CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 285

&

74/99

70/00.

(3)-12435--2000-1-99

22817--3000-10-99

283

The Military Contribution has automatically

increased by $75,900. The Volunteer Vote has more

than doubled (increase $32,755); but we have approved the proposals which cause this increase.

The expenditure on Public Works Annually Re- current is increased by $75,000, and the votes for Public Works Extraordinary stand at $726,338. I have

already dealt with the latter Head; the details of the

expenditure are very fully gone into in enclosure 6.

I believe the probable amount of expenditure is greatly

over-estimated.

Otherwise, I see no reason for cutting down

the Estimates. The estimated balance of Assets over

Liabilities on 31 December 1900 is $918,492, and the prospects of the Colony are generally good. A large

part of the increased expenditure is due to the im-

provement in the pay of the higher appointments and the

Chinese service to which we have already agreed,

A..

5/12