THE TESTIMONIAL NUISANCE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 468, 20 February 1869, Page 2

THE TESTIMONIAL NUISANCE.

The Resident Magistrate and Warden at Cobden, Mr Dutton, has addressed the following characteristic letter to the Grrey Biver Argus :— Sir, —Although I have not yet heard that my resignation has been accepted, action has, I am told, already been taken with reference to collecting for a testimonial to be presented to me on the termination of my official career on the West Coast. I, therefore, take the earliest opportunity of asking a great favor at the hands of those from whom I have already received many kindnesses—it is, that these exertions on my behalf may at once cease. I had, before I came to the West Coast, a great objection to testimonials. I have now something like a horror of them. I never subscribe to them myself, and in all sincerity ask that I may not again be presented with one.

Testimonials appear to me to have so far degenerated, that they are considered almost as matters of course on the West Coast, and an official who has accomplished anything approaching to a year's residence, is deemed fully entitled (oftentimes without any other qualifications) to he the recipient of some costly gift. I know well these testimonials are looked upon by the miners as a heavy tax, and as it has ever heen my aim to advance their interests and lighten their burdens, I gladly avail myself of perhaps the best opportunity I shall have of entering a decided protest against testimonials in general, and goldfield testimonials in particular. It may he that I have worked hard, undertaken duties not strictly appertaining to my office, and thereby somewhat impaired my health (and I am not hypocrite enough to deny all this), but if these exertions have been purely voluntary, or the result of an effort on my part to approach my own estimate of what was really due from one in my position, I know not why miners or others should be expected to recognise such efforts in any special manner. I would not, however, that it should for one moment be imagined that I undervalue the opinion of those miners of the West Coast amongst whom I have been located, or am indifferent to their estimate of the manner in which my duties have been discharged. Far otherwise—all I ask is that they will believe I value their own sound, honest opinion far too highly to wish to see it adulterated into the somewhat suspicious shape of a testimonial, and if I have only succeeded in discharging my admitted duties (duties for which, be it remembered, I am liberally paid) to the satisfaction of the majority of those amongst whom I have labored, I look for, and would have, no other reward from them.

I shall doubtless have other opportunities before the end of March of addressing the miners and many other kind friends in my district, and must apologise for occupying 30 much space with comments which necessarily savour so much of "self."