9

8.—2

doubled. I regret to say it has been found impossible to do more in this direction than has been done, owing to want of time in consequence of the enormous amount of work which has fallen upon the Government through the constitutional changes which it has been our business to inaugurate during the recess. The proposed expenditure is as follows : —

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE, 1877-78.

Expenditure, 1877-78: Estimated, £3,109,764 12s. 9d.

Consolidated Fund— £ s. d. £ s. d. Civil List ... ... ... ... 29,750 0 0 Permanent Charges ... £1,151,137 10 7 Less Interest chargeable on Land Fund ... 363,380 4 8 787,757 5 11 Class I.—Public Departments ... ... 165,144 2 0 „ II.—Law and Justice ... ... 137,535 13 1 „ HI.—Postal and Telegraphic ... ... 230,910 0 0 „ IV.—Customs ... ... ... 76,711 1 6 V—Education ... ... ... 135,000 0 0 „ VI.—Native ... ... 32,463 19 7 „ VII.—Militia and Volunteers ... ... 34,522 12 10 „ VIIL—Constabulary and Contingent Defence 138,625 10 0 „ IX.—Public Domains and Buildings ... 28,131 4 0 „ X.—Railways ... ... ... 434,143 0 0 „ XL—Miscellaneous ... ... 33,852 3 10 „ XII.—Counties, Boroughs, and Road Boards 130,000 0 0 Total Expenditure, Consolidated Fund ... ... 2,394,546 12 9 Gold Revenue — Amount payable to Natives ... ... 4,500 0 0 Amount payable to Counties and Boroughs ... 67,500 0 0 Total Expenditure, Gold Fields ... ... 72,000 0 0 Land Fund— Crown Lands Department ... ... 22,348 12 0 Surveys ... ... ... ... 160,069 3 4 Miscellaneous ... ... ... 16,150 0 0 Grants to Counties, Road and River Boards ... 80,000 0 0 Interest and Sinking Fund on Provincial Permanent Debts £193,220 4 8 Interest at 2 per cent, on amount expended on Railways 171,420 0 0 364,640 4 8 Total Expenditure, Land Fund ... ... 643,208 0 0 Total Expenditure, 1877-78 ... ... £3,109,754 12 9

The increase in the Permanent Charges arises from our having borrowed more money during the year, and from the transference of the cost of the Canterbury and Otago Provincial Railways, which have been taken over by the Colony, from the Land Eund of those districts to the Consolidated Eund. Under the head of " Class I. —Public Departments," a sum of £30,000 has been provided for Hospitals and Charitable Aid. This is to provide the subsidies which will probably be payable under the Charitable Institutions Act. I may also say that I shall ask for authority to deduct from the subsidies granted to Counties, Boroughs, and Road Boards, a sufficient sum to maintain Hospitals and Charitable Aid in districts where the Charitable Institutions Act is not adopted, or proves insufficient. The House has already been informed by my honorable colleague the Minister for Justice, that it is our purpose to provide out of the Consolidated Eund for the service of Education a sum of £135,000, which amount, together with the capitation rate, the rents of reserves, and other endowments of the Education Boards, estimated to yield £45,000 in all, will, it is believed, be a sufficient provision for the year's outlay. 2—B 2.

Permanent Charges.

Hospitals and Charitable Aid.

Education.