Harbour improvements are in view, ranging from every facility in the commerce, to the extensions of legitimate trade.
The annual revenue is considerable, and the expenditure on the lands, affecting their unsettled boundaries, has been estimated by Surveyor Vättejern at £10,000. This is little more than considerable, and their present humble condition cannot be ignored.
It is safer to conclude that this, and the means in reserve, will suffice to contend with the requirements of the Trade of all nations. But it is not thought that this dichotomy is incompatible with that of striving largely for a revenue.
It is estimated that, on the exclusion of land, the revenue will fall to £25,000. It will be for the Committee to consider in what way this amount, or such other sum as is found necessary, can be met. In some respects, as for the maintenance and expenses of the Civil Establishment, and refunding the costs of the perturbations, the heavy expenditure can be policed, and density of a considerable amount consumed by adjustments for other sundry local objects, a local relief may intelligently be made.
At present, it is imperfect to make any final decision. The Estimates for the Civil Establishment, as the Police, Courts, & Offices of Law, in which the dues are waived, go a long way towards defraying the expenditure; and it is probable that further examination will be found necessary to £22,000; but it is dubious that this sum be far from augmenting the whole annual expenditure.
Page 30