CANTERBURY MEANS PROGRESS.

Evening Star, Issue 3221, 17 June 1873, Page 3

CANTERBURY MEANS PROGRESS.

The Provincial Treasurer of Canterbury made his Financial Statement on the 10th inst. From it we learn that the next year’s expenditure is estimated at L 407,276, and the revenue at L3os,B73— making in round numbers LIOO,OOO deficit. The actual receipts had been on account of land revenue to the 3lst of May—for the north of the Rangitata L 144.193, and south ditto L 107.687, making a total of L 251,880. The estimated land revenue for the south of the of the Rangitata was LI 16,000, while the actual receipts on account of the sales of waste lands lor eight months had exceeded the estimate for the twelve months, by Ll3t,Bß'J ; and taking into account that the 111 0,000 for the Cathedral site would not be expended, and that there was an estimated deficit of LIOO.OOO, the Government had an actual credit balance of L 45,880. Added to this, there was the land revenue for the next four months, estimated at L 30,- 0 per mouth, or L 120,000 for the four months, making a total amount for further appropriation on account of Provincial revenue of L 165,880. The expenditure represented a total of L 403.720, which, after taking into account L1u0,004 of that amount would be raised by loan, and that L 50.000, if expended, was subject to refund, left a total of L 253.720, as against the balance available for further appropriation of L 167,880, leaving an apparent deficit of L 87,840. Mr Kenneway dwelt at considerable length upon what his Government intended to do during the year in the way of extension of railways and improving harbors. He said the Government had every desire to push on the construction of the main line south as quickly as possible. The item railway material, LIO,OOO, was intended to be applied towards the construction of the Ashburton branch line. The Government applied for LIO,OOO for the purchase of narrow gauge rails for converting or laying a third rail between Christchurch and Lyttelton, so that the traffic might be expedited, as it was intended to convert the southern railway into a narrow gauge line. It was necessary that further harbor accommodation should be afforded in view of the ic creased trade, and the Council had already decided that LI 50,000 should be spent in breakwaters, wharves, dredging plant, &c., in Lyttelton, so as to give increased facilities to the shipping. It was also proposed, in connection with theharbor accommodation at Lyttelton to procure two more steam cranes, to afford increased facilities to the shipping. While so much money was proposed to be spent in in creased harbor accommodation at Lyttelton, it would not be right to disregard the claims that Timaru had tot a grant of money for the purpose of improving the facilities for the shipping of the goods at that port. If the railway were made to Dunedin, and facilities were not afforded for the shipment of the goods at Timaru, such a want would be felt by those living in that part of the Province, because they would be put to the necessity of forwarding their goods either to Lyttelton or Oamaru. He admitted that it would be useless to attempt to make a harbor at Timaru, nor did the Government intend to do so. All they wanted to do was to afford increased facilities for the shipment of goods.