CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 172, 21 July 1881, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE EdITOB OF THE " EVENING MAIL."

Sir, — In working out some calculations, I nave had occasion to refer to the figures given by your correspondent "M" in his letter in your issue of the 20th June last, "wherein he gives a comparative table of population, receipts, and charges, being actuals for 1881 and estimates for 18SG, and he states " the figures representing present receipts and payments, being based on good authority," viz.— the table for 1881. and in that table he makes the receipts and expenditure correspond exactly at a total of £3,115,000. But there must be some grave error, as by adding together the two items of receipts, viz., •■' Ordinary revenue (excluding land sales and railway receipts) £2,255,000 ; net railway revenue] £350.000 " we only get a total of £2,635,000 instead of £3,115,000, as shown by him. There is an errrr of some kind in the receipts of .£480,000, either by mistake in addition or by a wrong entry. Judging from the context ef the table, I am inclined to think that tbe writer intended to enter the gross railway revenue h stead of the net, and possibly in this way tbe error can be explained. I should be glad if your correspondent would make the matter clear, so as to show the exact state of accounts for 1881. — I am, &c, Inquires.