Estimates and New Appointments.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 100, 15 March 1845, Page 2

Estimates and New Appointments.

It was our intention to have remarked at some length, on the votes which have passed the Legislative Council during the preceding week ; but as His Excellency has proposed that tho grants for Colonial Treasury, Survey Establishment, Public Works, and Harbour Establishments, shall on account of the objections urged by the non-official members, be reconsidered, with a view to their reduction ; we shall only now observe, that we consider that the arguments so appositely urged by Mr. Whitaker, on the grant for Marine Surveyor, and the contingent expences for his operations, are unanswerable. For five years such surveys have been delayed : surely, under existing circumstances, a further postponement of another year, cannot be injurious to the Colony. We trust that this vote will be reduced by the sum of £600, to the amount proposed by Mr. Whitaker of £1,000. With this reduction, and some few others, judiciously pointed out, and most spiritedly and ably contended for by the non-official members, we are quite certain there will be no occasion whatever for any increase under the Property Rate Ordinance, or any rational plea even for an attempt to impose the odious, unjust, partial tax, to be termed, " Licensed Dealers Ordinance." In the Judicial Establishment, important and economical changes have taken place by the consolidation of the offices of Commissioner of Court of Requests, Sheriff, and Police Magistrate, both at Auckland and at Wellington, by which a sum of £505 will be saved to the public. Percival Berrey, Esq., at Auckland, and Richard Davis Hamon, Esq., at Wellington, are appointed to these combined offices.