THE QUARTER'S REVENUE.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 179, 16 February 1848, Page 2

THE QUARTER'S REVENUE.

The Government Gazette of the Bth instant contains an Abstract of the Revenue and Expenditure of Auckland, during the last quarter of the year now past. Comparing this with the abstract of the corresponding quarter of 1846, there is certainly some cause for congratulation, if an increasing revenue furnish flattering indication of public progressiveness. At first sight, however, the companion would shew rather in favor of the elder quarter — for imtance, taking the

in favor of 1846. But on a closer analysis, this difference will be found apparent rather than real — became that Parliamentary aidi are included in each return, and the separate amount of these was

Thus reducing the amount in 1847, by 7,308 15 0 Again, the revenue of last quarter would appear at first sight, as if in advance of the expenditure — but on a closer exam-nation, Ihe fact will prove to be other wise. Setting aside the Parliamentary grant of .£4,082 10s., the expenditure will be found a good dtal m advance of ihe revenue, and that without counting the disbursements charged as made for the out settlements of Wellington, New Plymouth, Akaroa, Rubsell, and Hukiuuga. Still, notwithstanding that the unaihiatcd lojal revenue has fallen short of the local expendi'tm-, the last quarter's übbtiact bears a very Lvuu.aLle (onipuUon with tint of 18'lC, inasmuch as the Paili mien tary aid which enables us to bear such local expenditure, was less by three-hfths in the final quarter of 1847; than in the final quajter of 1846.

We will now proceed to an analysis of the revenue side of the abstract of last quarter, and a comparison with that of the corresponding quarter of the year pieceding. First, in the total amount of ordinary revenue, we find there is an increase of, nt least, 32 per cent. The

In subdividing this head of revenue too, we find a seniible increase just in the item that might be wished, as for example, the Customs' department, indicating at all events increase of trade ; and in the fees and fines rather a diminution by no means unsatisfactory ; the Customs' receipts have increased 50 per cent., and the fees and fines account has decreased at least 2J per cent. The amount under the head of Customs,' is

And the amount under the head of Fees -»nd Fines is

In the Crown Land Revenue there is a comparative increase (small aa is the aggregate amount) of about 230 per cent, the amount being as shewn in the abstract for

So far, the comparison is decidedly favourable as respects the last quarter of 1847. We will now turn to the expenditure side of the present abstract, and compare it, not with the corresponding quaiter of 1846, which would scarcely lead to fair results, but to the quarter of the same year and immediately preceding, that is— the quarter ending 30th Sept., 1847. In this branch of our computation, we will omit the several dislmr-ements made to out-stations, being repiyable it is to be supposed from their respective revenues, and limit attention at prevent to the expenditure of Auckland. The general expenditureis stated at—

But chit again would seem to be rather fallacious, and the state of the tact to be otheiwise ; as, in the above mentioned sum of .£8519 Bs. 10d., there is au item of £1181 Bs. lOd , which, being a refund to the Commissariat Clisst of du'ies levied on spirits issued to H. M Troopa, at Auckland and the Bay of Islands, between the Ist April, 1846 and 3 )th June, 1847, cannot be considered as current or ie<ur ring expenditure, and should therefore be deducted, so that last quarter's expenditure would, i» reality, ap pear to have exceeded that of the previous quarter by above 5 yer cent. In other words, taking

Then would appear an excess of #> 428 16 11 expenditure ia Dae. quarter of * The items producing this excess, however, are not of a nature with which we ought unnecessarily to feel disposed to quarrel, especially the two following :— Increase in amount expei ded for

The different departments of Government would leem to be pretty much in atatu quo aniea as reg?rds expenditure. In the armed Police foice, we are notiorry, howsver, to notice a diminution of expense amounting to £282 : and, in the Resident Magistrates' office, to £50. Upon the whole, the favorable opinion offered at the beginning of this article, as to the comparative cha racter of this abstract, will, we think, be found to be fairly borne out.

Debentures. — 'These instruments, from being a bug-bear both to the issuer ani the holders, are gradually settling down into the sednte character of a funded property, worth nothing less than what they represents From the Auditor General's Returns it would appear that their amount us outsUnding on the 31st December last, wat £'29,427 16>. 4d.— of which amount the new 8 per cent 3 issued in exchange for 75 per cent of old debentures, constituted c£21,698 12s. 6d. ; and special 8 per cens issued under the Debenture Act of list session, £3300 Ms. 4j. ; together forming a funded debt, the accruing interest of which is borne upon the infant revenue of the colony. Last quarter, the amount of interest | aid was .£628 6s sd. The amount of unredeemed certificates outstanding on 3 1st December, is stated at £f)63 os. 3d. Of the whole amount of debentures outstanding, there lus been paid into the Colonial Treasury the sum of £14,166 59

Appointments.— -The following appointments have been lately made by his Excellency the Governor, under the provhijns of the Registration Act, section 8, No. 9 : — Major Cyprian Bridge, of the 58th Regt.; filling the office of Resident Magistrate at Russell, Bay of Islands, to be a Deputy Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, for the district of Russell, and Henry King, Esq., Resident Magistrate at New Plymouth, to hold the same office for the latter distiict; in addition to Thomas Outhwuite, Esq., previously appointed Regiitm General of Biiths, Death ■>, and Marriages, for the Province of " New Uls'er," and Deputy Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Mar* lidges for tins district.

£ s. d. .a 1846— Parliamentary errant 1,891 5 0 Proceeds of drafts on the Bri« } , o nn n ft tish Treasury \ ' W U ° Making a total of 11,391 5 0 [a 1847— Parliamentary grant 4,082 10 0

men total of collections during the £ s. u. Quarter ending 31st Dec, 1847, at .. 10,303 5 9 And in 1846 at. ., 11391 5 0 There would appear a difference of 1,027 19 3

Funcipal The other items of increase appear to be — .and Commission £\B2 0 0 Jng Victoria 523 0 o Lborigines 58 0 0 ihenff and Gaols 40 0 0

Public Works 11 Roads ;£404 12 O 242 0 0 'utul increase (in round numbers £046 0 0

he last quartern expenditure at i.nd deducting from the previous quarters' £8509 11 6 'he amount refunded 1181 810 £7756 19 7 7328 2 8

The December quarter of " U >• (, ; 1847 1846 £482 6 145 16 Increase in 1847 3.30 10

For last quarter of 1847 Ditto ditto 1846 £131 12 5 170 17 7 Shewing a decrease in 1847 of 33 5 2

For last quarter of 1847 . Ditto quarter of 1846, it wa £ J 5,19l 15 2 3,459 15 4 Shewing the increase of 1847, to be.. I 731 19 10

mm collected under this head, being £ s. la 1847 5,633 14 8 In 1846 4,175 16 0 a Shewing the increase in 1847 . 1,457 18 8

In Jtho quarter ending Dec. 1847 .. .? i " " " Sept. 1847 it was £7750 19 7 8509 11 C Shewing an apparent excess in Sept. of £752 11 11