THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 83, 13 June 1871, Page 6

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, JUNE 6. RESERVE AT QUEENSTOWN.

In the absence of Mr Haughton, Mr Kobertson moved—"That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, recommending that all that area in the town of Queenstown, containing by estimation, one rood twenty poles, more or less (hore followed a description of the boundarios) be set apart as a Reserve for the use of the inhabitants of Queenstown." Mr Bradshaw stated that the Government had no objection to set aside the blocks referred to. The motion was carried.

mrstrJLtford. Mr Mervyn moved-/-" That an address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will pe pleased to cause a copy of all correspondence m reference to the appointment of Mr Carew as Sub-Warden at St. Bathans to be laid on the table of this Council." He (Mr Mervyn) remarked that he submitted this motion merely for tile purpose of getting justice done to Mr Stratford, an old, respected, and experienced officer / a gentleman who accepted an appointment as feold receiver under the distinct understanding that when a vacancy occurred he should! be appointed Sub-Warden. He asked that tne matter should be enquired into, and that Mr Stratford should be placed in a position whicl his many qualifications and claims entitled mm to. Mr Heid said the Government Aid not object to lay the information on the table. These appointments, however, did not rest entirely with the Provincial/ Government; and he did not wish to express an opinion, at the present time, as to whether Mr Stratford had been properly or improperly dealt with. If after the correspondence had been laid on the table the honourable member (Mr Mervyn). chose to proceed further in the matter, it would then, he thought, be time enough to express definite views respecting it.—/ Hear, hear.) After Mr Armstrong had spoken in favour of the motion,/ Mr Mervyn expressed the hope that the appointment mentioned in the motion would not be gazetted/ until the Government had time to thoroughly sift the matter. The motion was carried. '

GOLD DUTY. Mr Bastings moved—" That in the opinion of this Council the present duty upon gold is oppressive upon the mining community of the province, and ought to be repealed. That His Honor the Superintendent he requested to forward this resolution to the General Government, requesting them to give effect to the same " He (Mr Bastings) had no doubt that he should be met by the statement that the money derived from the duty constituted a sufficient reason why that duty should not be repealed. If, however, those gentlemen who were prepared to argue thus had given the consideration to the matter which he had done, they would, he thought, hold a different opinion. Miners came to the country at their own expense ; they were, in a great measure, the pioneers and the means of opening up and developing the country ; and they paid a far larger proportion to the general revenue than many other colonists. Whenever they found it necessary to make an application to the Warden's Court, they had to pay a heavy tax in the shape of fees ; and, generally speaking, the money earned by the miners was not in excess of that earned by tradesmen. They were exposed to far greater hardships than many other colonists, and he only endorsed the opinion expressed by the mining community when he stated that the tax was oppressive, and ought therefore to be repealed. Mr Armstrong seconded the motion. Mr Bradshaw pointed out that the whole of the tax fell upon the miners, who, at the present time, according to a return which he moved . for-in the General .assembly, paid an additional tax of 7 per cent. ; 34 in respect of the gold duty, and 3| in respect of other fees. That was a tax sufficient to crush that interest—an interest which two-thirds of the people in the country were living upon, and who, if it collapsed, would suffer therefrom. The discovery of a new goldfield was always hailed witn delight; such an event attracted a population without expense to the country, and a large saving was theroby affected to the country. Besides, at the present time, mining was not, in most cases, a profitable occupation. He intended to move as an amendment, that the motion should be amended to the extent of substituting the word "reduced" for the word "repealed." The question was an open one with the Government. He would do his best in the General Assembly to get the duty reduced, but he did not think it could be effected during the financial year. He did not consider that their position was so bad as some honourable members appeared to think ; neither did he think that they would lose anything by assisting the miners, by helping them, iu fact, to produce an increased quantity of gold. M r Bastings intimated his willingness to accept the amendment of the Treasurer. Ayes, 20:—Messrs Barr, Basstian, Bastings (teller), Bathgate, Blacklock, Bradshaw, Brown J. C, Browne G. F. 0., Cantrell, Cuttcn, Daniel, Mickey, Lumsdcn, Mervyn (teller), M 'Arthur, lleid, Robertson, Shepherd, Sumpter, and Smith. Noes, I.'): —Messrs Allan, Bell, Duncan, Galbraith, Green, Henderson, Hutcheson (teller), Meiusies, Mollison (teller), M'Glashan, Shand, Thomson, and Webster. Pairs: —Messrs Barton (for), and Seaton (against); Messrs M'Kenzie (for), and Cargill (against); Mosars Armstrong (for), and Roynolds (against). WATER SUPPLY TO THE OOLDFIELDS. Mr Bastings moved, "That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of Mr Hickey, Br Webstsr, Mr Duncan, Hon Dr Menzies, Mr Shepherd, Mr G. F. C. Browne, and the mover, I to ta'.io into consideration the question of Water Supyly to the Uoldnolda within the province,

with a view of giving some practical effect to the information obtained by the honorable member, Mr Haughton, during his tour through the Goldfields, upon the subject: the Committee to report upon same within 14 clays." In doing so, Mr Bastings said he was desirous of rendering the practical knowledge on the subject of water supply possessed by several of the members nominated for the committee of public utility. It was, he believed, admitted by every member conversant with the matter that it was imperative for the proper development of the goldfields that large supplies of water should be provided for the working of land known to be auriferous. Mr Haughton had also been employed by the Government to go through the goldfields, and could no doubt give valuable information to the committee. The great*difficulty in the matter appeared to be, the Government should subsidize parties to bring in water, or erect water-works itself. [ Messrs Mervyn and Shepherd having exception to the composition of the Committee nominated, Mr Bastings expressed his willingness that the Committee should be chosen by ballot; and the motion, without the names, was then put and carried. On a ballot being taken, the following members were chosen to serve—The Hon Dr Mensries, Messrs Mervyn, Duncan, Dr Webster, G. F. 0. Browne, and the mover. . COURT HOUSE It CROMWELL. Mr Hickey asked tht Government—" Why the sum of £550, placet! on the Estimates last session for the erection! pf a Court House at Cromwell, was not expended ?" Mr Keid. explained thai the Government had not at its disposal sufficie it revenue to meet the votes which were placed upon the Estimates. The Government recognis ;d the necessity for a Court House at Croniwill, but it was found that many other matters of an equally urgent nature required attention! and the Government were compelled to postpone engagements which they did not consider trlpy would be in a position to meet when the tim| came.