PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2057, 8 December 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

SPECIAL SESSION. Tins Day. The special Session of the Provincial Council opened this morning. There was a good attendance of members ; thirty being present, and those absent were—Messrs Dillon Bell, Shepherd, Hanghton, France, Main, and Fraser, The strangers’ galleries were well tilled. At noon the Speaker took the chair. The Clerk of the Council then read the proclamation by his Honor the Superintendent convening the Council, after which the Provincial Treasurer laid upon the table copies of correspondence between the Superintendent and the Home Agent. Almost immediately after whici, his Honor the Superintendent entered and read the following speech : “Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council 1 have felt constrained, very reluctantly, to call you together at the present time, knowing, as 1 do, that the attendance of many of you involves considerable personal inconvenieuco. I felt, however, that to defer the session until the usual period of meeting, would he to postpone the commencement of a work which ought ere now to have been completed—l allude to the construction of the Southern Trunk Railway. “ With regard to this, and the question of Hundreds, as there are differences of opinion between myself and my responsible advisers, I propose to address you by message presently, fully explaining the nature and extent of those differences.

“ Yon are no doubt aware that negotiations have been for some time pending between the Government and a number of gentlemen in Dunedin for the construction of a railway between Dunedin and Port Chalmers. Thcsenc-gotiationsliavxngfalleu through the Government have accepted the offer of a contr acting linn in Dunedin to construct the Railway under a guarantee of interest at 8 per cent, on LTO.OOi), to be secured on the Jetty Dues, in terms of your resolution of last Session, adequate security to he given by the contractor for the due completion of the work within IS months. The details of the contract are being prepared, and we may expect the work to be commenced within the next two mouths.

“ In compliance with your resolution of last Session, three delegates were appointed on behalf of this Province to confer with an equal number representing tbe Province of Southland, with a view of arranging a basis of re union between tbe two Provinces. The Report of the Commissioners will be placed before you, as also the resolution of the Provincial Council of Southland, which, I am happy to say has, by a Large majority, concurred in the Report of the Commissioners. It now depends chiefly upon you to decide whether or not the two Provinces, which never ought to have been separated, shall be re-united and resume those functions of genuine colonisation which were prosecuted with greater vigor prior to the separation, than they have been ever since.

“ To those who take a comprehensive view •of the future, it cannot hut he a matter of congratulation that two such important Provinces as Otago and Southland should unite of their o .vn free will ; and although, to som", it will no doubt appear that Otago can reap hut little advantage from the union, yet I believe that this is a very superficial view of ’the matter. lam persuaded that under the existing political organ sation of the Colony, the magnificent territory which is compulsed within the two Provinces, if colonised at all, must be colonised at a very gre it disadvantage, unless this re-uninn is effected.

“ I am quite prepare.l to admit that at the outset, perhaps, the pecuniary advantage of re-union will be in favor of Southland, at the same time however, it cannot be disputed that there will be mutual advantages, and that the ass ts which Southland will bring into the joint account, will amply cover any temporary advances which Otago may bo called upon to make. “ In dealing with this subject we must not overlook thcfact that Southland is the natural key to a very con-idcrable portion of our territory, and that the proper development of the resources of the one, necessarily involves the benefit of the other. “ I hail the union of the two Provinces as the first step towards reducing the cost an 1 machinery of government in New Zealand, and as an example which the other Provinces will do well to follow. While upon this snl jcct, I would only further express my co.uvic ion that should the proposed union happily be completed, the various districts which at present constitute the Province of Southland will receive the same treatment and consideration at the hands of the Provincial Legislature of Otago, as any other district throughout the Province. “Gentlemen, —You are doubtless aware that by an Act passed in the last session of the Colonial Parliament, wc are empowered to dispose of land on the West Const of the Province upon terms which it is believed avill attract settlement of a suitable kind. The first step to enable me to take action in this matter is your assent to a resolution which will be submitted to you, defining the bound aides within which the Act is to be brought into opei’ation. In connection with the settlement at Martin’s Bay, it is very advisable that a passable road should be formed between the Wakatipu and Kakapo Lakes. In the meantime a bridle track would suffice. The chief obstacle in the way is crossing the Holly ford River. I believe LIOOO would suffice in the meantime to open up communication right across the Island. If this were done it would have the two-fold effect of affording the means of employment to the first settlers at Martin’s Bay, and it would lead to a large accession to our mining population from the West Coast. Although it is not proposed to introduce an Appropriation Ordinance during the present session, you might by resolution enable the Government to proceed with this work.

