The Globe. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1875.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 299, 28 May 1875, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1875.

The debate, on Wednesday afternoon, on the surveys of the province was most unsatisfactory. Those who led the charge against the Chief Surveyor evinced so much personal feeling against him that their statements must be received with a great deal of caution. It is easy enough to stand up in the Council and give utterance to a series of vague and unsubstantiated charges, but it is quite a different thing to bring forward reliable proof in support of these statements. When the Commission, which the Grovernment has promised shall be appointed, takes evidence, we trust that those gentlemen will be called upon to substantiate all they have so largely asserted. But it cannot be forgotten that when this question was before the Council last session, somewhat similar charges were brought forward, when the Government of the day undertook during the recess to make a searching inquiry into the whole matter; but we have the assurance of Mr Montgomery that when those gentlemen were requested to place in writing what they had to say, they refused to do so, stating as a reason that they would only state their case before a Commission. And now a somewhat similar course is being pursued. Charges affecting the honor and integrity ot a gentleman holding a high position in the province are made under the protecting shelter of the Provincial Council Chamber, but they are unsupported by proof of any kind, and all sorts of startling revelations are promised. It must have struck any unprejudiced observer that the manner in which the debate was conducted was most unfair, and eminently uncharacteristic of British love of fair play. Not only were the charges, as we have already pointed out, of a vague and unsubstantial nature, but the debate was of necessity almost entirely one-sided. The accusations against the Chief Surveyor were couched in such terms as to deprive those members of the House who were disposed to grant him fair play, of an opportunity of rebutting them. Even those gentlemen, who, from their position in the late Government might be supposed to be acquainted with the facts of the case, could do nothing more than contradict the charges in general terms also; and assure the House of their belief that the Chief Surveyor was not only a man of great ability, but of unimpeachable honor. When the whole question comes to be inquired into we feel persuaded that Mr Hewlings's position will be greatly strengthened. It will be shown that he is straining every nerve to remedy the evils which no doubt have existed in the survey department. Not only is an effort being made to overtake the arrears of work, but every care is being taken to have the work which is now being executed performed accurately. Not only have the field books to be kept in ink, but they have to be forwarded to the head office, where, to ensure accuracy, the work is plotted out by a different officer. The record maps, many of which are in a bad state, are being re-copied, and generally everything is being done, to bring the office into a thorough state of efficiency. The position of Mr Hewlings at the present time is a peculiarly difficult one. He has only been in office for a comparatively short time, and therefore he could not have succeeded, even had he tried his best to do so, in making all the blunders which are laid to his charge. But he can only defend himself at the expense of others, and with a delicacy of feeling which we are afraid his accusers do not even understand, far less appreciate, he prefers to remain silent.

With reference to the imputation that Major Palmer's report was obtained from Mr Hewlings himself, and that consequently his remarks regarding the Southern Surveys are not of much importance, we would merely point out that a gentleman of Major Palmer's reputation would not be likely to put his name to a report with the truth of which he was not thoroughly satisfied.