Government that no primary difficulties shall be created which will require an appeal to Her Majesty's favour for assistance. It will be therefore my main object to place its revenue on a solid basis, and in all projects of expenditure to leave such a margin as will remove all cause for anxiety, and I fully acknowledge that the short period which has elapsed since the colony itself was enabled to emancipate itself from Parliamentary assistance improves reason why more urgently the obligations of prudence and foresight.
I will, in a separate despatch, advert to the subjects of the functions and the salaries of the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor, with reference to the changes which have taken place. Some are of opinion that the altered circumstances of the Island require a reconsideration, and to some extent, a reconstruction of the machinery as regards the Colonial Officials, and the salaries attached to their Offices, but as it appeared to me the topic would be more advantageously dealt with when the constitution and functions of the Legislative Council shall have been determined, I have contented myself with making such arrangements as the public service made absolutely needful.
Page 276