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And now, gentlemen, having dealt with the Appropriation Bill for 1896, I have to ask you to vote the sum required to defray the Charges of the coming year. If there are any items in regard to which further information is desired, it will be forthcoming in Finance Committee or when the Council is in Committee on the Bill.
I will now make a few general remarks on the condition of the Colony. When I addressed you on a similar occasion last year, it was my painful duty to refer to a dismal succession of reverses and misfortunes. We were then only just recovering from the shock of a great disaster, and were but beginning to recognize the absolute necessity of a large measure of sanitary reform. To-day I have to announce to you a great improvement in these matters. The resumption of Taipingshan was perhaps one of the largest works ever undertaken by the Government of this Colony. Thanks to the efficiency and tact of the Board of Arbitrators all claims arising under that head have been amicably and speedily settled, the Crown has entered into possession, and the "Improvement Scheme," approved by this Council and by the Secretary of State, is being carried into effect. As I anticipated, the cost of resumption has amounted to $821,000. Of this sum $386,000 has been defrayed from balances in hand, and the remainder has been borrowed from Loan and other Government monies in the custody of the Crown Agents, interest being paid at the same rate as the money would earn by temporary investments at home. This course has been considered more economical than, and therefore preferable to, raising a further loan or to an overdraft on the local Banks, supposing such an arrangement to have been practicable.
As regards the liquidation of the outstanding balance of $435,000 on Taipingshan Account, I am glad to state that the receipts up to date are exceedingly satisfactory. The revenue for 1895 will be about $2,363,000 and the expenditure about $2,143,000, so that I have reason to expect a surplus of revenue over expenditure at the end of the present year of some $220,000. If this forecast is correct, there will be a pro tanto reduction of our indebtedness, and the year 1896 should begin with a debit balance on this account of $215,000 only.
In consequence of the improvement of Taipingshan a large area of land will probably be ready for sale in the course of next year, and with an expanding revenue it is to be hoped that the debit balance will disappear at the end of 1896. Then again, 1897 should witness extensive land sales in Taipingshan, and when the account is finally closed, the result will, in all probability, be more than gratifying. As regards the expenditure on this work, the total cost of which is estimated at $83,000, a sum of $30,000 has been provided in the Esti- mates for 1896, and you will be asked to vote the balance when the Supply Bill for 1897 comes before you. I have now, gentlemen, put briefly before you the financial position of the Colony, and having regard to all the circumstances you will doubtless agree with me in thinking that the state of affairs is both satisfactory and hopeful.
In addition to the resumption of Taipingshan other active measures for improving the sanitation of the Colony have been undertaken.
The provisions of The Public Health Ordinance, 1887, and of Ordinance No. 4 of 1895 have been strictly and steadily enforced, and upwards of 400 common lodging-houses have been licensed. It would thus appear that the evil of overcrowding has at length, to some extent, been successfully checked.
The enforcement of Ordinance No. 15 of 1894, which gave this Council no little trouble, has been accompanied by a marked amelioration of the sanitary condition of private premises throughout the Colony. Accumulations of filth and rubbish, illegal cocklofts, mezzanine floors, and back-yard obstructions have been removed, and the ground surface of upwards of 700 tenements have been concreted.