The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 404, 1 March 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1879.

A nice little job Ims narrowly escaped being unearthed in Wellington. The curious public had just caught sight of a something and began to be suspicious, when the Government officers rushed in and hastily slopped the excavations. Last month the Government called for certain tenders for upholstery, furniture, &c., required by the public service. Mr Carl Peters, upholsterer, and several others, tendered. These good people were justly indignant to find that the contract was given to an ironmonger, who, by the way, was formerly a clerk hi w'ic Tt turned out that the quondam clerk had been, recommended by Mr Burrows, the Colonial Architect, as the fittest person to do the work, and that the tenders were not published and could not be seen. The clerk —ironmonger—what-not, by name McCredic, bad had the same contract last year, and had, according to other men in the trade, scamped the work, supplied flax for horse-hair, and charged above current prices. Mr Peters bad recourse to Sir G. Grey with his complaint. He was met by the Premier’s private secretary, who declared Sir George was . desperately busy, and who volunteered to see the whole matter right. But Mr Peters would not take * no’ for an answer, and after a hard fight got at Sir George, who had the complaint put in writing. After a fortnight’s silence it was intimated to Mr Peters that there would be an enquiry. The commission consisted of Mr Burrows and Mr Elliot. A day was appointed, and Peters and his witnesses and counsel repair to the Government buildings, only to he told that the enquiry would not be held that day, as Mr McCredie had gone out shooting 1 Mr Peters complained of the expense ho had been put to, and of receiving no notice, hut was told he had incurred the expense and must pay it. Several days passed, and on Tuesday morning the case came on, Mr Peters being a foreigner, had brought with him Mr Olivier as counsel to conduct his case. He was informed, however, that the commission had decided not to allow counsel. Mr Olivier explained that lie was only there to elicit facts that might be material to the case, thinking ol course that it was the object of the commission to hear the facts of the case. But Mr Elliot replied that they had talked the matter over, and had decided not to go on if counsel were present. He was of opinion that had Mr Peters been better acquainted with the language, he would not have brought forward his grave ■charges. Mr Peters being unable to go on with the case, the enquiry broke down—was in fact stifled. Now we are not behind the scenes in this case, but wc cannot but note the partiality of the commission, and the evident desire to shirk investigation. It is natural enough that Government officials should wish to screen and defend one another, but this is the principle out of which Boss Twecdism springs, and which leads to the disgrace and rain of any country that does not crush it in its first manifestations. It is pretty certain that this high-handed officialism will not be tolerated in New Zealand. The public service does not exist for the sake of those employed in it, but for the public; and if the public wishes to check the growth of swindles and to retain some control over its own affairs, it will do well to make some noise over flagrant cases like this, instead of leaving one citizen to fight it out at his solo cost. ‘ Flax is a very good thing,’ said an official when Mr Peters complained of its substitution for horsehair. “ A little flax is a very good thing, Mr Peters,” Yes, sir, and so is a little hemp. .