4.
Revenues
The substantial and permanent source of revenue on which the Colony rests for its main financial support is the Land revenue.
Land revenue.
- Supplement £6,000-
This produced – in 1854, £11,825, 10.8%. The Estimate for 1855, £17,500. Original £11,500- and the Estimate for 1858, £16,850. The Sales of Land already contemplated will bring the Revenue to more than the anticipated amount, but I am convinced that by proper attention and by availing ourselves of the influx of new Settlers and taking frequent opportunities for effecting Land Sales, £20,000 at least may be fairly looked to as a minimum future revenue from this source.
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But the expenditure which I propose applying to the repair of old and the creation of new roads and other public objects, will, I have no doubt, though it may temporarily absorb the augmented revenue, be productive of rentals from many parts of neglected land now having a sparse population, and being little cultivated. Beyond the immediate neighbourhood of Victoria, there are many portions of land held by squatters, - some probably by original occupiers and their descendants, but as the value of land increases it becomes...