TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES

Dunstan Times, Issue 524, 3 May 1872, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES

(Pee Gbeville L Co.) —o— Dunedin, April 30, 5. p. m The Provincial Council was opened to Jay at noon. The Superintendent’s speech congratulated the Council that while there has been no spadmodic advancement, yet a steady growth of settlement had taken place, there being an additional number of agricultural holdings for the- year by 047, exclusive of Town and Country occupations, and an increase ot 4082 immigrants, of whom 570 were -adult, assisted immigrants ; 1598 only left the Province, leaving immigration in favor of the Province 2584. Value of Provincial produce exported from Dunedin and Invercargill. 1,990,000/., which'was'irrcspective of amounts exported from other Provinces, making allowance for the portion raised in Canterbury gave a rate per head on population double to that of Victoria. 147,000/. shipped to the United States. Duty cn gold shipped during the year 21,415/. 16s. 4d., against 10,009/. 2s. 9d. for previous year. Gold escorted during the year ending March 31, last, 156,0200z., being only 104oz. less than previous year, the long continued drought move than explaining for the trifling reduction. Ponding the establishment of a mint, the speech recommends an assay and smelting department in connection with the School of Mines in the University—the miners to bring their gold for assay and smelting, arrangements to be made by the Government for minting in Melbourne and Sydney, Of the opinion that no Colonial action in the matter of Education is likely to improve or extend the means of education more than the Province can do, or actually accomplishing, therefore asks the Council’s concurrence in deprecating any interference with the Education system. Last year 23,059/. was spent on education. Recommends improving the administration, thorough inspection, raising the qualifications of teachers, eliminating class-books whatever contrary to truth, and calculated to give offence. Congratulates the Province on the successful establishment ot an University, dock accommodation, and the Californian Mail Service ; with respect to the latter, under the new arrangement the proportion of subsidy payable by New Zealand is to be much less than before, that Port Chalmers is to be the terminus for outward bound Malls, which will bo carried through to San Francisco without transhipment. The Port Chalmers Line ol Railway opens in July. Recommends that a bonus be given for the development of coal fields, and the manufacture of paper. Following the reference to Colonial works, said, much was to be feared as far as the Province was concerned, that the Colonial Legislature had made a great mistake in not leaving the practical administration of the question to the Provincial Government. One thing more than-another that is essential to the success of the great policy of Public Works and Immigration, is local administration. However expedient only one national borrowing power for the colony, and such power should be exercised only on behalf of such Provinces or districts as are in a position to employ a loan advantageously, the administration of the loan being left to themselves. It is much to be regretted this principle did not commend itself to the Legislature, instead of creating an entirely new and distinct machinery and did not make use of Bills already in existence, and prepared with the view of the formation of Shire Councils, and securing to Municipalities and Shiro Councils the whole o f the Publicans, 1 Auctioneers’ and other licenses and fees levied within their respective boundaries on the condition that the main roads when formed within the said boundaries be maintained by them. Provincial revenue—All sources, 286,230/. expenditure—24s,ooo/., cash expenditure on roads and bridges, 82,000/., being )000/. less than voted. As the means of expenditure entirely depends on tho extent of the sale of waste lands, recommends in

voting hoyond-actual requirements be distinctly understood as expenditure, contingent on land sales in view. Reduced work in the Provinces recommends, and adapting the staff to diminished functions not byreducing salaries, but members increasing their duties. As an indication of the benefic’al result of Railways, mentions the comparison of traffic returns on the Bluff and Winton Railway. In February and March, IS7I, and the same months of 187-, with comparatively a small population, the passenger traffic had nearly doubled, the goods traffic had nearly trebled, and the revenue increased from seven to nine hundred pounds, notwithstanding a considerably reduced scale of charges during the latter period.