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His Excellency then read the following finance minute upon laying the estimates on the table:

GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

In laying before you the Estimates for the year, it is my duty to make such explanatory remarks in reference to particular departments or services as may seem likely to be useful in elucidating any points of importance connected with them. I proceed therefore to comment upon such as appear to me more particularly to require notice but should further information be wished for, I shall be happy to supply it as far as I can do so, in each particular case when the estimates are brought forward for consideration in Committee.

WELLINGTON.

Lieutenant-Governor’s Establishment.

Under this heading is included the salary of an officer designated as Native Secretary and Interpreter, who although especially attached to the Lieutenant-Governor’s establishment and by the conditions under which he holds office bound to reside near the Government House so as always to be within reach when required as an Interpreter, is yet liable at all times to be called upon to undertake any duties connected with the natives in which his services can be made available for the public good.

During the past year the gentleman at present filling the office has twice been detached from his ordinary duties to negotiate the acquisition of lands from the natives. When not fully occupied in matters connected with the natives, it is the duty of the Native Secretary to assist in the Private Secretary’s office, by which the necessity of employing an additional clerk is obviated and that expense saved to the public.

Colonial Secretary’s Department.

I have continued to this department the same establishment as it was originally constituted with, though I am aware that the increasing business of the Colonial Secretary’s office has made the duties much more onerous, and that occasionally there is some difficulty in getting through the current business. I anticipate therefore that another year it will be found necessary to increase the establishment by an additional clerk.

Survey Department.

In the estimate for this department I have only included the salary of one surveyor, although in reality two have constantly been employed during the past year. The necessity for a second surveyor arose from Mr. Fitzgerald’s being exclusively engaged in superintending the construction of the Wairarapa Road, and his salary therefore ought to have been provided for out of the road funds and to have appeared as a part of the expense of constructing the Wairarapa line. Should Mr. Fitzgerald be again exclusively engaged during the ensuing year in the same service, I propose that this course should be adopted and his salary and allowances form a charge upon the road fund, in which case the amount now estimated for, would be available for the payment of an additional surveyor and other expenses legitimately connected with the Survey department.

Customs Department.

Some increase has been found necessary to this establishment to secure efficiency and protect the Revenue. A Searcher’s office has been established, and additional Tide Waiters have been employed. An arrangement has also been made by which the Harbor Master, who is also an officer of Customs, shall devote all his spare time to the service of the Customs. The good effect of these changes is already apparent in the increase of revenue obtained for the quarter during which they have been in operation.

Harbor Department.

In this department considerable changes have been made during the past year. Formerly it was the practice to pay the Pilot £100 a year and allow him the whole pilotage on condition of his providing his own residence, boat and boat’s crew; but after the wreck of the Subraon whilst in charge of the Pilot, it was considered desirable that the Government should take all these matters into their own hands, and that arrangements, upon which the efficiency of the pilot service so materially depended, should no longer be left to the Pilot himself. A residence is now therefore provided for him as well as a boat and boat’s crew, and a salary of one hundred pounds per annum is allotted to him in addition to one-third of all pilotage received, the other two-thirds forming a part of the Revenue. The Harbor Master himself is also, as I have before remarked, an officer of Customs and is now required to devote his spare time to that department. The whole establishment estimated for is as moderate as is compatible with efficiency, and a reduction of £95 16s. has recently been effected by substituting seven native boatmen for Europeans as rowers in the Harbor and Pilot boats; it is still, however, considered desirable to retain one European in each boat in addition to the natives.

Medical Department.

In the Medical department an increased expenditure has unavoidably arisen from the necessity of renting a building as a Colonial Hospital, the former one having been destroyed by the earthquakes. Even with this addition however, the sum of £819:10s. cannot I think but be regarded as a very moderate expenditure, to keep up efficiently so useful an institution and one which has hitherto been very successful, and productive of much good to both races of her Majesty’s subjects.