Tuesday, March 11.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 27, 12 April 1845, Page 3

Tuesday, March 11.

Present — All the members. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The Governor moved further consideration of the Estimates. — For Colonial Secretary, Department, and Printing Establishment £1,745 was agreed to after • some observations iron! Mr. Whitaker on the items of contingencies « On the item "For Colonial Treasury £1,090, Mr. Whitaker said that investigating the items under this head, he found that it was proposed to increase the establishment by the addition of another clerk. It was true that last year there vjere numerous accounts to arrange in consequence of the land being paid for by scrip. That now had ceased, and he thought the additional expence to the colony quite unnecessary. He therefore moved, that the vote be reduced to the sum of £990. The Governor stated, that it was proposed to collect the Property Rate by the clerks in the /Treasury. The clerk to whom it was proposed to give a salary, had done duty the last two years gratuitously. The Colonial Treasurer observed, that he objected not only to the reduction proposed by the hon. non-official member, but to what was of more consequence, to the reduction made in his own salary of £100 per annum. He had come out from England with the express understanding ! of receiving a salary of £600 per annum, and in consequence had incurred great expences in bringing out his family. Under the present deI pressed state of the colony, he assured the Council he was quite willing to a reduction of his salary, but he conceived it but fair that other officers should contribute towards the present exigencies, and that the hon. Colonial Secretary I should give up half his salary, and some reduc- ! tion made by the Attorney General. The Sur- j 1 veyor-General was, he understood, to be reduced j |as well as himself. He should not further trespass on the Council, but he shotild emer a protest on the minutes, to be forwarded to the Home Government. The Governor remarked; that the hon. Colonial Treasurer had overlooked the fact that certain sums and salaries were fixed and paid for by the Imperial Parliament, but that of the Colonial Treasurer was not, for his salary depended on the colony He would take care that the protest of the Colonial Treasurer, as well as that of the Surveyor-General, should be forwarded. The Attorney-General said, that the Colonial Treasurer had stolen a inarch upon him, as he had intended to have fought the battle against reduction of salaries of those who had been induced to leave England, pledged to receive certain annual amountfc. It was such a pledge that bad induced him, and also others, and he did not think the colony would secure the services of competent persons, if the inducement and pledge given, were subsequently evaded. Mr. Donnelly conceived there was a wide difference between those officers whose salaries were fixed and provided for by the Imperial Parliament, and in those the colony had to pay. If the revenue could fully provide for all, he certainly would not assist in any reduction, but the revenue maybe left with great deficiency for the expenditure of such large salaries. Mr. Whitaker observed, in reference to the remark of his Excellency, that it was proposed to collect and receive the Property Rate Tax at the Treasury, that there was 5 per cent allowed under the Act, for the expence of collection, and no more. " Mr. Heale, in seconding the motion for the reduction, observed, that in comparison with the amount of money transactions performed by the Bank, opposite the Treasury, the expence of the latter was enormous. With the manager and oneclerk, the amount of £600,000 had passed through their hands, and all proper accounts kept. Mr. Donnelly remarked on the inequality of the public expenditure between the northern and southern settlements. The Governor said, that it was the wish of the Local Government to administer its protection as much as possible equally, but he was surprised that persons, considering the state of the colony, could locate such a distance from the settlements. People imagined they had a right to go where they pleased, and likewise .to call for protection to follow them. When the New Zealand Company proposed to make their settlements the Government at home did all they could to warn them of the consequences, and the New Zealand Company were well aware of the difficulties and dangers to which their first settlers would necessarily be subject. The Local Government had but little means of pro-

