Our Auckland Letter.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3801, 4 March 1881, Page 3

Our Auckland Letter.

(FBOM OUB OWtf COttttESPOKDENT.)

Wednesday

PATBTERE! PATETERE!

The members of the Patefcere Association must by this time be largely indebted to the Hon. Mr Rolleston for giving Mr James Maekay the kick out of the R.M. and Wardenship at Greymouth. I predicted he would be a thorn in the side of the would be acquirers of these lands and my predictions have been verified. Ido not envy Mr Mackay's position, especially as the Waikaio Mail has charged him and others being intent on the " Black Mail" business through arriving at Cambridge. Mr Suttou of Napier, I notice, also broadly hints that Patetere was the principal reason why Bryce left the tottering Ministry. Speaking of Mr Button, I was struck with a. portion of his telegraph speech delivered before his constituents Fancy his commenting on .Native laud transactions. It is just like the old boy himself reproving sin. Mr Sutfon should remember that he had a very narrow escape during the progress connected with the Hawke's Bay Lands as developed during the progress of the select committee of last session. To the pure all things are pure, but I am strongly of opinion that Mr Sutton, M.H.R., is about the last man in the Colony who should have any inclination or liking s for alluding to questions having even the most remote application to the natives of Kis provincial district.

The Herald has got a terrible down on Fiddling Fenton. I have no liking for his Honor myself, but the way in which the Herald proprietors, or rather A.G.H., allows personal attacks on him in his columns is really too bad. Months ago the Herald would not attack him thus —I presume the axe is ground, and now some other body must be pleased. Mr Macrae has powerful friends, but no matter how numerous and influential they may be, he will get the right about. I do not know whether your readers have perused a receut production (save the mark) of the .Reverend David Bruce anent this Grammar School enquiry. The gush was too much throughout. Fancy the reverend gentleman stating " I requested Judge Richmond to deliver a lecture." Anyone reading the Herald's report of the Grammar School proceedings must be inclined to the belief that they mean to st ck to Mr Macrae. The way in which all the head master's questions and answers are inserted is ample proof to warrant the assumption. If the Herald had made all these persons who have written against Judge Feu'ou put their names to their communications or let them pay for the space as an advertisement, people would say that is " Johnick " —fair. I only know one instance where free and unlimited attack was permitted in the columns of the Herald against an opponent, and that was in the case of the last Eden election, where the honorable the .-s ttorneyGenerai had Iho privilege of attacking his opponent without any stoppage whatever, I thought their gross indiscretion then would have been a warning for the future, but no, they seem inclined to follow in their eTil ways once again. I said I did not like Judge Fentou, and I tell your readers why. When that time serving Governor, Lord Nortnanby, was fighting Sir George Grey ou what is known as the Constitutional question, Judge Fenton wrote and published a pamphlet in support of the late Governor's views. Very soon after Sir George Grey came into power, and just as the change was in the balance, His Honor withdrew all the books he could from circulation. Some would call this the act of a coward, I do not call it so, but it is a chapter in the life of the Chief. Judge of the Native Lands Court, which will not soon be forgotten, and will always be remembered by the writer, especially as seems probable that Mr Fenton will retire on his pension after Patetere business is disposed of, and will be called to the Upper House.

THE NATIVE LANDS COURT ITSELF.

Messrs Batkin and Seed, the further retrenchment Commissioners, had a lively time of it at the office of the Chief Judge. They commenced wigging the officials, from what cause is not stated, but I presume it was to enable them to get away to the garden party at the Towers, Remuera. Mr Batkin is a relative of Mr James McCosh Clark, our present "worthy" Mayor. Really, both Mr Batkin and Mr Seed are having rosey times of it. Had both gentlemen stayed in the Northern Club and invited recommendations from its members, it would just be as useful and important as the , voluminous record will prove when it comes to be considered and dealt with by the Detective Ministry. The holidays which have been made *for favored members and civil servants daring the recess

must form a very formidable item in the year's expenditure. But tlieu y< v know retrenchment is necessary, and civil service cost must; be larely diminished.

TWO OTHER NEW APPOINTMENTS. Mr ex-Judge Weston and another have been appointed examiners for gentlemen who desire to enter the legal profession. This seems a new departure from the examinations taking place under judicial districts of the Supreme Courts. Can it be that tho Judges are over-worked. I presume Mr Weston and his colleague will be a sort of another Royal Commission, and be obliged to travel in state all over the colony with their staff. A return of all appointments since the Hall Ministry have taken office would be an instructive record. •