AUDIT OFFICE,
13th July, 1883.
I have the honour to submit for His Excellency's information the following report in explanation of the increases or decreases that have been made in the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure of 1884, as compared with those of the present year.
REVENUE.
The Revenue for 1884 has been estimated at $1,213,598. This is nearly $100,000 in excess of the Estimates of the present year. The receipts during the first half of 1883 justify, however, the belief that the Revenue for the year will not fall short of $1,250,000, and I do not think that too sanguine an estimate has been made of the Revenue of next year.
There is an increase of $10,000 in Revenue from Land, owing partly to the large sales of land which have been effected during the last few years, and partly to the increased rent which has been realised for the Quarry Farm. The Slaughter House lease has also realised about $6,000 higher than in 1882.
In Licences the only important alteration made is for Opium, which has been estimated at $30,000 more than the sum at which the Farm was last disposed of. The collections of the four months ending 30th June last have been at a much higher rate, and if the calculation had been made on that basis a much larger increase might have been entered on the estimates. It has been thought safer however to insert a more moderate sum for next year.
Under the head of Taxes an increase of $30,000 for Stamps and of $5,000 for Postage have been provided—based upon the collections during the first half of the present year. The Police, Water, Fire, and Lighting Rates remain the same as before.
There is an increase of $3,000 for Fees of Court. Fees of Office are estimated at nearly the same amount as for 1883, although the collections in 1882 were considerably higher. In the details of these fees some minor alterations will be found.
An increase of $10,000 has been set down under the head of Interest of Money Invested, in consequence of the transfer of the Special Fund to the General Revenue. There is a decrease of $5,000 for Storage of Gunpowder, the receipts on this account having fallen off of late after the abnormally high collection of 1882. There are no other items calling for special remark.