tection at its command, but now that reinforpe meats were h6urly expected, and still greater assistance to follow, every endeavour would be made so to dispose that force as to afford protection to all. The course, he conceived we ought to steer was, not to expose weakness by attempting too much. At Waagaßui there were many thousand natives, i» one pah 1100 fighting men. No vessel can go there with safety', aad to inarch 200 or 300 miles through a country where every ravine and bush would be point of defence to harass and destroy advancing columns, would almost annihilate a force. It had been always his course, through many years of service, to consider first well the means he had at command to accomplish certain objects, and any suggestions of measures he always put aside, unless perfectly practicable with the means at his disposal, as idle and visionary. The motion was then put, " That the sum of £990 be substituted for £1090 for Colonial Treasury/ Qn a division there appeared — For— Against-^*-Mr. Wbitaker, The Governor," Mr. Donnelly, the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Heale, The Attorney General, The Colonial Treasurer. The original Grant was then put and carried. The item next considered was, " For Judic".. 1 viz., Supreme and Local courts, and Coroners, £3030." Mr.- Whitaker remarked, that if the salaries of the various offices were not reduced, the same object might be obtained by a consolidation of offices. The business of the Court of Requests might be transfered to the Supreme Court, and thus 'a change might be beneficially and easily effected. The duties 'of the Judge of the Supreme Court were very small : at the last session only two civil causes of very minor importance. There was a precedent for his suggestion in the neighbouring colonies, where the Judges were of higher standing and higher salaries. Indeed, when this colony was a dependency of New South Wales, Sir George Gipps had contemplated such a measure, and a bill was passed in New South Wales for this colony and Port Philip for the Judge to sit in the Court of Requests a 9 well as the Supreme Court, and Judge "Willis had so done at Port Philip. If at any future time the funds of the colony would allow, the offices might be again separated. The Governor was obliged to the hon. member for the suggestion, but should like to have j opinion of others better qualified on the subject, I and likewise whether the Chief Justice and Justice Chapman could •ombine the duties. ' Ttte^Attbrhey General was quite certain the matter would be received with every consideration by the Chiei Justice, but could not undertake to say how far his Honor might conceive it compatible with the office of Chief Justice. After some little further discussion, the consideration of the vote was postponed, in order that the Chief Justice might be consulted. The Governor then proposed, " Foi Sheriff and gaols, £867." Mr Whitaker suggested, that on this vote likewise there might be some arrangement as to combine the duties of Sheriff — more especially as it was proposed to reduce his responsibility by abolition of Imprisonment for debt — with that of Police magistrate ; therefore he thought it better be postponed. The Governor acquiesced in the snggestion. The consideration was therefore postponed, as well as that "For Magistrates and Police, £3575." The Governor then proposed, •' For Land Claims Commission, £800," and stated, although the Commissioner came «ut to the colony with a salary of £1000 per annum yet as his duties would be terminated very soon" during the pre>sentyear, having only some few claims to arrange at the southward, a reduction had been made of one half, viz., £500, which, with £208 for travelling expences and the sum of £90 for a clerk, would form the sum proposed in this item of expenditure. Hereafter it was proposed that the Commissioner should be resident, for the Crown had ccme into possession of large tracts of land, by scrip' of claimants in exchange for land near Auckland, and the investigation and settlement, of these deeds required that the Commissioner should be possessed of legal knowledge and experience. Vote agreed to. Having proposed " For Survey Establishment, £1,600, " the Governor stated, that the Salary of the Surveyor General had been reduced £100, making it now £530 per annum. As he had before stated, Manukau harbour had been surveyed at his own private expence, and he considered similar surveys in other quarters of the greatest consequence to the colony, therefore he had appointed a Marine Surveyor, Mr. Ormsby, with a salary of £200 per annum, and for the expfences and contingencies attendant on such survey, thare was the sum of £536, with two clerks, and draftsman, £334. Mr. Donnelly observed, that he hoped some measures would be taken, so that the interior of the country might be better explored and surveyed. The Bishop by his journeys had explored much ofthe country. The Governor said, there was a very great difference between exploring a country merely

