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are necessary for the maintenance
Military discipline.
With this end in view
I applied (when the opportunity offered) to be allowed to work under the Surveyor General on the terms proposed by the Military Authorities in July last.
Since that time I have enquired into and taken notice of expenditure and requirements of persons in the position of Overseer of Works and find that not only should I lose in a pecuniary light to the extent of $15 per month, but that $60 per month is inadequate to the wants of a European in this climate at the ruling prices for necessaries, and that next to House rents, provisions are the heaviest item of expenditure, and also that it is most difficult to obtain any decent quarters except at an enormous rent.
I therefore respectfully request information as to whether some allowance in aid of quarters could be granted by the Colonial Government.
I am requested by my Commanding Officer to state whether