PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3506, 19 May 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Monday, May 18. The Government, in answer to questions, said ; (1.) The road between Moa Flat station and Mr Clarke’s woolshed, and which formed part of the main road from Teriot to Capanui and Switzers, had not been closed by authority, because the laud never was a public line of road. (2.) The Government had no objection to take into consideration the advisability of altering the proposed site for a telegraph and post-office station to the lower end of the St Bathau’s township : but it was really a matter the Government had not power to deal with: they would urge the General Government to do so, (3.) The Superintendent took steps in April last, by writing to the General Government recommending them to increase the vote of L3OO for a Court-house at Naseby to LSOO, the Province undertaking any ex<ra liability that might be incurred., No reply had yet been received from the Colonial Government. The Government did not intend to ask the Council for a supplementary rote for this purpose. They thought the Province should be put in the same position as other Provinces, and that propel buildings should be erected by the General Government. The Province was too facile in these matters. (4.) No one in the Council could get at the rea-oa why the reserves passed last session by the Council were not sanctioned beyond what was given by the Colonial Government itself—that the endowments for Atherteums were contrary to law. He himself could not m ike out why it should not be legal to endow racecourses, and yet be.illegal to endow Athenamms. Such reserves bad previously been regardedas lawful. The ProviucialGoverument would take what action it could, and would ask the Colonial Government to explain more fully what is meant by “contrary to law” as to what statute had been contravened. The Provincial Solicitor, in moving bis resolutions for the coastitation of an Otago Harbor L'rust, said there were two principles involved: first, the desirability of improv* mg the harbor at all; and second, the mode «f improvement proposed—namely, by a Irust. Out of doors he had not beard a single word against the improvement of the harbor ; and, indeed, the Council could not nay anything against it, if members desired to act consistently, because year after year large sums had been voted for dredging the harbor. But for the Province to spend several thousands a-year on the improvement of the harbor without a defined plan was agreat absurdity, and a thing that the Province ought to put a stop to. A report had been laid on the table of the House, which was drawn up by a Committee appointed by the citizens inquire into the question of Harbor Improvement. He thought that, after discounting 25 per cent, from the Engineer’s report, so as to allow for anything due to their imagination, hon. members who read the report of the Committee would see that the dredgmg of the harbor, so as to provide a channel for ships coming up to Dunedin, was not only a possibility, but was a possibihty that could be carried out at no very large expense. It was hinted at one time that there might be rocks or boulders in the channel, which would prevent dredging The report of Mr Barr, C.E., however, dit pelled that objection, and therefore the sole question would be this:-If dredging L proper, to what extend should it be earned? And then came the question of cost. He might say at oucq that, however the harbor might be dredged, there could be no doubt that Dunedin would never monopolise all the shipping that came into the Heads. This was not a proposal setting up Dunedin against Port Chalmers. So long as there was a railway to the Port, and as long as the Port had shipping accommodation, it would and ought to secure a large proportion of the :trade. If they had an opportunity of getting goods carried cheaply by water, and if they could do this without taking away any funds from the Province unduly, it was the duty of the Province to to cheapen the carriage of goods. It wag not intended to give any sum of money out of-the Provincial revenues, and so far, therefore, as the Piovince was concerned, if the Trust were formed, and jf it took over the dredging, there would be a saving to the Proviuce of several thousands of pounds in the year. All that was asked to he done was, that the Trust should get some of the reclaimed laud as an endowment. Ihe neift poiqt was—How is this harbor improvement to be carried out ? The General Assembly had recognised the fact that in order to manage harbours properly, Harbor trusts or Boards should be appointed. Under the Harbor Board Acts, 1S?0, certain powers were given to the Provincial Council and the Superintendent to incorporate Harbor Boards, but he believed it would be better to get an Act passed by the Assembly, giving the powers asked for iu this motion. It might be rather questionable whether the Council could grant such p .were. It might be asked why should a Harbor Board be appointed ? Why should nob the Executive carry out the work as here ofore ? To carry out a scheme of this kind with anything like perfection and economy, there should bo certain men appointed with this object, aud this object alone, in view. There was great danger, when the thing was left to an Executive, subject to change, and coming annaally before the Council for votes, that the E°.