THE COLONIST.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 184, 26 July 1859, Page 2

THE COLONIST.

NELSON, TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1859,

It would appear that it is our peculiar province to be appealed to when any abuse is supposed to be inflicted on a district. We say supposed for the mass of correspondence we receive generally takes a onesided view of any question; and aware as we are, that human nature is fallible, we consider it just possible that the other side of the question may have a reasonable answer. There is perhaps no monomania more prevalent than that of addressing the editor as " Dear £ir." In England, we knew many cases of persous who were continually writing to " The Editor of the Times," Sir Egbert Peel, Lord John Russell, &c, &c, in fact any person then in power. The various improve, rnents offered to the late Duke op Wellington with regard to army clothing and equipments would, we doubt not, if collected together, fill our office with a solid mass of writing, out of which the grain would be but little when the chaff "was winnowed away. A sea voyage does not cure these monomaniacs, and we have necessarily frequent occupation for a waste basket the more peculiarly so as the aggrieved usually favor our journal with their communications. In numerous cases we find, upon examination that the grievance is imaginary, or caused by some of those accidents of cause or effect to which a new country must always be liable. Cases arise not bearing on their face a similarity: to any that we have yet studied, and some measure is taken, which is then deemed satisfactory, though perhaps afterwards discovered not. to work well. The same thing has happened in England, where we should expect more careful legislation than here, in the particular case which has led to these remarks. There was formerly, and is still in some parts of the old country, a set of gentlemen who are made Justices of the Peace on account of their possessions, and not on account of their intellect. These were well named the Squirearchy. This has been found to work very badly, for not unfrequently have the Justices committed them, selves as ofteu as they have committed others. ( A country Squire, rank with anger against some offence where the Game Laws are affected, will

frequently forget the onerous position that ho holds, and leave the dignity of the judge, to take part in the virulence of an informer* There aro again others who, not recognising the responsibility of the office they have undertaken, abandon its duties; and of this class are the Motueka Justices of the Peace, if we can give credence to the statements which have been forwarded to this office. -]l It appears that the J.P.s there seem to consider the only duty attached to their office is to be reading their names as such in the Nelson Directory. We have cases forwarded to us in which after many.attendances at the Court House—or whatever place may be appointed for that purpose—those interested in the cases have had to leave time after time unsatisfied, as the J.P.s did not consider themselves bound to attend. Treatment like this is sufficient to make the residents there sore at the appointment of such a set of negligent and inattentive Justices. We will quote a passage from one of our correspondents on this subject:—" Of course I need not say the subject is a very serious one for an important district like this. What would be said if the same occurred in the city ?" No ono can doubt for a moment the force and accuracy of the above paragraph; and we have only to regret that press of matter has excluded the subject from our columns so long since the receipt of the various correspondence on the question. It has been found, and not strangely so, that a person perfectly uueducated in legal matters is not fit to give decisions in a Court; and that fact lias so far been recognised in England, that salaried magistrates are now appointed in most of the principal (owns. The country districts are still left to the tender mercies of the country Squire; and although they are not so sensual in behaviour, as in the days of Peebgrine Pickle and Tom Jones, they are far from being competent to deliver a judgment upon an intricate matter. Still, the desire to do so will redeem them from that, which seems to be the marked character of the Motueka baud, viz., utter inattention. Small need for those who never do their duty, to study how to do it. It is in their power to confer considerable advantages upon their brother settlers; and as they are all taken from the more independent classes of society, the more leisure would they have to attend to the local interests of the district. The very appointment carries with it some mark of general approbation, for we find the honor conferred, generally speaking, upon the most influential. If they view it simply as a sinecure, they should withdraw their names from the lisf, and not, in plain speaking, humbug the public, by appointing days of Courts, and absenting themselves altogether. If their time is so valuable, let them consider the value of the time wasted in—proceeding to —waiting at—and returning from a Court ineffectual because of their inactivity. Upon this occasion we shall dismiss the subject without any stronger remarks, and await further correspondence upon the matter. There has been of late a feeling roused, of opposition to tho lording manners and selfish proceedings of some who would assume to claim honor from our hands. The history of Nelson has not reached that period thai; we require " the oldest inhabitant" to refer to, as to past actions, and former public promises. It was said, but a few evenings ago, that public abuses would be exposed; and our correspondence from Motueka tends to that desirable end. A new energy is springing up, and the working bees will not for ever pay homage to the drones. If drones they be, let some others, who can and will perform the duties they are incompetent, or too inactive to attend to, exercise their functions, and the snarling cry that the working man and his representatives are checking prosperity will soon be dumbed. Wo shall then see that capital, inexpended amongst the producers of the returns, is not that wonderful blessing which it is lauded to be ; but that the strong arm of the artificer, who produces our daily wants, is of far more value. He supports, and is supported ; and with a mutual reliance upon each other the industrious and persevering will find that they can import the produce of more favored aud cultivated countries, and not see the results of their own hard work exported to swell the maw of some distant and accumulating speculators.