PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
1
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
28
After the rains of each monsoon, (and they fall twice in each year with inconceivable fury especially in the hills and mountain districts,) the damage done to the roads and bridges by the torrents which they occasion is quite inconceivable to an European.
The floods after the N.E. monsoon in 1847, swept away four large bridges very recently con- structed, and several small ones were seriously damaged, the repairs of which, together with the restoration of drains and retaining walls, cost the department about £3,000.
After each monsoon every mile of road has to be gone over, and more or less relieved from the effects of land slips and inundation.
Thus every additional mile of road which is constructed, though its first opening comes under the head of contingent or extraordinary expen- diture, becomes a permanent annual charge upon the regular income of the Colony, and leads eventually to a permanent increase of the fixed establishment for its conservation and repairs. The sums expended upon roads by Mr. Anstruther from the surplus revenue of 1843-4, caused in this way an annual addition to the expenditure of his successors from the regular income of every subsequent year.
Expenditure of 1847.
1847 was the first year for whose expenditure Lord Torrington became responsible.
The Supply Ordinance for that year had been prepared before he arrived.
It was prepared by Sir J. E. Tennent, as Colonial Secretary, in 1846, with the usual saxis- tance and co-operation of the other members of
the Government and the Legislative Council.
It provided for an expenditure of
£186,758
In addition to the fixed establishments o.
259.877
2498,138
And these were to be provided out of the revenue
of 1847, estimated at
...
2421,615
together with balances in hand.
Lord Torrington arrived in the latter end of
May in that year.
}
29
The expenditure of that year was in my opinion managed with great prudence.
The state of trade and planting operations was seriously disturbed at the time of his Lord- ship's arrival, and apprehensions were reasonably entertained for the realization of the anticipated
revenue.
His first act was immediately to arrest and suspend all avoidable expenditure.
He issued the Circular which I now produce, (P. Pro Ceylon Papers, p. 7,) and made a rigid examination into the liability and assets of the Government, and the amount of cash balances
in the several public chests.
Sir,
(Confidential and immediate.)—Circular.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombe,
June 3, 1847.
I am directed to convey to you his Exool- lency's' instructions, that you will immediately make every arrangement to reduce to the nar- rowest limit the expenditure of the votes and balances at your disposal, the available amount of treasure being so far reduced as to engender the necessity for the most prompt and vigilant economy,
His Excellency has no reason to apprehend any permanent embarrassment in this parti cular; but the recent decline in the revenue
of the colony from intelligible and temporary causes, has rendered it impossible, for the pre- sent, to sustain the expenditure on the liberal scale of late years. His Lordship trusts to your ‹ discretion to extend this principle of reduction without loss of time, to those heads of expen- diture in which its application will create the least inconvenience; and in every instance where it is practicable without actual lows or injury to the public service, you will suspend or postpone ontlay for any purpose not urgently required.
I have, acc. (Signed) W. C. GIBSON.
The remit of that inquiry is contained in the "Auditor General's Report (fb. p. 7) of the 7th June, 1847.
I'
Page 30Page 31
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
BEC.O. 882
سساللساني
1
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
30
It showed an available balance of 84,5921. on the 1st June, 1847.
On comparing the expenditure of the first quarter of the year with the receipts, there was a sarplus of revenue on the period, of 7,3841.
Lord Torrington's course under such circum- stances was characterised by great caution and was followed by good results.
The revenue of the year did not fall off as had
been apprehended.
On the contrary it increased considerably over that of
1846 1847
£416,403 440,619
£24,916
This increase was in the customs and regular
revenue.
The expenditure exhibits an apparent increase
of 20,7821. oyer that of 1846; but it is only appa- rent, as it was in reality
1846
1847..
But owing to the introduction of a
new system of accounts brought
out by the new Auditor General, the financial year was extended to 1st January, 1848, instead of ending 30th November, 1847. There is therefore 18 months* eontingent expenditure included in this sum, and deducting this for one month
Increase of expenditure as compared
with 1848 ..
£490,905
£518,987
19,000
499,487
£1,282
In the expenditure of this year, there wa again a large sơm brought to account for addi- tions to the Fixed Establishments, recom- mended by Lord Torrington's predecessors, amounting to upwards of 10,0001.
18040
902.047
Increase.
L
1841
208,041
6,998
1842
206,544
1843
218,914
9,070
1844
215,423
1845
228,253
7,881
1846
946,026
22,771
1847
256,171
10,144
848
This includes all fixed expenditare, pensiona,
and other charges, as well as salarios,
31
As compared with the income of 1847 The expenditure..
Exhibits an excess of
But deducting 13 months' expenditure And expenditure from surplus of for- *mer yours under special ordinances
The actual excess of expenditure over
the income of the year
£440,610
518,987
£78,368
£22,000
8,339
30,389
£58,029
A
The excess was provided for out of the cash balances in the Treasury remaining from the surplus of former years; leaving still a balance
of cash in hand of 90,8541. 2r. 6d., inclusive, however, of 42,1491. Government notes.
The year 1847, under Lord Torrington's ma- nagement, was the first in which for many years
the expenditure ceased to amount above that of the preceding one.
The expenditure of 1844 exceeded that of 1813 by £49,721
"
6
1845
1846
14
1844 by 73,356
1845 by 49,973
1,218
1847 fell below that of 1846
In the following year a similar judicious con-
trol produced a similar result.
Expenditure of 1848.
The expenditure of 1848.. When compared with that of 1847
Exhibits an apparent diminution of
£431,397 518,987
187,660
But the actual diminution is much less than apparent, as the expenditure of 1847 comprised thirteen months' charges.
As compared with 1846, the year before Lord Torrington's arrival, the diminution ef- fected by him is 66,8791.
And this diminution was effected notwith- standing the reduction of the export duty upon cinnamon, and its abolition upon coffee and all other produce, by which the colony surrendered 18,3601. in the last four months of that year.
It is also to be borne in mind that the ex- penditure of 1848 includes the cost of the sup-- pression of the insurrection at Mabelle and Kandy-in itself an inconsidérable sum, but nevertheless an unforeseen addition to the
of the year, which would have been