WARDEN AT ROXBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 293, 11 September 1873, Page 6

WARDEN AT ROXBURGH.

The following copies of a letter and memorial forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent by the residents of the Teviot district have been sent to us for publication :—: — Roxburgh, 3rd September, 1873. To his Honor the Deputy-Superinten-dent, Dunedin. Sik, — I have + he honor to enclose herewith a memorial, bearing upwards of 160 names procured within a radius of 3 miles from this township, praying for a continuance to this district of the services of a Resident Warden and Magistrate. It is a matter of very great surprise to myself, in common with the residents generally, that no authentic information as to the intentions of the Government in reference to our Warden could be obtained until within a few days of that g'ntleman's rjtirement — or, perhaps, I should say dismissal — for I presume the action of the Government may fairly be thus interpreted. Had due notice been given of the course intended to be adopted, I havo very little doubt such representations would havo been made by the residents as would have induced the Executive to pause ere they gave effect to a policy which, I respectfully submit, inflicts another wrong upon a district which has already suffered severely at the hands of former Governments. In reference to our late Warden, J. B. Borton, Esq., I may he permitted to express my own conviction that this district never possessed an officer more generally and deservedly respected and esteemed for his impartiality and coxirtesy. Permit me respectfully to state that 'the inconvenience arising from the absence of a Warden is already felt, in confirmation of which 1 may mention that several miners travelled on Monday a distance of over 18 miles on mining business, and on reaching the Courthouse learned that the district no longer possessed a Warden, so that unless they were prepared to travel 34 miles further, namely, to the Dunstan, their long walk was a useless expenditure of time and physical energy. Let me hope, Sir, that your Honor and your Executive will favorably consider the prayer of the petitioners with the view of redressing the grievance complained of, and thus meeting in this particular the wants of the; district. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your humble Servant, George Ireland. P.S. — Since the above was written, I find there are upwards of 200 names to the petition.

To his Honor the Deputy-Superinten-dent and his Executive Council. The petition of the undersigned residents humbly sheweth : — That your petitioners have heard with surprise and regret that it is the intention of your Government to dispense with the services of a Resident Warden and Magistrate for the district, with the vievv, it is presumed, of administering its affairs by periodical visits from an officer residing in a neighbouring district. That they would strongly urge against •the impolicy and injustice of such a course, the following among many reasons :—: — 1. That the Mount Benger district is an extensive andl important one. from which a large revenue has been derived in the past, while both its mining and agricultural population are. steadily on the increase. I % That a large number of miners are j living at considerable distance from the Warden's office, and the absence, of a resident Government officer will entail upon them very great inconvenience and loss, as it will ajsp upon every class of the residents. • 3. That the loss to the revenue will amount to far more than the salary at present paid. 4, T^t i£ &©. osce of W&dfiPt apd.

Resident Magistrate is for the present abolished in this district, it will probably soon be found necessary to appoint a Receiver of Land and Gold Revenue and Clerk to the Bench, and taking into account that the travelling expenses of a visiting Warden and Resident Magistrate together with the Clerk's salary would probably amount to much more than the sum paid to the present Warden and Resident Magistrate, irrespective of tho loss and inconvenience which would ensue as above stated, your petitioners respectf v lly submit that no saving could be effected by the proposed change ; and therefore humbl v Jpray that yourGovemment will take the foregoing into their f avorable consideration, and continue to this district the services of a Resident Warden and Magistrate. • And your petitioners will be ever grateful.