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8.—2

Loans out of which this expenditure is proposed to be made have already been appropriated. The appropriations which I shall ask for are in most cases re-votes for the same service; and details of them will be laid before you in the Annual Estimates.

"WATS AND MEANS. Consolidated Kevenue. I place before you a statement of the estimated and actual revenue for 1874-75, and of the estimated revenue for 1875-76 :—

Great care has been taken in estimating the revenue for the current year. A very moderate increase only has been made in the Customs, when it is remembered that during the year the balance of Immigration over Emigration has been 37,134 souls. The increase shown upon the other items will, I think, be fully realized. The desire has been in no case to over-estimate; and should nothing occur to disturb the prosperity of the country, we may safely anticipate raising at least the amount of revenue I have estimated. There is one very gratifying item in the above estimate which appears for the first time, viz. " Railways." I shall not enlarge upon this subject, as it would rather encroach upon the ground of my honorable colleague the Minister for Public Works ; but I cannot refrain from remarking that its appearance, small as it is at present, opens to my mind the prospect of a great and prosperous future for the colony. I hold that of all the wise acts done by this House, none were wiser or more far-seeing than the retention of our railways in the hands of the State. In respect to the item " Miscellaneous Provincial Revenue," I may state that the amount is based upon the revenue of the current financial year of the several provinces, as estimated by the Provincial Governments. The total of those estimates has been reduced by excluding from each the estimated receipts for auctioneers', publicans', spirit and miscellaneous trading licenses, and the fees for registration of dogs and goats, pound fees, &c., the whole of which it is proposed to hand over to the municipalities ; and I have taken two-thirds of the remaining balance as the probable receipts of the eight months commencing on the Ist of November next, and though I am aware that this estimate may not prove an accurate one, it will no doubt be sufficiently close for all practical purposes. The next item is one as to which it will be desirable that I should give some explanation. It will be remembered that my honorable colleague last Session proposed to purchase from the Province of Otago, that part of the main trunk line of

Revenue 1874-75. Estimated Heads of Receipt. Revenue Estimated. Actual. 1875-76. Customs Duties, Rents, Seizures, &e. „ Bonded Stores „ Fees, Marine Act, including Light Dues ... ~i „ „ Arms Act ... ... ... £ „ „ Sundry Acts ... ... ;.. J Stamp Duties ... Postal Telegraphic Judicial, Fees and Fines Registration of Land ... „ Deeds ... „ Births, Deaths, and Marriages Fees on Issue of Crown Grants ... „ Miscellaneous ... Railways Incidental Receipts Miscellaneous Revenue —Provincial Contributions from Land Fund for Interest on Provincial Loans „ „ for Interest on Cost of Railways completed £ a. d. 1,150,000 0 0 4,400 0 0 £ s. d. 1,223,614 3 2 4,872 10 2 £ a. d. 1,325,000 0 0 5,000 0 0 12,500 0 0 15,095 7 5 16,750 0 0 100,000 0 0 74,000 0 0 55,000. 0 0 28,000 0 0 12,000 0 0 15,000 0 0 4,000 0 0 5,500 0 0 1,200 0 0 110,641 0 3 72,037 0 0 55,552 2 9 32,263 14 10 11,521 7 0 15,833 2 0 4,845 8 3 6,459 16 6 2,188 3 10 125,000 0 0 91,000 0 0 62,000 0 0 32,000 0 0 13,500 0 0 16,750 0 0 5,000 0 0 6,000 0 0 2,700 0 0 294,042 13 4 65,000 0 0 50,114 0 0 118,370 7 7 35,000 0 0 50,079 0 3 127,520 0 0 Totals Add Surplus of Year 1874-75 1,496,600 0 0 1,005,002 16 5 2,355,747 0 11 120,446 8 10 Total 2,476,193 9 9