I learn with regret that you think the same result inevitable on this occasion. Under these circumstances, if you desire it, I am prepared to relieve you from the responsibility of the office which you have undertaken.

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

The Resident Magistrate,
Auckland.

Resident Magistrate’s Court,
Auckland, 4th March, 1857.

Sir,—Adverting to your Honor’s letter of yesterday’s date No. 13, I beg to state for your Honor’s information, that while I have every desire to carry out the wishes of your Honor’s Government, I feel that I should have utterly failed in my duty to myself and to your Honor had I concealed the fact, “that there was every reason to apprehend a failure in the undertaking” of the collection of the Census, in consequence “of the want of local knowledge on the part of most of the individuals appointed for that purpose.”

With reference to that portion of your Honor’s letter of the 3rd instant, No. 13, wherein your Honor remarks, “that you remembered, that the Census last taken was generally believed to have been incomplete,” I have simply to observe for your Honor’s information that the General Government, under whose auspices it was taken, was perfectly satisfied with the mode in which I conducted it; I also beg to draw your Honor’s attention to the circumstance of your Honor “having requested the General Government to appoint me to perform the same duty on this occasion,” and also to your Honor’s communication of the 28th ultimo (covering a copy of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary’s, dated February 27, 1856, No. 35, to that effect) wherein your Honor “requests me to be good enough to supervise the collection of the Census and the compilation of the information contained in the Census Schedules,” in compliance with which request I have despatched the first collector on the list, and entered into an engagement on the part of the Provincial Government for his water transit.

In offering my services to conduct the Census in the present instance, I was stimulated to do so by the belief that my experience would be of benefit to the Provincial Service, but if your Honor deem it otherwise, I have no desire whatever to retain the responsibility.

Awaiting your Honor’s pleasure,
I have, &c.,
THOMAS BECKHAM,
Senior Resident Magistrate.

His Honor
The Superintendent.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, March 4th, 1857.

Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day’s date.

The selection of persons recommended for appointment as collectors of the Census was made with care, and with a view to obviate the complaints which were so generally made of the incompleteness of the last Census. The lists had already been in your hands for several days, when you expressed your willingness to undertake the charge, and in consideration of a specified payment, did undertake the charge of supervising the collection of the Census and compiling the information contained in the returns.

Having placed at your disposal, for this purpose, the best assistance I could obtain, I have to request that you will be good enough to inform me whether you are now prepared to assume responsibility (from which you seem desirous of saving yourself) for the completeness of the Census.

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

The Resident Magistrate,
Auckland.

Resident Magistrate’s Court,
Auckland, 5th March, 1857.

Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor’s letter of the 4th instant, No. 14, received at a late hour yesterday, and to state for your Honor’s information that my object in reporting what I conceived might possibly take place, “in consequence of the want of local knowledge on the part of the persons appointed to collect the Census,” was of course to relieve myself of the responsibility involved in such a contingency, being at the same time fully prepared to do my utmost with the materials furnished, and if it be the wish of the Provincial Government, “that I should supervise the Collection of the Census, and the compilation of the information contained in the Census Schedules,” I can pledge myself no further.

I beg to remark in conclusion, for your Honor’s information, that any further delay “beyond to day,” in proceeding with this undertaking, must necessitate its total failure under any circumstances.

I have &c.,
THOS. BECKHAM,
Senior Resident Magistrate.

His Honor
The Superintendent.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, March 5th, 1857.

Sir,—Referring to your letter of date February, 27th ultimo. I have now the honour to acquaint you that the Resident Magistrate, whom I had employed to supervise the taking of the Census, and the compilation of the information contained in the Schedules, feels some difficulty in making himself responsible for the accuracy of the Census returns.

I propose, in consequence, to employ some other person; and as the holder of the office of Registrar-General seems particularly fitted for the duty of collecting the Statistical information, and compiling it, I shall be glad to nominate him, if his Excellency’s Government