4. Accounts of 1909.

The estimates for the vear were as follows:— £E. Kevenue .. .. .. 15,100,000 Expenditofr- - - £E.

Ordinary .. .. .. .. .. 13,900,000 Special .. .. .. .. .. 950,000 • • . 14,850,000 Surplus .. .. .. .. .. 250,000 The accounts show the following result:— £E, Bevenue .. ,, .• .. .. •• 15,402,000 • Expenditure—' Ordinary Special £E. .. 13,568,000 673,000 14,241,000 Surplus .. 1,161,000 It will.be seen that the revenue was £E. 302,000 in excess of the estimates, which were, as usual, drawn up with caution. As compared with that collected in 1908, which itself represented a decrease of£E. 464,000 on the preceding year, there was a further falling off of £E. 119,000, a sign that the effects of the financial crisis of 1907 wete still being felt. Oiistoms dutj'-and railway receipts show further reductions, and there is also a slight diminution in the revenue from tobacco. The following table gives a comparison between the returns under each of these three heads during the last three years:— . ■ ■ ’ 1907.

CustOnis duty Bailway receipts Tobacco Total £E. 2.142.000 3.565.000 1.648.000 7,355,000 1908.

£E 1.982.000 3.464.000 1.688.000 7,134,000 1909.

■ £B. 1.799.000 3.289.000 1.656.000 6,744,000 This diminution has, however, been in some measure compensated by increased receipts-from judiciaT and land registration fees, which rose from XE. 1,246,000 to £E. 1,344,000, and by a growth in the revenue from the land and other direct taxes, which was XE. 5,448000 in 1-909, as compared with XE. 5,288,000 in 1908.

The actual expenditure of the past year compares with that for which provision was made in the- budget as follows 'Budget Actual Ordinary Expenditure.

£B.

13.900.000 13.568.000 . Special Expenditure.

£R 950.000 673.000 Total £E.

14.850.000 14.241.000 It will be observed that, during the twelve months, savings of no less than XE. 609,000..w,ere effected on the authorized expenditure,.a result which testifies to the prudent adniinistiration of those responsible for the finances of the country.

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