THE ESTIMATES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 13 May 1887, Page 22

THE ESTIMATES.

- The estimates of the expenditure are circulated, but as the saviugs are principally owing to the proposed, reduction of salaries by percentage, there are very few changes. There is a chance of an increase of £12,106 in the permanent charges' in the Legislative depart ment. The decreases are: £150 for committee reporters, £150 for extra messengers and police during the session, £75 for gratuity to messengers, £100 in passages of members, £25 foi assistance to "Hansard" st iff, £300 preparation of indices to journals and address to the Queen. There is an apparent saving of £32,425 in the Colonial Secretary's department, but this is chiefly due to an alteration iv the accounts. In the lunatic asylum branch only six months' salary is set down for the local inspectors at Seacliff, but there is an increase of £220 for attendants and servants. In the stock branch 13 officers are dispensed with, and this with a reduction of £10,000 in the working of the Brands Act, £2000 for the destruction of scabby bheep, and £710 remission of rent of infected runs, makes the total savings in that branch £14,306. In the Treasury and Revenue departments there is a decrease of £49,485. In the Treasury department there is a reduction of two officers, but there is an increase of the same number in the Property Tax department. In the Stamps department, the deputy-commissioner at Otago receives only £150 as against £325, the office having been connected with the Lauds and Deeds department. The changes in salaries" in the Lands and , Deeds Registry Office in Dunedin are : — Examiner of titles, decrease of £50 ; deputy-registrar, decrease of £50; and clerk, decrease of £50. A clerk in Invercargill receiving £130 has been dispensed with. In the Postal department there is an increase of £65 to telegraphists at Oamaru, £10 to the postmaster at Kurow, £5 to the postmaster at Waiareka, £15 to a cadet and £5 to a clerk at Dunediu. In the telegraph office, Dunedin, there is an increase of £190 among operators, and a decrease of £4 with messengers. In the Albany street post office the messengers show a decrease of £2. At Abbotsford £26 is voted for a messenger and' cadets. The postmaster at Balclutha receives £34 additional, a messenger at £38 is appointed at Caversham, and' one at £36 at Outram and Waikouaiti,! cadet at Clinton receives an additional £10, a telegraphist at Palmerston £10, a telegraphist at Invercargill £15, exchange clerk at Dunedin £10, cadet at Kingston £20, messenger £1, and the postmaster at Riverton £32. The following. are, the decreases :— Port Chalmers office, £195 ; assistant clerk, £15 ; messengers, £4; messenger (South Dunedin),£2; country postmasters (Otago), £50 ; messeuger (Arrow), £4 ;' messenger (piuff), £4; cadet (Gore), £10 ; postmaster (Rlversdale),£ls ; messenger (Riverton), £4. The following decreases are made in consequence of conveyance of mails by sea: Bluff and Stewart Island, £15 ; interprovincial services, £500 ; s mail agents, £750 ; to Pacific Islands, £2300 ; direct service, £1000. In the Customs there is a decrease of 21 persons for Dunedin. The vote for clerks is reduced by £120 ; landing waiters, &c., £20. The gauger is abolished, antf lockers reduced by £175. At Port; Chalmers .nothing is set down for tidewaiter, boatman and engine driver, and steam launch ; the collector at Oamaru is reduced £25, and the clerk and locker abolished. The officer at Riverton is dispensed with, as is the locker at Invercargill.

In the Marine and Harbour department there is a reduction of 35 officers. The harbourmaster at Catlin'B river is reduced from £125 to £32, at Fortrose from £100 to £25, and one at Riverton abolished. There is a reduction of £500 in the vote for lighthouses.

There is a reduction of £791 i in the Justice department. The only change in Otago is an increase of £10 to Resident Magistrate's "Court clerk at .Gore.

Iri the Prisons branch, the gaoler at Dunedin receives an addition of £10, but there are other reductions in Dunedin gaol amounting to £885.

In the Education department there is a reduction of £1980. The grant to education boards of £3115 for average attendance is calculated on 87,500 children, as against 85,000 last year, and the special capitation is reduced to 4s.

In the Native Affairs department there is a reduction of £5032, the number of officers having been decreased by seven. In th"c Mines department there is a reduction of £11,121, chiefly due to the absence of subsidies.

In the Working Railways department there is an increase in the number of men of 200, and in the estimates of £153,228.