347
Establishment. Works annually recurrent. Works extra-ordinary.
1897 89,000 $ 206,400 $ 127,700
1898 89,000 194,400 234,380.
1899 93,900 198,400 131,600
1900 97,400 210,700 473,200
1901 (est) 123,300 281,700 726,300
1902(est.) 138,700 316,500 797,300
It will be seen that the estimates for 1901 and 1902 show a very considerable increase on previous years.
The expenditure on the Establishment cannot well be cut down, as practically the whole increase has been approved in principle.
Annually Recurrent wants explanation. That on Public Works Several standing items like 'Maintenance of Buildings', 'Maintenance of Roads and Bridges in City', 'Maintenance of Roads and Bridges outside City', 'Maintenance of Telegraphs', 'Miscellaneous Works', are substantially larger; but the increases are quite unexplained: and this is more odd because the estimates as a whole are very fully annotated and explained (so much so as to deserve a special compliment).
Of the fifty items that make up the programme of public works extraordinary the first seventeen are not new, having appeared on last year's Estimates. The estimated total cost of seven of these, however, is larger than was anticipated last year: amounting to a total of $331,000! The increase in the Kalten water outlet that the next (415) will be more expenditure it will $60,000 to $200,000. These increases are more or less satisfactorily explained; fact remains that they are increases.
Items 18 and 19 are for two Police Stations.