Untitled

Temuka Leader, Issue 1718, 31 March 1888, Page 4

MK JOHN OLLIVIER'S REMOVAL.

Mr John Ollivier presided for the last time at the Ashburton R. M. Court on Thursday morning. At tha conclusion of the business, Mr furnell snid as it was the last occasion on which Mr Olivier would preside at the Court, he had been asked by the other members of the Bar practising at Ashburton to express his own rind their deep regret at His Worship's retirement. While Mr Ollivier hid sat in that Court he (Mr Purnell) had itlwnys fait much impressed with the great ability and practical sagacity which His Worship bad brought to bear upon the cases submitted to him, and without wishing in any way to reflect upon the gentleman appointed to auocetd Mr Ollivier, whose acquaintance he had not yet had the pleasure of makiog, be (Mr Purnell) felt sure that it would be difficult for the Government to find Mr Ollivier's equal io these respects. They hoped that Mr and Mrs Ollivier had still a long and happy life before them ; and although the exigencies of the Government apparently reqndire Mr 01 livier's retirement from the post of Resident Magistrate, they trusted that the people of Canterbury would yet enjoy the benefit of Mr Ollivier's talents and experience in some other public capacity. Mr OJayton also expressed his regiet at Mr Ollivier's retirement. All persons with whom he had come la contsct deplored the loss of Mr Ollivier's service. Mr Ollivier expressed bis deep thank'B for the kind sentiments which had been expressed towards him, and he would leave the Court with very deep regret. He felt that to a certain extent he had been cruelly dealt with by the Government, bome time ago—before Mr Baddeley had been appointed here—he had been invited to attend the Court, «nd he made an offer which was practically accepted by the Government, but tl.ey shortly afterwards informed him that Ashburton wanted a Magistrate resident there, and eucb a Magistrate tbey meant to have, and under thue circumstance* he was asked to give way. When Mr Baddeley was removed, Government asked him (Mr Olivier) lo r»>oew his offer, and Mr Beeiham, Mr Whitefoord, and h'mself, were asked to confer as to wh«t should be done to fill the vacancies caused by Mr Baddeley going to another district. His offer was accepted. His position he might tell .tbem was honorary ; he never was a stipendiary Magistrate. He had acted as K.M. in Lyttelton for something like ten years, and he had never accepted any payment for his services. He sought the office of Magistrate Ht tout timo because he had not sufficient to do in his portion of auditor. He felt deeply for the manner in which thty had recently taken up the cudgels in his defence. When he received notico thut he would be removed froia here on the 31st he had sent word to Wellington, stating that if he were removed Lyttelton would be declared vacant the same day. He hoped Ashburton wouH not be treated the satce as Lyttelton had been. Th«re they were told that the justices would have to undertake the work of the Court, all Ihe superior cases to be t:ken to Christchurcb, »nd if they did not agree to this the Court would he clone'l altogether. This "onduct Mr Ollivifr characterised aa coercion, and he hoped Ashburton would not be treated in the sainewiiy, though he understood that io futute a Magistrate would only attend once a fortnight. He felt hurt »t the manner it which he had been treated by the Government. After thirty years' service of the pnbiic he, the other diy, received , three wetk*' notice (hit his services would bw abxoluiely dispensed with at Hie end of the present month Ab a milter of fact the Government h-id not the Biit'tllebt contro' over him, lie ho d his appointments fiom the Governor. flowf.'Vf-r, he had communicated with Sir Hirry Atkinson, ho -that the latter might get His Excellency to cancel the warrants him (Mr Ollivier). because he •<ould not consent to act for the Government again in any capacity whatever. If Goa granted him health, he trusted the day whb not far distaHt when he would again be a candidate for Parliament, and then he might make his voice heard in the colony. He again thanked the gentlemen of the bur for their expression of good will towards him.—Ashburton Guardian.