The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1868. " Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 24, 25 July 1868, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1868. " Measures, not Men."

Previous to the conclusion of the. lafe r J'rgfcncial Coto<&,Jits actionj was anything but edifying to the constituencies ; the struggle bejlween WTwo^faff i'es "that •TSppsr rently composed it, having been -solely: for. the.pQsse.ssi.on of, office, and actuated by a jerional ancl taunting animosity, str irige and unusual in assemblies of suc|i gravity and importance. The "battle first commenced, as the public will remember, regarding the Budget and the Balance Sheet, so called, brought in by the Treasurer, and then chiefly on account of the vagueand incomprehensible forms in which -heJiacl got his Financial Statement, with Balance SKeef,' drawn" up. ! In bringing them before the House, the Treasurer,"very coolly, and certainly yety impudently, allowed that his Statement was. incomprehensible,.' and not to be understood b# the Bucolic mind- then in presence : ' that he • had, in fact,., stated the. same, thing a. year ago, "but tlxat, "by this time next year, he judged he would be able to have his, Financial Statement drawn up* in a more comprehensible form. Such a mode of speech from a Provincial Treasurer even, appeared strange and unsatisfactory ; for any plain man would i say, though not perhaps experienced | in : accounts,- that there ought to be no difficulty in keeping the Treasury accounts, they consisting only of. Items of receipt and expenditure — a simple " Dr. ".and " Cr. " account, It appeared, however, from the Treasurer's admission that there is great difficulty in keeping clear and satis- ; factory accounts, he may understand them himself; but he does not exLpect that any one else could or can. I These are strange admissions for a ! Provincial Treasurer to make, and, I with other causes, have led to a ! want of confidence in the Provincial Government as it now is, and a widely spread desire that certain I changes in the form 1 of government should be made. At the closing of the late Provincial Session, it was hoped that his Honor the Superintendent would dissolve the Council, and allow new members to be voted; for ; but as this proceeding would have, entailed a new election for the Superintendency on his own part, his Honor was not inclined to dissolve the Council. It is well known that his Honor, since his election, does not- stand so high in public. [ opinion as he then did, and that his then so jealous supporters are disappointed; and it has ,beeh whispered that the Executive, in its j management of public affairs, was more influenced by what was said at the supper table of the ■ Club Hotel, /High-street, Dunedin (the resort of squatters), than by what was brought forward for discussion at the Superintendent's business itable. • That,, to, ,a certain extent, he was willing to concede much to his late opponents, and so far, this opinion prevailing; he has lost favor rwith\hisdate zealous and numerous supporters. It is very possible Mr. Macandrew, again contesting- an : | election, would be successful in his ! candidature ; but it cannot be de*- [ -nied but thai) a revu^QP of feeling [has taken place, the reasons for which cannot be easily ascertained; i but the principal objections that can be gathered from public intercourse and wide-spread cbinntunion a4d "conversation,' seems tobe (it is needless to mince -the matter), that the -Superintendent, as a public man, is riot ".reliable I " It is possible that during" his candidature he made too many 'promises ; and from his natuT&LboTk hprn/nie&t interviews, granted "either to, individuals or imputations, that such were apt to leave his.pre^ 'seneVwith the assurance that, what was wanted- would be obtained, •though the Superintendent, himself may llaye .jneant nothing more, by liis suave 'arid pleasant manner, than simply: tp.end}/ as, soon as 'possible, a disagreeable and unexpected interview." This' may be one 1 reason for the accusation of '• non-reliability " brought against him, than which no mpre.daicigging accusation could be brought, against a public man, and more certain to cause the loss of his election. It is possible that Mr. Macandrew is aware,' to some.extent^ of this change^ of feeling, and thus was induced, against public.exDec|ations, to determine _ not to ' dissolve the late CoiincuV '• : "When' thi; Vd^Macatiarew „Go Yernment went into office there, was

an ary for " Retrench- | meiifp / Retrenchment ! " That cry proceeded from none more than JWlacandrew.?himsel|>,.be^>re fee w.as>, elected Superintendent 1 ; !"so much 11 bo, $iat he .has' since repeatedlyjbeentaunted for accepting an addition to : M§'' salary, c which was- voted- in a* .noraemV when the Provincial Council was mote enthusiastic in his favor than that august body now is. Well, no one doubted before, or t doubts noy, thai* retrenchment in itnepajblipfeeVvices js ojot onlycon>? mendable, but highly necessary. The difficulty, however, the Government/ Have "m ' carrying out "a wise* retrenchment 'must'' be. 'very greatindeed; and we are not surprised., that occasionally a decided mistake may be made, not so much in the plan pf action, for that is laid down by tile Council, but in the selection or dismissal of servants. A" very striking instance -of i orie of those mistakes referred to, will be found in the following ' copy of a letter j by our Warden, Major i Croker : — j Land and Works Office, j Dunedin, 4th July, 1868.", "" ] Sir,— l have the honor-to acquaint you that i his Honor the Superintendent is in receipt of atelegram from the Hon. the Colonial Secretary} in which his Honor is informed that the General' Government approve of certain suggestions made by this Government as to the future strength and disposition of the Goldfields staff. It becomes my duty, therefore, to inform you -tliat -the- Government We no further occasion for your services as a Warden, but are prepared to offer .you the position of Tteceiver of Gold Itevenue. Should you elect to accept it, and I shall be much obliged by your informing me of the decision you arriro at with the least possible delay. ' ' Should you elect to retire," the Government ! jire prepared to pay you twelve months' salary as compensation for the loss of your appointment.

Mr. Warden Simpson, from St. Bathan's, has been instructed to relieve you from the duties of your office, without delay. ' ' I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, (Signed) . Geo. Duncan, Secretary for Land and Works'. ' This is a very summary dismissal, and leaves very little time for the porisideration of a reply. It so happens that Major Croker was the first Warden appointed on the Otago Goldfields, and has rendered perhaps more valuable service to the Government, by a faithful and conscientious discharge of the duties of his varied offices, than"" has any other Warden in the service. It is ; well known .that the Warden's office for the Tuapeka District, while. Major Croker has held the appointment, has been anything but a sinecure. We therefore think, on these grounds, and also on the ground that our worthy Warden is beyond the prime of manhood and descending the vale of life, that the Provincial Government, in their recommendation to the : General Government, should have given the facts of the case a more weighty consideration than it would appear they have done. It is almost adding insult to' injury, to offer, a Warden, of •seven years' service, the humble position of Gold Receiver. Had" the'Erovincial Government recommended a pension commensurate to Major Croker's faithful services, we think-they would have adopted not only the wiser course, but the one ■which we are certain would have pleased the District with which the Major' is now so much identified, and in which his name is as " familiar as household words." But it is never too late to remedy a mistake, and it is never too late to confess one ; Wwe would, in ali sincerity recommend the Provincial Governjment tb 'reconsider their recommen- 1 dation. We feel certain they have the power, if they are pleased ta exercise it.