153
I regret,
that
any delay should have arisen in sending from England
the Steamer promised by Her Majesty's Government to be maintained at the joint expense of the Colony and the Imperial Treasury. I must however deal
with circumstances, as I find them.
The Colony has not got
a Colony Steamer, and can
at this time,
nor has it money
to realise Mr.
Thomsett's plans for building
or purchasing a suitable vessel in
England.
Under these circumstances
I have consulted
my
Council and
by their advice have, in the absence
of any suitable English built craft being procurable, purchased
a native Junk, and am
fitting her
for carrying
one
heavy
gun
with
accommodation of a rough kind for the Harbor Master, his Staff, and
a numerous
crew - necessary.
I need scarcely say
that my
Council and myself would greatly have preferred purchasing an English built vessel, but there were no funds forthcoming. The duty to be done is before me, and must be executed. I am therefore content to have it
done.