No. 11. RETURN showing the Number of PERSONS who have ARRIVED in the Colony of VICTORIA by Sea during the Months of September and October 1854. SEPTEMBER. 4 5,056 1,635 919 170 7,780 87 4,465 1,570 1,060 186 7,281 203 238 87 12 540 219 163 125 25 25 532 3 4,887 1,971 1,272 223 8,353 EDWARD BELL, Immigration Agent. PORT No. 11.-Continued. RETURN showing the NUMBER of PERSONS who have DEPARTED from the Colony of VICTORIA by Sea during the Months of September 1854. Children between 1 and 14 years. Infants year. Male. Female. under 1 Total from neighbouring The United Kingdom. Colonies. Adults. Adults. Children between 1 and 14 years. Infants under 1 year. Male. Female. Children between 1 and 14 years. Infants under 1 Children between 1 and 14 years. Infants under 1 year. 56 2 67 18 8 626 104 59 1,931 376 177 39 64 2 67 18 8 1 86 53 44 13 111 9 9 1 45 54 45 13 111 9 9 VICTORIA. No. 12. LIST of VESSELS lying in Hobson's Bay on the 1st day of November, 1854. (This Return being extremely voluminous is not printed.) No. 13. A RETURN of the DISPOSAL of SIXTY-SEVEN PERSONS brought before the Criminal Circuit No. 14. RETURN of the estimated POPULATION on the various Gold Fields of this Colony on October 28, 1854. * Including Heathcote, which is now under the supervision of the Resident Commissioner of this District. Office of the Chief Commissioner of Gold Fields, Melbourne, November 20, 1854. W. H. WRIGHT, Chief Commissioner of Gold Fields. No. 6. COPY of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir CHARLES HOTHAM to the (No. 153.) Toorac, near Melbourne, November 23, 1854. SIR, Council by message this day. Right Hon. Sir George Grey, I have, &c. (Signed) CHARLES HOTHAM. &c. &c. &c. Enclosure in No. 6. 1. The Lieutenant Governor having, in a separate minute, offered some observations on the supplementary estimates for 1854, now invites the attention of the Legislative Council to the consideration of the accompanying terms showing the estimated revenue and expenditure for the year 1855. 2. It will be seen by the abstract of the probable income and expenditure that the former, inclusive of an estimated balance of 380,433l. 2s. 5d. from 1854, is taken at only 5 3,015,683 2 4,801,292 13 1 While the latter is estimated at The estimated expenditure for current purposes is taken at 2,340,456 18 1 1,965,250 0 0 So that, irrespective of the public works to be executed in 1855, there is a deficiency in the revenue as contrasted with the estimated requirements, of 975,206l. 18s. 1d. 3. The Lieutenant Governor is of opinion that as a principle of prudent legislation the ordinary revenue should be made to meet the ordinary expenditure of the colony, leaving public works of a reproductive character to be carried out by borrowed capital, the gradual repayment of which would be provided for by the revenue derived from the works themselves, when completed, or by the enhanced value of property consequent thereupon. VICTORIA. No. 6. Encl. in No. 6. VICTORIA. 4. To deal first with the ordinary revenue: the Lieutenant Governor, with a view to increased receipts and a reduced expenditure, as well as to the introduction of a better system of management, has already nominated Boards of Inquiry, consisting of gentlemen of acknowledged experience and ability, to examine into and report upon the Police and Civil Commissariat Departments, and the whole question connected with the Gold Fields and the mode of deriving a revenue therefrom; whilst a Royal Commission has also issued to gentlemen of high standing, and representing, he believes, all shades of opinion, to enter fully into the consideration of the subject of the waste lands of the Crown, and of the position of their present occupants, with a view to the definite settlement of the claims and privileges of all parties concerned in the same. 5. The Lieutenant Governor feels confident that the result of the inquiries and deliberations of these boards, as well as of others of a like character, which he proposes to nominate for the purpose of thoroughly investigating other departments of the public service, cannot fail to have a very beneficial effect on the financial position of the colony; but, in the meantime, it is necessary to make provision to the extent of at least 800,000l. to meet the unavoidable expenditure for the year 1855. 6. The Lieutenant Governor, aware of his own local inexperience, does not hesitate, under these circumstances, in seeking the advice and assistance of the Council, who must be thoroughly acquainted with the wants and resources of the colony, before introducing for their consideration and adoption any general scheme of increased taxation by which that object can be effected. 7. The Lieutenant Governor, after having given the subject his most careful consideration, has arrived at the conclusion that, however desirable and successful direct taxation may have proved in older countries, neither a property nor an income tax could be introduced into so young a colony as Victoria without involving great expense and difficulty in collecting it; and that by increased duties on imports alone can the additional burthen to be borne be equitably levied upon so varied and rapidly changing a community. The Lieutenant Governor therefore suggests, for the consideration of the Council, an alteration in the present tariff to the following effect: And on all articles imported not enumerated above (with some few exceptions that can be specified) a fixed ad valorem duty, equal to 10 per cent. on their value. The increase of revenue derived from this alteration in the tariff is computed at about 800,000l., by which the deficiency in the ordinary revenue would be, to a great extent, provided for. 8. In connexion with this subject the Lieutenant Governor begs to state that representations have been made to him by the Chamber of Commerce, and by almost every class of the community, in favour of a reduction in the present rates of postage; while Despatches have also been received from the Secretary of State and the Postmaster General in England, stating that, acting on a representation from the Council, which was forwarded last year, urging upon Her Majesty's Government the establishment of a uniform and moderate rate of colonial sea postage, an arrangement had been made, to come into operation on the 1st October last, by which the rate on a single letter either to or from this, in common with the neighbouring colonies and England, is fixed at 6d., as will be found detailed in the correspondence which is now submitted to the Council. Under these circumstances the Lieutenant Governor recommends that the sea postage should be fixed at 6d., and the inland postage at 3d. per half ounce; and he has directed a Bill to be prepared and laid before the Council in conformity with these views. This alteration will involve a considerable reduction in the estimated revenue, and therefore renders the more necessary its augmentation by other means. 9. The Lieutenant Governor now comes to the consideration of the provision required for the expenditure for public works, which, being urgent and necessary, but at the same time of a permanent character, he is of opinion should be executed with capital borrowed for the purpose by the government on debentures, bearing interest, say at 6 per cent. per annum, and payable in 21 years by annual instalments of 5 per cent. (the first instalment being payable at the end of the second year from the date of the obligation), such principal and interest to be payable in Melbourne or London, at the option of the holder; and to form a charge on the unappropriated moiety of the land fund, which would be so largely benefited by the enhanced value given to the land, and by the general development of the resources of the colony, as would enable it to meet these payments without difficulty. 10. The Lieutenant Governor feels satisfied that when there has been sufficient time to make these debentures known in England, and elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, they will meet with a ready sale as an eligible means of investment; but, in the present |