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Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3843, 23 April 1881, Page 2

If; we are to believe the Wellington correspondent: of the Herald the finances of the Colony are in. a highly satisfactory state. He says:—"l hear that a rough balance for the financial year was struck this, evening; but complete and correct returns will not be ready for a week or two. I understand that the revenue very nearly balances expenditure, but not quite, owing to the railways after all failing to reach theJater estimates. You will remember I put the probable gross receipts from railways at about £825,090, finding this as trustworthy outside information. Subsequently I was surprised to hear that the Government were sanguine that the receipts would reach £875,000. I telegraphed, thig, although with considerable doubts of the accuracy of the calculation. I now hear that the total railway revenue for the year is about £829,000; which is very close to my estimates. The expenditure, however, is materially reduced, and there is some talk of the lines paying 5 per cent, net profit on cost. This, in my opinion, is an over-estimate, as the utmost legitimately calculated profit will not exceed 3|> but I think it will reach that point. I believe the telegraph returns are £8000 under the estimate, (and the Department of Justice's revenue £3000 short, but that the Customs are £57,000 above the estimate; land sales, £99,000 above; postal, £4000 to the good | and stamps £9490 on the right side."