THE PROVIDENCE CASE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 23, 2 November 1871, Page 3

THE PROVIDENCE CASE.

OFFICIAL INQUIRY. At noon yesterday Mr Sheehan, tfie Goldfields Secretary, sat at the Court-house, Grahamstown, for the purpose of hearing any charges or complaints brought forward of misconduct or breach of duty on the part ot any Government officer, over whose office the Superintendent has control, in reference to the late Providence case. Mr Warden Fraser occupied a seat on the Bench. Having read the advertisement, Mr Siieehan said he was here for the purpose of holding the inquiry. Up to the present time, no complaints had been made to him, and he had now to ask was anyone present ready to come forward and make any charge. No one coming forward, Mr Sheehan said he would wait a few moments, in order that the fullest opportunity might be afforded for any charge or complaint to be made. After waiting five minutes, Mr Sheehan again repeated that he was ready to hear any one who had any complaint to make. No one responding, Mr. Sheehan said he should close the inquiry, but before doing so he had a few remarks to make. The Government desirous to preserve the strictest integrity in the public officers, and in consequence of various rumours which had been circulated, the following circular was addressed by the Superintendent to the .Warden in April last: — “ Superintendent’s Office, “Auckland, 6th April, 1871. “ Sir, —As various rumours haye been circulated affecting the integrity of officers in the Provincial Government service, I have the honour to request that you will be good enough to intimate to all persons in the Provincial Government service at the Thames that no one in the service will be permitted to hold, either directly or indirectly, any interest in any claim, lease, or goldmining company on the Goldfield, and that any breach of this regulation will ensure dismissal from the service. “ I have the honor to be “ Your most obedient servant, / ... ■ “Thomas B. Gillies, “ Superintendent. “The Warden, “ Goldfields Office, “Grahamstown.”

From the time of the issue of that circular, and up to the present time, the Government still continued t to bear this in mind. On this occasion shortly- after the Warden had delivered his decision in the Providenfce case, lie noticed in the news papers, statements, to the effect that there had been a breach of duty on the part of some Government officer in giving information to private parties. The Government officers here themselves took up the matter and requested that an enquiry should be made. The Government concurred, as they considered the request''a reasonable one, and at the request of Mr. Mcllhone, who watched over the interest of the natives in the matter of'miners’-rights, his'Office was included in the enquiry. Since his arrival here he (Mr. Sheehan) had himself made a strict enquiry. He had examined all the books m the various offices, and also every officer, from the Warden down to the messenger, and he had found nothing whatever to justify in the slightest degree the charge made. Nothing had been done, and no information had been given which any member of the public or Government offices would not be fully justified in doing or giving, and lie felt it only right to say tliat he had not discovered anything whatever to be attributed in the way of. blame to any officer on these goldfields, dn reference to the Providence case. It was only fair to add that, as regarded Mr Mcllhone, if there was any- degree of innocence in a matter where all were 'guiltless, he was the most innocent of all, for he had nothing whatever to do with the case, either as a private individual, or a Government officer, He (Mr Sh eehan was glad that this enquiry had led to such a satisfactory result. He hoped for the future, if such charges were made again, that an opportunity would be given for the charges to be investigated fully and fairly, so that the public might be fully satisfied, and tbe officers have the opportunity of coming forward to clear them-, selves of the charges made. Here no one had come forward with any charge at all, and he had not thought it necessary to call upon the Government officers to come forward merely to prove a negative. The practice of making charges idly and without proof against Government officers was one to be thoroughly deprecated. They were men who worked hard for very small-salaries, and were precluded from holding mining interests. He now declared this enquiry to have terminated. The following correspondence in reference to this subject has been handed to us for publication : - A QUEER CASE. To the Editor of the THAMES GUARDIAN. Sir, —In the Auckland Herald, of tbe Gtli instant, under the head of “ Thames Mining News ” occur certain remarks on the Providence Company’s ground, and the following in reference to the case then pending in the Warden’s Court, but since

decided :—“ As the Warden has adjourned the case, it would be unwise to make any remarks until after the adjudication, but as some strange rumours are afloat connecting the name of a gentleman or officer of the Government with it, I will withhold for the present, but at a future date I shall refer to the matter, as the case will not, I believe, end in the Warden’s Court." If there be any truth in the surmise of the Herald's correspondent (and we must remember that the surmise might have been quite correct, and yet nothing come out concerning it in Court) the matter should be enquired into strictly.—l am, &c., Miner.