Colonial Despatches

Mr Round
These Returns show the gross Revenues for 1868 from Taxes & Imposts—but not the gross Revenue of the Colony for that year.

Be good enough to see what the difference wd be.

Mr Cox
The items of Revenue included in the Estimates and in the Bluebook, but omitted in these returns are:
Land Sales $ 5,564
Land Revenues $ 6,154
Rents exclusive of Land $ 2,168
Fees of Office $ 3,178
Sale of Govt Property $ 2,534
Reimbursements in aid of Expenses &c $15,529
Miscellaneous $ 441
Arrears of Taxation $ 3,907
$39,470

(These figures are taken from the Bluebook). They raise the total gross revenue from $544,468 (see last enclosure to this d.) to about $584,000.

The omission may be intentional, but in the case of the Land Revenues very questionable, looking to the object of the return.

Mr Herbert
The Return is for the House of Commons. I suppose it should be given as it is.

To Parl: Clerk.

I think so. I do not know whether it was the object of the member who moved for this return to show the various modes of taxation resorted to in the Colonies, or the actual revenues of the Colonies. If the latter the return will be more worthless than Parliamentary statistics usually are. But we can only give what we receive and it seems to be in accordance with the wording of the motion to take no account of Land Revenue & other important items.

What are the terms of the motion for this Return?

See HC/4629.

There will be a fine supply of waste paper.

Mr Joseph

Mr Joseph
Gibraltar appear to have answered in 109 22 June but I have not had it.

Some replies I expect have been sent to you direct.

See question on B Columbia as to whether omission of Land Revenue is correct.

"Revenue of British Columbia for the year 1868, accruing from Taxes and Imposts, after deducting the cost of collection."

Return of the Revenue of British Columbia, as per despatch.