THE IMPOUNDED LAND FUND.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 310, 8 July 1879, Page 2

THE IMPOUNDED LAND FUND.

The following further correspondence in reference to the sum of £100,000, balance of land fund due last -year to the counties and road districts of Canterbury, has passed between Mr J. L. Wilson, as Chairman of the Road Board Conference, and the. Secretary to the Treasury :— Christchurch, June 5, 1879. To the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer. Dear Sir,—l am instructed by the Committee of Chairmen of Road Boards at a meeting held to-day, to point out that the £100,000 due to the Counties and _ Road Boards not having been paid, great inconvenience is felt by some of the local bodies entitled to receive a share of it; that if these bodies were in possession of it, public works would be undertaken .which would give employment to a large number of the unemployed now out of work,: and would stop complaining and public! meetings, now being held, which will do the colony a great deal of injury if not soon Stopped. The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, when in Christchurch, gave the deputation who waited upon him on this subject to understand that the money would be paid in May last if not before. I: am-requested to urge upon you the great importance of this subject, and. hope you will see your way to let us have the money at once. *I am, dear Sir, Yours, obediently, (Signed) J. L. Wilson, ..'>... Chairman of Conference.

I Treasury, Wellington, 11th June, 1879. ! SiR,--I have the honor, by direction of the 1 Hon..the Colonial Treasurer, to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the sth instant, written on behalf of a committee of Chairmen of Road Boards of the Provincial District of Canterbury, requesting, that a sum of £100,000 payable to Counties and Road Boards in respect of the surplus land revenue of the district, maybe paid over at once. In reply, I am to remind you that payment o£ the sum referred to' is contingent on the raising of a loan of £100,000 under the Lyttelton. Harbor Works Loan Act, 1872. In consequence of the high rates of interest prevailing, until recently, tho Government did not consider it desirable. to place this loan on the market by itself, and as they are about to propose to Parliament a new loan for the colony, it has been decided to include the £100,000 in the schedule to the Bill. Payment to the

Counties and Road Boards concernod will therefore be madoas soon as the loan receives the sanction of Parliament, and,the necessary funds can be obtained. ' ' • I have the honor to be, sir,../ - J Your .obedient servant, i " (Signed) > ..'',. James C.'G-avin, 1..: J ' Secretary to~the Treasury.' .