Originally only temporary, and were charged against the Public Works on which the several officials were employed. But they have continued to be so employed for a number of years, and with the large increase of works with which the Surveyor General has now been charged, their employment can no longer be considered temporary, and it appears therefore more regular that they should be borne on the permanent Staff of the Surveyor General's Department. The details of these salaries, amounting to $4,116.
Allowances and contingencies, some of which have been authorised as a necessary consequence of the increases to the Sanitary Staff, and to the Harbour Department, and others which are recommended, amount, after deducting decreases, to a nett sum of $6,743.
The total increases to salaries, allowances, and contingencies amount to $46,144, and the decreases to $17,354, leaving a nett increase of $28,790.
Services exclusive of Establishments show a large increase of $87,759.
The largest item under this head is $55,000 for arrears of payments on account of the Postal convention for the years 1880-81-82, which have not yet been settled. This sum represents the amounts which have been provided in the estimates of previous years, and is therefore only a revote. Probably a further sum will have to be voted on this account, but as the amount to be contributed by this Colony has not yet been finally settled, I have thought it better at present to ask for a revote only, as the supplementary sum required is not ascertained. On account of the Postal convention for next year an increase of $7,000 has been inserted, in order to bring the amount up to the sum which has been voted by the Finance Committee, after careful consideration of the correspondence which has passed between the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Treasury, and the Imperial Post Office referring to this subject.
The next item in importance is $10,052 for the expenses of management of the Opium Revenue Department, and of supervision of the licensed Boiling establishments. The issuing of licences by Government direct to individuals instead of granting the sole privilege of issuing such licences to a Farmer has yielded nett in three months more than was offered to Government for the privilege for a whole year. The experiment has therefore been successful, and has shown Government that it has hitherto disposed of the Farm at too low a figure. Should, however, any offer be made next year that the Governor in Council would feel justified in accepting, no doubt His Excellency would be disposed to entertain it, and in such case this item would be struck out of the Estimates. The increase is apparent therefore rather than real, as it is more than covered by the increased Revenue, on the collection of which it is expended.
The Harbour Master has represented the necessity of supplying his Department with two Steam-Launches, for the cost of which a sum of $7,200 has been inserted in the Estimates. This Department has not a single Steam-Launch at present. Much valuable time will be saved by the substitution of Steam-Launches for pulling boats, and a saving will be effected in the crews when the Launches come into use.
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originally only temporary, and were charged against the Public Works on which the several officials were employed. But they have continued to be so employed for a number of years, and with the large increase of works with which the Surveyor General has now been charged, their employment can no longer be considered temporary, and it appears therefore more regular that they should be borne on the permanent Staff of the Surveyor General's Department. The details of these salaries, amounting to $4,116.
Allowances and contingencies, some of which have been authorised as a necessary consequence of the increases to the Sanitary Staff, and to the Harbour Department, and others which are recommended, amount, after deducting decreases, to a nett sum of $6,743.
The total increases to salaries, allowances, and contingencies amount to $46,144, and, the decreases to $17,354, leaving a nett increase of $28,790.
Services exclusive of Establishments shew a large increase of $87,759.
The largest item under this head is $55,000 for arrears of payments on account of the Postal convention for the years 1880-81-82, which have not yet been settled. This sum represents the amounts which have been provided in the estimates of previous years, and is therefore only a revote. Probably a further sum will have to be voted on this account, but as the amount to be contributed by this Colony has not yet been finally settled, I have thought it better at present to ask for a revote only, as the supplementary sum required is not ascertained. On account of the Postal convention for next year an increase of $7,000 has been inserted, in order to bring the amount up to the sum which has been voted by the Finance Committee, after careful consideration of the correspondence which has passed between the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Treasury, and the Imperial Post Office referring to this subject.
·
The next item in importance is $10,052 for the expenses of management of the Opium Revenue Department, and of supervision of the licensed Boiling establishments. The issuing of licences by Government direct to individuals instead of granting the sole privilege of issuing such licences to a Farmer has yielded nett in three months more than was offered to Government for the privilege for a whole year. The experiment has therefore been successful, and has shown Government that it has hitherto disposed of the Farm at too low a figure. Should, however, any offer be made next year that the Governor in Council would feel justified in accepting, no doubt His Excellency would be disposed to entertain it, and in such case this item would be struck out of the Estimates. The increase is apparent therefore rather than real, as it is more than covered by the increased Revenue, on the col- lection of which it is expended.
The Harbour Master has represented the necessity of supplying his Department with two Steam- Launches, for the cost of which a sum of $7,200 has been inserted in the Estimates. This Depart- ment has not a single Steam-Launch at present. Much valuable time will be saved by the substitu- · tion of Steam-Launches for pulling boats, and a saving will be effected in the crews when the Launch
come into use.
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