, 1876-06-21

Wuhb lu6 result ma IuIu Uuty is not easy 10
say beforehand. If there were only question
of an amount to meet bureau purposes alone,
the matter would not be attended with so much
difficulty but it becomes complicated from its
connection with the ordinary budget.expenSes
and the deficiency in the public budget.
Another untoward circumstance is that the
balance on the former debt, S73,0 00, must be
paid from the new loan, not to speak of the
other expenses betrayed in account-current by
the Statetreasury for the colony, and for which
we are in arrears. All these unfavourable
circumstances are, of course, merely the result
Of the weather during the last years, when the
produce was totally insufficient to cover the
expenses, and the revenue of the Treasury con-
sequently became exceedingly small. Even
with an amount of SI50,000 for bureau-ad-
vances there will be required some vancouver
ing to get through, and perhaps in the latter
part of the year an additional power may be
required to borrow. The Statement submitted
to the Council according to the last clause of
the Draft under consideration sheWs, that if the
plan of furnishing meal and money wages be
adopted, the total sum required for those
estates from whom requests have been received,
or are expected, would be c. 100000, to
which will come an amount of C. So, 900 for an
Estate which will at once require assistance
for only 3 months, when it will be sold
besides that, other Estates may come in later;
so that it is impossible with accuracy to say
what is required now, but if the latter class Of
estates be put down as representing d sum Of
c. $4,000, we arrive at the total OF
G. $4,000 in order to be on the safe side,
the warrant for taking the loan is put at
S150,00O. With regard to the furnishing of
meal and other provisions, the two firms doing
that business have offered the Presidency to
purchase from them a certain quantity of meal
now on hand at S23 pr, puuoheon, and they
will be willing to continue furnishing at the
same rate. This offer has been accepted by
the Presidency Oh the Councils approval, and
in that way the supply will go on for the next
3 months, after which further decision must be
taken whether the arrangement is to continue.
BUTT is also expected, that ifthe Colonial Trea.
sury's means should not suffice for the whole
term, the merchants will waive their demand
for cash payment for the meal and continue as
hitherto to deliver the provisions on payment
in the usual manner. Ifthe money be there,
it would be best for all parties to continue
purchasing the meal etc. The two questions,
Central Factories and temporary assistance from
the Mother Country are connected with each
other to obtain the one, it is the other is re-
CURED. The Home Government is unwilling to
lay out money year after year without seeing
prospects Of a lasting and beneficial change for
the Island. Now, from the latest Information,
the prospects OF obtaining the means to effect
such a change are more favourable than ever
before. He sees therefore no reason to des-
pond at the future Of the Island. But If we
get this loan for bureau purposes, the Govern.
ment and the planters will have o moral ohli-
CATION to see all outstandings, existing from
that cause, settled as soon as possible, and
here be would call to mind that there are
upwards Of $50, 900 still due on old bureau,
debts, which the parties must be prepared to
settle. After figuring up all we owe, and
taking into consideration what is due to the
Colonial Treasury, there is at the present
moment G. $4,000 in favour Of the Treasury.
But all the debts are certainly not sure, and it
will not always be possible to nave the cash
ready as required. Finally, he thought he had
every reason to congratulate the Council andtho
country on the change that has taken place
of late in the prospects Of the Island the
weather has been more favourable than many
years before of course we may be deceived
after all but judging from present appearan-
ces we may be entitled to expect that next
crop will be very fair and even large.
1st Member for FrederikSted's Country
District (F2enlng) thanked His Eycellency
for the information conveyed to the Council,
and from which it appears that things wear
a very satisfactory feature. In his opinion
the arrangements for the supply Of meal on
bureau have been very nicely managed, and
he did not think that any thing better could be
done than to obtain meal at the rate of $23 mr..