THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12278, 23 May 1903, Page 5

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

[BY TELEGRAPH". PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ' . Wellington, Friday. The leading features of the public accounts for the year ended March 31 were outlined by the Premier in a speech in Wellington on May 2. These disclosed a surplus of £303,905, and in his remarks he gave particulars of the principal heads of revenue and expenditure. The detailed acocunts, wchih appear in last night's Gazette, givo further particulars of the transactions for the year. An analysis of expenditure shows that the civil list was practically unaltered. The appropriation for interest and sinking fund was £1,900,978, an increase of £97,038 on the previous year. Special Acts of Legislature called for another ; increaso of £74,493. Annual appropriations under the headings Legislature, Colonial Secretary, and Colonial Treasurer all show slight decreases. Justice increased by £5000, Postmaster-General by £22,000, while increases are shown under the following headings:—Education Department, £502,872 to £526,820 ; lunacy and charitable aid, £65,343 to £74,798; working railways, £1,280,771 to £1,354,150; Minister for Public Works, £47,852 to £51,848; Defence department, £193,183 to £217,104 Police Department, £120,932 to £123,698; Minister for Lands, £120,120 to £129,443 ; Valuation Department, £25,407 to £26,248. The detailed accounts show that no change was effected in the condition of the Treasury bills account by the transactions of the year. Bills issued wore £400,000 in anticipation of revenue, and £1,000,000 in renewal' of bills matured. The Public Works accounts received the following amounts:—Balance of £1,000.000 3 per cent, loan issued in London, £187,333; instalments of £1,000,000 loan issued in London under the Act of 1902, £260,000; procoeds of sale- of 4 per cent, debentures issued under Act of 1902 (colonial issue), £750,000; amount received from conversion account for repayment of advances made on security of short-dated debentures, £165.000._ The advances last referred to were repaid, and the sum of £88,179 was absorbed in charges and expenses of raising the £1,000,000 loan and on account of the colonial issue. The annual appropriations amounted to £1,424,484, as against £2,136,202 for the previous year, and there is a balance of £338,565, as agair-t £454,059 at the end of the previous year. Appropriations under the Public Works account included only £759.752 for railways, as against £1,333,940 for the previous year; £197.455 for public buildings, as against £145,599; £281.398 for roads, as against £402,260 ; £63,578 for telegraph extension, as against £31,728; and £37,003 for contingent defence, as against £146,875. The Cheviot estate account had increased its credit by about £6000. In the lands for settlements account appear the following items: Proceeds of scrip and debentures, £338,700 ; proceeds of £250,000 debentures issued in renewal of like amount falling due, £250,624 ; receipts from rents of estates, etc., £109 3s 9d; amount paid for _ purchase of estates, £368,904, including expanses amounting to £15,521. The Government Advances to Settlers Office loan account received the following amounts: — Balance of half-a-million 3 per cent. loan. issued in 1902, £93,666; instalment of £250,000 3 per cent, stock loan issued in London, 1903, £65,000 ; temporary advances on security of short-dated debentures, £200,000; amount paid over to office account, £249.713. The charges and expenses in respect of the £500,000 loan were £43,998, and there is now a balance in the account of £64,955.

Nobel's Sporting Ballistite Cartridges: Large stocks on hand ; various kinds, Nobel's loading, different loadings, to suit any gun, light, medium, or heavy. The favourite cartridge for all kinds of shooting.— E. Porter and Co., agents, Auckland.

A MARVEL: OUR 21s Colonial tweed suit, quilted and padded; perfect fit, and cut is a " marvel." brook and Bridgmau. Premises open until ten this evening.

AT McCULLAGH AND GOWER'S. Second shipment of kid gloves; dark shades, 2s lid, 3s 6d, 3s lid, 4s lid, 5s 6d; also special strong gloves, 3s 6d; deerskin, lined with silk, 5s 6d.

A RARE CHANCE For one month only. We will build genuine B.S.A. bicycles to order, stamped on every part, for £15 15s. • Don't miss this chance. Repairs a specialty.—E. Reynolds and Co., Victoria-street E.