The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3879, 4 June 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 1881.

A BHomx tine ago the Hall <r vernment placed a new arrival named Wilkinson, a protege of Major Atkinson, into a position of trait at Taranaki. The post was an' important one, as considerable sums of monej passed through his bauds. Matter's went on swimmingly for a time, till something was discovered I'to be wrong with Mr Wilkinson'a accounts, and lie was arrested for embezzlement. la the hear* iujf of the charge (tor which he was com-

mitted for trial) it was found that the Ministerial protege, knew absolutely a&hing of' accottntt. It is not till such « eftie as |Xi; ca^jjm^ that the people are awakened to the folly of the Govern* njent in mUrastinK responsible position* to utter strangers— poor relations of Lord Soand-so, or the Hon Mr That, who hare been packed off to the colonies with, their passage paid and letter* of introduction to some colonial magnate. There MtemmfK™* -men in the «otony-men whohafe born the heat and burden of the day in the early struggles of colomsa. to a far greater extent than all the blue blood in England—and yet our own legislator* OTerlook the claims of the gons of New Zealand pilgrim fathers for t D e pampered scions of "old English families." The consequence is, that to" gome extent our civil service might be likened to a receptical with a notice posted over it, " Kubbish shot here." Many New Zealand fathers ha?e abas growing up, sons they have scrimped and saved to educate; fine, manly young fellows, and infinitely superior to much of the imported trash; and yet: our public men put " our boys" out of the competition altogether. Able, intelligent young New Zealand, devoid of class destinctions and snobbery, should hate the preference to incompetent strangers?