No. 1. Copy of a Despatch from Governor Hobson to Lord Stanley. Government House, Auckland, 4 August, 1841.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 39, 13 January 1844, Page 4

No. 1. Copy of a Despatch from Governor Hobson to Lord Stanley. Government House, Auckland, 4 August, 1841.

My Lord, — Tn forwarding to your Lordship copies of the estimates of the probable expenses of this Government for one year, which I have recently laid before the Legislative Council, I feel that some observations may be considered necessary relative to a few of the items of expenditure detailed therein. And, first, I will take the liberty to premise, that these estimates have been drawn up in the absence of any instructions, with the exception of the Schedule enclosed in your Lordship's despatch of December, 1840, No. 1. The instruction from the Lords of the Treasm-y, alluded to by your Lordship, not having yet arrived. I would also observe, that the estimate of the probable amount of revenue for the first ye?r has, with the exception of the procoeds arising from the sale of Crown lands, been prepared from very uncertain data, no other information existing for my guidance than what could be deduced from a reference to the receipts of surrounding colonies, assuming a part proportionate to the population of New Zealand, and the tonnage likely to arrive in her ports. The apparently large sum to which these estimates amount, may be satisfactorily accounted for when I remind your Lordship that three establishments, each at a very j considerable distance from the other, are to be maintained. I allude to those of Auckland, the Bay of Islands, and of Port Nicholson, besides various smaller stations, at which, numerous Europeans' having established themselves for the purpose of trading in timber and whaling, it is important to tho tranquillity of the district that a police magistrate and force be kept there. The departments which avo principally affected by these observations are, that of police, amounting to seven thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven pounds nine shillings and three pence ; the judicial, to the sum of four thousand and sixty-eight pounds and three pence ; and that of customs, to two thousand one hundred and thirty pounds, making a total of fourteen thousand one hundred and fifty-six pounds eight shillings and sixpence, out of which a sum of thirteen hundred and forty-seven pounds one shilling and nine pence is incurred for the maintenance of the mounted police, a force, the sorvices of which, in thb first formation of the colony, have been very important, and which, until [ shall have received an increase to the military force, and until the police establishments be rendered thoroughly efficient, are indispensable. A very considerable outlay is required in the department of survey, for the purchase of land from the aborigines, and for such works as are indispensable to give the land when purchased an exchangeable value. These items are very materially increased - by the scarcity of labour and by the extreme difficulty experienced in the survey of the country, which renders it necessary to give higher wages as an inducement to labourers to undertake the service. The whole of the amount is twelve thousand one hundred and sixty-four pounds twelve shillings and sixpence, namely, for the survey six thousand one hundred and sixty-four pounds twelve shillings and sixpence ; which, however, I beg to observe, does not exceed one-fifth part of the estimated amount of the land revenue. Four thousand pounds is set apart for the purchase of land from the aborigines, and two thousand for roads, bridges, and other works. The schedule with which I was furnished by your Lordship estimates the expenses of the establishments therein named at the sum of nineteen thousand three hundi'ed pounds, to which I have endeavoured to confine them, and have so far succeeded as to fix the amount (exclusive of Russell and Port Nicholson,) at twenty thousand six hundred and forty-one pounds, a sum, however, which when the salary attached to the office of a colonial treasurer, and to some other appointments not at present filled up, be deducted, will not, I think, much exceed the prescribed amount ; and throughout, in forming the other establishments, the greatest care has been taken to regulate such salaries as are not provided for in the schedule above mentioned, with the strictest economy consistent with the efficient performance of public business. In order to provide for the expense of the commission formed to hear and report on claims to grants of land in the colony, it has been necossary to include in the estimates the sum of two thousand four hundred and fifty pounds, which will, however, be repaid in a great measure into the treasury by the fees imposed by the ordinance pf Council.

Fifteen hundred and thirty-five pounds nine shillings and four pence has been appropriated to defray the expense of maintaining in the service of this government the brig " Victoria." "When the extent of coast along which communicatiqn must be kept up in the absence of any overland connection between the various parts of the island, is considered, it will be found that even this expense is insufficient to the object proposed. Another vessel, but of much smaller dimensions, is still imperatively required to maintain the police on the remote parts of the coasts of the colony, especially in Cook's Straits. To make provision'for the superintendence and protection of the aborigines, a sum of two thousand three hundred and thirty-five pounds twelve shillings and sixpence has been estimated ; but 1 am fearful this sum will be barely adequate to meet the expenses of this department, as it is with great difficulty I can procure gentlemen who are sufficiently acquainted with the native habits, custems, and language, to perform the required services effectually. For public buildings and works the sum authorized by the schedule is five thousand pounds. The expenses of this department are estimated in the document I now transmit, at five thousand three hundred and fifty-four pounds, of which one hundred and eighty pounds is an annual salary for the superintendent of works, one hundred and fifty-six pounds for the foreman of works, ninety-one pounds five shillings for the clerk of works, and a similar sum (ninety-one pounds five shillings) for the superintendent of stock, making a total of five hundred and nineteen pounds. Every item has been submitted to a careful scrutiny, and each building is of the plainest and least expensive style, but the cost of mechanical labour and the price of materials are so exorbitant, that the erection of the most ordinary shed is attended with an expense that would appear incredible in England. I have only further to draw your Lordship's attention to the establishment of the Governor, for the support of which the gross sum of eleven hundred and eighty-seven pounds seven shillings and sixpence lias been estimated. Referring more immediately to the several items, your Lordship will observe the sum of one hundred and thirty-six pounds seventeen shillings and sixpence set apart for forage for three horses for the Governor ; and I respectfully submit, that until the domain can be brought into cultivation, so as to, supply forage, this very limited sum is not unreasonably claimed for the support of the least number of horses that tho Governor can employ in the public service. 1 have, however, declined drawing this allowance until your Lordship's pleasure be known. The sum of five hundred pounds has been appropriated for the hire of labourers, which, at the present price of labour, will only supply five, or at most six men ; and I regret to say native labour is quite as exorbitant, and not half so productive. One hundred and thirty-six pounds seventeen shillings and sixpence has been also appropriated as a salary to the superintendent of the domain, which very little exceeds the hire of a la- 1 bourer, and falls infinitely short of that of a mechanic. I have, &c, (Signed) W. Hobson, Governor.