PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3246, 16 July 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, July 15. questions. In answer to questions, the Government saidlnstructions had been given to the Home Agent to engage a vessel or vessels, to land immigrants at the Bluff. —Government were not yet in possession of what business was transacted bv the Southland Waste Land Board on the 9th and 10th inst., but when they received a report would communicate it to the House. The applications put in on July 8 were refused, but it might be a matter to be decided hereafter by a Judge of the Supreme Court whether the applications then made could be refused.—No report as to the state of the road between the Matanra Bridge and Switzers had been received, but the necessary provision for the road bad been made on the Estimates. — The Government were prepared to recommend the extension of the telegraph to Mosgiel and Outram. NIGHTCAPS COAL RESERVE. Mr Lumsden’s motion affirming that it was inexpedient to grant any lease of the Nightcaps Coal Reserve until the projected tramway or railway has been carried out, and thereafter that the land should only be leased in small areas and by auction, was negatived by 14 against 12. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. Mr Oliver moved —“ That in the opinion of this Council, it is very desirable that the GcologicalSurvey of the Province, which was begun by Dr Hector, should be completed, and that ths Government be requested to obtain as soon as possible the services of a competent Geologist for that purpose. It was seen that in many cases mining enterprises were undertaken without any means of estimating success, and such scientific examinations would tend to render investment more certain. Similar work was done in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Province ofCanterbury. The necessity was seen early in the Colony, and Dr Hector was engaged, but through his appointment by the General Government it had been interrupted. Had that survey been completed, it would have led to more accurate observations by miners, and have led to discoveries being estimated at their true value. Ho considered the work would pay if undertaken ; but if not, it would be a valuable contribution to science. Mr R. Clarke opposed it on account of the expense, which he thought should not be incurred until roads were made. The motion was carried. RIVERTON FERRY.

Mr Daniel moved —“That whereas it is found that the leasing of the ferry at Riverton is an impediment to the traffic on the river, and otherwise detrimental to. the public it is expedient that the lease to the Corporation be cancelled. That an address be presented to His Honor tlie Superintendent, to initiate the legislation necessary, or to take such steps as he may think fit, to obtain a surrender of the lease in question.” He urged it because the Government bad leased land belonging to the Maoris; secondly, that it interrupted traffic, and would throw a number of men out of work; and thirdly, the ferry was not needed, as a bridge was to be erected.

Dr Webster said the Government agreed with the resolution, and would take steps to get the agreement cancelled. The motion was carried. A SHEEP TAX.

Mr M'Lean moved—“ That to prerent contagious disease* being introduced amongit the Hocks in this Province, now happily all clean, by sheep imported by sea or introduced by land into the Province, this Council is of opinion the Sheep Ordinances now in force in this Province should be -amended, so as to provide for an efficient system of inspection, and levy such tax upon sheep so imported or introduced as will be sufficient to defray the cost of such inspection, and that the Government be requested to introduce such amended Ordinance this session.” He considered much was owing to’the ability of the inspector' that that there so favorable a state of the flocks, and that arrangements should be made to provide against infection in imported sheep, whether by sea or from Canterbury. 48,685 sheep were purchased from Canterbury last yean So careful were they in Canterbury, where inspection was very imperfect, that to pass one sheep from Otago cost 40s for inspection. He thought it time the various Acts were oonsolidatedMr Tolmib seconded the motion. The late Government took particular care to provide dips for imported sheep, and trusted provision for that purpose would be continued. He thought there was time to consolidate and amend the existing Acts, and trusted it would be done.

