CONTRACTS.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume IV, Issue 315, 13 January 1844, Page 2

CONTRACTS.

The contracts hitherto given out -by the' Commissariat have not been advertized in the several districts, but zX Auckland alone. Nor have they been for separate placets. They have been for the whole quantity required by the Commissariat for jthe year. This mode must be attended with high prices. The party who holds the contracts at present has, we are informed, made a little fortune out of them. The profit we have heard of his making by subletting to parlies here for the supply of the few troops in this town, of itself, would be a sufficient return for the expense and risk of managing the whole of the contracts. No blame attaches to the local government in this matter. With it they have nothing to do. Nor do we intend to blame the Commissariat ; for uncertainty necessarily attended the operations. No notion may have existed , at the time of supplies being required, elsewhere than in Auckland. The contracts expire on the 30th March next, and we (Would suggest that in advertising for tenders for the next year, it would be attended with economy to the Home government, and advantage to the settlements in Cookje Straits, if the settle*^ here were put in a position to compete for the supplies needed hereabouts by the Commissariat ; and as in all probability the government forces will be greatly increased in a few months, this is worthy of attention.