THE Evening Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1918, 29 June 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1869.

Tiik development of our Gold Fields depends much upon the supply of water to them. From the peculiarity of the manner in which gold is distributed throughout the Province, in order to ground being profitably worked abundance of water is necessary, and in order to obtain this races are cut at enormous cost and labor. But this only partially overcomes the difficulty. There are still districts capable of affording ample return for capital and labor invested, which are situated at too great an elevation for bringing water from rivers to them ; while abundance of it could be obtained if means could bo used for storage. Steps were at one time taken with a view to forming reservoirs, but as yet only one has been constructed. The Daily Times, in an article on the subject, gives a short history of the measures adopted by the Provincial Government to ascertain whether artificial storage in suitable spots was possible, and after the mention of Mr Millar’s favorable report, concludes tliat—“ The recommendation (of the “ Superintendent, based upon it) does “ not appear to have gone any further.” This is a mistake. On reference.to.the records of the Votes*. of the ;J&, will b«. seen that eor-the 9th that year a the Council to requesting the GeneraKA-SSejribly to sanction a loan of DO for the following . Endowment, to be and f extension of ‘ c -^hi^'v>es, , L2(),()oo: Bridges—atManupf. herikia, L 3,000 ; Waitaki, LI 0,000 ; " Otepopo(Northjßranch) L 3,000; Shag “ Kiver (at Waynes), L 4,000 ; Shag “ River (Main North Road), L 3,000 ; “ Repayment of Loan, 185G, LIO.OOO ; “ Water Reservoirs on the Goldfields, “ LI 7,000, and Immigration to be ex- “ tended over three years, L 50,000.” His Honor’s recommendation was discussed in Committee of Supply the same day, and the Provincial Secretary and Treasurer, Mr Vogel, moved “ That “ the Council agrees with the recom- “ mendation contained in his Honor’s “ message, No. IG, and respectfully “ requests him to take necessary “ measures to give it effect.” After a lengthy debate the resolution was carried on a division by fourteen to nine. It was then reported to the House in the usual manner, and the resolution passed in Committee was adopted. The loan was however not sanctioned by the General Assembly, and consequently the LI 7,000 proposed for the construction of the reservoir was not available. The refusal of the General Assembly to sanction a loan proposed to be expended in purposes so calculated to benefit the Province and the Colony at large, is a sufficient condemnation of the ruinous system of policy pursued by them. There is not one object mentioned in the Superintendent’s Message that is not calculated in some way or other to be reproductive. Wharves and bridges, though affording no immediate and direct return, by facilitating trade and reducing the cost and risk of communication, and of living, are really profit able investments, while every immigrant brought into the Province, is an agent for good far more potent than can be created by any other outlay. Heis not only a consumer of produce, but a producer—a contributor to the wealth of the community by his labour, and to the revenue by his constant consumption of goods bearing import duties. The remaining item LI 7,000 -was to have been expended in the construction of a reservoir on the Goldfields, and would have proved beyond a question a profitable investment. But whatever anticipations of profit are connected with it, they were not allowed to be realised. The Maori expenditure—the wasted and destructiveness of war—was the barrier which lay in the way. And that loan which expended on the objects proposed, would have tended to enrich the Province, was not allowed. Why the application was not renewed this session is plain enough. If _ a loan were not sanctioned last session when the war was comparatively young, it is not likely it can be entertained during the present session when the exigency of the moment requires additional war expediture. It seems even doubtful whether Otago will be allowed the benefit of the Railway Bill passed two years ago, and it has already been decided to secure the interest upon capital expended on a Railway to Port Chalmers upon a source of Revenue altogether independent of the General Government. Thus it is that the Maori war acts both destructively and obstructively. It wastes capital already accumulated, and it prevents investments which would add enormously to the wealth and prosperity of the Colony. It prevents immigration and all the advantages desirable from the settlc-

ment of a lai-ge industrial population, and it interferes with the development of those resources by which the people may be sustained and enriched. It is a curse which the South Island ought not to have to bear, and which it is to be hoped future legislation for the North Island will prevent. The Stafford Ministry is now out of office. They have left a legacy to their successors of so complicated a character that the utmost tact and wisdom will be necessary to unravel the threads and reduce them to order. It will be difficult indeed to reverse the policy of years, and at once reduce the war expenditure so as to direct capital into reproductive courses. But one thing may be anticipated from the change, that there is not with those now in office a monomania that refuses to see that other objects are desirable besides that of reaping barren victories over a band of savage warriors, whose strategy renders every triumph too costly for the end attained. The war operations will, in all probability, be confined to defensive arrangements and holding that which is worth retaining ; and thus the enormous outlay of aggressive warfare will be saved. Attention can then be turned to those works which are necessary to place the inhabitants of the Colony on an industrial footing with the rest of and amongst the* Oiie^lQßlUibf' aartps-J<> r ,fche (Gold Fields will no doubt find a place.