Dr. Webster said the Government agreed with the resolution, and would be glad of the assistance of competent men in framing an Ordinance. The motion was adopted. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Lumsden moved—“ That the Govern* rpent be requested to give directions for the survey of the extension of Tay street, Invercargill, westward from its intersection by Dee street, so that the same shall njn in the form of a crescent towards the railway station. That th§ widih of said extended street be one and a half chains. That the land abutting on the south and south-western side o'f the said crescent be surveyed in sections of one-half chain each in frontage, and two chains in depth. That a roadway be laid off at the rear of said sections one chain wide, and the upset price of said sections be LSO each.” Carried. Mr Daniels moved—“ That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient that certain disputes between the Maoris and Europeans, touching the claim of the former to a certain portion of the foreshore at Riverton be inquired into, with a view to a definite settlement thereof. And that his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to solicit the General Government to institute such inquiry without delay,” Carried. Mr Kinboss moved—“ That there be laid upon the table a statement of all revenue derived from all sources within the late Province of Southland from the date of re-union of Province's up ti|l 31st March, and the sources from which they have beW'‘derived, ajpJ how' money expended had been laid out.** Agreed to. The Secretary fob Goldfields and Works moved —“ That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, recommending that sections 1 and 2, block 1, Ophir, be set apart as a site for an Athenaeum and Public Buildings.” Agreed to. The Secretary for Goldfields and Works moved —“ That an address be presented to hi* Honor the Superintendent, recommending that section 1, block 24, Arrowtown, be set apart a* a reserve for a Miners’ Institute.” Agreed to. Mr 11. Clark moved —“That the petition of John Richardson and that of the Committee of the Otago Museum, both bearing on the one subject, that of the management of the Museum, be referred to the Private Petitions Committee, with power to call for persons and papers, and to report within six days.” Carried. ACREAGE RATING. Mr Kinross moved—“ That in the opinion of this Council the ‘ Otago Roads Ordinance, 1871,’ should be so amended as to allow Road Boards the option of adopting the acreage system of rating, and respectfully-, requests the Government to bring in a Bill & to this resolution at its $a flies t Mr Wilson seconded'the motiqri. Mr Allan opposed the motion, on the ground that the system had been tried and found not to answer. Mr Reid thought it would be better for Government to state that it was a waste of time to discuss the question, as there was an Act of the Assembly prescribing the mode of levying assessments. The Secretary for Lands agreed with Mr Reid,

Mr Stout suggested that Boards should have the power to add an acreage to a valuation rate, as it would enable them to tax large holders of land fairly. He moved the adjournment of the debate to the evening. The Goldfields Secretary hoped the amendment would not be passed, as the discussion was merely a waste of time. Mr Stout moved that the motion be altered, so as not to ask the Government to bring in a Bill . J , Mr Stout’s amendment was carried so far as the alteration in form of the motion. Mr M'Dermid supported the motion, as the present system operated unfairly in assessing tion, Mr Lumsden supported the motion, because it was a way of sliding in a land tax. Road works improved all the lands in the neighborhood, which should be made to pay a fair share of the cost. This would be best secured by an acreage rate. Mr Wilson considered that it would only be fair to levy an acreage rate. Mr Gumming supported the motion. Mr Kinross replied. The House divided: — Ayes, 11—Messrs Gumming, Daniel, Fish, Green, Hazlett, Ireland, Kinross, Lumsden, M'Dermid (teller), Stout (teller), Wilson. Noes, 17—Messrs Allan, Bastings (teller), H. Clark, R. Clarke, Davie, De Lautour, Hallenstein, Menzies (teller), Mills, Reid, Roberts, Rogers, Shand, Teschemaker, Tolmie, Webster. PORT CHALMERS AND BLUESKIN ROAD. Mr Stout, for Mr M'Glashan, moved— “That the petition of 180 owners of land and settlers in Port Chalmers and Northern part of the District be referred to the Government, with the view to give effect to the prayer of that petition by placing a sufficient sum on the Estimates to complete the road line between Port Chalmers and Main North Road, Blueskin.” Mr Green seconded the motion. Mr M'Dermid supported the motion. It would be a saving of money to put LI,OOO on the Estimates. Mr Reid would support the vote. The Goldfields Secretary said the Government had placed as large % sum on the Estimates for the completion of the road as they were justified in expending in justiee to other districts. The motion was carried. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The Provincial Treasurer moved that the Council resolve itself into Committee of Ways and Means, with a view to taking his Honor’s Message into consideration. Mr Stout said surely the Treasurer was not going to make his financial statement without notice ? Of course., under the Standing Orders, the Message might be taken into consideration prior to all other business, but the course proposed was so unusual as to be without precedent. The Provincial Treasurer said it was not an unusual course, although it was not customary to discuss the Budget immediately after being brought forward ; nor did he think any lengthened notice was desirable. The Government were anxious to get on with the business of the country as fast as possible, and had the Estimates been printed they would have been laid before the Council earlier. After some remarks by the Goldfields Secretary, Dr Menzies, Mr Wood, and others, the motion was carried. in committee of supply.

