THE NATIVE DEPARTMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 85, 18 June 1880, Page 2

THE NATIVE DEPARTMENT.

Returns of governmental expenditure atfe; ds ft Mej ditifemely dry reading, but occasionally they prove both instructive and entertaining. We have before us a return of " Contingent Expenditure of the Native Department " for the nine months ending 91st March, 1880. The total expenditure reaches the respectable sum of £5,523 11s. 6d. The return is divided into different sections, under the respective headings of food, clothing, travelling expenses, bonuses, miscellaneous salaries, and contingencies. In separate columns are shown : £ 8. a1. ExtJetldittlre authorised and incurred before the present Administration - 3,687 la 6 2 Expenditure continued during present Administration, but previously authorised - - 1,506 16 5 3. Expenditure authorised and incurred during the present Administration - 4-8 19 7 The majority df the items under each heading ocour in column I, and some of the expenditure is most amusing. For instance, there are numerous payments for sugar, flour, tobacco, brandy, milk, &c, whilst the list includes " Fish and Oysters for Rewi," " Fish for Chief," " Seed Potatoes," "Port Wine," &c, the total expenditure on food being £1,285 2s. Bd. The cost to the colony under the head of clothing amounts to £217 Is. 3d., of which, however, a considerable sum is made up of police uniforms. We are glad to notice that no payments are down in column No. 3 as having been authorised and incurred since the present Government assumed office, and it is to be hoped they will steadily pursue the same course. What, for instance, can be more ridiculous than for the colony to be called on to pay £8 17s. 6d. for " Portmanteau and clothing for Wi Tako, juu.," considering that his father is a most wealthy man, and derives large rents from a valuable block of land on Lambton Quay? Then again, a collection amongst hi& parishioners would certainly be a better method of providing " Clothes for the wife of a clergy mau" than for this dusky matron to be clothed with apparel provided by the colony. At any rate, the Church to which the unnamed "clergyman" belongs should certainly be invited to assist in ihe good work of clothing his wife. The travelling expenses, which amounted to £1,150 6s. 6d., call for no particular comment ; but under the heading of bonuses, are £50 to Tauroa " for good behaviour," authorised by the late Government, but continued by the present, and £25 "for good behaviour" to Rewi Manga Maniapoto, the total responsibilty of which rests on the shoulders of Mr. Bryce. We hope to hear no more of such payments as those just referred to. The miscellaneous salaries reach tbe sum of £1,595 2s. 3d., and in the list we notice the name of Mr. H. H. M'Donald, of Horowhenua, who is down for £2 10s. during the March quarter, though the nature of the service is not stated. The contingencies reach the sum of £1,262 Bs. 10d., though of this amount only £61 15s. is to be debited against the present Native Minister. During the nine mouths £43 13s was paid to Mr Sage, of Wellington, for flags, most of which are doubtless employed on gala days in ornamenting some native chiefs wluire. We quote the following items of interest : — Coffin, £3 ; marble bust of chief, £130 ; pills, £2 14s 9d ; half-cost of plough, £5 ss ; fowling piece, £16 14s 6d ; native house at Bluff, £81 11s 4d ; headstone, £28 2s; pig, £4 10s; seed oats, £11 9s 6d ; drawing tatoo patterns, to Peeti te Aweawe, £1 ; grass, &c, £9 9s 3d ; headstone for natives, £35 ; 5 vols. of Bancroft's Races, £6 10s ; freight of mussels,£l 19s 9d ; bonedust, £6 18s 3d ; silkworms, £4 ; one coffin for boy, £3 15s ; repairing guns, £1 14s ; acid, &c, 2s 6d ; spring cart, £25 ; dray, £21. These are a few items, but they show how the money has gone. It is satisfactory to note that Mr Bryce is keeping down the contingent expenditure of his department, which has been for many years past a terrible drain upon the Colonial finances. The present return shows a marked improvement during the past few months, and we hope next year to see the contingencies of the Native Department reduced to a minimum.