO. Dr Hector reported that they were not worth the money ; and that the collection consisted almost entirely of skins,, very few of which were mounted. However, on condition of Mr Buller giving twenty books to the Government Dr. Hector recommended the purchase to be made. Concuirently with this correspondence, Mr Buller applied for leave of absence to go to England to publish the book in question, and offered his services to the Colony in any capacity in which he could make himself useful, so that h<» might not be a pecuniary loser. He furthermore stated that he received as fees and other allowances .-£2OO a-year in excess of his salary of ,£4OO as Resident Magistrate, and Mr Gisborne agreed to give him ,£6OO a year, his duty being secretary to Dr Featherston, and correspondent of Dr Hector. He was also to receive £2OO passage-money, and eighteen months' leave of absence, On inquiry being made by the House it was found that Mr Buller had greatly exaggerated the amount of fees and allowances, and Mr Gisborne was convicted more than once of mis-statement, in his vain attempt to justify what was truly characterized as a " gross job." Mr Buller received £79 12s forage allowance at Wanganui, and that is to be paid whilst in England, together with imaginary sums for Sheriff's and Registrar's fees, which he falsely represented himself as receiving. Mr Bidler's fees as Registrar and Returning Officer, with the forage added, did not amount to £200; and he never received anything whatever as Sheriff, although causing heavy loss to at least one person through neglect of hu» duty Another feature of the case is this —■ that Major Edwards has been appointed Resident Magistrate at Wanganui, at a salary of £2OO a year, without forage allowance. The House was naturally indignant at this transaction, no one part of which can be justified. It likewise transpired that Mr Walter Buller is to make the grand tour of Europe out of the vote for the Flax Commission. He is said to contemplate a visit to,

Belgium, Silesia, and Russia, for the purpose of informing his capacious mind of the methods of growing and preparing textile fabrics, and reporting his obser vations to the Flax Commissioners of New Zealand. We protest against anj such abuse of the vote of Parliament. Mr Walter Buller is unfitted—no man more so—for the task assigned him by Jiis patronizing friends in the Government; and if it be considered necessary to svnd a . pecial from the colony to .xpcrt wpr><:. :he gro'vth of hemp and flax in Europaan countries, which we maintain it is :v)t, Jeb a man ol practical ability be selo:. : ,a:l. But Hssnmmgtbat Mr Walter Buller snakes the grand +.rvr of Europe, what is Dv Feathersi >n to do for his Secretary ? He must pay somebody else to do the work. And what is he to do while Mr Wa'tsi Bulie; keep* his terms •iit one of tbe I-?.ns of Court which is the real object- of hi,, \isi't r.o England ? We refrain fr.-m characterising this job by the language which alone would truthfully define it. Suffice it to any +hafc Mr Walter Buller has been sent home to England to study for the bar at an expense to the colony of £SOO in hard cash, a salary of JB6OO a year, and authority to visit Continental countries *o improve his mind, at. the expense of the overburdened taxpayers of New Zealand. Messrs Foil and Gisborne .appeared in an unenviable light before ■the country during these debates. They were convicted of a gross abuse of patronage ; and incidentally it was stated that even the papers laid on the table for the information of Parliament had been tampered with.