TOBAGO.

66. Measures are now in progress for the conversion of the military hospital at Fort King George into a common gaol, and which when completed will enable me to dispense with the long-condemned gaol of Scarborough, other than as a police station and place for the temporary confinement of offenders taken into custody by the police.

General Remarks.

67. I have little to add to the foregoing observations on the principal topics adverted to in the Blue Book for the last year. The statistical tables and returns to which reference has been made sufficiently indicate the improved financial state of the colony, with an increased revenue under diminished taxation, advantages which have been gained without in any way impairing the efficiency of the public service, the parliamentary grants for ecclesiastical and educational purposes, as well as those for the repairs of the public highways and for the maintenance of the poor, having been all maintained or augmented, whilst liberal provision at the same time has been made by the legislature for the execution of public works long required.

68. The sanitary condition of the island has been good; the peace and general tranquillity of the colony has been undisturbed; cultivation and the manufacture of the staple product has been extended, under the encouraging prospect of an improved and remunerative market; and crime has diminished, under the beneficent influence of education and enlightenment.

I have, &c. (Signed)

J. V. DRYSDALE, Lieut.-Governor.

ABSTRACT RETURNS from the Blue Book for 1854, 1855, 1856, and 1857.

This Expenditure includes the Salaries of the Lieut.-Governor, the Stipendiary Magistrates, and Deputy

Postmaster-General.

1 & 2 Vict. o. 67.

31st Dec. 1857.
Convict prison,
Clause 12.
31st Dec. 1857.

Sub-Enclosure 1.

Tobago, 31st December 1857.

SIR,
In terms of the Imperial Act " for the better regulation of prisons in the West Indies," I have
the honour to report as to the Common Gaol at Scarborough and the "Tobago Convict Prison."
I.-Common Gaol at Scarborough.

Prisoners in this gaol are chiefly,

1. Persons convicted of minor offences.

2. Committed for trial.

3. Debtors.

In convictions for petty thefts I learn that the prisoner is occasionally transferred to the " Tobago convict prison," under the sanction, I presume, of the Lieutenant-Governor.

This prison is in as cleanly and orderly a condition as circumstances admit of.

Of late there have been but few prisoners. At this date the numbers are,

This gaol is satisfactorily conducted. The following table exhibits the number of convicts and their offences as on 1st January and 31st December 1857:

During the year (1857), therefore, there has been a considerable diminution in the number of convict prisoners (about 57 per cent.), which I chiefly attribute to the fact that those Barbadians who used to crowd our gaols have left or are leaving the colony.

There is also in this gaol a prisoner convicted of petty theft, and transferred from the common

gaol.

I have, &c.
(Signed) W. A. CHILD,
Inspector of Prisons.

Sub-Enclosure 2.

Financial Report for 1857.

The Executive Committee have the honour to lay before the honourable the Legislative Houses the following reports:

1st. An account of the receipts and payments at the public treasury for the year 1857.

2d. Report of proceedings with reference to the loan from Her Majesty's Government to this island to 31st December 1857.

3d. Report on treasury bills.

4th. A statement of the presumed liabilities and assets of the colony, estimated to 31st March 1858.

From the first of these reports it will appear that there was on the 1st January 1857 a
balance in the hands of the public treasurer of

That during the year there were received,-
for arrears of taxes for 1855

for arrears of taxes for 1856
receipts in 1857

Making together a total of

£ S. d. 1,864 2 0

53 5 7

2,618 5 0

9,498 4 6

TOBAGO.

and there still remained to be collected at 1st January 1858 about 2761. 2s., of which 1297. 9s. 10d., as
well as 497. 15s. of land and other taxes which were not expected, have been realized to date.
That out of the foregoing monies (14,0331. 17s. 1d.) there were paid,-
for arrears due at 31st December 1856

for the service of 1857

making a total payment of

and leaving a balance in cash of

together with about 2761. yet to collect for 1856 and 1857, to meet the remaining demands against the public for 1857, amounting to

exclusive of the monies borrowed by the public from the Loan Commissioners.

In looking at the sum of 12,8471. 13s. as being the apparent expenditure for 1857, it must be remembered that 2,2121. 8s. 0ąd. was spent in liquidation of treasury bills and interest, of which sum 6887. was only due and payable at 1st April 1858, and 6887. payable at 1st April 1859, but the anticipation of these payments saved the public 877. 17s, 5d. for interest thereon.

With reference to the second report, "the proceedings under the Loan Act," it will be observed that on 31st December last there was due to the Lords of Her Majesty's Treasury 10,0002, which is payable in ten annual instalments of 1,000l. each, with interest at 31. 5s. per centum per annum. The last instalment will fall due and become payable at 1st October 1867. L s. d.

Of the 10,000l. so due to the Lords of the Treasury there is due by private borrowers 5,968 3 11 by the public

The three last-mentioned items, amounting to 1,3677. 16s. Id., is the difference between the monies borrowed from the Lords of the Treasury and those lent in the island; and as it is unnecessary that the warrants, 9971. 2s. 3d., should be immediately cashed, as the amount will not be required until 1867, it is considered advisable that they should be cancelled, and added at once to the debt due by the "public on loan account," and their amount gradually liquidated by distributing this account over the ten years, and raising the yearly proportion in the annual supplies.

The 3d report (on the treasury bills) shows, that in anticipation of the special revenues set apart by the Treasury Bills Act, the committee have taken out of the general revenue of the colony the sum of 5034. 9s. 11d. to liquidate treasury bills to 1st April 1859, thus saving the interest thereon.

The fourth statement (of presumed liabilities and assets estimated to 31st March 1858) is sufficiently explanatory of our monetary position, and the committee have to congratulate the honourable houses on the improved financial prospects of the colony as exhibited by these respective reports. All which they humbly submit.

Committee Rooms,

5th March 1858.

(Signed)

JAMES HY. KEENS.
S. H. FREDERIC ABBOTT.
ANGUS MELVILL.

Sub-Enclosure 3.

RETURN, in a Tabular Form, for the last Year in which they can be made up, of the Disbursements under their different Heads, showing the Authority under which such

The above amount of 9,9587. 148. 7d. includes, not only the actual payments in 1857 for that year, but also the amount of warrants drawn for that year, and not called for till subsequently to the 31st December 1857, viz., 7007. 4s. bd.

(Signed) CHAS. A. BERKELEY, Treasurer.