PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2593, 9 June 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Yesterday.

The debate on the reply to his Honoi’s message No railway construction and on "be Hon. Dillon Bell’s reply thereto was ,reuuned. After a little discussion a further amendment by the Hon. Dr. Menzies was ac cepted. A debate then ensued as to' which if the lines named in the fchcdulc should stand first. Each of the districts named, iouikl advocates for the lines proposed to be carried through them iti the members for such district; but the proposition that received most favor was that of the Hon. Mr Holmes, that the line from Invercargill to Mataura should stand first, and the arguments that were adduced in favor of it were hound to carry conviction. It was stated that the late Provincial Council of Southland had on two occasions, affirmed that the work mould be constructed ; jthat the General Government had admitted the reasonableness of the demand, as had the Provincial Council at its last session, when it agreed to vet apart 100,000 acres of land aa a bonus to uiy private company that might construct die line. It was pointed out the nature of the country was such, that it was mposaible to construct macadamised roads, proper and durable metal not being obtainable, that in consequence of. the difficulty,of obtaining an outlet for their produce she immense territories belonging to the Australian Laud Company, which at one time produced 50,000 bushels of wheat annually, and gave employment to nearly 200 hands, were laying uncultivated, the company finding it more to their interest to lay it down in English grass, whilst small holders of . land had'now to content 'themselves with producing sufficient to supply the bare wants of the district, when nine'times the quantity of land now cultivated could be brought under cultivation. Estimates had been made by Mr Bnmton of the cost of the line ; caud he had come to the conclusion' that it could be construe ted fdi- r L 2,500 per mile, - allowing Hi per cent, for contingencies. The Hon. ihihon Bell, in the course of a few remarks observed that while he might be expected ti> uipport the Invercargill line, he thought the more sensible plan-was to" pass the schedule a brought down by the Government; leaving it to the General Assembly to say tYbich should be constructed. In view of tin policy of colonisation and public works that nad been initiated, the leaning of the Assembly would bo in favor of the construction of .ruuk tines in the first instance; and however strong might be the arguments in. favoif the other lincs-r-and ho was ready to ad mit that good reasons had been advanced in favor of the Tuapeka line—the Assem)ly would bo swayed by T that consideration. Political questions- of considerable importnicewere also involved.. It. was of tlu, itmost consequence that the country dis-’ riots should be brought into as close con -motion, commercially and odienvise, with he rest of the Province as.it,could foe : to o so, in his opinion, woul.i have toe effect •f destroying the jealousies between Dune, an oid Invercargill, which some years since did 'io much to retard the development' of the Queenstown district. It was quite immaterial what order was taken ; so long as it was within the scope of the Assembly, and the action of that body in unison with that if the Council. The House adopted a-reply to the following effect:—dliat the Council acquiesces in the construction of the Clutha line, and requests the .Colonial GoTornment to continue its formation, and complete, it at she 'eatliest possible time; and that the General Government take the necessary steps to obtain the immediate construction of the following lines of railway, in terms of the Public Work* and Immigration Act, IS7O, viz. ;—lnvercargill to Mataura; Waitaki to Moeraki, thence to Waikouaiti; Tokomairiro to ffuapeka ; Moagicl to'Outram; Winton to Kingston; and JSalclutha to Mataura.

This Day

sfr Haughton presented petitions from Thomas Brenchley, master mariner, and .Samuel Porter, late police constable, praying for relief; and Mr Brown presented a petition from settlers at Waitahuna, praying for the extension of the deferred payment system in the purchase of laud to Mr t'utteu brought, up the report of thep; select committee on the and Traqnair

i oipireds," which was ordered to bo priuted. The. House then went into committee on the litop resolutions.