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Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2379, 8 October 1887, Page 2

From the statistics of the colony for the year ended 31st December 1886, issued by the RegistrarGeneral, it is shown that the revenue during that year was .£3,688,016, (of which £338,12 1, los Del, was territorial revenue received from land sales, depasturing licenses etc), and the expenditure was £4,310,875 3s 3d, (including £242,529 17s-Id for tcrritoual expenditure and payments to Local Bodies), leaving an actual deficiency of £622,859. Credit is taken for refunds from Public Works Funds for rates on Native Lands amounting to £18,189, and for the issue of debentures and Deficiency Bills to the extent of £340,000 together with the windfall of £109,000 of Sinking Funds set free and referred to with so much self-adulation by Sir.Julius Vogel in this budget last session. The total indebtedness of the colony, as tabulated, is £37,587,776, the accrued Sinking Fund in respect of which is £3,409,264, apparently reducing the colonial debt to £34,118,512. We say apparently because the late Colonial Treasurer’s manipulation of the Sinking Fund lias transformed the substantial character of the accumulations to one of a shadowy nature. The annual charge which has to be met as interest on the total debt, is no less a sum than £1,721,997 ; sufficient in itself to weigh this colony down out of existence under tho heavy pressure of such a terrible responsibility. Tbe clearness of the Registrar-General’s returns is simplicity itself, and bis tables can bo followed and understood without labour. There is no mystification about them, as was the case with the maze of figures presented by Sir Julius Vogel in his Financial the statement. The colony can learn truth from the Registrar-General, his tables arc so plain ; but unfortunately they are not placed in the hands of the public till months after the lapse of the period they refer to, nor till after the sitting of the Parliament that had to listen to a different version from the Treasurer. They have also been issued since the elections have come and gone.