6

exhited as cha gefl against the Grant. But the amount drawn was 4000/ of which AwOl was repaid into the Commissariat Chest on account of an overdraft ?onl i inng thC Pe r° d pri ° r to the lstof January, 1853,-thus leaving only 00 for services during the period ending 30th September, 1853. As yet it is uncertain whether the remainder of the Grant, amounting to 1045 Z., has been urawn or not. This will be determined by the Board of Audit in I ns'land ■ but a late application of the Agent General in England for funds for the service of his agency, seems to show that the whole Grant has been issued for the service of the Colony. 11 is also to be observed, that as a large portion of the Civil Services provided for m the Schedule of the Constitution had been already included in the Appropriation Ordinances of New Ulster and New Munster, it is only the Balances of these services, or 3487/. ]os., that has been exhibited in the Statement as charged against the Civil List. Appropriation of the Land Revenue. Having thus reviewed the Legislative authorities under which the Ordinary Revenue was issued, and shown the amount of disbursements for which legislative provision is required, it will only be necessary to add, in respect to the leriitoiiai Revenue, that the charges on the Waste Lands of the Crown have been settled by the Constitution Act, It has already been shown that after deducting the charges on the Land Fund as fixed by law, the remaining surplus of the Fund unappropriated is =£10,513 17s. Bd., which has been apportioned, in the Surplus Revenue Account, between the Provinces of New Zealand. But in respect of the amount charged on the Revenues arising from the disposal of the waste lands of the Crown on account of the purchase of lands from aboriginal natives, it is necessary to state in explanation that the amount charged is not the total of the sums issued for this purpose during the peiiod. Land purchases have principally been effected by the Chief Commissioner for the purchase of Native Lands. The monies required for the purpose were issued as imprests); out of monies in the public chest, belonging either to.the Ordinary Revenue, to the Land Fund or the deposits received for the purchase of Cronn Lands. Monies thus advanced do not pp. ar among the final transactions of the Treasuiy until the Commissioner furnishes accounts of the purchases to which he has appropriated the advances, showing in which Provinces the lands are situated. The several di<bursements are then placed| in the Governor's warrant, addressed to the Colonial Treasurer, who thereupon brings the several sums finally to account as charges on the Land Fund of New Zealand. This arrangement does not interfere with the balances iu the Treasury Chests, and therefore does not affect the total surplus Revenue. But it shifts temporarily from the Land Fund a portion of the expenses of Land Purchases ; and it way show a larger or a less sum than was actually issued on Land Purchases during the period. Thus during the period under review the sums brought to charge against the Land Fund, on account of Land Purchases at Wellington, were only £5,727, while the total imprests issued was £14,000. The discrepancy arises from the inability of the Commissioner hitherto to render his accounts quarterly, as requireJ by the regulations of the Government. Recapitulation. It appears from the foregoing statements that the final receipts during the i)ine months were— £ s. d. In the Northern Division .. .. 55,278 4 4 And in the .Southern Ditto .. .. 43,-1(33 0 0 Amount ng to .. .. 98,743 9 5 While the final disbursements were—.