If these deductions be made the Receipts of 1881 will be reduced to $1,113,945.00, and the Estimates for the present year will not be more than $1,100,960.00
6. I think that in estimating the Revenue for 1883 at $1,115,665.00, I have not been too sanguine. There is an increase of $5,000.00 under the head of Licences, which seems to be warranted by the receipts of the last six months. Interest has also been increased by $10,000.00, on account of the proposed transfer of balance of Special Fund to general account. This item will probably be higher, but it will depend upon the progress that it will be possible to make with the different works in the course of next year. There is also a considerable increase in "Miscellaneous Receipts", which is based on the collections from this source, especially for Storage of Gunpowder, during the first half of the year. Fines, Forfeitures, and Fees of Court show a small increase of $2,000.00, Fees of Office are augmented by $3,000.00, for although a reduction of $5,000.00 has been made on account of the stoppage of the extensive Emigration to the United States, this is more than counterbalanced by the increase on Light Dues, Registration of Deeds, &c. On the other hand, I have made a reduction of $10,000.00 for Stamps, the collections on this account appearing to me to have been abnormally high for some time past, principally owing to transfers of land and litigation connected therewith. Reimbursements in aid of Expenditure are $8,000.00 less,--the Estimate for convict labour having been reduced, and the two items Contribution by Admiralty, and from Special Fund having been omitted.
EXPENDITURE.
7. I have estimated the Expenditure of 1883 at $1,081,732, which may be classified as follows:
Ordinary Expenditure,..................
Public Works, Roads, &c,
Military Expenditure,
$ 810,915
161,750
109,067
$1,081,732
The Ordinary Expenditure in 1881 amounted to $762,660, and for this year it has been estimated at $792,816. The increase of over $19,000 shown in next year's Estimates is thus explained.
8. There is a small increase of $444 in the Audit Department for a copying clerk who is much required, and a coolie to be employed in stamping blank receipts with series of consecutive numbers, a check on fraud that was recommended by a Committee appointed by the Secretary of State to inquire into the Questions of Defalcations in the Colonies.
9. In the Registrar General's Department, the salary and allowance of a passed Cadet who is provisionally attached to this Department until an opportunity occurs for giving him a permanent appointment causes an increase of $1,920.
10. The re-organization of the Establishment of the Supreme Court authorized by the Secretary of State, but hitherto only partially carried out, accounts for an increase of nearly $4,000.
11. In the Medical Establishment it has been found necessary to make larger provision for washing, medicines and provisions, &c, to the extent of $1,800. The upkeep of the Steam-launch of the Health Officer and Officer-rent for that Officer, already voted by the Council, causes an increase of $1,000. On the other hand, this year's Estimates provided $4,000, for a Steam-Launch for the Health Officer which will, in all probability, be paid for this year. This item does not appear therefore in next year's Estimates, which consequently exhibit on the whole a slight decrease under this head.