Tux Report of the Municipal Council for the year has grown into a volume of B17 pages, and it is obviously impossible to deal with that for 1889, issued yesterday to the ratepayers, in more than a very ketchy way. The first matter that attracts us, for our first desire is, to know how the income and expenditure have compared with the estimates, is the condensed statement that is always printed at the very end of the report, as though like Chinamen we proposed to begin to read the book at the back. Here we tind that the actual receipts in 1889, on the budget for that year, were 'I'ls. 422,692, against the estimate of Tls. 396,461, leaving a net surplus of Tls. 26,398. This increase was not the result of avy sudden or spasmodic change; it is made up by a gain on every head of income except four, and the total decrease on those four heads was only Ils. 157, of which is. 19 come under billiard saloon licences, Ts. 30 under sampan licences, Ts. 48 under permit fees, and Tls, 60 under cemetery fees. No sinister omen is to be drawn from any of these decreases, and good omens only can be drawn from the otherwise universal increases, as from the decrease in cemetery fees. 'I'o take the increases of over is, 1,000, there is nearly is. 1,500 in the general municipal rate, foreign, and over Tis, 6,000 in the general municipal rate, native; Tls. 1,100 in livery stable licences, is. 1,900 in cart licences, Us. 2,100 in opium shop. licences, Tis, 1,400 in jivricshas (which contributed altogether nearly Tls. 36,000 to the revenue), is. 1,000 in wheelbarrows, 'I'ls. 1,300 in the local post office receipts; the other notable increases being in interest, stock and stores, and outstanding accounts. The whole indicates unmistakeably, as we a considerable increase under- these heads also. Dues on merchandise are in the maim a prosperous year here. expected to remain stationary. The On the other hand, the expenditure increase in the house building with its for the year, which was estimated concomitant increase in population neat Tls. 395,316, mounted up to Ts. cessitates a Corresponding increase in 415,989, a difference of over Ts, 20,000, the police force and in the nuisance some 36,000 taels in excess of estimates department. The police torve is to be having been spent on various accounts, raised from 351 to 392 mem, and and nearly 16,000 taels saved. Con-a considerable number of additional fining ourselves again to sums over Ts. coolies will be required for removing 1,000, we find that the first increase is garbage: but there is no increase in the in passages to time-expired policemen, Tls. 2,600; next in nuisance and provision for the sanitary department, lighting, and water supply. The ex-markets, Ts. 1,100; in bridges, nearly penditure on public works is to be Tls. 11,000; in bundings, nearly Tis. about the same as in 1889; the 1,700; in the secretariat, Tls. 3,200, contemplated increased expenditure which is explained by the deposit of on bundings will be balanced by a is. 4,000 made to secure an income decrease on bridges, road material, during the remainder of her life to the ete. The Council propose to make no widow of the late Mr. G. M. Hart; in change in the present tariff of rates, the cost of the volunteers, 'I's. 1,100, taxes, license fees and dues on merchan-in stock and stores, Tls. 5,200, and dise, and they suggest the usual appro-land and buildings, Tls. 2,900. The priations for the outside channels of savings on the other shad have expenditure, the fire department, town in police pay, Ils. 6,700; in gas, Ts.
1,800; la foils Tls. 3,300 jean in band, volunteers, public garden, Eurasian School, and' French orphanage. water, nearly is, 1,200. If' we turn We have no space this morning to go back to page 107 we find that while through the report in detail, but there is the budget prepared by the out-a table on page 187, which appears going council for 1888 provided without any comment, which seems as for a surplus of 1,100 fuels, the if it should have had some explana-actual surplus shown by the accounts tion attached to it. It is a record is 6,700 taels, leaving a net gain for of the quantity of water used for the year of nearly 5,600 taels. The watering roads and other municipal fact most noticeable is, that though the purposes during 1889. The total quan-native residents on the concession have tity used appears as 38,936,000 gallons, no representation on the council, and and under this is the line " Water paid are not allowed in the public garden, for, 56,250,000 gallons," from which it they appreciate so thoroughly the advantages of the oppression to which appears that the Waterworks Company was paid for 17,314,000 more gallons they are subjected, that they have con-of water than was consumed. It seems tributed T's. 6,006 in house tax and that there should have been some com-Tls. 9,400 in licence fees more than went on this, of which there is probably the estimate. After considering the a perfectly simple explanation. Gene+ income and expenditure of the year, it rally the report is as full as could be is natural to tum to the municipal wished and thoroughly safe and sufficibalance-sheet (pages 310,311), and here ent, and the outgoing and incoming we find that the total assets are valued councils may both be fairly congratu-at Ts. 820,765, and the liabilities are lated, while the ratepayers may look Tls. 221,448. This shews a nominal forward to the annual meeting's passing, balance of nearly Ts. 100,000; but as off smoothly and without any protracted much of the land and buildings has discussion. not been valued since 1884 and is taken at the cost at which it stands in the ledger, the assets are obviously put
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.