The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-21 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN.

have perused with much interest your article on
the unfortunately too well founded complaints of the civil
servants of the Crows, as represented by the Custom-house,
and trust that, backed by such advocacy, they may obtain
the redress which they ask and deserve.
Your observations are eminently entitled to the con-
sideration of the Government and the public, from the
even balance which you hold between the grievances of
the©e gentlemen and the best interests of the country. For
while it is to the true interests of the public to pay gentle-
men in their employ fair and adequate salaries, it is equally
the duty of the Government to see that they are well and
efficiently served. _ _

It is, however, too much the fashion to regard leniently
the faults of clerks, on account of the insufficiency of their
pay; and it is but tho natural rebound that the clerks
should think their f° utmost little possible" more than
enough for the scanty and insignificant pittance which is
doled out to them after even twenty and thirty years service.
My opinion has always been, that if an employe is not
worth being well paid, he is not worth paying at all. " A
fair day's work for a fair day's wage,'
is the only true
principle upon which our Government can and ought to
act, having a duo regard to the interests of the public and
the position of the civil servants of the Crown.
My object, however, in addressing you is not so much to
support your views in this respect as to endorse, by a
practical example, your statement that "in the multi-
plicity of forms, and the habit of keeping accounts in dupli-
cate and triplicate, are to be found the banes of the civil
service." This is especially exemplified in the office which
you have quoted—l mean the statistical department of the
customs, so worthily presided over by Mr. Messenger.
Now, this department, technically called " the office of the
inspector-general of imparts and exports," is the statistical
office of the customs, supplying Parliament and the public
with all those valuable data—so well known to statists and
the members both of the Lords and Commons—respecting
the trade and navigation of this country. The routine for
obtaining returns from this office so thoroughlY exemplifies
the circumlocution satirised by Charles Dickens that it
certainly deserves to be known. Supposing a member of
the Government required some statistics for a speech about
to bo made. In the first instance, he would apply to the
Treasury, when my Lords of the Treasury would write to
the Most Honourable the Privy Council of the Board of
Trade, who would apply to the Honourable the Commis-
sioners of Customs, who would forward the account to the
inspector-general, with orders to prepare it accordingly;
and, when prepared, it would probably reach the hands of
the member requiring it through the same circumventory
system.
Here, then, we have the same thing done, not only ill
duplicate and triplicate, but even quadruplicate. Four
letters written, and a proportionate staff maintained, where
one is necessary, and a delay certainly of many days in
the obtainment or publication, as the case may be, of the
information sought, by means of these unnecessary forms.
The remedy—the amalgamation of the statistical offices
both of the customs and the excise With the Board of Trade
—I should like to glance at in another letter, if you deem
the subject worthy to engage the attention of your readers.
—I am, sir, your obedient servant,
STATIST.
May 20, 1864.

GOVERNOR GREY AND THE MAORI CHIEF.—
Governor Sir Geoge Grey has addressed the
following letter to one of the New Zealand chiefs now in
this country :—" Government House, Auckland, Now Zea
land, March 8, I`6l. 0 my son, Hapimana Nigapiko
Mokoera ; salutations to you. Your affectionate letter has
reached me. 0 son, your letter is a very good one. Write
land. I have heard from icy
often to me that I may know what you are doing in Eng-
sisters concerning your visit
to their house, and am pleased thereat. Great is the rebel-
Um of Ngatimaniapoto. They will not listen to me. The
soldiers are at the A wamutu, at It engiawhia, at Kihikibi.
They (the rebels) fled to the mountains. I have earnestly
besought them to listen to me and be at peace, but they will
not listen. However, by and bye perhaps they will listen
to me, and return to obedience and to peaceful pursuits,
Then they will fully understand all the corners of their evil
hearts. I shall not cease urging them to return to good
and industrious pursuits.—From your loving father, G,
GREY. To Hapimana Ngapiko Mokocra."
•

MEYERBEER'S FORTUNE amounts to over two and
three-quarter millions of thalors, nearly £400,000. This
was not all made by crotchets, as his family are very'
Wealthy.

inst.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

LRETJTER'S TELEGRAMS,]

BUENOS AYRES.
(Per French mail via Bordeaux.)

BUENOS AYRES, APRIL 12.
No news of imp.lrtehbe has transpired in this
proVibee since the last mail.

The works of the Great Southern, the Western
and Boca Railways are progressing.

The news from the San Juan mines has caused
increased confidence. Some good veins are being
marked at Castano.

Sales of ox and cow hides amount to 18,000, at
38 to 42 rils, according to weight. Mataden salted
hides, 39 rils per ox. The stock remaining unsold
is 35,000 hides. Freights aro less in dimand.
A military mutiny occurred in Ciorrentes on the
2d, causing great alarm in the town, and resulting
in the death of about thirty Correntines.

A heavy storm has passed over Montevideo,
during which a Spanish barque, with a cargo of
wine, was totally lost in the harbour. The British
ship, William Jackson, also sustained some damage
through collision with another vessel.

PERNAMBUCO, APRIL 30.

Prices of sugar have steadily advanced, and
nearly the whole of the stock is in exporters' hands.
Prices of cotton also continue to advance, and sales
effected at 22 dols. to 23 doffs. per arroba, and at
22 dole. 500 c. to 22 dols. 800 c. per arroba. Hides,
dry salted, realize 180 rs. per lb,, free on board.
Freights to Liverpool—Sugar ballast, 30s. and
5 per cent.; cotton, to fill up, at 7s. Bd. per lb. and
5 per cent. The English barque, Mount Vernon,
which went ashore at Ponta de Padres, has become
a total wreck. Exchange to the extent of £90,000
lave been passed at 275. id. to 275. Bd. per dol.
On Paris the rate rules at 343 to 345r5. per franc,
at which 200,000 francs have been bought. Dis-
counts easy at 8 per cent. in the Banks.

THE CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.
ALEXANDRIA, MAY 20.
The Syria and Ripon, with the above mails,
sailed at three p.m. this day.
The former may be expected at Marseilles about
the 26th inst., and the latter at Southampton
about the 2d of June.

The Candia left Aden, for Calcutta, on the 9th