No. 9.-POLICE AND GAOLS (exclusive of ESTABLISHMENTS). Nil. HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. No. 10.-RENT. Rent of out-buildings attached to the Governor's country residence at Westbrook, from 1st Septem- No. 11.-TRANSPORT. £. 175 ECCLESIASTICAL. Passage-money from England to the colony of the Chaplain of Church of England at Stellenbosch at Beaufort at George £. 100 100 100 Building of a lock-up house at East London Excess of expenditure over the vote for repairs and alterations to Government House £. s. d. 107 18 7 4,542 18 10 874 1 6 192 2 1 £. તું £. £. 1,358 17 2 No. 19.-GRATUITIES TO RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS. Last instalment of gratuity to the Church of England at Fort Beaufort, in fulfilment of a promise Gratuity to the Church of England at Graaff-Reinet, in fulfilment of a promise made in 1845 SUPPLEMENTARY COLONIAL ESTIMATES, Cape of Good Hope, for the Years 1849 and 1850. SUMMARY of the foregoing ESTIMATES, showing the TOTAL CHARGE for each DEPARTMENT, so far as the same can be Apportioned. Schedule No. 3. COLONIAL ESTIMATES, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, for the Year 1851. MINUTE. FINANCE. Honourable Gentlemen, Government House, Cape of Good Hope, 10 September 1850. IN consequence of the long interval which has occurred since the last sitting of the Legislative Council, no Appropriation Ordinance has been passed for the service of the present year. . The Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1850, together with an Explanatory Minute, were laid before the Council on the 15th June 1849, but were not voted; and observing that there was no probability of the Council again assembling for a considerable period, I thought it right to transmit them to the Secretary of State, with a request that I might be furnished with a special authority for incurring the necessary expenses for carrying on the Government. I have since received Earl Grey's reply, to the effect, that Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to approve of the usual Appropriation Ordinance, founded upon these Estimates, when passed by the Legislative Council. I therefore lay these Estimates and the former Minute on the table, for your consideration. There are, however, certain expenses which have been incurred in 1849 and 1850, which have not yet been voted by the Council, and which are not included in these Estimates. For these, I propose to provide by Supplementary Estimates, and a Supplementary Appropriation Ordinance. I adopt this course in order to avoid mixing up new items with the Estimates for 1850, which have been already submitted to Her Majesty's Government, and have received their approval. The Revenue for 1849 was estimated at 215,442 l.; the actual receipts were 227,734 l showing an excess of actual over estimated revenue of 12,292 l. A considerable deficiency has, however, occurred in two items of revenue,―Customs Collections and Land Sales. The Customs Collections for 1849 were estimated at 95,000 l. and produced only 78,895 l., being a deficiency of 16,105 l. This I am inclined to attribute, not to any decay in the permanent resources of the colony, but to temporary causes only. The Land Sales for the same year were estimated at 25,000 l. and produced 8,880 l., being a deficiency of 16,120 l. This arose from the necessity which I found of changing the policy which I had originally proposed to adopt, relative to the disposal of land in the new Division of Albert. Having originally intended to sell this land, I found on further examination, that that course would create so much discontent, and involve such real injustice to the farmers found in occupation when that territory was included within the boundary, that I determined to grant the land upon quit-rent to those occupiers, though all the land in the district would be, and has since been, thus absorbed. This measure I have reported to Her Majesty's Government, and I am happy to say that it has received their approval. I have also been much disappointed with the results of land sales in the Division of Victoria, which have fallen much below the expectations which were entertained when that division was added to the colony. With the above exceptions every item of the actual revenue for 1849 has either equalled or exceeded the Estimate; and the deficiency in these two items need not create any apprehension relative to the general prospects of the revenue for the present year. This is apparent from the fact that the actual Customs Collections for the first six months of 1850, nearly correspond with half the sum estimated for the whole year. This is also the case with regard to the other principal items of revenue. For example, the Land Revenue for 1850 is estimated at 15,000 l.; the first half year has produced 11,579 l. : Transfer Dues,-estimate, 23,000 l.; Receipts of first half-year, 11,097 l.: Stamps,— estimate, 20,000 l.; Receipts of first half-year, 11,931 7: Postage,-estimate, 12,000 l.; Receipts of first half-year, 5,697 1. The whole revenue for 1850 was estimated at 218,831 l., and the actual receipts of the first half-year have been 109,500 l. The usual estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1851, will also be laid before you. They have been prepared with due regard for economy, consistent with the efficiency of the public service. The amount of Revenue estimated for that year is 204,161 l.; the amount of Expenditure, 202,508 l. The Estimate of Revenue is lower than that for the current year, principally owing to the Estimate for Land Sales having been reduced, for the reason already stated; viz. that no land sales will be effected in the Division of Albert; and that there is reason to fear that the Victoria lands will not produce so large an amount as was expected. In the Estimate of Expenditure, no material alteration is made from those submitted to the Council last year, except that no vote is proposed for emigration. I regret that I do not feel justified in placing any sum of this kind on the Estimates for next year; but the falling off of the revenue expected from the land sales, I have alluded to, together with the necessity of providing for the establishments (Fiscal and Judicial) of the two new frontier divisions, divisions, and the several expenses of the new border system,-amounting to about 12,000 l. a year, from the general Revenue, and not from the proceeds of these sales, as I had hoped to do,-render it impossible for me to adopt any other course. Should the Revenue improve in the course of the year, I shall be ready to make arrangements for continuing the emigration at the present rate, should you approve of my doing so. There are some subjects alluded to in my Minute which accompanied the Estimate of last year, to which your attention may again with propriety be directed; such are, the encouragement of steam communication between England and the colony; the formation of a Harbour of Refuge in Table Bay, and the promotion of various public works within the colony. Among the latter, are the improvement of the ports of Port Elizabeth, the Cowie (most especially as it is a work of vital importance to the best interests of the farmers of Albany), and Mossel Bay, &c. The suspension of these public works has retarded the progress of the colony, and they should be renewed as speedily as possible. I am not aware that any other observations are required on the Estimates now submitted to you: I know that they will receive your best attention, and that you will make the arrangements which may appear most desirable for the general interests of the colony. STATEMENT, showing the Estimated and Actual Revenue for the Year 1849. |