No. 28
3rd April 1866
Sir,
I have the honor to forward an Authenticated and two plain Copies of an Ordinance of the present Session of the Legislature of this Colony, entitled; No. 4 An Ordinance toapplyManuscript image apply the sum of seven hundred and twenty two thousand one hundred and fourteen dollars and five cents ($722,144 5/100), out of the General Revenue of the Colony of British Columbia and its Dependencies to the service of the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty six. I add the Report of the Attorney General.
2. In this Colony where the settled population is small and the Revenue to a very large extent depending on the yearly immigrationofManuscript image of Miners attracted to our Gold fields, it is almost impossible, at the early period of the year at which the Estimates are laid before the Council, to frame anything approaching a correct Estimate of the Revenue. The prospects of the Colony are at this moment brighter than I have yet seen them and I am very confident the receipts will exceed the Estimate.
3. The Estimates contemplate a very large reduction in the expenditure of 1866 when comparedwithManuscript image with previous years. In framing these estimates my great desire has been to bring the expenditure of the Colony within the Revenue and not to trust as heretofore to temporary Loans for the prosecution of Public Works.
4. It is needless for me to state that a far larger expenditure could be incurred on Public Works with great advantage to the Colony if the Revenue would justify it. The Public Works IintendManuscript image intend undertaking during the present Season are only those of the most pressing importance.
5. Under the Civil List I have made reductions to the extent of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), I enclose a copy of the Estimates accompanied by Remarks upon the various alterations and reductions.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient
humble Servant
Arthur N. Birch
Minutes by CO staff
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Sir F. Rogers
Treasury. I think Mr Forster will like to see this.
ABd 16 June
FR 16/6
WEF 18/6
EC 19
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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H.P.P. Crease, Attorney General, to Officer Administering the Government, 3 April 1866, reporting on the ordinance as per despatch.
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Printed copy of colonial estimates for 1866, including statements A & B.
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Itemized comments on the colonial estimates as noted above.
Other documents included in the file
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Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 23 June 1866, forwarding copy of the despatch and enclosures, and recommending that the ordinance be sanctioned.
Birch, Arthur Nonus to Cardwell, Edward 3 April 1866, CO 60:24, no. 5773, 163. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B66028.html.

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