WELLINGTON.
[Bt Telegraph.] (From our own Correspondent.) Wellington, August 19. The Public Works Department charges the Milton Town Council with a gross breach of faith in reference to the approaches to the local railway station. When Mr Reeves and the Minister for Public Works were in the Middle Island deputations waited on the latter to urge that the station should be placed nearer the township than originally contemplated. On condition of the municipality making Hie approaches to the station the 'Government spent L 3,000 or L 4,000 extra in additional works, in taking the line of rail nearer town, and L7OO in acquiring land. Now that is done the municipality declines to make the smallest piece of road from the town to the station. Nothing in writing exists as to the agreement made, but Mr Reeves supports the statement of the Minter.
Mr Ballance’s speech is considered the best maiden speech ever made in the House, and he was warmly congratulated by rir George Grey and the other leaders of the Opposition. The best point he made was a quotation from De Tocqueville, in condemnation of the American system of Provincial Government, which Sir Grey had taken as the model in framing his Constitution. Hs quoted Sir George’s own despatches to show he recommended that the principal officials of the Colony should be nominated by the Imperial Government, and appointed permanently. He answered the argument that the House did not represent the country by comparing the voting power of Victoria with that of New Zealand. Victoria had manhood suffrage. The male adult population of Victoria was 232,814 ; the electors on the roll, 142,305, or 61 per cent. New Zealand, with household suffrage and property qualification, had a total male adult population of 58 per cent., only 3 per cent, difference. That was conclusive that the present suffrage fairly represented public opinion. He contrasted the action of the General Government in regard to the confiscated lands. At Patea, areas were cut up into moderate-sized sections, were advertised throughout the Colony, and, being sold by auction, found their way into the hands of bond fide settlers. That district, which in TB6B was completely over-run by rebels, was now one of the most prosperous in the Province. He charged the Provincial party with now appearing for the first lime as a party of economy, and dared them to propose an income tax.
Xa the course of his speech Mr Reid said the revenue of Otago this year was 1.300,689, and against that were charges on loans, L 68.319; Provincial charges, L 72,. r >7s; services, L 23.738 ; other services, L 7,022; compensation for lands, L 18.580; compensation for roads LI,000; total, L 126.264. Then deduct the receipts from the Government, and there is a balance of L 154,425. The Province actually spent last year in roads and bridges L 285.339; the average land revenue of the Province is L 189.000 j deduct the charges proposed, and a balance is left of L 32.736. During the past four years the average expenditure on roads and bridges has been L 146,000. If L 20.000 is added for goldfields, L 52.736 will be available to be returned to the Province, but that arrangement would not be satisfactory to the Province. He denied that tho Provincial Government had not spent a fair share on the goldfields.—(Mr Shepherd: At the Dunstan.) There was little use making paved streets in a township, if the Government had not made streets leading to them. (Mr Shepherd: Mud walks.) The representative of the district in the Provincial Council was always consulted about expenditure and all reasonable men were satisfied.— (Mr Shepherd; We are not satisfied). In roads and bridges last year the Province spent L 152,277, of which L 50.369 was spent on goldfields for roads and bridges, In defending the Provincial Government from Mr Shepherd's charge of sacrificing the lands, he defended the Moa Flat sale as a very wise one under tho circumstances, the said laad not being adapted for agricultural purposes. Ho said certain |men’s dissatisfaction with Provincial Councils arose through no constituency accepting their services. Sir Cracreft Wilson created great roars of laughter when, In defending Mr Stafford from the charge of deserting his post, he said no honest man would, iu certain [circumstances, lead an Opposition, at which Ministerialists cheered ; but. when he followed that up by declaring that Government got matters in such a mess that it was impossible that any honest ssstiK fc.e, r “ gK
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Evening Star, Issue 3896, 19 August 1875, Page 3
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750WELLINGTON. Evening Star, Issue 3896, 19 August 1875, Page 3
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