260
would willingly, if he saw fit to do so, arrive at a conclusion that would put him in agreement with the Major General Commanding, and save further trouble by an appropriation from the Colonial Treasury. But there is not, and never has been, any provision made in the Colonial Estimates for such expenditure, nor has any such expenditure been hitherto incurred by the Colony.
In proof of the practice as it is at present understood to exist, I am to mention that at the moment of the Russian War in 1854, a Battery at West Point, near to Duke of Marlborough's, was armed, and as per letter of 24 July, 1861, Duke of Newcastle to Acting Governor Robinson, the cost of painting was not only paid for by the War Department (as have been all the other Batteries in the Colony), but as a principle, as late as October 1st, the point on which the present matter turns was admitted by both the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Secretary of State for War, when even the rent of a military house in the rear of the Battery mentioned was (in addition to the cost of the Batteries) refunded to the Colony by the War Department. I enclose copies of the Dispatches in question as the Acting Governor Robinson wishes the Major General to see.
The Dispatch No. 99 of 20 Oct 1861 has maintained the relations undisturbed to this date.