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The large increase in the cost of the Sanitary Department appears alarming at first sight, but admits of easy explanation. It is on account of the additional staff required for the New Central Market and Sheep and Pig Depôts as well as for the cost of lighting the former ($7,000) for which no provision was made in the Estimates of 1895. Against this increase must be set the additional revenue derivel from the new market and depôts. The increase in the Medical Department is accounted for by the appointment of a Medical Officer of Health who is borne on the medical establishment.
As a compensation for this additional expenditure various economies have been effectedl in other directions, notably in the Colonial Secretary's Office, the Registrar General's Department, the Magistracy, the Police, the Fire Brigade, and under Miscellaneous Services. Numerous offices have still to be dealt with on the lines recommended by the Retrenchment
Committee.
In addition to the reduction of establishments, which has already been effected, the salaries of the Treasury stail have been re-adjusted in such a manner as to secure a saving of $2,246. Reductions have also been made in the Post Office, Stamp Office, and the Supreme Court Office.
From this statement you will gather that no favourable opportunity for effecting retrenchment has been lost, and you may rely on me to curtail expenditure, so far as is practicable, as occasion offers in the future.
And now, gentlemen, having dealt with the Appropriation Bill for 1896, I have to ask If there are any you to vote the sum required to defray the Charges of the coming year. items in regard to which further information is desired, it will be forthcoming in Finance Committee or when the Council is in Committee on the Bill,
I will now make a few general remarks on the condition of the Colony. When I addressed you on a similar occasion last year, it was my painful duty to refer to a disual succession We were then only just recovering from the shock of a great of reverses and misfortunes.
disaster, and were but beginning to recognize the absolute necessity of a large measure of sanitary reform. To-day I have to announce to you a great improvement in these matters. The resumption of Taipingshan was perhaps one of the largest works ever undertaken by the Government of this Colony. Thanks to the efficiency and tact of the Board of Arbitrators all claims arising under that head have been amicably and speedily settled, the Crown has entered into possession, and the "Improvement Scheme," approved by this Council and by the Secretary of State, is being carried into effect. As I anticipated, the cost of resumption has amounted to $821,000. Of this sum $386.000 has been defrayed from balances in hand, and the remainder has been borrowed from Loan and other Government monies in the custody of the Crown Agents, interest being paid at the same rate as the money would earn by temporary investments at home. This course has been considered more economical than, and therefore preferable to, raising a further loan or to an overdraft on the local Banks, supposing such an arrangement to have been practicable,
As regards the liquidation of the outstanding balance of $435,000 on Taipingshan - Account, I am glad to state that the receipts up to date are exceedingly satisfactory. The revenue for 1895 will be about $2,363,000 and the expenditure about $2,143,000, so that I have reason to expect a surplus of revenue over expenditure at the end of the present year
Y
of some $220,000. If this forecast is correct, there will be a pro tanto reduction of our indebtedness, and the year 1896 should begin with a debit balance on this account of $215,000 only.
In consequence of the improvement of Taipingshan a large area of land will probably be ready for sale in the course of next year, and with an expanding revenue it is to be hoped that the debit balance will disappear at the end of 1896. Then again, 1897 should witness extensive land sales in Taipingshan, and when the account is finally closed, the result will, in all probability, be more than gratifying. As regards the expenditure on this work, the total cost of which is estimated at $83,000, a sum of $30,000 has been provided in the Esti- mates for 1896, and you will be asked to vote the balance when the Supply Bill for 1897 comes before you. I have now, gentlemen, put briefly before you the financial position of will doubtless agree with me in the Colony, and having regard to all the circumstances you thinking that the state of affairs is both satisfactory and hopeful,
In addition to the resumption of Taipingshan other active measures for improving the sanitation of the Colony have been undertaken.
The provisions of The Public Health Ordinance, 1887, and of Ordinance No. 4 of 1895 have been strictly and steadily enforced, and upwards of 400 common lodging-houses have been licensed. It would thus appear that the evil of overcrowding has at length, to some extent, been successfully checked.
The enforcement of Ordinance No. 15 of 1894, which gave this Council no little trouble, has been accompanied by a marked amelioration of the sanitary condition of private premises throughout the Colony. Accumulations of filth and rubbish, illegal cocklofts, mezzanine floors, and back-yard obstructions have been removed, and the ground surface of upwards of 700 tenements have been concreted.
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A special inspection of the drainage of private premises was made in the curly part of the and revealed a most insanitary state of affairs as regards the old drains, whereas the drainage of those premises in which the new system has been introduced was found to be in excellent condition. The re-draining of private premises progresses, upwards of 2,150 houses having been already drained; and with a view to the early completion of this work arrangements have been made by which drainage connections can be carried out by the Public Works Department. Owners should readily avail themselves of this facility.
The work of raising the dam at the Tytam Reservoir has advanced, and there is now storage capacity for an additional 40 million gallons of water. Unfortunately the small rain- The long and fall up to date has not admitted of this additional quantity being stored. unprecedented drought has been a source of much anxiety to the Goverment. The rain- fall up to the 30th September last was some 38 inches below the average, and some lã As a natural result the dry season commences with inches below the minimum yet recorded. a water supply of 242,000,000 gallons instead of the usual quantity of 378,000,000 gallons. It has therefore already been necessary to curtail the supply to the City of Victoria by some 1,400,000 gallons daily. By this economy and by close supervision over the consumption of water generally, it is believed there will be a sufficient supply for ordinary wants until the rainy season comes round again. The new waterworks at Kowloon are sufficiently advanced to admit of water being supplied from public fountains to the most populous parts
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