™ ce would go on spending L 4.000 or Lo.ooo a-year without any result to show for it. It the necessity of harbor improvement ltted i h ° n d f ot think aQ y member W„ if WOUld 18putetllat a Harbor Irust was the proper body to carry it out. ri dld propose t0 dea * with the Upper Harbor alone. There were minv portions of the Lower Harbor that require? looking after, and a Trust would se? tha,t Mr b n K h j T t . b r° r WaS p^ pßrl y attended to. of fn,f ?° mplained of the of full data and information.-After considerable discussion, the debate was adjourned till Wpdnes<%. r-JJj,, Tj 00 ? 8 rriqtinu Ibat Stewart’s Island should be included iu one of the

electoral districts of the Province, and tha the Government should at once bring in i bill to effect that purpose, Mr Fish" com meuced to speak against time, and at 5 ll the House was counted out. Tuesday, May 19. The select committee on the Port Tha! mcrs railway reported as follows “I. Tint, up to the present time, the Dunedin an r Port Chalmers railway has not given satisfaction to importers and exporters, or to the pub ic generally, and has not carried nearly the quantity of goods it might have done. 2. That this slate of things has resulted from the following causes:—First, ineffi cient management; second, want o? addi tional shed accommodation ; third, want ol sufficient rolling stock ; fourth, want of additional engines, pier, cranes, &c. Theevidence taken hy your committee shows that, were the above wants supplied, the Port Chalmers line could easily overtake the whole of the import and export trade of the Province for years to come. The approximate cost of providing these requisiti £ would be as follows : —l,( (Kift of additional jetty, JL2’),OOO; loop line (quarter mile), L 1,500 ; 140 new trucks, L 14,1-00 ; four new engines, LIO,OOO ; cost of cranes, 1-3,000; shed accommodotion, say, 1.5,500; total’ L54,00;‘. For the above expenditure, Mi Conyers (railway manager says he could run easily twenty trains each way per day, each or 600,000 tons each way ; making in all train conveying 100 to ns, 0r2,000 ton r per day, 1,200,000 tens per annum. Mr Conyers further says that, during the months of February and March, the line carried 16 001 tons, but that this was above the average j but assuming it to be a fair average, the present traffic would amount to 96,000 tons per annum, or less than one-twelfth of what th • line when in proper working order is capable of doing. Jt must, however, be observed, that to overtake the whole of flic present export and import trade of the Province, an expenditure not exceeding L 25,000 or L 30,000 is all that would be required. By a reference to the report of the sub-committee on the deepening of the Upper Harbor, it will be seen that it estimates the present, export and import trade of the Province at 230,000 tons per annum, and even if this estimate is correct (which your committee is inclined to doubt), it will be seen that the railway is carrying more than four times that quantity—a sufficient margin in the opinion of your committee to meet the requirements of the Province for many years to come. In conclusion, your committee recommends that the evidence taken by it be printed, and commends it to the earnest consideration of the House.” The Private Petitions Committee reported as follows(1). On the petition of H. M'Fadyen, recommending that the balance due to the petitioner on his road contract be paid. (2). On the petition of James Bandijson, who prayed that he might be recouped the expenses incurred by him in co auction with the laying off of a track to Martia’s Bay via Greenstone Valley—that the committee had carefully investigated into Mr Sandison’s claims, the more so as in limepast" he had been a considerable s urco of annoyance to the Government, and are unanimously of opinion that he has not the slightest ground of claim against Ihs Government, and that the course pursued by him is only a continuation of a system oi dunning the Government and Provincial Council pursued by him in former ca r es Petitions were