100 2
"of the
of
1 year 1873." I inclose, herewith, detailed Estimates, together with the usual comparative returns relating thereto. No. 9.48
The
Revenue and Expenditure of the
Colony.
In laying those Estimates before the Legislative Council, it was a matter
of
little satisfaction to be able to state that the Revenue of the Colony
was in a
healthy and progressive
condition. It is true that the estimated
Revenue
for
the
ensuing year is less
than that of the present year,
but
this
diminution
is not
owing to
any
decline
in the ordinary and legitimate sources of Revenue, but rather to the fact that certain irregular payments have
been either reduced or have entirely
ceased.
3.
I refer
more
especially to the
aid which has been given to the
Revenue
by
The Special Fund, and to
the instalments
for the purchase of the Mint property. For, as regards
the former, the interest of the Fund
available
for
Police
purposes will not exceed $20,000 per annum, which is
$10,000 less
than the amount at
present received from that Fund, and,
as
regards the latter, the portion of the sum due has been paid by the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank into whose hands the property has fallen.