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He also 1872 and 1673. - I have kept this and the live Financial Dispatches from Hong Kong until the figures could be carefully examined and collated with the previous Reports in order to endeavour to guard against any further misunderstanding.
I would submit that [Bonham?] is entitled to credit both for the disposition he has proved to practice every reasonable economy and also for the chances of the information which by him has been supplied upon the Financial "Demands of the Colony, When he is assured, perhaps he should be told so, and likewise that there is every desire to relieve him from any embarrassment occasioned by the over estimate which was made of the Local Resources of his budget for the year 1848. I should at the same time observe to him that when his Reports arrived, the accounts from the Colony were rather imperfect and perplexing, and should point out very briefly that the estimated Local Revenue of £31,078 was taken from the Return of the actual Revenue for the Calendar year 1847, and that the additional £2822 was made in consideration of the surplus which was repeatedly alluded to in the Coll Accounts.
After these preliminary remarks, I presume that Lord Grey will be prepared, on the present Report, to afford Mr Bonham the relief which he solicits from his embarrassments. What that relief should be is the next question.
The Vote asked for Hong Kong last year was £25,000. The Treasury proposed that this year it should be reduced to £20,000, which left a margin beyond the Civil establishments, of only £6213 for Public works. I think that this was enough for any fresh works, but being a large reduction, I do not think that it ought to be further diminished especially as the intention to act on this Grant has already been communicated to the Governor. I would therefore make an additional Provision for the arrears now submitted.
Now by the Governor's Despatch (1672) he shows a Saving of £3377 in the Establishments, which will relieve the Estimate to that extent.
As to his arrears in his present despatch I do not find him quite so clear. He only shows an actual deficiency on 31 March 1849 of £4,451, and I cannot make out that he has omitted to bring any charge to account in his calculations But yet at the end of his despatch he distinctly asks, and earnestly presses for the whole difference between the actual vote of £25,000 last year and his predecessor's demand of £34,280 an amount of £9,280.
Nevertheless he has done much to gain confidence by his proposed economy for the future, that I should run no risk in receiving him as trustworthy and should venture to recommend that his demand be complied with. I think that this might be done with no substantial inconvenience in the manner which I leave perhaps best union.
27 that by submitting the few concluding sums I would insert in the Parl: Estimate.
Total Civil Establishments at date of last Estimate from the Colony - £28,832.
(a) Public Works & arrears of Public Works for last year £25,432.
Deduct Estimated Local Revenue £15,413.
(b) Savings expected to be effected £3,200.
Total £54,632 £39,219
£28,632 I would explain that the sum marked £25,000 (a) consists of the Estimate previously promised to the Governor.
£6,213 for works
This arrear now applied for of £9,200: on the other hand that the sum marked (b) consists
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