presented from G. Smith and Thomas Brown complaining of the proceedings of the Southland Wat« Land Board (by the Hon. Mr Reynolds). From residents at Waitahuna West praying that certain laud might be opened for traffic (by Mr Bro vn) From the Mount Benger Progress Committee praying for the extension of the Tu -peka Railway to Roxburgh (by Mr Ireland). From residents at Wakatip complaining of the new forest regulations as unsuitable (by Mr Hal lenstein). From residents at Hampden protesting against Sunday trains on the Port Chalmers Railway, and from residents at Herbert asking for the establishment of a public library there (by Mr Tesehemaker.) Mr Green’s motion affirming that it was undesirable and incompatable with the proper discharge of the duties pertaining tc the office- of forest ranger that any person holding such office should continue to be a member of the Waste Land Board of Southland was carried on the voices. Mr Fish moved—“ That a select committee be appointed to inquire into all matters connected with the Treasury Department, with power to call for persons and papers, and report within a week.” He said he moved in no hostile spirit to the Government, but because there was wide-spread dissatisfaction with the condition of the Treasury, in the political head of which he bad no confidence. Ho referred to the backwardness of the balance sheet, and to the disgraceful manner in which the ralway accounts were —accounts seven months old only having just been sent out; and in some cases importers had themselves to furnish the department with the accounts of what they were due to the railway. The motion was negatived by 11 against 19. Message ho 11 was read as follows : “The Superintendent solicits the consideration of the Provincial Council to the accompanying correspondence relative to the harbor works at Oatnaru, and the necessity of providing wharfage accommodation in connection therewith. He feels assured that it must bs gratifying to the Council to know that the protective works, which was sanctioned some years ago at Oamaru, have, so far as they have gone, proved a success) and that the construction of a breakwater, which will secure a safe anchorage, as well as warfage accommodation for shipping at that port, Is ao longer a matter of doubtful speculation. The measure of its advantages may now be reckoned by the extent to which it is carried out. It is proposed to extend the breakwater some distance beyond the limits of the present contract, and to provide wharfage accommodation for the landing anddisehargingof vesselsof considerable tonnage, to which epd it will be necessary to expend a furthei sum of not exceeding 150,0 0. With a view to give effect to this proposal, a Bill will b( submitted to the Provincial Council, having for its object the incorporating of the Oamari Dock Board into a Harbor Trust, in terms of “The Harbor Boards Act, 1870.” Th< property at present held by the Dock Board estimated to realise at least Ll,ooo a-year will be vested in the Harbor Trust, whicl will also be empowered to levy harbor am tonnage dues, which two sources corabinee will, it is estimated, afford-ample provisioi wherewith to cover interest and sinking fum of a loan of 150,000. In order that tb< money _ may be more readily obtainei mid raised upon the lowest terms, i is proposed that, in addition to the seen rity of the revenue of the Harbor Trust there shall be the collateral security of th revenue of the Province, in consideration o which the Provincial Government shall hav the power, until the liability of the Pro vince ceases, of regulating the tonnage dues Particular attention is called to the fac that the existing landing and shipping charges at Oamaru—(charges which the pro posed works will do away with a 6 per cent., cover the intererst of four time the amount required for the work in quea ion. It is evident, therefore, oven as Burning the trade of Oamaiu not to exceeits present dimensions, that the Province i perfectly warranted in acceding to the cours flow indicated. Looking at the impetu fhxch will be imparted to the expor Jrade of Oamaru by the proposed facUitie

.t for shipment, the Superintendent is of a opinion that not only will the Province - run no possible risk by giving the required ) guarantee, but the whole Colony will participate in the advantage which must accrue from the increased development of the resources of one of its richest districts—resou ces which cannot otherwise be fully developed The Superintendent therefore a loogly recommends the foregoing proposals to the favorable consideration of the Provin c al Council.” M r MTJermid allowed his motion, re inquiry into the accepting of tenders for the Southland light railways, to lapse. [Left sitting.]