THE CASE OF AICKIN v. BEALEY.

The following u the text of the contract made between Mr. Selfe and Mr. AickiT and of the instructions given to the latter h» the Secretary for Public Works. * CONTBACT.

Memorandum of agreement made an<] entered this eleventh day of March, 1864, between l{( . 1U > Selfc Selfe, Esq., English Agent to the Proving Government of Canterbury, New Zealand, of 0 15 , al part, and George Aickin, Esq., Civil Enimie,. r ' n ? No. 46, Carlton Hill, St. John's Wood, 0 f theV./v, part. The said Henry Selfe Helfe, Esq., mi,,,, agent, as aforesaid, hereby engages the said Aickin, Esq., for a term of throe years from t| l( 'j'f of his departure from England, nn hereinafter m , tioned, as engineer to the Provincial Government?", Canterbury, New Zealand, upon the following t( , r ' A (that is to say):—The salary of the said <; w I"' Aickin, Esq., shall be eight hundred and fifty p< ;u ' r f (£850) per annum, payable quarterly, to corn merle on the first day of April next. Over and ah* •uch salary, the sum of one hundred and fifty r )OUr ? (£150) per annum shall be paid to the said r; ( . f ' Aickin, Esq., towards his personal and travel ?<! expenses. All necessary office and out-door tants shall be provided at the expense of the I'rovi '" cial Government of Canterbury, New Zealand jf! sum of two hundred pounds (£2oo)shall be [tnidhyt/ said Henry Selfe Helfe, Esq., acting as aforesaid, to ill said George Aickin,Esq., for the expenses <,f hi* ~S' sage to Canterbury, New Zealand. This agreemen t mar be determined at the end of the aforesaid term or three years by twelve months' previous nof j,. ( . tf that effect, to be given either by the Proving.! Government of Canterbury, New Zealand, or by the said George Aickin, Esq. In case thin agreement shall be so determined by suc£ notice given by th e said Provincial Government to the said G e orzc Aickin, Esq., then and in such case the said I'rorincial Government shall pay to the said George Aickin Esq., the sura of two hundred pounds (£200.) The said George Aickin, Esq., shall sail for Canterbury New Zealand, in the ship Araoor, now lying j n t he East India Dock, and intended to leave England on the first day of April next. For the consideration aforesaid, the said George Aickin, Esq., engaeei immediately on his arrival in Canterbury, New Zealand, to take upon himself all the duties of, and to act as Provincial Engineer in all matters in which his services shall be required as engineer by the said Provincial Government, and to give his whole time and attention to the faithful discharge of such duties. Henry Selfe Selfe, Agent to the Provincial Government of Canterbury, New Zealand. George Aickin. Witness—Albert Osborn Ottywell. INSTRUCTIONS. Public Works Office, Christchurch, July 8, 1854. Sir, —In compliance with your request, I beg to furnish you the following information with regard to your duties as Provincial Engineer. °

The office of Provincial Engineer, and all officers of that department, will be under your control. You will carry on the correspondence of that office, and keep such books as may be found to be necessary. It will be part of your duty to prepare plans for, advise the Government upon, and superintend the construction of such public works within the province as are being carried on by the Provincial Government. Of these works the following are the most important. 1. Such harbour works in Lyttelton as the Government may decide upon immediately undertaking. 2. The erection of a bridge over theHurunui, when this Government shall have agreed with that of Nelson, on this bridge. 3. Obtaining levels in various parts of the province, and superintending the reduction and plotting of those already obtained, which work is now in progress. 4. The maintenance of the few roads which remain in the charge of the Government. 5. Reporting on such works under the control of the various Road Boards as may appear to call for special engineering advice 6. The improvements connected with the Timaru Roadstead, though of necessity carried on under local engineering superintendence, will be under your general control. 7. Certain harbour works now approaching completion at Akaroa. The above list is intended rather as an indication of the kind of works to be placed under your charge than as professing to exhaust the range of your duties. These will be better gathered from the instructions you may from time to time receive from this office, and from experience in the working of your department.

One of the most important portions of your duty will be to keep an efficient check on the expenditure incurred in your department; and to guard against ali unnecessary outlay. With regard to works in outlying districts, they are under your control, though actually superintended by officers specially employed for the purpose. The expenditure for these works will pass through your office; but in some cases, to save time, I correspond with these officers direct on the subject of the progress of the works.

The Lyttelton and Christehurch Railway, now in process of construction, and other railways contemplated, as well as the Rakaia bridge, are considered special works, and are under special engineering superintendence. If you desire any further information on the subject of this letter I shall be glad to furnish it on your applying to me for that purpose. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, JOHN HALT-, Secretary for Public Works. The Provincial Engineer.