THE REVENUE, ETC., OE CANTERBURY.

7

A.—No. il.

of the departments, the Council would be left without the means of obtaining directly the information in matters of detail to which it is entitled. The general work of administration should, I think, be carried on by the Superintendent, through the permanent heads of departments, and there would be no difficulty in his obtaining the advice and assistance of an Executive Council not holding office. This would be given at stated periods, when the general business would be brought before them by the Superintendent. An Act of the General Assembly would remove any doubts as to the legality of the Superintendent taking his seat in the Council as under the New Provinces Act. I hope the Committee and the Council will give these questions their consideration. In conclusion, I would state that I believe the changes to which I have referred would lead the way to considerable administrative reform and reduction of public expenditure. In this Memorandum I have given my opinions freely, as I believe to be the wish of the Committee, and have abstained from entering into details, partly from want of time, and partly that I am not aware of the precise points to which it would wish to direct its inquiries. It will give me great pleasure to afford any information in my power which the Committee may require. "W. Eollestox, 24th May, 1569. Superintendent of Canterbury.

Timaeu and Gladstone Board. Return showing Revenue from all sources South of Rangitata, and Payments made hy the Provincial Treasurer under Voucher from Ist December, 1867, to 30th April, 1569.

30th April, 1869: £ s. d. Land Revenue arising from sale of land south of Rangitata, from 1st December, 1867, to 30th April, 1869 15,217 11 9 Pasturage Licenses for some period ... ... 21,710 11 0 Miscellaneous Revenue — Dog Tax 605 10 0 Sheep Rate 1,002 0 0 Publicans' Licenses ... ... ... ... 524 0 0 Auctioneers' Licenses 120 0 0 Immigration Refunds 276 16 8 Proportion of Consolidated Revenue, estimating the Customs and other sources of Consolidated Revenue within the district at £16,287 per annum 5,193 0 0 30th April, 1869: £ s. d. Payments by Receiver of Land Revenue to Board of Works, being 25 per ceut. of gross receipts 3,804 7 11 Payments by Provincial Treasury on account of following services within the district (see Appendix) : —Sub-Treasurer, Expenses of Election, Expenses of Members, Local Gaol, Charitable Aid, Hospital, Harbour, Public Buildings, Insurance, Education,Ferries, Agricultural Statistics, Local Surveys, Contract Surveys, Immigration, Road Boards, General Contingencies 10,074 0 11 Departmental Expenses—(See Appendix, estimated at £73,77113s. 4d.). The population of the district is rather more than one-eighth of the whole : I take one-sixth of the above amount, say ... ... 12,295 0 0 One-half the Unsold Land is in the district, and as the Land Fund is the security for the Interest and Sinking Fund of all the Loans, I estimate only one-fourth of the Interest and Sinking Fund payable by the Province (sec Appendix) ... ... 15,352 0 0 Balance (see note at the end of Departmental Summary) 2,230 3 7 £44,655 12 5 £44,655 12 5 Abstract of Vouchers certified to from the 1st De< of Ha? lember, 1867, to 30th April, 1869.— Disfrict South igitata. Sub-Treasurer £ s. d. £ s. d. 12 10 0 12 10 0 37 10 0 12 10 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. Brought forward Gaol :— Salaries 356 1 6 Rations, &c 210 0 0 Contingencies ... ... ... 86 10 7 Expenses of Elections ... 75 0 0 2 8 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 6 4 4 0 — 652 12 1 Police —(Departmental Summary). Charitable Aid 22 4 0 69 13 1 49 6 0 Expenses of Members ... 12 18 6 64 17 4 55 17 4 27 0 0 8 0 0 12 5 6 12 5 6 12 5 6 21 8 6 20 16 6 10 8 0 141 3 1 Resident Magistrate's Court ... 15 11 0 Hospital:— Salaries 333 6 8 Rations, &c 657 18 2 ■ 991 4 10 Harbour 75 0 0 43 7 4 58 6 8 69 8 9 254 4 2 246 2 9 Carried forward £ Carried forward ... £