LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 376, 7 January 1864, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

December 29, 1863. Sir, —I belong to the “genus homo” John Bull, and as such am no doubt addicted to growling ; but still, my opinion (which of course may be only personal) is, that 1 am always in the right—ergo, that everybody else is in the wrong. If I growled whilst in the old country —which I did, no doubt, as well as tbe rest — how much more fruitful is tbe evil in which I am now located ! No right-principled man can help admiring the completeness and purity of the British constitution ; and the marked contrast it presents to our system of so-called Responsible Government is indeed painful. There,, if any individual has a grievance, should it be within the bounds of justice, he can obtain speedy redress. The highest court of appeal is open to the poorest in the land—no favour or affection shown. Would that I could say the same here ! Our institutions, instead of partaking of a progressive nature, seem rather to be conducted on principles similar to the antiquated court of Chancery, or, even worse, devoid of any principles whatsoever. In fact, it is almost immaterial which way I look, I seldom find the right man in the right place. Tt is indeed a painful fact, that the whole system of our government is one great job. Is Tomkins in power, then Tomkins’ friends may rely upon, their receiving any appointments that may fall vacant. No sooner does Tomkins get out and Cox get in, than Cox’s friends receive all the appointments, and should there be any particularly favourite Coxite, for whom there is no appointment vacant, or should there be a Tomkinsite official obnoxious to Cox —why, nothing easier than to oust the obnoxious one, and help the favourite to a tin of “JRevalenta Ministerial.” It is a matter of little concern, now-a-day, as to whether a man is in any way fit for the office or not; as long as he will act as a willing tool he is ceitain of favour. I am digressing, for which you must pardon me, as warmth of feeling has led me away from my subject. To return. Has a workhouse p.uiper in the old country a grievance, he can obtain impartial investigation and justice. Should any one be wronged, be knows where to seek redress. Admirably as the civil courts may be conducted, not less so are the military ones ; inferior or superior, justice is dealt to all alike. Here there may no doubt be plenty of law, and I feel compelled to say very little justice—ay, very little, indeed. Not only have we here no appeal from the Magistrate’s court in civil cases, but we are to all intents and purposes denied tbe same in Colonial military ones. Well-grounded complaints and reports have been forwarded

to the proper authorities ; months elapse, and yet no answer ia vouchsafed. Can it be possible that there can be any understanding between Headquarters and Appointees, which causes such reports to be stopped on the road ; or is it a fact that no complaints, however well grounded, against employes, appointees, &c., will on any account be entertained at headquarters? Even now, whilst I am writing, there is a militia case pending before the Bench, which case has been remanded five times for want of official communications froiy Headquarters. Officers’ commissions are trifled with iu the same way. How things are managed I cannot imagine, and perhaps I might recoil in disgust were I to be initiated in such “ wheel within wheel ” mysteries. Still, I would feel deeply indebted to you, or any -of your numerous correspondents, who could inform me whether we possess such an officer as Deputy-Governor ; and if so, who he is ; for he perhaps would give us justice in its pristine purity. Democritus.

December 28, 1863. Sir, —As we doubt not your position will afford you an opportunity of knowing all the business of the Town Board that may transpire, perhaps you will be good enough to furnish, through the medium of your columns, a list of those persons who were omitted from the Protest adopted by the Vietoria-avenue and other Ratepayers interested in the payment for the drainage, &c., of that locality, and which was referred to by you as a Memorial. We cannot but express our surprise at your allowing a public journal to be so much perverted, as you have done in this instance, by inserting expressions so very one-sided in favour of the Town Board. It seems to us that you have somewhat overreached yourself by laying such an amount of courtesy to the credit of the said Board, more especially as, from the tenor of your remarks, you must be aware that they have not even condescended to acknowledge the mere receipt of some communications that have been made to them. We were not aware before that it was intended to convert the drain into a sewer for the purposes to which you allude, but may now tender our thanks to the Victoria-avenue Ratepayers for their perverseness in the matter. Trusting the same may prove the means of staying one of the greatest nuisances that could have been devised, and entirely repudiating manv of your remarks, I beg to subscribe myself, "your obedient servant, Henry Lyon, Hon. Sec. to Ratepayers’ Committee.