A.—IB

2

On the whole, it would probably be well for the interests of the Colony if Ministers were to defer any final decision on this matter until the arrival of Sir James Fergusson ; and were then to propose to the Colonial Parliament, with his acquiescence, such a re-adjustment of the existing salary and allowances as would, at least, entitle the Governor of this Colony to the full rate of retiring pension. G. F. Bowen.

Memorandum for His Excellency. Ministers find that the attention of previous Governments has on various occasions been directed to the subject of the Governor's allowances, but that for obvious considerations the settlement of the question has been deferred until a change in the Governorship of the Colony should be pending. They think it therefore desirable now to place on record, and to request His Excellencj to bring under the notice of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies the decision at which, after careful consideration and communication with the Australian Colonies, they have arrived. Governor's Residence. There is but one residence that the Government of New Zealand undertake to provide for the use of the Governor and his establishment, viz., the Government House, Wellington. So long as the Government do not require, for purposes of use or sale, the land at Lowry Bay originally acquired as the site for Government House, or the land adjoining the Government Offices in Wellington, the Governor has the free use of such lands ; but the Government does not engage to retain these lands for the use of the Governor for any specific time, as the latter may be required for General Government pui-poses, and the former it has long been the intention of the Government to sell whenever a suitable price is to be obtained. Furniture. The Colony furnishes the " public rooms " of Government House in Wellington, viz. :— Entrance and main halls Corridors Passages and staircase Ball room Two drawing rooms Dining room State bed room Dressing room and ball room Kitchens, laundries, pantries, excepting culinary utensils Offices. Executive Council room Private Secretary's room Aide-de-Camp's room Governor's room , At present, all the rooms are furnished, and the use of this furniture will be continued to the Governor, but except in regard to the rooms above mentioned, the Colony will not repair or renew the furnituie. The Governor finds all linen, plate, chiua, glass, cutlery, kitchen utensils, and stable furniture. The Colony provides coals for the offices of His Excellency, the Aide-de-Camp, and Private Secretary, and for the Executive Council room. The Colony provides gas to an extent not exceeding £120 a-year, this being estimated to cover the cost of lighting the public rooms and offices. The windows and gaseliers will be repaired and kept clean by the Colony. The above arrangement, as far as circumstances permit, follows the rules laid down in Colonial Office Regulations, Chapter 9. Inventory. An inventory will be kept as specified by the 287 th section of the regulations above mentioned. 15th January, 1873. G. M. Waterhouse.

Memorandum for His Excellency; Ministehs respectfully submit that they have had under their consideration His Excellency the Governor's remarks upon the Ministerial Memorandum of the 15th January relating to the allowances of future Governors. As regards His Excellency's expression of regret that this proposal was not placed on record before the appointment of Sir James Fergusson to the Governorship of the Colony was made, Ministers would submit that the subject itself, as shown by official documents in the offices, had previously engaged Ministerial attention, although action had purposely been postponed until a change of Governors should be impending. That the proposal should now be made subsequent to the appointment of Sir James Fergusson is due to the fact that His Excellency Sir George Bo wen himself has been promoted from this Colony prior to the expiration of the ordinary period of governorship, and that the news of Sir James Fergussou's appointment arrived concurrently with those of His Excellency's promotion. Ministers deem it desirable that the salary of the Governor of New Zealand should be placed on a different footing from what it holds at present, and purpose recommending to Parliament, at its approaching session, such a revision of the Civil List as would entitle future Governors of New Zealand to claim, on retiring, the benefit of a first class pension under the Imperial Act. Possibly this alteration may involve a re-consideration of the general subject of the Governor's allowances, for it appears that although the salary of the Governor of this Colony is below that fixed in many other less-important Colonies, yet the allowances are in excess of those provided in many Colonies in which the Governor's salary is nominally fixed at a higher rate. Wellington, 20th February, 1873. G. M. Waterhouse.