TOWN EDITION. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3830, 3 June 1875, Page 3

TOWN EDITION. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, June 3. vT- A S er 80me forma - business was got through. Mr Rhid made a statement. He slated that he had placed himself in communication with his late colleague (Mr Turnbull) with the desire that he resume his old posit 1 on as Trea-smei-—a position he had occupied, during the time he held it, with very great credit to himself and advantage to the country.—(Opposition cheers.) That gentleman, he regretted to say, had not seen his way to accept ic, owing, he believed, entirely to private reasons. He then placed himself in communication with Mr Davje, who, after co > indexation, consented to become Treasurer. i\lr MTCellar had again consented to become Gold fields Secretary; and Mr Luinsden to represent the southern districts as a non-officio] member. Having considered the resolution roccntly come to by the Council, that the arrangement of departments, as represent'd oiithcTivsury benches, was not satisfact- -ry, ho had come to the conclusion that it was exceedingly desirable to get some hon. member to rake one of the offices hitherto occupied by himself ; and lie was glad to say that he had succeeding iu obtaining the assistance of the member for North Harbor--(loud laughter) - he meant the mem her for Blupskm—who would hold the offi-e of .Secretary for Works. With regard to the x 01 them district, he had, after considering the position of affairs and the action of the member for (Jamiiru town, thought it would be exceednigly n* Bmible to obtain his assistance io the formation or a Government, but ho regretted to say that although that hon. gentleman expressed his strong inclination to give the Government his support he could not see his wav to taking a seat on the Government benches. He men secured the services of the men.br-- for Oamaru country—(Opposition cries of “oh”) T lO r f'i ‘- s a non-official member, i he distribution of offices was, therefore, that m 0 r Reid) was Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Lands and Railways • Mr !>'vie Ireasurer; Mr M'Kellar, Goldfields Secretary! - Ml Green, Secretary for Works; and Messr,Luinsden andStewu t, non-official. With rc-mr.i to the I rovmc’.al Solicitorship he placed himself iu communication with the member for Cavnshuni, who had agreed to act as Solicitor, and would be m the Executive at the present time if the Executive Ordinance allowed more than six members. „As tfi. House had already expressed its desire . . departmental distribution, lie presumed thee would be no difficulty in getting the Ordwianc amended so as to include the member for- < averw V n?i ? ufc, T> ,n f . in - v «»*». tliat hon. ineuib a VMHihl act as Provincial Solicitor Ref a-i • b fi th ! measures before the Council' he touched first upon the Estimates. The Govern meut proposed to proceed with the Estimates tL °T r r> mi 7 kid • upon tbo and the LI.yOOO appear ng on the Estimates of the ate Executive for new works would be brought down on the Supplementary intimates.—(Opposition cheers). The Government recognised that these works were as urgent as many previously on the Estimate-* • but it would he invidious to ask members to vote against sums already brought down. Although they did this they did not intend to increase the estimated land revenue, which they thought had been put down at its full amount m lgm n l Lstlmatca - regard to railways, the Government proposed to brine forward a_ proposal in reference to the loan or advance from the Colonial Government, and to ask the Council to agree to the second railway schedule of of last year. He very strongly bold the opinion that after making a statement of works placing them comparafiv.-Iy before members and •'.sking them to agree to make appropriations immediately for a certain schedule Ravin" ■ second schedule to he dealt with next year, and a third schedule at a future time, it was a matter of honor ou the pari of tin Council to give effect ;o the schedules in theii order, provided noun! oreseen circumstances a rose m the mean time to cause an aRe-riioti of tlie-e arrangements. The Government proposed to ask for authority to construct the rail ways in the second schedule either hv means of the advance to be obtained from the Colonial Government or out of revenue. The reason for asking for th- altevna 'ivc power was that they though•• that iu tin ev- nt. of the loan not being obtain'-, foey should be i-, a position to enter In', an agreement to cx'en-1 the payment oyc • two oi* three year--. In tliat case, if land revenue did n ■(; accrue sufficient to make payments as .ho works V' r o-re-serl, the Government ought extend the tiny for cmipßtinw {he works; on the other hand, if the contract.icense to complete the works at once, it would be a (]uestiou if any allowance should be mad : to him for the m-uiey expended before the full time had expired. In addition I to the nibvavs, they proposed to pur ! mto the schedule the item Kakaimi harbor, which ho thought had been wrongly struck out last year. Since that time a report had bee ;

ohtamed frcrn an engineer of some standing, nlr 1, H. Johnson, who showed very clearly that by an expenditure of LIO.OOO or LII.OOO a great and useful work might be effected there. The Kakanui Harbor Trust had already to its credit L 5.000 out of the North Otago Loan ; and in addition the Government propose to give out of the proposed advance another L 5.000, They also proposed to give out of the loan LIO.OOO for the bluff wharf. With regard to education they did not propose to mortgage the educational estate. They believed it would le time enough to take that course when the endowments were vested in an Education Board. This matter would receive careful consideration during the recess. With regard to branch railways they proposed to ask the Council to carry out the arrangements referred to in the correspondence presented having reference to the Ocean Beach and Peninsula Railway, if all railways could be constructed on similar terms it would be in the public interest, and of the highest interest to the Province. The Kaitangata line would be taken up by the Government, but care would have (o be taken ou such terms as would allow the line to be used so . as' to connect with the country beyond. The Bill providing for a line to Outram via Greytown would not be undertaken by the Government. With regard to Education, while he held strongly that power should be given to districts to assist themselves by rates in maintaining their educational institutions, and that a general rate would he inoperative and only aggravate the evils ascribed to a permissive rate, it was an open question with the Government, some of whom would be found voting against it. Here ho would candidly remark that they intended to make as few Government questions as possible—(laughter)—and, in conclusion, observed that he thought the Go/eminent would command the confidence of the Council and the country; and further. that he might confidently claim for it the support of the Southland members, as the Executive had been constructed on the basis of doing justice to the Southland districts. After some discussion, in tho course of which Messrs Bastings, Fish, Kinross, Wood, and M'Glashan disclaimed all intention of offering a factious opposition, the Council proceeded to business.