COLONIAL ACCOUNTS.

New Zealander, Volume I, Issue 52, 30 May 1846, Page 2

COLONIAL ACCOUNTS.

Not the least interesting of the official financial documents, published in the Government Gazette of last weeki is the return of Revenue, of the Northern Division of the colony, for the first Quarter of the year 1846: for it shews on the one hand cheering improvement in Revenue, and on the other no less satisfactory diminution in the several branches of Expenditure. By taking the amounts of the official Returns for the Quarter for both the Northern and Southern Divisions, we have the following figures :—

In the above ratio the annual Revenue would be above £l8;000, and the Expenditure about £26,000, which is totally different from any former years. This account of the Quarter's Revenue, for the whole colony, is very satisfactory, in reference and proportion to the whole ordinary annual revenne of last year, which was only £13,387 ss. 5d. ; but, more especially as regards the Customs. In 1845, the total amount of Customs and Property Rate was, in round numbers, —

In comparison with Wellington, the present flourishing state of the commerce and resources of Auckland and the Waitemata district is most gratifying. The Customs' Revenue at Auckland for the fiist quarter of 1846, amounted to £2549 3s. 9d. while that of Wellington realized only £963 12s, 2d.

By these quarterly publications, of the Revenue and Expenditure of the various settlements, it will be clearly ascertained, how far the assertion of the Company's settlers are Correct, — of a great surplus of their Revenue being sent away, to maintain the seat of Government at Auckland. We are rather inclined to the opinion, — that the very reverse will be found to be nearer the truth, and that the Southern Division will be great charge and expense to the Northern settlers. On investigation of this Quarterly Return, there is a difference, highly commendable, to all previous accounts in this colony, in the manner in which the various items of the Expenditure are distinguished. It is this,— the expences of those Departments, &c, which are for the general Government of the colony, at large, are kept quite distinct from those which are local. This is an excellent plan,— which will, at the expiration of the year, shew those expences which ought to be borne, by all the settlements, conjointly ; and then, , what each respective settlement ought to dei fray itself* Of the former class, are the Governor's . Establishment ;— Councils ;— Departments of Colonial Secretary ; — Treasurer — Audit— and Survey Departments ; — Attorney- General and Ecclesiastical Establishments ;— Government Vessels, Victoria and Albert, &c But the two last items of this description, we consider ought not to have been included in the expenditure of, or charged upon — the colony, in any shape or manner; but ought to have been defrayed from the Commissariat chest as if for usual military service. These items are, — " On account of military operations, £204 145., — and " Supplies to Natives acting with the troops, £119 1 8s. Id."— making together the sum of £324 12s. Id. In reference to the separation, in the Expenditure, — of the General Charges for the colony at large, from specific local expences, — we .would observe, that in this Quarterly Return, denominated that of the Northern Division, there are many items in the former, that ought to be borne, conjointly, by the Southern Division. ■As His Excellency the Governor observed, Port Nicholson, if any one settlement had f an excess of revenue, beyond its expences, he must avail himself of such surplus to meet expences in the other settlements, in which the revenue was deficient-: but we would wish the Accounts to shew the real state and progress of each settlement, so that the truth may be known and published, of the resources and advancement of the respective Divisions of the Colony.

at, 5. u. Northern Division 5197 0 0 Southern ditto 4058 0 0 £9265 0 0 In 1846, the amount of the Customs for the first Quarter, only, is — Northern Division 2600 0 0 Southern ditto 1 100 ° ° £3700 0 0

Expenditure. Northern Division, Auckland 4101 2 11 Russell . 79 0 0 . 4180 211 Southern Ditision, Wellington 2176 18 1 Nelson . . 366 9 4 . 2543 10 4 Total Expenditure for the Quarter £6723 10 4

Revenue. £ 8. d. £ s, d. Northern Division, Auckland 3272 0 5 Russell . 53 16 7 3325 17 0 Southern Division, Wellington 1087 12 10 Nelson . . 171 7 5 1259 0 3 Total Revenue for the Quarter £4584 17 3