CO882-(1-2) — Page 379

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PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

Population.

96,506

Revenue.

Extracted from Blue Book for 1854.

Expenditure. Imports. Exports.

£

£ 1. d.

£ 1. d. 81,007 6 10 77,492 15 10 964,527

£ 1,019,672

A. B.

The debt of the Colony is about 150,000

THE system of responsible government has been very severely tried in Prince Edward Is- land.

The feuds that have subsisted for so many years between the proprietary and tenant classes have, together with the opposition of a minority possessed of long official experience, imparted much acerbity in the management of the public affairs of this little island. However, the land question seems to be in train for settle- ment with more chance of success than I have known it for some years, and the political and commercial condition of the island is highly satisfactory. No discussion prevails on any political subject, and the flourishing state of the province is visible from the following statement:

ر

Year.

Revenge.

Expenditure.

£

£

1852

81,283

22,285

1863

85,845

29,488

1854

46,088

55,926

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference

C.O. 882

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

The expenditure of 1854 included a balance against the colony of the previous year, and a large sum paid for the purchase of an estate, which will ultimately be reimbursed from the sale of the property. Deducting these sums the expenditure was really £34,898, and the excess of revenue over expenditure for the year not less than £11,185.

I

The Parliamentary grant for this island, which usually amounted to £8,040, is now reduced to

E

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PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

the payment of the Lieutenant-Governor's salary of £1,500 per annum.

The troops have been withdrawn from this island, and though there is a militia it only exists in name. There is, I am afraid, a very inade-

quate police force; but the colony ought to, and can if it chooses, establish an effective one.