I beg to enclose the detailed Colonial Estimates for 1868, and the financial statement in which I explained them in Council.
There are extremely interesting questions connected with the financial position of the Colony at present, and I would gladly have given full explanations in reference thereto in separate despatches. Unforeseen circumstances, occasioned principally by a violent Typhoon during the night of Sunday instant, caused the complete loss of the following day so far as regarded any Legislative business; the Council only passed the Appropriation Ordinances yesterday evening.
The closing of the Mail's this day at 1 P.M. therefore prevents my treating, as I would wish, many important subjects, which it is not desirable I should keep back, and I fear I must content myself with such allusion to each of them as I can make in this hurried communication.
Your Grace is aware that, in strict accordance with the Colonial Regulations, the Estimates for the ensuing year should have been prepared and submitted to Council before the end of June. I confess that I was induced to defer from...