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Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 94, 27 April 1876, Page 3

(' Southland News.') The chief source of Otago's wealth in so far as regards the means of carrying on public works is her land fund. This was secured to the province by the compact of 1856, which Abolition virtually cancels. In asserting a determination to kfcep possession of the estate she does not seek to evade a proper share of the general responsibilities which will have to be determined on the basis of population. The Premier adroitly avoids reference to this branch of the subject, or rather he makes vague statements that are capable Of more than one interpretation. For instance, he says : — " The administration of the land will: continue, to: be: localized ; the land, .revenues .will be strictly devoted to local purposes.". But he fails to explain how the wants of the provinces that have no. land fund are to be met except by taking tlie money fromi those that have. There is indeed a veiled admission that the integrity of the land fund may not be respected in the sentence dropped in as if accidentally to the effect that " some small contributions may perhaps be given (from the land fund) to the trunk railways." What railways :? Those . in the provinces that have no land fund, and whose people wish to escape the liabilities they agreed to provide for on condition; of having them constructed. Sir Julius Conveniently forgeis that he laid it down himseli as a. cardinal principle, of his Public Works scheme that money spent upon railways should be' provincially charged, and that, his present proposal is a breach ot faith that might well justify Otago in taking the stand he deprecates.- Jt was, in fact,, on his assurance that Otigo should only have to bear her own - burden of liability that the scheme was accepted. Mr Yogel, in another part of his reply argues that Abolition has been rendered imperative way in which Otago has been spending money on' Public Works — that it has been .for some time pro' ceeding as fast as it could in anticipation of some dreaded charge.,. . -There is some truth in this,' hut it does not tell in ithe direction Mr Yogel wishes to demonstrate. If Otago has been, going too fast and is likely to suffer tlie consequences, clearly if is to; the interest of the rest of* the. colony to let her depend on; her ''own .resources. These- "Jf tho mangagement is locally .retained, are ample to meet all demands, and Insure continued prosperity. ■'*•■ Hecent : events have shown that Otago would have no difficulty in raising Ariloney enough to mleet presenti andr future ..requirements without forcing hind sales. The' Premier concludes' his letter -with "a recapitulation, of , tlie fancy, sketch of New Zealand after Abolition witii\vfiich ha fajvored his Wanganui constituents — - tlie word-picture f ot a happy state of * things in town and country, a financial *" njilleniun? --'for*-' < road „ boards, and £ county-councils.— but, he olmitted to say? where ;the- money was ta £ cbme from.-' . v. 7 "\"J