“ Another subject to which I desire to direct your special attention is the necessity for sending to Europe one or more agents to promote the emigration to this Province of suitable labor and capital. “I feel strongly that we have not been doing our duty in this matter, and that the most important function which has been assigned to us —that, namely, of promoting the beneficial occupation of the country, is being to a large extent neglected. I may say that, but for a resolution passed by you last session, steps would have b ;en taken since then largely to increase the stream of population to our shores. It is manifest that without this the vast resources of the Province must continue undeveloped for centuries. “ Another very important matter to which I would bespeak your attention, chiefly with a view of bringing public opinion to bear npon it in the General Assembly, is the question of some comprehensive scheme of water supply on the Goldfields. Although, in al probability, we are on the eve of a new phase in the development of our Goldfields, one which, as likely as not, may throw all that has hitherto been done into the shade—l allude to the discovery or numerous goldbearing quartz reefs—at the same time there is an amount of uncertainty about this description of mining which does not apply to alluvial diggings. With respect to the latter it is well known that the auriferous resources of the Province have been scarcely touched—there are literally mountains of alluvial gold. This is no matter of mere conjecture, the ground Laving been fully tested. What is wanted to increase our production of gold to an enormous extent is an abundant supply of cheap water, which supply cannot be procured by loan, which, unfortunately, ayehaye no power to raise without the sanction of the Colonial Legislature. “Although the policy of the Colony for several years past has been to prohibit loans for reproductive purposes, yet, I believe, we are on the eve of a change iu this respect ; and that if the whole of the Otago Representatives unite next Session, the Province is very likely to succeed in procuring the moans of providing water reservoirs on the Goldfields. In order to this, there should be au unmistakeable manifestation of public opinion upon the subject, with which view I havc thus enlarged upon it. 1 must say that I know of no more effective way iu which the Colony could improve its position financially, than by not only permitting, but encouraging this Province to devedope to

the fullest extent its Goldfields Gold fields wlr ch, unlike others, have not to be discovered. ‘ ‘ There are various other topics oi an important nature to which I might refer, but, seeing that you have been called together chiefly to consider the special questions to which I have already alluded, I deem it expedient to defer introducing new matter for tonsideration until next Session, which will be held in a few months hence. I now declare this Council open for the despatch of business. “ Jamks Macandrkw, “ Superintendent.” After prayers by the Speaker, he reported to the. House the reception of the address, which, on the motion of the Provincial Treasurer, was “held as read” by the Council. The Speaker then informed the House that he had received a letter from C. E. Haughtnn, Esq., Chairman of Committees, regretting his inability to attend during the session. Message No. 1, explaining the differences between the Superintendent and his Executive was then read os follows : “ The Superintendent desires to submit for the consideration of the Provincial Council the reasons which have led to the delay which has taken place with resjiect to the construction of the Southern Tiunk Railway and the proclamation of Hundreds. “With respect to the Southern Trunk Railway, the Superintendent regrets that the members of the Executive and himself have been unable to agree as to the most speedy and effective means of securing its construction being proceeded with. “ While the Superintendent desires to give his advisers all due credit for a sincere b lief in the adequacy of the mode of action adopted by them, he cannot but feel this mode of action will not result in making the railway, and that ive shall ultimately be compelled to have recourse to private negotiation in order to induce parties to treat for its construction. As the various memoranda and correspondence enclosed herewith will show the exact question at issue, it is unnecessary that the Superintendent should say more upon the subject than to express his most earnest hope tint the Provincial Council may deal with the question on its merits, and that no consideration of party may be permitted to interfere with the immediate prosecution of a work which will infuse new life into every interest throughout the Province, and which the Superintendent trusts will bo the prelude to a more efficient and economical system of road making than is at present in use.

“ In the case of the Southern Trunk Railway it is a remarkable fact, which is not generally recognised, viz , that there has already been actually expended upon the main road between Dunedin and Balclutha, the mi in of L 270,000, an amount which would have gone far towards the construction of a railway. “ As regards the proclamation of new Hundreds. the Superintendent has to state that in accordance with your resolution of last Session, recommending the proclamation of six additional Hundreds he transmitted an .application to his Excellency the Governor, with a request that immediate effect might be given to same. This request was subsequently followed up by the Superintendent while at Wellington by repeated application to have the Hundreds proclaimed. His Excellency’s advisers, however, declined to act in the matter, pending the Report of the Commission appointed last year to enquire into the a Iministration of the Waste Lands in Otago, being dealt with by the legislature. The result of t .at report has been the passing of the “Otaco Hundreds Regulation Act 18(50,” which defines the mode and conditions upon which the Governor will in future proclaim Hundreds.

