AnnualReport-1908 — Page 251

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The following is a statement of the expenditure in 1908, as compared with that in the previous year :-

Personal Emoluments and Other Charges,

Annually Recurrent Works,

1907.

1908.

Increase.

Decrease.

*

$

$

219,547.62

266,477.51

46,929.89

520,659.65 512,336.30

8,323.35

784,320.30 1,000,985.45 216,615.15

Extraordinary Works,

Total,...

1,524,527.571,779,749.26 263,545.01 8,323.35

The increase in the first item is principally due to the fall in exchange, the salaries of the senior officers having been paid at the average rate of 1s. 93d. per dollar as compared with a rate of 2s. Od. during the preceding year.

The decrease in the second item is principally due to reduced expenditure under the following votes:-

Maintenance of Buildings....

Maintenance of Sewers, Nullahs, &c.,.

Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages,

Maintenance of City and Hill District Water Works,

$

C.

5,001.56

4,395.69

11,063.88

11,405.48

These reductions were however largely counterbalanced by the following increases under other votes, namely:-

Maintenance of Buildings in New Territories,

Maintenance of Lighthouses,

Maintenance of Kowloon Water Works,.

$

C.

3,092.39

9,007.37

8,251.73

The increase in the third item is principally due to the purchase of the dredger St. Enoch in connection with the construction of Mongkoktsui Breakwater and to the inclusion under the heading Praya East Reclamation" of a sum of $57,315.39 which was merely transferred for Treasury purposes fron Suspense Account, the expenditure having actually taken place in 1903-1905.