PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3518, 2 June 1874, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, June 2. The following statement was received]: —** I have the honor to transmit to you the encl -sed copy of the balance-sheet and statement of expenditure for the year ending 31st March, 1874, which was placed in my hands yesterday afternoon. I have to direct your attention to the om ssiou in the document of the usual certificate of the Provincial Auditor, and to explain that the balance of the books has not yet been accurately brought out, and that therefore I do not feel warranted in granting such certificate. I may, however, inform you that 1 have examined the statement of expenditure, and believe it to be correct —H. Livingston.” In answer to Mr i ish the Speaker said a similar circumstance bad never happened in this Province before, and he was not aware of any clause in the Audit Act to meet such a case; bnt be would look into the matter.

The Waste Lands and Immigration Committee reported—(l.) On the petition of R. S. Allan, praying that steps might be taken to procure to him a crown grant for the fiftyacre section taken up by him at Martin’s Bay—that seeing strong inducements were held out to parties to proceed to the settlement, petitioner proceeded there at considerable expense, with the full intention of settling, and that owing to that encouragement that was expected to be given by the Government not being fulfilled, he was compelled fo abandon his enterprise, the Government ought to tske whatever steps may be found necessary to secure the petitioner a crown grant for his fifty-acre section. (2 ) On the petition of settlers in the Shag Valley district “ Your committee have to report that they have considered the question, viz , ‘ The sale of 3,000 acr.s in the "hag Valley district to Colonel Kitchener and- Mr P. D. Kich, in July, 1873, contrary to the petition of settlers in ths district, praying that the remaining portion of unsold land in the Moeraki Hundreds be withdrawn from sale and set aside as commonage, and a resolution of the Provincial Council, dated July 19, 1§73 referred to them Your co,mnaiitee have taken evidence thereon, and find that the land in question was advertised to be sold by public auction on the 16th July, 1873 ; that it was suddenly withdrawn from sale by a telegram addressed to the Government auctioneer dated July 14, 1873, by authority of the Chief Commissioner, acting on the distinct resolution of the Provincial Council that such withdrawal was desirable ; that subsequently the Waste Land Board being applied to by .v-r F. D Rich, and by Mr Elliott, on behalf of Colonel Kitchener, on July 29, 1873, that they should be allowed to purchase the sections in the Moeraki di-trict so withdrawn, agreed so to allow, if the Superintendent did not choose to exercise his right of reservation from sale. The Superintendent, on being applied to, stated that he had no objection to the sale. 1 he Beard then apparently allowed the sale to be concluded. Your Committee have no doubt, from the evidence attached, that a loss to the Provincial revenue of over L 3,000, and an injustice to others prepared to purchase, has been the result of this sale; and

that the Council should have been allowed the opportunity of reconsidering this session their decision of last session, in order that if reversed ; the laud might have been submitted to public auction. Your Committee would also point out that if the peculiar relations between the irresponsible Waste Land Board and the re-ponsible Government of the Province were not in existence, the conditions under which this sale was effected could not have been created. Your Committee are of opinion that the late Government are responsible /or a serious loss of revenue to tbe Province, and an injustice to intending competitors, by not carrying out the resolution of the Provincial l.’ouncil, passed on tho 10th July, 1873—‘that this Council recommend the Government to grant th.,- prayer of the petition of settlers in eshag Valley District,’ the Superintendent having been advised by bis responsible advisers, on the 31st July, 1873, one day after the session closed, not to exercise his right of reservation. ” [Left sitting.]