FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT. 235 



be deducted the sum of 6,753, old legacy duty, for building an 

 hospital, since an export tax has been imposed for that purpose. 

 There would then be on the one side, 64,585, and 29,707 on 

 the other, leaving a balance of 34,000 against the treasury : to 

 liquidate which we find in the hands of the Receiver- General, 

 5,686, and 18,285 in the depot chest, or an amount of 

 23,971 to meet 34,000. Should the treasury be called upon 

 to pay at once the sums deposited say 54,642 there would 

 remain unpaid a minus balance of 24,936. Under all circum- 

 stances, this would be a sad result; but with an impoverished 

 community and precarious revenue, it is really deplorable. And 

 such a state of things may be said to have been brought about by 

 reckless proceedings, and the incorrigible profligacy of the govern- 

 ment. 



In the face of the above statement, a sum of 2,000 has been 

 advanced to a private company for the purchase of a steamer 

 the advance to be borrowed from the immigration fund, and to be 

 repaid, without interest, at the rate of 800 per annum, and by 

 monthly instalments. A law has also been recently passed for 

 establishing tram-roads in certain districts of the colony, for which 

 a sum of 50,000 is deemed necessary ; and it is proposed that the 

 colony should issue debentures to that amount, that every such 

 debenture should be made for the sum of five pounds, and should 

 bear interest at the rate of six per cent., and that all moneys to 

 be taken up on loan on such debentures should be charged on the 

 general revenue of the colony. The repayment of such moneys 

 is secured to the colony by a charge on the several plantations and 

 lands through which such tram-roads shall be carried, and by 

 tolls to be taken on such tram-roads. 



In conclusion, though the Legislative Council is vested with 

 extensive powers, they are still subordinate to those of the governor, 

 whose acts they cannot control. The board, however, may 

 exercise a certain check on the taxation and expenditure of the 

 colony, by refusing their sanction to financial measures proposed 

 by the executive, and by exacting a strict audit of the public 

 accounts. This, however, they not only have never done, but 

 they have, on the contrary, lent a pandering aid to all his acts 

 so much so, that for more than seven years the public accounts 

 were never examined. On the other hand, the governor having 

 the unfettered control of the finances of the colony, and being 



