VISIT OF HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MR. G. DUNCAN TO THE LAKES DISTRICT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 300, 24 January 1868, Page 3

VISIT OF HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MR. G. DUNCAN TO THE LAKES DISTRICT.

(From tho " Wakatip Mail.") Yesterday morning, the lath inst., the Mayor and Councillors had an interview with his Honor in the Council Chambers. Mr. G. Dir can, Secretary for Land and Works,' and Mr. Shepherd, M.P.C., were present, and took part in the discussion. His Honor stated that Mr. Duncan and hims«?f were taking a flying tour through the Goldlields in order to note the physical features of the country, and also to learn the requirements of the residents, and he had therefore expressed a wish to meet the Council. With respect to the bridge across the Shotover, the urgency of erecting one as soon as possible had now been brought under his personal notice much more distinctly than could have been represented in any other way. As far as the Government were concerned in its erection, the undertaking was a mere question of time. lie had expected to have seen the Otago Million Loan granted ere thin, out of which they were probably aware money was to be approprioted for the bridge. Anyway, he could plainly see that the money already expended on the formation of the main trunk road was all but thrown away until this important connecting link was constructed. There must be a bridge across the Shotover, and ho could assure them that it would'not be many months before it would be commenced, if the Government. were sufficiently in funds.. With regard to forming a road to the Head of the Lake, his Honor thought such a work would open up a large extent of couutry. lie, however intended to make a trip,up the Lake to tuorr w, and would, satisfy himself. The requirement should be attended to. The subject of Land endowment:! for Corporations met I is Honor's approval ; but to the Secretary for Land and Works the idea seemed quite new. The discussion was rather lengthy and interesting, in the course of which his Honor stated that he did not apprehend the £2 to £1 subsidy would cease with tho current year, His Honor took rather a gloomy view of the prospeeta of several of the municipalities a3 lasting bodies. Tho next matter discussed, was the sale of the Wakatip runs. His Honor and Mr. Duncan repeatedly pointed out that com. monage to the e.xtentof 100,000 acres would be provided for tho owners 'of farms and others, and that the Government required money for public works ; that they could see no weight in the reasons offered for non-sale ; that if necessary, they could repurchase the runs back at any time by paying double the amount received from li- ~" cense holders. The deputation as strongly objecte Ito tho sale. Upon Mr Duncan remarking that the Government should be recouped the £B,OOO paid Mr. lice for a portion of his ran, it was remarked that the money had been recouped, and further, that the Government owed this district £47,000 besides. Mr. Duncan remarked that the Government ha'l agreed together to sell the. runs, and if defeated in their po. r licy they must give way to' others. His Honor said three months' notice was required previous to sale, and probably nothing beyond that would be done until the Provincial Council met. The Council then thanked his Honor and Mr. Duncan for tho candid and explicit manner in which they had been treated ; but as to the sale of the runs, they would use every legitimate means to defeat the attempt. M| In the afternoon his Honor and Mr. Dun visited some of the thief farms on Frankton Flat, and expressed themselves highly pleased with their appearance, and the progress that had been made. His Honor, however is opposed to the system under which they are being occupied, and advocates the principlo of purchase before possession, instead of, as at present, selection before survey ; rental and improvement before purchase. We are bold enough to tell his Honor that, with possibly one or two notable exceptions, the majority of those hard working settlers, with their neat houses, would have possessed none of the farms seen, but for the existence of the present system. ; The Brunswick Flour Mills were also in- i spected and much admired. On the following day his Honor and a party visited the head of the Lake in tho Alexandra- The day was fine, and we have little doubt his Honor enjoyed the Trip. '