Sessional_Paper_1884-1885 — Page 241

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5. A considerable portion of the excess shewn under the head of Miscellaneous Receipts (No. 5) has been derived from profit on subsidiary coins, for which a constant demand exists, owing to the large quantity that is taken away from the Colony into the neighbouring Chinese provinces. The remaining portion of the excess results from the new contract for removal of excretal matter which had not been entered into when the Estimates were framed.

6. The increases shewn for Rents of Lands and Municipal Rates, (No. 6) and (No. 7), are due to sales of land and the construction of more houses. The large increase of Postage (No. 8) is derived almost entirely from Chinese letters to California which were formerly sent irregularly by the hands of passengers instead of through the Post Office. The Authorities at San Francisco having seized some thousands of these letters, it is believed that the irregularity has now been effectually put a stop Fines and Fees of Courts, (No. 9) and (No. 11), are items which never can be estimated beforehand with any accuracy.

to.

EXPENDITURE.

7. The Expenditure of the year 1884 was originally estimated :-

the ordinary expenditure at,

and the extraordinary expenditure at,

.$1,193,491

272,000

$1,465,491

A revised estimate, made in November last, shewed that, as far as could then be ascertained, it

would probably be:---

Ordinary Expenditure,

Extra ordinary, Taitam,

Sanitary Works, Fortifications,

$1,183,600

$150,000

177,180

50,000

377,180

$1,560,780

The actual expenditure as shewn by the accounts now made up has been :—

Ordinary,

$1,254,634

Extra ordinary, Taitam,

Sanitary, Fortifications,

$173,424 163,874

3,465

340,763

$1,595,397

The items in which the original Estimates have been most considerably exceeded are the follow-

ing:-

a. Extraordinary Public Works,

b. Miscellaneous Services,

c. Police,

d. Works and Buildings,

e. Roads, Streets, and Bridges,

f. Pensions,

g. Lands and Houses purchased,

excess $65,298

""

30,424

25

24,714

**

19,973

"}

12,800

>>

7,932

2,599

8. The original Estimates of Extraordinary Works comprised Taitam Water Works $100,000, and Sanitary Works $172,000.