From which you will have learned that it was not my wish that such works should be indefinitely postponed, but merely that some of them should be postponed pending the completion of such other works as were the more urgent, since the Public Works Dept could hardly undertake all of them at the same time.
I did not suggest that the Colony could not meet the cost of all of the works, as implied in the third paragraph of my despatch no. 39, although a Loan might probably be necessary, as was magically contemplated some years ago, to carry out the larger part of the whole programme.
I am always ready and willing to give my most attentive consideration to any representations made regarding the necessity for such a Loan, the necessity for which was admitted before either the question of increased Military Contribution or of increased salaries was raised.
There appears to be no change in the general financial position & prospects, as far as can be judged from dealing with the finance of the Colony, but as regards the Estimates for this year, they were...