LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 22.
MONDAY, 6TH OCTOBER, 1890.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT
(The Honourable FRANCIS FLEMING, C.M.G.).
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (Walter MEREDITH DEANE, C.M.G.).
the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD).
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the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (HENRY ERNEST WODEHOUSE, C.M.G.). the Surveyor General, (SAMUEL Brown),
the Acting Registrar General, (NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-INNES). PHINEAS RYRIE.
CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.
JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.
HO KAI, M.B., C.M.
THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
His Excellency then addressed the Council as follows:-
HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN,
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In meeting again together for the resumption of our Legislative duties I believe I may congratulate you on the satisfactory condition, on the whole, of the Colony at the present time. I am willing to admit that those clouds of depression which have for some time past been hanging over it have not altogether passed away, but I think there are reasonable pro- spects of their doing so and I sincerely hope that a no distant future has in store times as prosperous as have been witnessed in the past. The health of the Island during that portion of the year which has now elapsed has been exceptionally good and we have happily escaped visitations from any epidemic or other serious malady.
As regards our finances the following is their present condition in so far as I am able to inform you.
The balance of assets on the 1st of January this year was, as I have previously stated, $505,109, but from this sum I regret to say that a no less amount than $58,502 must be deducted for the unfortunate defalcations which have taken place in connection with the Post Office Department, papers on which subject will be laid before you.
The local revenue received up to the 30th of September was $1,415,894. The amount received in England as far as can be estimated, (the Crown Agents' accounts having been received up to the 31st of July only) was $1,798.
The premiums on land sales amounted to $12,463 making a total up to the 30th September of $1,876,762.
The Ordinary Expenditure for the first nine months of the year was $865,467. The approximate expenditure in England was $116,369, making a total of $981,836.
The Extraordinary Local Expenditure during the same period was $215,695; the extraordinary expenses in England were about $100,000, making a total of $315,695.
A sum of $34,226 was expended on the purchase of Baxter House for the purpose of a Police Station.
This total expenditure therefore amounts to $1,331,757, leaving an approximate balance on the 30th September of $545,005.
The Estimates for the coming year have been prepared and will be laid before you without delay.
The Estimated Revenue up to the end of the present year is $1,884,943; to this may be added the balance of assets at the beginning of this year-less the amount to be deducted for the defalcations I have mentioned-which is therefore $446,607 and $50,000 may be put down as a possible sum to be realized on land sales before the year comes to a close. The total revenue therefore amounts to $2,381,550.
The Estimated Ordinary Expenditure is $1,470,221; the extraordinary expenditure $449,700, making a total of $1,919,921. The probable balance on hand therefore on the 31st of December next, presuming all the amount estimated for extraordinary expenditure to be spent which is somewhat improbable, will be $461,629.
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