3

G—l

To this last years proceeds, should be added about £4,000 in cash and 1,200 acres in scrip for land of this district that was purchased in Wellington. Nearly aU this Scrip of 1856 and 1857 was exercised in town and suburban purchases, therefore the amount of its value in pounds sterling will be nearly equal to the quantity of acres purchased. Comparative Statements of the Customs Receipts. For half year ended December 31st, 1855 ... ... ... t £235 For the year 1856 ... ... ... ... d^q 1857 1408 £2,483 Receipts of the last quarter of 1857 ... ,£563 " " » 1856 ... ... ... ■ ... ... __ 342 Showing an increase of £222 ; equal to 65 per cent. The aggregate amount of our Land and Customs Revenue up to the end of last year will then be Proceeds from Land ... ... ... ... ».. . Customs Receipts at Napier .'.'.' ,'" "2 483 Add: duties paid elsewhere say ' «'.,„„ r J 2,483 £50,966 Having thus shewn its contributions, your Petitioners will proceed to shew the grounds of their complaint against the Wellington Government for neglect of this'district; and this can be evinced by those portions of the Appropriation Bills for 1856 and 1857 passed by the W P llin J™ I • ■ % Council, relating to Public Buildings, Roads, Bridges, &c. In and those places adjacent and peculiarly dependent upon Wellington :— angamu, For the year 1856. Public Wellington. Ahuriri. Tubiic Buildings 160Q Roaus, Bridges, &c 19;605 This sum of £1,000 though voted was never spent. For the year 1857. Public Buildings ... <.. /,,» ,_ A Roads ]?li ° Canals 4o '"° 5,000 Additional Works '" 17 " 250 17,000 0 £74,169 f^iio In addition to the above amount the sum of £20,000 was voted for a +T, 1. ,1. n- ■ Mile Bush, from Wairarapa to Rua Taniwha in this district andof this sum Hf % F ° rt^ half would have been charged against Ahuriri. But T not been commenced, and in all probability will not be so at presenT as its S! T* *?* majority of the Settlers so very doubtful, /hat they petitioned flj Snctal CeuSgStl expended ° Dly a Sma " P ° rtion ° f £s '° oo fOT a r ° ad fr ° m Rua Taniwha to Napier has been as yet But another very important circumstance attaches to these sum? Tl>;« a .., , receive the free benefit of a return of a portion of its very Ltion to tt T " *"* liagton, but these sums are derived from a Loan of no bss thfn 000 T. a ° f Wel " Government of Wellington on the security in part for milt V• ' + ? Pro ™«al expected Land from this District, It has we believe long been admitted among the principles of Tnl™;-,! subject to that general contribution towards the support of the CenLTpn Adminis tration, that, the advantages returned, the proceeds arising from the.sab of jlZT Ga V a^ eat > S ° We " re P aid V Districts, should, as much as Jossibb, be vhfuaCrSurS o £ wZZ and 7 °Z B "£&* improvements and conferring advantages that increase" the SSftS