It had been my intention that this contribution should have come into operation from the past January 1854, but bearing in mind that the Council may possibly have had under their consideration the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for that year before the receipt of this despatch in the Colony, and that the Establishment of a mint, to which I have adverted in another despatch, will be a considerable charge on the Revenues of the Colony. I have decided that this demand on the part of the Imperial Treasury shall be postponed until the year 1885.
I have, however, thought it better to make this communication to you at once, that you may despatch it before Council for their consideration, in case the Estimates are still before them, and...