THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 26TH AUGUST, 1882.
693
8. There is a small increase of $444 in the Audit Department for a copying clerk who is much required, and a coolie to be employed in stamping blank receipts with series of consecutive numbers, a check on fraud that was recommended by a Committee appointed by the Secretary of State to inquire into the Questions of Defalcations in the Colonies.
9. In the Registrar General's Department, the salary and allowance of a passed Cadet who is provisionally attached to this Department until an apportunity occurs for giving him a permanent appointment causes an increase of $1,920.
10. The re-organization of the Establishment of the Supreme Court authorized by the Secretary of State, but hitherto only partially carried out, accounts for an increase of nearly $4,000.
11. In the Medical Establishment it has been found necessary to make larger provision for washing, medicines and provisions, &c., to the extent of $1,800. The upkeep of the Steam-Launch of the Health Officer and Office-rent for that Officer, already voted by the Council, cause an increase of $1,000. On the other hand, this year's Estimates provided $4,000, for a Steam-Launch for the Health Officer which will, in all probability, be paid for this
This item does not appear year.
therefore in next year's Estimates, which consequently exhibit on the whole a slight decrease under this head.
12. Provision has been made for the salaries of eight additional European Constables who are expected from home. These together with an increase in the good conduct allowances, and of the provision for oil, &c., augment the Estimates by $4,540, to which must be added certain allowances hitherto paid to Captain DEANE and Mr. CREAGH from the Special Fund, which are really transfers and not increases. The total excess shewn by the Police Estimates of next year amounts to $6,220. 13. For the Gaol, the provisional appointment of four additional Turnkeys has already been sanctioned by the Finance Committee. This causes an increase of about $1,400.
14. Under the Head Education, there is a reduction in the Normal School which the Secretary of State directed to be made amounting to $1,408. On the other hand, the increase to Grants-in-Aid is estimated at $2,461. The net increase is therefore only $1,365.
15. The Pension of $7,000 granted to SIR JOHN SMALE has rendered it necessary to increase the amount estimated for Pensions.
16. I have introduced a small increase of $1,000 for laying out the upper part of the Government Gardens immediately below the Robinson Road.
17. Under Light-houses the sum of $2,000 provided hitherto for re-imbursement of the loan from the Special Fund has in accordance with the arrangement which I have already referred to, been omitted from next year's estimates. Miscellaneous Services have been reduced by $2,000. Details of other smaller changes of not sufficient importance to be referred to here, will be seen in a statement that has been prepared by the Acting Colonial Secretary.
18. The contribution to Military Expenditure shews an increase of $2,300 which is owing to the rate of exchange being estimated at 3/9 instead of 3/10.
19. Under the head of Works and Buildings I have provided for the completion of the new Water Police Station, for a new Lunatic Asylum and for the conversion of the Lock into a Civil Hospital, which last two items are revotes. I have also inserted $25,000 on account of a new Central School. The other items do not require any remarks as they are nearly the same as appear in each year's Estimates for upkeep of different public buildings.
20. The Council is requested to vote separately the sums of $100,000 on account of the Tytam. Water Works, and $10,000 for completion of the breakwater at Causeway Bay as these amounts are proposed to be taken from balances.
21. The sum provided for Roads, Streets and Bridges will not I think be found too high. It is $5,700 in excess of the provision for this year, but it must be remembered that the Council has already had to vote a supplementary sum of $6,000 for Road and Street Contingencies. The Acting Surveyor General states that $14,000 is the very lowest sum at which the Streets and Roads out of Victoria can be kept in proper repair.
22. The expenditure on account of Public Works including Roads, Streets and Bridges was, in 1881, $110,417. For this year it has been estimated at $152,050 and for next year I have provided $161,750.
23. The surplus of Revenue over Expenditure exhibited by these estimates is smaller than has been recently provided, but I have every confidence that it will prove sufficient. There is generally a saving under the head of Establishments, as no allowance can be made in preparing the estimates for possible contingencies of officers being absent on leave, when a portion of salary generally lapses to the Treasury.
W. H. MARSH,
Administrator.
11th August, 1882.