The Provincial Treasurer said: It is customary on making a financial statement to add some words of explanation. I desire, therefore, to make a few remarks respecting the financial position of the Province. I am afraid, from what has fallen from several members, that they expect something well worth hearing, and they regret that several are not present to hear what to state. cannot undertake that the remarks I shall make will be expressed with that eloquence that has distinguished those of some of my predecessors. I can only relate a plain unvarnished tale of the transactions of the Province during the past year, and of its present position, with the proposals the Executive intend to bring before the Council for the ensuing year, should honorable members desire that they should continue to administer the affairs Eof the Province until we meet again. I think 1 may fairly congratulate the Committee and the Country on the generally satisfactory state of affairs of this Province, and also of the Colony. The past year has been characterised by prosperity in all branches of industry—mining, manufacturing, agricultural, pastoral, and commercial—throughout the length and breadth of the land. As a natural consequence, the public finances have been in an easy state, as the estimated revenue has been largely exceeded. Ever since I have been in office, the public funds have been flourishing. I do not take credit to the Executive for that: it has been the resultjof the causes I have mentioned. Cheap money aiid high prices of produce have enabled settlers* tq 'purchase land, and in many indirect ways to swell the revenue of the Province. Having made these few remarks, I will now direct the attention of the Committee to the position of the Province, and the transactions. They will find these detailed in the General balance-sheet, with a statement of the actual and estimated revenue for the past year. of expenditure 1 laid on the table of the Council on the first or second day of the present session. From that document it will be'seen we commenced the year with an amount to our debit of L44.65S 10s, and a revenue estimated at L 267,800. This was exceeded by L 73.754 5a 4dj the actual receipts being L 341,554 5s 4d, This has been chiefly from" land revenue, thg excess of which was L 53,000, There was also an excess of receipts from the General Government of L 12,500, making a total in excess of tlie Estimates of L 95.500, I am taking merely the round numbers. There was a slight deficiency in the sale of Government buildings and land, which was put down at LIO,OOO, and realised about L3,ooo—that was principally from the sale of reclaimed land that brought less than was expected. Then there was a falling-off of L 8,500 in licenses, almost entirely caused by a large portion of the fees being handed over to the municipalities; and there was also a reduction of L 2,500 in the receipts from the gold export duty, caused by the reduction of fid per oz. duty at the last session of the General Assembly. And there was another sum of L 2,500 of Goldfields revenue. Taking those deductions from the amount, the excess was L 73,754 5s 9d, as I have stated in the balance sheet. The expenditure, it will be seen, was L 269,300, as per (totals given in the document I ha^e'alluded to. ’ I do not think it will be necessary to go otor those details to point out the different’items, asthey Will 56 sufficiently clear, and I shall be happy to’giVq more specific information if required Turning to the General Balance-sheet, it will be seen the debt on the 3Xst March, 1872, was L 44,658 10s, the first amount on the credit side. The General Expenditure was L 265,045 4s lid, and there was a further expenditure from a specific loan under the North Otago District Loan Act of L 4,255 8s lid. - These together amount to L 313,959 3s lOd to be provided for, and if members will pass their eyes to the other side of the account, they will see how that has been done. There was received from revenue daring the year L 308,067 17s Id, and a further sum of L 33,486 8s 3d from the General Government for specific purposes, making a total of L 341,554 5s 4d This expenditure leaves a balance of L 27,595 Is fid to be carried forward to the credit of the current year. The receipts from the General Government are mostly spent on specific purposes. The first item is a, sum of L 5,000, under the North Otago District Load Acfe, whiqh wjts passed‘la§t session.. The Assembly authorised a loan of 'L70,000, of winch] op the 31st March, L 5,000 had been received, and L 4,255 8s Hd expended. Since then a further sum had been expended, and it was hoped that the Harfcpr Works at Oamaru would be rapidly prosecuted. The next item was L6,61114s fid, received under the Public Works Act It was received under the Payment to Provinces Act of 1871, which Act gave to the Province the sum of L 27.117 7s fid. But under clause 28 of that Act, one-ha If could be appropriated to the construction of roads, bridges, and other such works as the Province might desire to prosecute. Of the amount stated Lfi,4sl 3s 8d was thus spent, leaving about Ll6O yet to be spent of the sum received. There was still a large amount to