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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 5, 6 November 1883, Page 2

In our last issue we published from the Gazette the financial returns for the quarter ending September 30th. In his financial statement the Colonial Treasurer estimated that the amount of £3,609,349 revenue would be produced towards meeting • the estimated expenditure of £3,661,486, showing a balance of £52,037 over the receipts. To meet this deficiency one farthing in the pound was added to the Property Tax, which, it was estimated, would produce an additional amount of £84,890, or a surplus of £32,853 over and above the expenditure. According to the return quoted the revenue collected falls far short of the estimated halfyearly return. A reference to the estimates will show that the customs revenue was estimated at £1,520,000 for the year, or £760,000 for the half-year. Of this sum only £685,547 had reached the Treasury up to September 30th. Then again the stamp duty was taken at £477,500 equal to £238,750 for the half-year. There has only been £227,039 received. Property Tax estimated to produce for the half-year, £126,500, has only up to September produced £7,813. Beer duty estimated at £31,000 for the half-year has only produced £25,281. The railways have only produced £451,040 as against the sum of £o 10,000 as estimated. The estimate for telegraphic for the half-year was £50,000, of which only £48,225 have been received. Registration fees have only produced £16,660, in lieu of £17,900. And all the other items of revenue are more or less in the same proportion. Judging from the preccnt aspect of affairs, it appears extremely improbable whether the Government will be enabled to show even a clean balance sheet at the end of the financial year.