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things the subject of the payment of rent for the quarters at the Post Office was touched upon, and His Excellency having expressed some surprise at the change being made, was pleased to offer to take the subject into consideration if placed before him, I therefore do myself the honour to solicit the favour of your submitting concise outlines of the case to the following:
the
by the
This Gallery. Previous to the transfer of the Post Offices to the control of the Colonial Government in May 1860,
no rent was charged for the Quarters of the Imperial Post Offices, this extra duty devolving on the Post Master who resided therein being considered an equivalent to the rent. The Salary of the Post Master prior to the Arrangement was £600 per annum, and on the transfer it was raised to £800 per annum; but a rent charge of £2:10:0 a month or £30:0:0 per Annum was made.
2nd. After the demolition of the old building, as correspondence ensued as to the various alterations and rent to be charged for the Quarters in the new Post Offices, and after some proposals were made, it was finally fixed at "£3" as monthly rent. On perusing this correspondence, His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson was pleased to express an opinion that the Postmaster General's residences on the premises was no doubt a great advantage to the Public, especially in his case, and he therefore thought some considerable abatements should be made in the rent of these quarters in view of the extra duty performed.
3rd. I respectfully submit that it is customary with the Merchants and Bankers here to provide quarters free of expense