expend of money received under the Payment to Provinces Act, and as soon as the Appropriation Act is passed, we hope to distribute 10s in the pound to Road Districts, allotted from the General Revenue. The surplus balance of L 27.595 carried forward to the current year consists of L 14.445, which must be spent on the special objects specified by the North Otago District Loan Act, and L 13,149 17s 2d, which the Council would be able to appropriate, along with the estimated &pen3ituiff' fck m the year. | fancy 1 need' liardly advert at" any length to the loans. They are pretty well exrdaiued In the balance sheet. Honorable members will observe that the total indebtedness amounted to L 1,346,225, of which L 1,091,450 has been consolidated under Acts of the General Assembly, leaving L 254,775 still unconverted and under Provincial Ordinances. The payment to the. sinking fund amounted to L 119,374, and th<*t Ukea from the total left the net loan

liability L 1,226 ,830 12s. The annual charge on the sinking fund and interest on loans amounts in LBB 430 ss, of which Lbi),4B7 is payable to theGeueralGovomment and L22,9435s to deben-ture-holders. I hope this is clear enough as to those matters. The sum credited under the head “Home Agents,” as honorable members will perceive, consists of the balance of amounts remitted on account of the Province, for which vouchers had not been' received. The next item, “Advances,” L 696 3s 2d was for money advanced to the police and on account of labor, of which the exact charge has not been ascertained, “Bank of New Zealand,” L 38.112 ssGd, it would be seen, consisted of several items. The first, L 16,698 2s, is the general account, including the ordinary operations of the Province. Of the Public Works Account there is only a small sum, Ll6O 10s lOd, unexpended. The third is 1.13,540 12s 5d to the credit of Road Boards, the account being kept in the same way, and the last amount is on account of interest on debentures. There are only two more items in this abstract that require explanation. On the other side is the Suspense Account, which consists of vouchers not called for, for amounts passed at the end of the year, of Southland old vouchers, and of the sale of stock, &c. Deposit account consists of sums received on account of public works and immigration, which are, however, returnable when the engagements are completed. It amounts to L 6,614 ss. I think I have sufficiently explained the balance-sheet of last year, and our position at the end of the year was simply this: We had a loan liability of L 1,226,830 12s, and a balance of L 13,149 7s 2d to commence the year with. 1 hat was the position on the 31st March last. In reference to ray proposals for the coming year, I would simply say we have brought down what we conceive to be a safe, although a large estimate. We estimate the revenue for ordinary purposes at L 417.000, and in addition we propose to appropriate L 20,000 out of a loan we wish to ask the Council to pass on the security of the educational reserves. We have an unexpended balance of L 65.743 11s Id, under the North Otago District Loan Act, which will make a grand total of L 502,743 11s Id for expenditure during the current year, in addition to the capitation grant, amounting to L 55,880; but as it never comes into our hands, being retained by the General Government for payment of inteio t and sinking fund, we have thought it better not to take it into the calculation of revenue at all, but to take it as balance of interest on liabilities. The first item is General Road Board subsidy unexpended on the 31st March last, which amounts to L 16,000, as an absolute and positive asset. This is a vote which I hope will be continued, It is an useful and serviceable vote for the country, and I hope our representatives in the General Assembly will see that it is maintained. Ido not think there is reason to believe, considering the state of the country, that there will be any reduction, although honorable members will see it is somewhat small. I think, however, it will not be made smaller. The next item it is impossible to estimate, as it is our probable revenue from Crown Lands, We have put it down at the large sum of L 200,000, exclusive of the amounts recoverable from pastoral rents. Although the amount is large, when I tell what has been done up to the 30th June—the first three months of our financial year-it will not appear improbable. We actually received L 107,000 in three months. I may further state that large sales have been made in Southland, making up the amount to L 140.000, so that I do not think you will consider the estimate too large. In fact, I think the revenue will exceed amount. But as member! are aware, it is a difficult question to form an opinion upon, as so much depends on circumstances over which the Lxecutive have no control. I think as far as we can, we ought to make use of the land, either by selling or reserving it for charitable, educational, or public purposes, in order to prevent the possibility of the revenue passing out of our hands. I think we ought to guard against this if possible; and although I do not appr.ehend nor believe the Legislature of the Colony