Sessional_Paper_1884-1885 — Page 91

REPORT ON THE FINANCES OF THE COLONY

BY THE

Colonial Secretary and Auditor General.

Presented to the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

No. 5.

The balance of the assets of the Colony on the 1st January, 1884, was $1,067,200. The Revenue of the year according to a revised Estimate made in September last will probably not exceed $1,151,000.

2. On ascertaining that the Revenue would fall short of the original Estimate every reduction that was possible was at once effected in the Expenditure, but works commenced, or for which the Government was pledged by its acceptance of contracts, could of course not be abandoned. The ordinary Expenditure of the present year is now estimated at $1,183,600.

3. In the Estimates of the present year a further sum of $272,000 was provided to be defrayed out of balances of which $100,000 were on account of the Tytam Water Works, and $172,000 for extraordinary Sanitary Works recommended in Mr. CHADWICK's report.

4. The Expenditure on the Tytam Water Works during the year will probably be $150,000, the increase being attributable to the large consignments of cement, requisitioned from the Crown Agents; to the purchase of heavier boring machinery for expediting the construction of the tunnel, which machinery has arrived and is now being transported to the spot; and to the great excess of unforeseen work in carrying down the foundations of the Reservoir dam to a solid bottom on the rock.

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5. The extraordinary works will, it is estimated, cost this year $177,180, or $5,180 in excess of the Estimate. The Surveyor General has effected reductions on the original Estimate to the extent of $20,000. But the damages caused by the Typhoon last September entailed an unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure of $19,180. This, together with some other works, the execution of which has been sanctioned by the Council, accounts for the excess over Estimates.

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6. The Secretary of State for the Colonies has moreover recently authorized the immediate construction of certain Military defence works, the urgent necessity of which has been repeatedly represented, and is generally recognized. The cost of these works and of their armaments is estimated at £93,125, but the Colony will be asked to contribute only the cost of construction of the works estimated at about £56,000 say at 3/8d., $305,454, of which about $50,000 will probably be expended before the end of this year.

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