“At the instance of his responsible advisers, the Superintendent has deferred taking further action to yards the proclamation of Hundreds, until such time as you shall have had an opportunity of considering the “ Otago Hundreds Regulation Act.” The Superintendent may state that he does not concur in this course, inasmuch as the intercs's of the country urgently demand that no delay should take place in opening up more land for settlement, and inasm ch as no action of the Provincial Council can over-ride an Act of the General Assembly. It is not for the Superintendent here to discuss the merits of the Hundreds Regulation Act; at the same time he may be permitted to say that in his opinion it has been the subject of much misapprehension and urn founded speculation. He does not see in the Act any encroachment whatever upon the rights, constitutional or prescriptive, of the Provincial Council. The Provincial Council never possessed, and never could exercise, the power to proclaim Hundreds. As a matter of privilege it has been allowed to recommend —and this it is still entitled to do, if it so pleases. Practically it will be found that although the Provincial Council has neither more nor less power under the Act than it had before, no new Hundreds will be proclaimed unless instigated or sanctioned by it. “As to the terms and conditions npon which the Colonial Legislature has empowered the Governor to proclaim Hundreds, the Superintendent believes, looking at all at all the circumstances which have led up to these, fhat they are in themselves reasonable, and that, if the Act has a fair trial, it will be found that the difficulty which has hitherto been experienced in obtaining land for settlement, both within and without Goldfiiclds, will have been removed. In point of fact, it will be found, if it be so desired, that under the provisions of the Hundreds Regulation Act, we have virtually free selection. “J. Macandrew, “ Superintendent. “ Bth December, 1860. Message No. 2 was also read as follows : “The Superintendent transmits herewith the report of the Commission appointed for the purpose of arranging a basis of re-union of the Provinces of Otago and Southland ; also, copy of resolutions passed by the Provincial Council of Southland upon the same subject, The Superintendent ventures to hope that the Provincial Council wi|l reciprocate the views of tho Provincial Council of Southland as to the proposed re-union, and that resolutions may be adopted in favor of an Act of tho Colonial Legislature being passed for the purpose of giving effect to the joint desire of tho two Provinces.” Captain Mackenzie presented a petition from Captain Howell, of Jacob’s Liver, Southland, runholder, who prayed that the Superintendent might be recommended to rescind the proclamation of November 25th, 1808, so far as it regarded Run No. 18. On tho motion of Mr Duncan, a House Committee was appointed, to consist of Messrs Henderson, Driver, France, Tnrnbu‘l, and the mover.

In answer to Mr Burvs, The Secretary for Land and Works said that all correspondence relating to the Southern Trunk Railway would be laid on the table as soon as possible. The Secretary for Land and Works laid on the table a report on and plans of the Port Ch diners Railway, prepared by Mr Millar, “for the in'orrnation of the Government and Provincial Council.” The Council then adjourned until to-mor-row, at 9 p. m.

‘ ‘ Coming events cast their shadows before. ” The session was no sooner opened than the Secretary gave a foretaste of what we may expect. On Message Xo. 2 being read, he gave notice that on Friday ho would move “ that the action taken by the General Assembly in passing the Otago Hundreds Rugulation Act, is a departure from the rule which has been invariably adopted in all previous legislation in reference to the land lawa of the Province, and is an invasion of the privileges which have hitherto been enjoyed and exercised by the Provincial Council, viz., that of initiating and practically determining all legislation affecting the waata lands of the Province, this Council therefore hereby records its protest against the course pursued by the Colonial Legislature in passing the Act in question. That whereas the Otago Hundreds Regulation Act effects an alteration in the land laws of the Province ; and whereas the people whose interests are vitally affected, thereby have not had an opportunit}’- of expressing through th'ir representatives in the Provincial Council any opinion with regard to the changes so unexpectedly made, this Council is of opinion that these changes are calculated to operate against the successful working of Provincial Institutions, and that they will seriously retard the progre<s of colonisation in this Province. This Council therefore requests that the Superintendent and Executive Avill not put the Otago Hundreds Regulation Act into operation, but will taka every lawful and constitutional means to get amendments made therein at the first meeting of the General Assembly, so as to bring it more into conformity to the land laws, under which the pastoral leases were issued. That a petition embodying these resolutions be presented to his Excellency the Governor, the Legislative Council, and the House of Representatives, and that Mr Speaker sign such petitions on behalf of this Council. That petitions of the same nature be prepared for each elcctorial district in the Province, and that all persons who desire it in each electoral district shall he afforded an opportunity to sign them.” Then Mr Driver, to the evident amusement of the occupants of the treasury benches, gave notice of his intention to move to-morrow “That no further action be taken by the Government in the negociations for the construction of either the Southern Trunk Railway or Port Chalmers Railway, until this Council has had an opportunity of considering the host mode of constructing both works.