cost of the Police. It amounts to £. 2,500 annually, while the expenditure of the Police Force alone, independent of Police Magistrates, feeding of Prisoners, and other incidental charges, aggregates £4282.
The share of this tax paid by mercantile part of the population, and when the letter amounts to £600 alone. More correctly, it is somewhat less than a quarter of the whole assessment: This may be considered disproportionate with reference to the whole population of the Colony, but it is by no means disproportionate to the amount represented by the mercantile body.
Mr. Campbell appears to consider that a reduction of £. 1,000 on the Land Revenue would be sufficient to remove the dissatisfaction expressed against the amount which is at present realized by Government from this source. In Despatch No. 89 of 15th November, 1848, I have already expressed my opinion that it would be advisable to the local Government to give discretionary power to reduce in some particular cases the rents on grounds which it may be clear cannot afford the sums payable on them, and which, if insisted on, might compel the holders to throw up the lots altogether.
If a satisfactory arrangement can be made with the Public at a loss of not more than the above sum, I think the subject entitled to the indulgent consideration of Her Majesty's Government.