THE Grey River Argus THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 477, 4 February 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1869.

A return, which has just been published in the "Westland Gazette," showing the finaucial position of the County from Ist July to 31st December last is worthy of consideration. For convenience in analysing it, we will divide it into sections, after stating that the estimated revenue for that period was L 74,700, and the actual revenue L 67,484 os. Id.; that the amount voted by the Council for expenditure was L 46,583 7s. 2d.. while the sum actually expended was L 48,185 18s., showing an excess over i the votes of L 1,602 10s.. lQd. Therevenue was made up as follows : — Half of Customs revenue cjllecled at Hokitika and Okarito, L 19,290 145.; quarter ditto for Greyniouth (as the General Government take one-half and Nelson onefourth), L 5,695 19s. 10s.; half fees Resident Magistrates' Courts, L 932 6s. 7d.; . Postal revenue and duty stamps, -Li,C55 9s. 7d.; Telegraph foes, L 712 10s; Id. Tlir- gold e:qioit duty on gold fiom the

three ports of Hokitika, Greymouth, I and Okarito was L 12,134 ss. lid.; from miners' rights, licenses, &c, L 5,085 ss. Bd.; from spirit licenses, L 5,350 95.; other licenses, mining surveys, <fee, L 1,580 12s. 6d.; from the sale of lands (town, suburban, and rural), ami the lease of pasturage runs and reserves, L 15,046 6s. 10s. We will now give a summary of the manner in which this revenue has been expended ; and, first of all, our County Council alone has cost us L 978 6s. 6d., including the Chairman's salary, L3OO, and expenses of members, L 215 16s. On this item there has been expended more than L2OO over the sum voted. The County Secretary's department cost L 540 9s. 4d.; County Paymaster's department, L 337 6s. Bd.; Resident Magistrates' Courts, L 715 15s. 10d.; Wardens' Courts, being salaries of five wardens, four clerks, and five bailiffs, and incidental expenses, L 2,379 17s. 5d,; Police department, L 5,967 7s. 25.; Gaol department, L 2,464 11s. 5d.; Waste Lands department, LBO 125.; Survey department, L 4,943 175.; Engineer's department, L 744 Is. 6d.; Harbor department, L 1,308 16s, 4d.; Weights and Measures, L 175; Public Buildings, L 2,006 10s. 2d.; Education, Lsll 13s. 9d. The overland road cost altogether L 3,213 17s. 6d., divided as follows:— Maintenance of road to Arthur's Pass, L 2,893 os. 10d.;. overseer's salary, L 204 3s. 4d.; forage and travelling expenses, LI 16 13s. 4d. The next important items are the subsidies for the Hokitika, Greymouth, and Totara Hospitals. For these three establishments a sum of L 4,000 was voted ; but in consequence of the refusal of the inhabitants of Hokitika to subscribe any portion of the sum required for the maintenance of thtir local institution, the vote has been exceeded by L 1,501, 501 3s. 7d. During the six months there was paid out of the general revenues for hospital purposes in Hokitika, L 4,139 13s. 9d.; in Greymouth, L 966 13s. 7d.; in Ross, L 394 16s. 3d. With the exception of the distribution of the surplus revenue and land fund among the Road Boards and Municipalities, the remainder of the expenditure is ranked under the convenient heading of " miscellaneous." Among these items we find the sum of L 1,230 12s. 7d. charged to "general contingencies;" L 1,016, 01 6 4s. for printing, advertising, and stationery; L 422 3s. 3d. for the travelling expenses of Government officers ; L 535 3s. 7d. for "furniture and repairs;" L2lO as a grant to the Hokitika Literary Society, and many others, which,' no doubt, will be enquired into when the . Estimates are laid before the Council. During the six months the sum of L 4,000 has been distributed among the Municipalities and Road Boards in the following proportions: — Hokitika Corporation, L 666 13s. 4d.; Greymouth Corporation, L 50 0; Grey Road Board, L 533 6s. Bd.; Paroa ditto, L 300; Kanieri ditto L 555 11s. Id.; Totara ditto, L 555 11s. Id.; Arahura ditto, L 555 11s. Id.; Okarita ditto, L 333 6s. 9d. The revenue received by these bodies from the sale of land in the respective districts was as follows : — Hokitika Corporation, L 4,378 13s. 10s.; Arahura Road Board, L 703 2s. 6d.; Paroa ditto, L 69 18s. 9d.; Kanieri ditto, Ll,llo 18s. 9d.; Totara ditto, L 32 4; Okarito ditto, L 23 Bs. 9d. It will be noticed that no return has been made to the Municipality of Greymouth on account of thu land sales which took place in the district iv October last. Why these are not included within the transactions of the six months it is impossible to imagine, but is no doubt capable of explanation. In connection with the above figures, it may be interesting to glance at the Estimates for the current half-year 1 ending 30th June, 1869, as laid on the table of the County Council on Wednesday evening. For that period the estimated receipts are set down at L 121,180, and the estimated expendipenditure at L 101 ,1 72. In the receipts is included a sum of L 50,000, which it is intended to borrow, and should the Council be successful iv obtainiug the money, it is proposed to expend L 52,795 on roads, bridges, &c. In addition to the sum mentioned, the revenue is expected to be made up as follows : — Half-share of Customs duties at Hokitika and Okarito, L 22,00 0; quarter share at Greymouth, L 6,000 ; half Resident Magistrates Courts' fees, L 95 0; half postal and duty stamp revenue, L 1,660, 660 ; half telegraph fees, L 720; gold export duty, L 13,500; miners' rights and licenses, L 6,00 0; spirit liceusea, L 6,50 0; incidental recepts, L 3250 ; sale of lands, LI O,OOO ; sale of reserves, L6OO, The estimaled expenditure may be summarised as follows, in addition to the sum quoted above for public works :-— Interest and sinking fund on Canter.

bury Loans, L 10,000; expenses of Government departments, voted by the General Assembly, and charged to the County, say, L 8,525; Chairman's department L 600; Council ditto, L 837 10s.; Treasurer's ditto, L 350; fitting up Supreme Court, LSO; Eesident Magistrate's Court, Greymouth, Ll5O : Wardens' Courts, L 2,42 5; Police, L 5,007 11s.; Gaol, L 2/241 4s. 6d.; Waste Lands department, L 237 10s.; Land and Works, L 3,597 Is, Bd.; Harbor department, L 994; Weights and Measures, LI 75; Hospitals, L 4,950; Public Buildings, L 2,190; Miscelltu neous, L 6728. We defer going into the details until some future. occasion.