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I may add incidentally that Mr Walker died on the 10th ultimo. The difficulty of finding a competent person to replace him, and the necessity of providing the Surveyor General with efficient assistance induced me to apply to the Military Authorities, and the services of Lieutenant Bird, Royal Engineers, were placed at the disposal of Government.
Mr. Bird will receive pay at the rate of one guinea a day, in addition of course to his military allowances, and his Military duties, which are slight, will not be interfered with. So far as Mr. Walker's salary was £550 a small saving of £111-15s was effected, but the Office is provisional and temporary. I trust this arrangement will