THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 26TH NOVEMBER, 1879. 719
Honourable friend communicated a despatch to the Secretary of State during my absence in which he expressed his views on the subject, and what he anticipated from what he had then seen would be the surplus of revenue on the year. I think it was something like $60,000.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY said that was the amount; and he might add that he had looked over the figures for the third quarter, and they verified the result of the first six months.
His EXCELLENCY.-It is very satisfactory to me to know that an Honourable member of such great experience in Colonial finance should have verified so far my anticipations as to the prosperous state of revenue in the year 1879 and I think we may look forward with confidence to having a very respectable surplus at the end of this year's transactions. I believe our balances have continued to increase, and on that subject I may say in a whisper, which I hope will not reach Singapore, that in the Straits Settlements, with their opium farm increase, I notice there has been a serious diminution in the item of interest-in other words it seems their balances have been declining-ours have been increasing, and my Honourable friend anticipates an income of $20,000 in the year for interest, which is a far larger sum than has ever been received in this Colony before. Apart from ordinary local expenditure, I think it well, on Imperial grounds, that a Crown Colony should have a substantial balance in the Treasury chest. Contingencies may arise at any moment not contemplated in the usual items of Colonial expenditure. So far for the actual state of the Colony and our prospects. The Estimates, as I told you, will come before you in Finance Committee, and you will have to undertake the ungracious task of cutting down to any extent you may desire the various items of expenditure. It is, I think, a part of our constitutional system that members of Finance Committee are debarred from the privilege of proposing an increase or additional votes, but you can always exercise that power which members of the House of Commons exercise, or try to exercise, of cutting down votes.
His Excellency lays upon the table the Estimates for 1880 and moves that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The appropriation Bill 1880 is then read a first time on the motion of the Colonial Secretary. Estimates referred to Finance Committee accordingly.
By direction of His Excellency, the Colonial Secretary proposed certain votes which had pre- viously passed the Finance Committee and which are now approved:
PAYMENTS AUTHORIZED IN EXCESS OF THE ESTIMATES OF 1878, REQUIRING LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY.
C.NO. No. 1698 of 1879.
Works and Buildings.
Maintenance of Public Gardens,-
For Garden Seeds, Freight and Insurance, paid in England,
Maintenance of Water Works,-
Iron Pipes, Stop-cocks, Tools, &c., also a Hot-water Apparatus for the
Supreme Court,
Repairs to Buildings,-
Window Glass, &c.,
Praya Reconstruction,-
Roads, Streets, and Bridges.
Portland Cement, Freight and Insurance, also Passage-money of Foreman
Mason,
ESTABLISHMENTS.
Auditor General.
Contingencies,-Printing Forms and Documents for all Departments, during
the
year, excess,
Coals for all Departments, during the year, excess,
$ 241.82
2,410.27
66.29
$2,718.38
.$16,581.06
$
757.85 604.92
$ 1.362.77