for pleasure, and the labour and tediousne|M a"fcourate surveying. The former no doubt mM very interesting and agreeable, but it afforjfll no benefit or information to the public. . $m information given' by the Bjsbdp amounted ti nothing more than that he had been from'mM place to another, which vras, by the pedomeflH such a distance ;but that was no survey or gujjfl The duty of Surveyor General was to map |H Colony, asd unless such surveys were accur«| they were utterly useless, however prettily dnujfl Mr. Heale observed, that by the original structions to the first Governor of the colow not more than one-fifth of the Land Fufl was to be aperopriated to the expence of 4fl Survey Department : as there was now na LiM Fund, how could the Council appropriate - aln sum for such branch of service? . JM The Governor stated, that in consequence^ the home government sanctioning the princinfl of Land Claimants exchanging their scrip ij|j9 government land, at the sales by auction* till original instructions respecting the survey 4« partment were no longer valid^in fact, the l&tfjl fund was altogether extinct, and the colony wJ still in debt to it, to the amount of £12,QpOfofl emigration. ' & \ Mr. Whitaker observe<l,that, far«from deprffl ciating the value or the efficiency of the. survejl department and^its present officers,? if there werfl ample funds, he would support a vote for, M much larger establishment. But the question was, whether we, are to have surveys or whethejl we are to have taxes : and the question: with hid was whether with a reduction on this iten Ed Jed to saving on others, the necessity of mot posing new taxes could not be obviated? Qa wonld ask, is there anything proposed, now^d ,be done, as iegatfds marine and other t survejjil but can be very well postponed? He considered! 1 there was nothingbut what might be peFforme.al considering the state of the colony, better next year than the present, and thus by foregoing these surveys until more convenient season, we should be enabled to forego taxation, He therefore should move, that this proposed vote of £16,000 be reduced by the sum of £60p^ expunging the marine surveyor, £200, one cieiric £92, and deducting the sum of £308 from thd contingencies. [ > For the motion — Against it-r-Mr. Whitaker. The Governor. Mr. Heale. Colonial Secretary. Attorney General. Colonial Treasurer. Mr. Donnelly. The vote " For Registry of Deeds £31 0,' ; was postponed. | The Governg* then proposed, '/ For Public Wort's, &c, thfe sum of dt1,52G." ' ' Mr. Donnelly conceived that some amalgama. tion with the Survey Department and that under consideration, might be made, so as to diminish the eipences. Mr. Heale thought that a Superintendant at a salary of £180, was quite superfluous where there were no public works or buildings to be. carried on. nj Mr. Whittaker said, that jhe Snrveyor GeneJ ral had for a time superintended the roads, anfl he considered under the great pressure of diffl ficulties of the Colony, he might continue sueaJ duty, he should therefore move, thnt the grant] bl reduced by the sum of 11 80. - I For — Against-?-Mr. Whitaker. The Governor. Mr. Donnelly. Colonial Secretary. Mr. Heale, Attorney General. , Colonial Treasurer. ; After the clerk had announced the division, the Governor said, it was his duty to consider matters prospectively, and he should therefore press the whole grant. It was of great importance that there should be a competent Superintendent, more especially as roads would now be formed. The people around Auckland had paid for the land to the Government, and they were entitled to have good access to it. A contract had already been entered into for the road to Papakura, and on that contract alone, the present Superintendant had saved the Government more than the amount of his salary foi one year. The original tender wa&for £594, and the Superintendant had pointed out thet it could 1 be" done Tor £400, which would be tM expence. In the southern settlements, the Neji Zealand Company were bound to make the roads, and not the Government, for they hajl sold their land under such stipulation. 1 The vote for Colonial vessels of £l,7oo,beinJr] £1,500 from the Parliamentary grant, and £200 from Colonial funds, was agreed to. <V 4 The*grant for Harbour Establishment, *I>6?Q was then considered" *~' - > Mr. Heale conceived that; as the Customs was abolished, the manifests might be received by the Post Master, especially •as Masters bound to give notice at the Post Office .of their i departure. As to the care ,of the Buoys, there] were only three in this harbour/ and he had been] on service at an entrance of a river in- India, where there were twenty-six buoys, and yet ill was only considered necessary to visit them once every year. He thought the Pilot veryj useless, for he had but a small dingy, and shipJ were generally round the head before he war tm be seen. j*£, ' .# Mr. Whittaker moved, that the Harbottr Master and Pilot be combined. .%. j It was agreed that the Pilot and the sum vi

|bu'lre «od thftt the Pilot du«e Uift.^ redit&d fey -&«' Harbour Mjwter^ he ijp^iig to atitd to'yetselfi proper pewaas to' iaSt jtiiem into the harbour, when he eaonot go ' Adjourned to Tbw*dav, l^th March. ' i