COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

13

P.—No. ft

APPENDIX. No. 1. Sir,— Wellington, 27th July, 1870. Referring to my personal interview with you, and to the correspondence which passed between the preceding Government and myself, on the subject of Otago being reimbursed by the Colony in respect of the outlay which that Province has incurred in its Geological Survey, I would again respectfully solicit the attention of the Government to the fact that Dr. Hector's operations have cost the Government of the Province upwards of £13,000. Now that the services of Dr. Hector have been applied to the rest of the Colony, and that a very large proportion of the cost of his staff is borne by Otago, it seems only fair that Otago should either be relieved of any portion of the expense of the Colonial Survey, or that the past cost of the Otago Provincial Survey should be borne by the Colony. It must, I think, be obvious that there is a manifest injustice in practically compelling Otago not only to survey its own territory at its own sole expense, but to bear, in addition, the lion's share of the Geological Survey of the rest of the Colony. I venture to hope, under all the circumstances of the case, that the amount in question, £13,000, of which, if necessary, I am prepared to furnish full particulars, will be refunded. I have, &c, J. Macamdbew, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington. Superintendent of Otago. No. 2. Sib,— Wellington, 9th August, 1870. Adverting to my letter to you of 27th July ultimo, in respect of the amount expended by the Provincial Government of Otago upon the Geological Survey of that portion of the Colony being refunded, I have now to submit copy of agreement (enclosed herewith) between the Provincial Government and Dr. Hector. I desire to call the attention of the General Government specially to articles 1 and 2 in said agreement, and to request that directions may be issued to Dr. Hector to the effect that the Geological Survey of Otago may be completed in terms of this agreement. I have &c, J. Macaxbeew, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington. Superintendent of Otago. Enclosure. Minute of Agreement between James Crawford, junior, and John Auld, both Writers to the Signet, Edinburgh, Agents in Great Britain for the Province of Otago, conform to power of attorney in their favour by His Honor the Superintendent of the said Province, dated 16th March, and registered in the books of Council and Session as a probative writ, 15th .November, 1855, in favour of them and William Walter Cargill, of London, Esquire, and any one of them (severally), and him jointly and severally on the one part, and James Hector, M.D., 1-3, Gate Street, Lincoln Inn Fields, on the other part. The said parties, considering that the Provincial Council of the Province of Otago, being desirous of being possessed of a Geological Survey of the said Province, direct the said Agents to make inquiries regarding a suitable party for that purpose, and they having applied to Sir Roderick Murchison, he recommended to them to obtain the services of the said James Hector, and accordingly the said Supci'intendent and Provincial Council, on report by the said Agents, empowered them to enter into treaty and arrangements with him—and seeing that the said James Hector has agreed to undertake to perform the said survey on the conditions after specified: Therefore, the said parties have contracted and agreed, and hereby contract and agree, as follows, viz. :— 1. That the said James Hector shall devote his whole time and capabilities in making and bringing to a completion, and furnishing the said Superintendent and Provincial Council with, an accurate Geological Survey of the said Province, and shall deliver the same, with all necessary plans, sections, and others, to the said Superintendent of the said Province of Otago; said engagement to continue for the period of three years from and after the Ist day of January, in the year 1 802 ; and he shall from time to time, as ho may be required, furnish to the said Superintendent reports of his proceedings; it being declared that the said James Hector shall be allowed to conduct his examinations of the Province in any manner he may deem best suited for a scientific geological reconnoisance, subject, however, to the approval of the said Council and Superintendent in the matter of expenses ; and the said James Hector shall also be entitled to publish the results of his investigation for general scientific or geological purposes. • 4