The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1875

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1635, 15 May 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News.

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1875

For the cause that lacks assistance, jror the wrong that needs resistiuc, *«r the fmture in the distance. Ai4 tfc,« food that we can do.

The Provincial Treasurer made his statement last night, and it must be admitted that it presents the province in a picture about as doleful as can well be conceived. Briefly put, the receipts and expenditure up to the 30th of June will be such that on the following day, in the commencement of the new financial year, the province will start with a clean sheet; in fact without a shot in the locker. This may not appear very bad, per" haps, but then it must be remembered that on the last day of June the sponge will have been squeezed, for on that day the main source of Provincial revenue is exhausted in the receipt of all the Publicans' Licenses for the succeeding^ twelve months. The following sums are estimated to be received before the close of the financial year on June 30 :—

the small difference being probably absorbed in other unavoidable payments. As in accordance with the expressed desire of the Superintendent for waiting to see the result of the coming session of the Assembly, votes are to be asked only for the first half of the financial year, namely, till Dec. 31st, the Treasurer submitted his estimate for that period. The anticipated receipts from July . Ist to Dec. 31st, are aa follows :— Land fund £1,000 Capitation and special allowance .. 9,000 Goldfleldsrevenue 6,000 Pilotage 500 Water rates 300 Licenses 500 Sheep *0t.., 300 Slaughter house ... 600 1,000 Revenue .£l9 200 From Loan— ' For Public Worts... .£3,000 | For new slaughterhouse 2,500 '. Sale slaughterhouse Bit©.. 1,100 \ •7, [X66OQ i

This total of £25,800 is the anticipate amount of receipts for carrying on the work of the province from the lat July till 31st December. The following is the expenditure proposed :—

There is therefore,—omitting £3,801 17s 7d of special order, already paid—the estimate of £30,494 against an anticipated receipt of £25,800 during the flnancial half year ending December 31, 1875. With reference to the proposed expenditure, the Treasurer said "the Council will see that in these items there is absolutely nothing but what is simply necessary to maintain the Government of the province in common decency and order. There is not one shilling for additional public works of any kind or any outside expenditure beyond that which is absolutely necessary to maintain'the gaols, hospitals, and' Lunatic Asylum, and the other ordinary departments of the Government." And yet absolutely necessary as is this expenditure, there are four or five thousand pounds a wanting, and when asked about where this was to come from, the Treasurer might well exclaim, God knows. The position is a dark one in very truth. But the position of the Education estimates is not a whifc less unpromising. After all that has been paid by the province to supplement the unpopular education rate, there is an overdraft at the bank of £5000. By levying a whole year's rate again, and consuming it in six months, and not paying the bank, the system can be carried on till the 3tst December, and then —Goodness knows. Altogether the thing looks lively. The Superintendent and his Executive are deserving of every praise in placing the affair in all its nakedness before the world. How the worst is known, and we have seen what the constant and steady process of absorption of the means of the province by the General Government in carrying out the "Grand Policy"has broughtus to. Somewillsayof the province, as people say of a dog that has been similarly maltreated, put the poor thing out of pain. It is the way that gives the least trouble to the physician, or the adviser, but we venture to say that the laying bare of the gaping wounds will be but preparatory on the part of Sir George Grey to steps that will lead to our now prostrate and mauled and outraged province taking that proud position which of right she should hold in the colony. The darkest hour may be that before the dawn.

: Capitation allowance £3, 200 Confiscated lands 700 Goldflelds revenue 1,200 licenses 11,500 Loan sinking fund 600 Pilotage 350 £17,550 On the other hand for this portion of time there is to be paid— Liabilities to bant £9,912 • Payments to departments 7,000 £16,912

Executive £1,200 0 0 Legislative G3S 0 0 Waste Lands , 495 0 0 Public Works 2,630 0 0 Police 3943 10 0 - Belief 2,000 0 0 Hospitals 2 000 0 0 Lunatic asylum 2.S00 0 0 Gaols 3 250 0 0 Golcliields' Department 1,750 0 0 Harbours 3,000 0 0 Total .£23,703 10 0 [n addition there are the following miscelaneous items :— Inspection Weights and Measures.. £150 0 Inspection Slaughter House 60 0 Inspection of sheep 500 0 Government Analyst 160 0 Laboratory 50 0 I^and and Insurance 175 0 Dispensary 100 0 Ferries 25'> 0 Steam Services 1000 0 Public Health Act 200 0 Rep»irs Buildings 30D o Printing, &c 600 0 Contingencies , 750 0 New Slaughter House 2 500 0 Interest 'll5 io Total £6,790 10