'The effect on the finance of the colony from the
amalgamation of general and provincial revenue is considerable, and must go on increasing. Major Atkinson, who holds the office of treasurer in Sir J. Vogel's absence, was able, in proposing the Budget, to state that the revenue already exceeded that of last year by £185,000, and the treasurer's estimate by /108,000, thus showing a surplus for the year of £120,000. The financial proposals for the current year include the absorption of eight months' provincial revenue, thus raising the revenue of the colony to 12,476,000, a revenue greater than that of Canada before confederation, and to be classed as third, almost second, indeed, among the Australasian Colonies. The estimated expen- diture, including eight months' provision for provincial services, is £2,400,000, the Government declaring it to be their policy, after providing for all general and local loan-charges and for the defence department, to expend £702,000 of the absorbed revenue on special provincial works. This large local expenditure is quite consistent with the views always held by the advocates of a strong general Government for the colony, and pithily expressed by Major Atkinson in a very able speech on the subject last session, when he said, "Provincial government is ant local government : it never has been local government, and never will be." But it is somewhat surprising that such views should have gained ground so rapidly and under such circum- stances.
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