Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 28

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voting the Defence Contribution from the arena of yearly debate, will provide for the appropriation of 17 per cent. of the revenue, less premia on land sales, to meet that contribution.

The increase under the item of Public Works Recurrent is accounted for chiefly by the cost of maintaining the new waterworks at Shaukiwan and Aberdeen, and increased cost of maintenance of roads and bridges, and of the repairs to buildings which will probably be necessary during next year.

The additional charge on account of the Public Debt is due to the increase in the contribution to the Sinking Fund, which commenced only in October last.

The large increase in the cost of the Sanitary Department calls for some special explanation.

It has been found that the present staff of inspectors is not sufficient to provide for the inspection of the Chinese houses with the frequency and regularity which are necessary. The Sanitary Board has accordingly recommended, and the Secretary of State has sanctioned, the appointment of two more inspectors of nuisances, with the necessary additional inter- preters and foremen of street cleansers. The salaries for these new appointments, with various stipulated increments in the pay of other officers, and the salary of a temporary clerk who was appointed in April, 1895, and whose salary does not appear in the 1896 Estimates, accounts for the increase in personal emoluments, while the increase under "other charges" is principally due to the higher figures at which the scavenging contracts are let. The increase under the heading "Post Office" is due entirely to estimated increase in transit charges, or the sun which this Colony has to pay for the conveyance of its mail matter. This increase need cause no alarm; on the other hand it is a matter of congratulation, for it indicates an estimated expansion of business and consequent increase of profit.

The increase in the cost of the Medical Departments is owing to the appointment of an Assistant Surgeon in place of the Medical Officer of the Gaol, at a higher salary; to the appointment of an additional Sister, and to well deserved increases in the pay of Dr. Lowson and the Analyst and Assistant Analyst, and a few minor appointments, including the Chinese staff for the new Isolation Hospital.

Economies have been effected as opportunity offered, on the lines suggested by the Retrenchment Committee, but such opportunities have been rare.

The rate of exchange for the Estimates for 1897 has been taken at 2/1, the same rate as was taken for 1896, which may be regarded as a safe rate so far as the word

"safe" can be applied to exchange,

If any further information is desired with regard to the Estimates it will be furnished in Finance Committee or when the Council is in Committee on the Bill. I have now only to ask you, gentlemen, to vote the sum necessary to defray the charges for the coming year.

I will now make a few remarks upon the general condition of the Colony financially and otherwise.

The total estimated revenue for 1896 was $2,288,366. Of this sum $2,120,680 had been collected up to the end of October, and the total revenue will probably be about $2,495,000, while the total expenditure chargeable to revenue will be about $2,445,000, leaving a surplus of Revenue over Expenditure of some $50,000.

The increase in receipts over the amount which was estimated is principally due to premia on Land Sales, which have yielded already over $250,000 as against an estimated total for the whole year of $70,000.

There are also noticeable increases in the receipts up to the 31st October, under the headings "Light Dues," "Licences and Internal Revenue not otherwise specified" and "Post Office," over the estimated receipts up to that date.

The principal items of unforeseen expenditure, which were not provided for in the Estimates for 1896, are $20,000 for a new floating engine for the Fire Brigade and $70,200 for expenses incurred in connection with the repression of the plague.

Turning now to the question of the health and sanitation of the Colony, the present year will be a memorable one owing to the unfortunate recurrence of the disease known as