CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 299, 18 August 1875, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Our columns are open for free ducueeion; but we do not hold oureelvee retpohsiblefor the opinions of our Correspondents. -4— s>: ‘ TO THE EDITOR. ’ Sib, —Permit me to draw attent-iort to the inconvenience resulting to the public by the absence of our Resiilgaf Magisliate, at various times on duties not-necessarily Appertaining ’to tn's office, but thrust’on him by the absurdity of the ‘‘ Native Lands Act, 1873,” requiring "ait signntuHWof Natives' fo'deeds-oF aKmatibn, to be attested by a Resident Magistrate. Well-this, of itself, "is bad enough, buj that' thußesidcnt Magistrate should be ordered by ‘W “Wvewnfflfflt w-’preceeft to a distsmes necessi'ating an absence of some days from his Magisterial, and other duties as District Medical Officer, to witness the signatures of Natives to transfers or leases to the Government, is, to rtiy mind, a gross misappropriation of public money. If, as the law stands, it is veoetfMy that such;.signatures should be witnessed by a Resident Magistrate, then let the Government appoint one whose sole duty shall be to witness .signatures, I daresay a person with suffioiept,intellect, for Ihat;mrpose might be had for about £l5O a year and histravelling expenses r but that a gentleman whose duty is to administer justice; should be; taken away at the ir.MJS »bfim and phasure of. the Government todo work thetahyschoolboy’ can do, is so monstrous that further comment it unnecessary. What would the Government say if Dr. Nesbitt was to absent himself from his duties, to witness signatures to a lease or other deed to a private individual ? Whv lhey. would naturully say, ” We pay you Be Resident Magistrate, muk >nlt.hoiigh it is true, all Native signatures to floods must be witnessed by a Resident Magistrate, still wo cannot-permityou to proceed on any signature- , hunting expedition except fpr ourselves." Then I contend the publie have a right to say tq (the Government, ”Wo find the money, an<r vote it. ’ fdr the performance of certain ditties and’ signature-hunting is not one of them.” —I am, &c., W. Wilfrid Wilson. Gieborrie, AngjJsM.6, 1875. . <!'... kju X ii stfiiE