would go the length of upsetting a solemn engagement made years ago with the Provinces, that in consideration of certain things the land revenue of each Province should belong to it, several prominent politicians of the North Island do look to the time when it shallbe abaorbedby the Colony. I have heard them say so. I hope propositions like that will never have prominence in the Councils of the Colony, but I think, as a matter of precaution, it will be as well to reserve or sell the land, and-apply the proceeds to the construction of, or as security for the construction of public works. We have put our goldfields revenue at L 21.000. That really depends on the resolution of this Council. Harbor and Jetty dues L 4.000. Since this was in type, I have received information that they are likely to be L6.00Q. With regard to Licenses and Education, I have nothing to say. The return of passage money for immigrants, L 3,000, is larger than last year. The Government wish, if they continue in office, to bring this large affair into smaller limits. It is therefore proposed to make some special effort to reduce it fnlo sma|ler dimensions, and deal equitably With all parties. We have put down the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway at L 22,000, and the Southland Railway at L 12.000. We cannot tell what the revenuefrom the Port Chalmers line will be, and we therefore estimate it at what we consider a safe amount. The sum for reclaimed land is something large; but if the works go pn during the year, we expect there will be a considerable amount of land available, which will realise a large sum. The next amount is the amount for building schools. This we propose to borrow, if the Council agree to it, and the amount We can spend during the year we estimate at L20,Q00. The Inspector put down L25,0Q0. Of the North Otago Loan the amount unexpended is placed on the Estimates, showing how much is still applicable to expenditure on the public works sot out In the schedule of the North Otago Loan Aqt, This is the revenue for the year, and I think, after full consideration, the Committee will not think we have overstepped the mark, but that it will be substantially realised. I will now make a remark or two on the proposed expenditure. Honorable members will notice under this head we propose to appropriate a very large sum, L 518,688 11s 2d. It is not necessary to go through the items in detail, as there will be ample time for discussion as they pass through Committee ; I will not, therefore, trouble the Committee further. I will simply say we have given the matter very great consideration. Bridges, roads, and other works have been overhauled, over, and over, and over again, and whatever the Committee may think, we can assure them we have apportioned the disribution of this large sum of money with an earnest desire to do full justice to each district 1 throughout " the Province.' But While pointing out t'fie large sum to' be appropriated this year, there is a large amount required for Eayments which must ho made. These could e explained in detail as they came before the Committee. The proposed expenditure exceeds the estimated revenue by L 16,000 ; but to meet that deficiency there is a balance of L 13.000, and there is an item which 1 do not expect will be wanted—that is, LIO,OOO for immigration. We have put it down in the event of the Genetal Government not working harmoniously witK the Province in the matter ; hut even if it is paid, we expect to get it repaid. Instructions have been sent Home to keep up the stream of immigration from Scotland, and if it cannofc be done otherwise, the Province will do it at its own expense. The amounts stated will give L 23,000, and, besides that, those members who have been long in this Council know that it is impossible to spend every appropriation; so j;,hat there will be no difficulty'as far as regards mqne'y/ Of course wp shall mqst lively have to firing down Supplementary Estimates containing sums for compensating pastoral lands, and they would be formed in accordance with the resolutions of the Council. There is only another matter necessary to allude to, and that is, we have, in preparing Estimates, considered to some extent the position of the Civil servants of the Government, and, as things are prosperous, and all classes of labor receiving higher remuneration, it is only right that they shall partake of this happy state of affairs. I am sure the Committee will agree it is only an act of justice to many who have been long in the service. I think, at the same time, in asking them to work longer horn’s- they will only then be in a similar position to employes in merchants’ and bankers’ offices ; nor do I think it will be any hardship to require it. I hope the Committee will consider the various proposals in the same spirit in which they have been framed, for onr only object is to deal with the finances of the Province,'so as to do the greatest justice, and give an impartial share to each district, according to the amount to which it is entitled. I move the first item on the Estimates, L 9,607, balance of interest pn loans, - ' ' The amount wag passed, and the Chairman reported progress,