69

Resident Magistrate’s Court,
Auckland, 3rd March, 1857.

Sir,—Adverting to the latter paragraph of your Honor’s letter of yesterday’s date No. 11, relative to the Collectors of the Census, stating "that the schooner ‘Tere’ has been placed at the disposal of the Government for this Service,"

I beg to state for your Honor’s information that it will be requisite to despatch one of the Collectors up the "Thames" to day, and to request that your Honor will be pleased to cause arrangements to be made for his departure, either by that or some other vessel, at 4 o’clock this afternoon.

I have &c.,
Thos. Beckham,
Senior Resident Magistrate.

His Honor the Superintendent.

Resident Magistrate’s Office,
Auckland, 2nd March, 1857.

Sir,—In reply to your Honor’s letter of the 28th ultimo, No. 10, "requesting me to supervise the collection of the Census and the compilation of the information contained in the Census Schedules," I beg to state for your Honor’s information that I shall be happy to undertake that charge, and to request that your Honor will be pleased to acquaint me what rate of remuneration I am to be allowed for this duty; I beg also to intimate to your Honor that I shall require a Clerk for this service, who must be a person of considerable intelligence and ability, and that the rate allowed for this purpose on the last occasion was 12s. per diem, but whether I can obtain a suitable person now at a less rate I am not aware.

I have to request that your Honor will be pleased to favor me with an answer with the least possible delay, as the time has all but passed for commencing operations.

I have &c.,
Thos. Beckham,
Senior Resident Magistrate.

His Honor the Superintendent.

Resident Magistrate’s Court,
Auckland, 3rd March, 1857.

Sir,—With reference to your Honor’s letter of the 24th ultimo, "transmitting me a list of persons appointed as collectors of the Census," I deem it my duty to draw your Honor’s attention to the fact, that the greater number of those individuals possess not the slightest knowledge of the interior, and that therefore there is every reason to apprehend a failure in the undertaking.

I have &c.,
Thomas Beckham,
Senior Resident Magistrate.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, March 2, 1857.

Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day’s date, in which you request to be informed what rate of remuneration will be allowed you for supervising the collection of the census, and compiling the information contained in the census schedules and intimating that you will require a clerk for this service.

In reply I have to acquaint you that you will be allowed the same rate of remuneration as you receive for performing the duties of Returning Officer, and to request that you will select a Clerk from the list of names already forwarded to you, who will receive 10s per diem; should an additional Collector be required in consequence of this arrangement the name of another person shall be recommended to His Excellency the Governor for appointment.

I have &c.,
J. Williamson,
Superintendent.

The Resident Magistrate, Auckland.

P. S.—Mr. Frederick Cook has offered to place his schooner "Tere" at the disposal of the Government for this service.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, March 3rd, 1857.

Sir,—I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day’s date, in which you state that there is every reason to apprehend a failure in the taking of the Census.

On reference to the list of names of persons approved as "collectors" by His Excellency the Governor, I observe that one half of the number are old residents in the Province, and therefore it may be presumed, qualified by experience for the duties required of them, even in the interior, and that, as a whole, so far as I am able to judge, the persons named are of sufficient intelligence to be able, under proper direction, to collect the Census returns.

Remembering that the Census last taken was generally believed to have been incomplete,

I have &c.,
Thomas Beckham,
Senior Resident Magistrate.

His Honor the Superintendent.

Resident Magistrate’s Court,
Auckland, 3rd March, 1857.

Sir,—I beg to state for your Honor’s information that four of the "Collectors of the Census" will be required to proceed to the Bay of Islands by the steamer "Wonga Wonga" on Saturday next, the 7th inst., and to request that your Honor will be pleased to cause their "passages" to be secured.

I have &c.,
Thomas Beckham,
Senior Resident Magistrate.