PROPOSED RETRENCHMENTS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 50, 23 January 1869, Page 3

PROPOSED RETRENCHMENTS.

(From the *• Evening Star.") Among tne various items of retrenchment, we believe the following may be enumerated : — The Land Department is to be under the charge of the Chief Surveyor, and the services of Messrs, Cutten, Short, and one clerk, dispensed with ; the Chief Clerk to the Treasury to attend also to the Land Department, of which he is to be the Chief Clerk. The separate books now kept in various departments to be all kept at the Treasury, and the Treasury to be open for making payments only two days in the week — Tuesdays and Fridays. This latter change is to begin from the first of February. The General Road Board Department is also to be dispensed with, and the clerical duties performed by the Clerk to the Executive Council ; the road survey to be under the Chief Surveyor of the Province. The Survey Department is to be reduced', by £5000 a year. A great part of the work is to be done by contract, and District Surveyors appointed throughout the Province upon a system similar to that which prevails in some of the Australian Colonies. Th& Commissioner of Police will further reduce his department to the tune of £2000 a year, besides the £1000 yearly lately saved by the police conveying some, of the inland mails.

The Eoads and Works Department is cut down to the extent of £1000 a year, snd iB to consist of one chief and three district engineers* We understand that Mi: Barr an officer, who has been some time in the service, is promoted to be chief. The Immigration Department is abolished, and the duties devolve upon the Superintendent's Clerk, and the Clerk' to the Executive Council.

Surveyor of the Province. The Survey Department is to be reduced', by £5000 a year. A great part of the work is to be done by contract, and District Surveyors appointed throughout the Province upon a system similar to that which prevails in some of the Australian Colonies. Th& Commissioner of Police will further reduce his department to the tune of £2000 a year, besides the £1000 yearly lately saved by the police conveying some, of the inland mails. The Eoads and Works Department is cut down to the extent of £1000 a year, »nd iB to consist of one chief and three district engineers* "We understand that Mi: Barr an officer, who has been some time in the service, is promoted to be chief. The Immigration Department is abolished, and the duties devolve upon the Superintendent's Clerk, and the Clerk' to the Executive Council. Provincial Solicitor's Clerk, „ also Clerk and Storekeeper to the Dunedin Gkwl to be dispensed with. There are sundry other reductions pending, particulars of which we are unable to give. Altogether, we believe the Province will effect a saving of some £12,000 a year by the new arrangement, irrespective of any further retrenchments which may be made in the administration of the Groldfields. In reference to* the retrenchment in the administration of the G-oldfields, the "Wakatip Mail" says; "It is rumored that a leading Warden who has recently taken active service on the G-oldfields, has made a suggestion to the Provincial Government that two Wardens, with the assistance of the Courts of petty session, should carry out the administration of justice on them. This suggestion, if carried out, will lead to great reductions aud saving in cost of government.

Provincial Solicitor's Clerk, „ also Clerk and Storekeeper to the Dunedin Gaol to be dispensed with. There are sundry other reductions pending, particulars of which we are unable to give. Altogether, we believe the Province will effect a saving of some £12,000 a year by the new arrangement, irrespective of any further retrenchments which may be made in the administration of the Goldfields.