Among the many small cheering signs that are beginning to
show themselves in South Africa must be placed the Report as to the condition of the finances of the TransvaaL In spite of the war, the new Colony is apparently able very nearly to balance its income and expenditure. Civil administration was begun on the late Government's bank balances, about 2100,000, and on a sum of 21,500,000 voted by the Imperial Parliament for the two Colonies, but not more .than 2250,000 of this vote will be ' required. A Lofton's telegram states that the Customs, which averaged 214,000 per month during the last quarter of 1900, reached an average of 244,000 per month for the quarter ending with September in the present year. Last month's Customs receipts were 270,000, an amount equal to about two-thirds of the monthly average before the war. This is most hopeful. The greatest possible credit is due to the men who have been conducting the civil administration of the Colony under circumstances of great difficulty.
