To the Editor of the Evening Star.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3585, 23 June 1880, Page 2

To the Editor of the Evening Star.

Sib,—You hare at last unearthed this famous petition agaiust our respected E.M., for which you deserve the thanks of the public, as also for your exposition of the deceit practised ia gettmsj signstures, and with your permission I will suggest replies to the grounds of objection you publish :—l. In case he did try to deprive (which I don't admit) the Inspector of Mines of the office of Inspec tor of Coal Mines, there may be good reasons for so doing. The same man might not be able to perform the duties of both with efficiency to the public service. I have no doubt his time could be fully occupied in the performance of his duties on these goldfields. As Inspector of Coal Mines he must. necessarily neglect his duties on the several goldfields to which he is appointed, and* if deprived of that appointment, he could not comolain, as the E.M. recommends he should hold the appointment of Inspector of Miners' Lights, the duties of which wouldcomeproperlywithinhis jurisdiction. 2. If be triad to deprive the inspector of Miners' Ei:;iits of his appointment, he performed a meritorious action, bat it is well known Campbell did that effectually on bobilf of the native owners—then why accuse the E.M. ? But, admitting for argument's sake that he did, surely it was his duty to bring under the notice of the Government any abuse of office coming under his notice within lisdepartment. Is it to be said that.an inspector of Miners' Eights, by the use of fcii assuned "discretionary power" can allow men to defraud the Government for 3 or 4 years, though in constant work P He might as well have allowed all miners a free pass. It is well known bis friends, shgle men, were allowed by him to work witnout rights, but woe betide the man he had a down on—he must take his month in gaol, be he ever so unable to pay his pound, and Irs family left destitute. 3. If he attempted to remove G.; N. Brassey as Coroner (the petition does aot say which Coroner) he did perfectly right. It has been a mystery to the respectable inhabitants however any Minister could have appointed so unfit a man in every . way to the office, so that he would be doing nothing but his duty in directing . the attention of the Government to the fact. 4. All Magistrates have a perfect right to comment on the way professional men conduct their cases in Court, espe* - cia"y if they imitpla the warblings of the • Au&Lralian laughing jackass, or exhibit tne antics of the monkey. As a judge he is required to keep order i \ his Court. 5. If he leaves bis office frequently at one o'clock, he is but human, and must be expectt d to require his lunch aa well as Gr. -N. Eras gey, but he can never be found , in pubHc-house parlors discussing the merits of cases then pending in bis Court, md trtlag instructions how to decide, nor is he seen staggering about the town in a state of inebriety.' 6. As io bis eccentric views on the Licensing question, he is but a unit of that Court, and his eccentricities, if any, are most probably stared by (he four commissioners who sit with' h.-m, or are overruled by the majority. 7. I presume the "wrnt of legal knowledge" referr:! to is that of G. N. Brass&y's. For this he is to be , commended—Jhat gentleman being so lamentably deficient in tuat commodity, &l 1 the cases refer •A to in the petition fuMy exempt > (b:s fact. They ~had the right of appeal, why did they not take p.ivdnfage oi lueir right P In case of the E.M's removal, oi course the. Goveinmcnt wouli do a meritorious action in apt intin;? G. N. Bra&sey to the vacant seat, he being a professional • man and handy, being already ■ Coroner- (an upward slep in that direction), and L'cmaikably well qualified for the office, es^ocitc.ly tJUr the little 10s

business with Brognn. 9. 'J]-e R.M.s lepa! knowledge was July cs^b-isbed before G. N. Brassey was Lorn, arid be bas forgotten oU that that gentleman ever learnt in tbat line, m fact the "lack of legal knowledge is altogether on the oilier gentleman s part, exempted by the many cases iv 'which ho is on Iho losng Bide. 10. I hare no doubt most of us cok\& point to many names on tbe roll ot J..F. s of aentlemen Who should not appear Iliere, but the public are left to suwse as to who the gentleman is; if he means himself, many would ag.'ee wilh tarn in that expressed opinion—be is accused only of expressing an opinion—if be refers to the late Warden I understood Campbell had more hand in that fire tban the K.M. Upon the whole I think it a very credi. table production!!! coming from the quarter it does, and worthy ot the presentation to tbe ingenious compiler ot a leather medal as having performed a meritorious public service.—! am, &c, Critic.

21st June, 1880. [The above subject has now been quite enonth talked and written about, and no written correspondence will be inserted. —Ed. Stab.]