INSPECTOR OF THE TUAPEKA DEPASTURING DISTRICT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 204, 28 December 1871, Page 6

INSPECTOR OF THE TUAPEKA DEPASTURING DISTRICT.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — Many of your readers- are, no doubt, aware that during the late session of the Provincial Council, great reductions were made in the salaries of the Government officials, all of whom, I have heard, received intimation that on and after a certain date their salaries would be reduced, when they could either accept the reduction and retain their offices, or avail themselves of the provision of the Act passed to meet such cases, by re signing and receiving compensation to the amount of one month's salary for every year they had been in the Government employ. The late Inspec- j tor's salary was £350 a year. It was reduced to £150, the duties of the office being greatly lessened by the dividing of the Queenstown and Tuapeka Depasturing Districts. The division of the districts and reduction of salaries was — I learn — looked xipon b) the Inspector as tantamount, to the abolishing of his office. He therefore tried to induce the Government to give him compensation, (which he was willing to take in the shape of land) for the loss \ of office, and allow him to retain the new office, as he called it, and the reduced salary. He failed -in inducing the government to accept his view of\ the case, as the correct one, and "was therefore obliged, either to accept the

reduced amount or resign. He chose to do the latter, for any schoolboy can see that the amount of compensation he would receive for nine or ten year's service, at the rate of one month's salary for every year — the yearly salary at the time of resigning being £350 — would be greater than the compensation he would be entitled to on resigning often having filled the office fo/ 1 twenty years if the salary were only .£l5O a year. There was also this danger — the Government might next year abolish the office altogether. He would then only receive compensation for ten or eleven years on his salary of £150 at the before mentioned rate, the amount of which would fall far short of the £280 said to have been received by him. As the time, for collecting the assessment was approaching ths Inspector was induced to retain office for a month or two, as no. one but himself had the power to grant depasturing licenses. He has since resigned, (judging from advertisements in " Grazette) " receiving compensation for the loss of his office, and is, if report be true, again an applicant for it. Mr. Editor during the time the late Inspector held office I, as a taxpayer, considered myself unfairly dealt with. It has been estimated by some that several hundred pounds might bo added yearly to the revenue from assessment fees, if some thoroughly qualified person were appointed to fill the office. The late Inspector never was, so far as I have heard, considered capable of performing the duties satisfactorily, while his manner was overbearing, and at times, offensive in the extreme — he having on one occasion actually when in company with others, called out after a well known and respectable gentleman, while he we was passing through the business part of Lawrence and asked whether hp had paid his assessment, and on receiving 1 ' a reply which ruffled his dignity^ he threatened in a loud voice to have two men amongst the gentleman's cattle on the morrow. I have heard it argued that the District

is over-stocked I have also heard it assorted on the strength of what I consider the very best authority — the number of acres in the commonage, and the numbers of great and small cattle returned — that it is not overstocked ; yet the district seems to be swarming with both sheep and cattle. Whose duty is it, if not the Inspector's, to look into these things ? A blind man can see that the Government is systematically robbed — I repeat it robbed by many people supplying false returns. Ff the late Inspector had done his duty we should have seen some of these individuals figuring as defendants in the Warden's Court long before this time. But there is no use Mr. Editor saying move on the subject, as I never will believe that the re appointment of the late Inspector would receive the approval of tho honorable gentleman forming the Executive. — I am, &c, DigoE". Waitahuna, December 26th, IS7I.