THE CANTERBURY MEMBERS AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1395, 5 August 1878, Page 3

THE CANTERBURY MEMBERS AND THE GOVERNMENT.

[By Telegraph.] [from the correspondent op the press.] Wellington, August 4. ENDOWMENTS TO LOCAL BODIES. Ho endowments to Eoad Boards, counties, and municipalities, the Government thought such endowments would absorb all the land in tho colony, which would be better used for railway construction, and the answer was altogether unfavorable to the proposal. THE WEST COAST RAILWAY. This morning the deputation of Canterbury members met several Westland members, and, after discussion, resolved to urge on the Government the extension of the railway from Amberley to Brunnerton. Subsequently the meeting waited on the Minister for Public Works, Me-srs Stout and Fisher being also present. The Hon. J. Hall, Messrs Montgomery, Saunders, Stevens, and Wakefield were present. Mr Hull acted as spokesman, and explained at length the advantages that would accrue from the extension, that large quantities of land would be made saleable in the m-k'hb-rhood of the line ; also, that much land already bought wou'd be mado avail ible for extensive inter* change < f produce, (■took flour- and merchandise from Canterbury to the coa-.t, and of coal and timber from the cms!; to Canterbury, besides the creation of an extensive passtngcr traffic, and that the Public vVorki Department would Save largely on coal. Mr Hull wus strongly supported by tho Can-

terbury members present, and by Mr Beeves, of the Grey Valley. The Government stated that tho matter 1 ad received consideration, and would bo treated of in the Public Works Statement, and if the proposals thou made were not deemed satisfactory the deputation could meet tho Government again. BRANCH RAILWAYS IN CANTEKBTJRY.

Tho deputation thn urged that the branch railways enumerated in tho Canterbury Railways Reservation Bill of last session should be undertaken at once Mr Hall described the circumstances under which he was obliged to abandon that Bill last year, and said that it was owing t) the action of the Minister representing tho Government in the Legislative Council. Mr Macandrew gave much the same answer as to the West Coast railway question. Tho general view of the Government seemed to be that railways should be made on the bask of land reserves to cover their cost. STJKFLTJS LAND FUND. Full discussion then took place on the conduct of tho Government in keeping back the balance of the surplus Canterbury land fund. Tho Attorney-Geueral said that in tho state of law regarding the part of the question affecting the Lyttelton Harbor Loan, he wa-. obliged to advise against paying over that £ 100,000, and that it was a provincial liability, and as such should be taken ow- of the land fund ; but that Government had reserved the question for tho decision of Parliament. As regards the £12 1,000 proposed deductions for surveys, the Government held that these savveys belonged to sales made prior to tho 31st December, and that it!was unfair to other districts to make it a colonial charge. The members urged that the £ 100,000 for the Harbor Board shoe Id not be deducted, be> ause the Harbor Board was not endowed, and the Canterbury debt was reduced to only £6S,i'o), and the interest on loan to replace the advance was actually provided for. As to the proposed deduction for surveys, it was quite unreasonable, and represented one" shilling per acre of 2,480,000 acres, and must include all sorts of survey connection. The deputation denied the right of the Government to suspend payment of the money to cover appropriations not made, and alleged that tho understanding was that nil land fund accruing to the 31st December should be paid over intact. They also urged that Canterbury should bo put on the same footing as regards her debt .as the other provincial districts; that the colony had taken half a million of its land fund for' the half year, and .£157.00') for July ; and that the proposed action would be a high-handed deprivation of a right deliberately given by the Assembly. REPRESENTATION OF CANTERBURY. The deputation called attention to the insufficient representation of Canterbury, and there was much discussion. The Government said the subject was under their consideration.