To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 302, 22 September 1855, Page 5

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

Sir,—-Tie case of Brittan v. Simeon has produced t'yo leaders in your columns,'and no sooner have the warnings which they gave died from our ears, than the unfortunate case of M'Cheane v. Andrews comes before the public. No one having read the articles to which I allude could over estimate the responsibility of the office o( Resident Magistrate, although it is reported that a certain individual of that fraternity did in a public room talk of the Supreme Court in a tone of nonchalance, and vaunt over tlie teirors of appeal with defiance. No one I say could be convinced other than that it was an'office no longer to be the sport of patronage, but one which must be occupied by a duly qualified person, not by a persou fresh from a sheep station, not by a Squire of the law, hut by a Gentlemen professionally educated. The exigencies of the public are such, that they must have a local court of judicature in which they can place confidence, not only so but which they can boast of, and the time has now arrived when they feel they must demand it. Who pays the "Resident Magistrate ? Does the Superintendent pay him out of his private purse ? No. But the public pay him, and the public would respectfully but firmly and un-hesita-tingly ask his Honor, Has the appointment in question been made entirely apart from political motives? for assuredly this is an appointment where the holder of the office ought to be perfectly disconnected with the contaminating influence and poisonous atmosphere of Canterbury politics. Let it be known we are not , living in the sixteenth century. Let it be known that no false delicacy finds accent upon the tongue of a colonist. Let it be known that there are still admirers of Cromwell(not Connell), and I say unless such flagrant violations of public trust, are not at once discontinued, the last days of the author of them will be worse than the first. 1 am, Sir, Your obedient servant, '" Cromweli. Counsellor. -lyttelton, 27th Sept., 1855.