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Grey River Argus, Volume IV, Issue 273, 12 October 1867, Page 3

The weather continues to be very unsettled. | During the last ten clays this district has •been visited by a succession of squalls from the west and. south-west, accompanied by very heavy falls of hail and rain. Inconsequence, the river has again been much swollen, and communication with the upcountry diggings is _still interrupted. We may expect this condition of things to last for a few days longer, as there was no sign of any improvement in the state of the weather . last night, and the heavy and continuous fall of rain must cause a heavy flood in the river. ". The New Zealand Times, in a late issue has the following :— While the Estimates for the Customs department were under consideration the other night, the Government stated that the relative cost of collection in proportion to revenue was lower in New Zealand than in Victoria, or any of the neighboring colonies, and only a little higher than in England. There the cost was 4 per cent., while here it was 5 per cent. It was also stated that the salaries of Custom-house officers in New Zealand were 30 per cent lower than in Victoria, while the cost o living was higher. In spite of, these statements, the bon. member for Mount Herbert (Mr Potts), glad of the opportunity to distinguish himself, insisted on reductions, and induced the Committee to strike t of L 5 from one salary, and LlO from another, finally reducing the expenses of the department in this way by some LI 7O, to the great annoyance of the Commissioner of Customs, and, no doubt, to the serious'ineonvenience and loss of the unfortunate individuals whose salaries were thus injuriously affected. Surely it is below the dignity of the Legislature to deal directly with the . salaries of subordinate officers. ■.„ The responsible head of the department should certainly be allowed discretionary*' powers in regulating particular salaries, although tho House might well require that not more than a certain sum should be expended in the department.