The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4019, 15 November 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1881.

The receipts of the Consolidated Fund for the second quarter of the financial year, ending the 30th September, amounted to £762,748, and the expenditure £892,864. The deficiency for the quarter in round numbers is £110,000. The land gales for the quarter bring in more than the average—viz., £114,230. The customs duties for the quarter were £382,800, or showing an average.of a million and half per annum. It was this increase in the customs duties doubtless which caused the paean of praise to the Colonial Treasurer on the state of the revenue when this fact became known. True, however, to the traditions of his party the Treasurer outruns the constable. Our readers will bear iv mind that the expenses of the West Coast experiment which Mr Bryce is now trying are not included in the outlay from the Consolidated Fund. The Loan is made to undergo the process of finding funds for this extraordinary expenditure. Outlay on Public Works has virtually ceased, all the money being wanted for New Plymouth and its accursed land sharks. Thus the money expended in Public Works for the first ruarter of the year was £166,702, the greater portion of which was paid away in wages. The expenditure for the second quarter on public works was a little more but not much. The deficit in the years accounts will certainly be over half a million, although our gifted treasurer will no doubt change it into a substantial surplus. When we get him to make bricks out of Colonial and not imported straw, we may stand a chance to know whether we are living within our income or not—but not until then. Meantime we hear what he says and most people believe him. Their faith doubtless will in due season meet its fitting reward.

This day.