RESIGNATION OF MAJOR WILLIS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 3206, 31 October 1876, Page 2

RESIGNATION OF MAJOR WILLIS.

['Rangitikei Advocate.'] Our readers will be sorry to learn that Major Willis is about to tender his resignation of the office of Resident Magistrate — one -which he has filled for several years with credit to himself and satisfaction to the settlers within his extensive jurisdiction. The immediate cause of Major Willis' resignation, we understand, is the greatly increased number of sittings of the Court required by the Minister of Justice. In connection with this subject we may observe that the action of the member for the district has been somewhat severely commented on, and that it has not escaped notice that a vengeful blow has been struck under the mask of retrenchment. Jt is thought that it would have been far better had the question of division of the district and the appointment of another magistrate been decided by a vote of the Hou.so, rather than by button-holing the Minister of Justice. In such a case I the subject would have been fully j ventilated, and the able member for I Manawatu, who is always listened to

with great attention," would have been able to have brought his practical knowledge to bear on the question. We .are disposed to agree with this opinion, as we feel conviuced that the present arrangements will prove but temporary, for notwithstanding what the < Herald ' says to the contrary, there are few men who could he found willing and able to discharge the greatly increased duties of the office. No one new to the district would be able to do so. It will require some one who will give his whole time to, and whose heart would be thoroughly in, his work.