THE The Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 863, 3 May 1871, Page 2

THE The Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1871.

Wk have received a copy of the speech of the Superintendent of Nelson delivered at the opening of the present session of the Provincial Council. It contains references to a great variety of very important questions, but affords little evidence of the views and opinions of the Government itself. Having no " responsible" Executive in Nelson, it does not seem to be necessary there to do more than indicate to the Council the subjects it will be asked to consider. The Executive commits, itself to no policy, and leaves the responsibility of everything upon the shoulders of the Council itself. Perhaps this may be a safe plan, but it does not seem to be a convenient one. It is surely very necessary in the working of representative institutions that those who are entrusted with the executive functions, and are thus supposed to be practically acquainted with the actual bearings of particular questions upon the public interests, should give their opinions for the guidance of those who have to decide upon them. However, Mr Curtis thinks it wise to keep his own counsel, and he has done it completely in his opening speech. His Honor commences by referring to the financial condition of the Province, which he considers favorable, the revenue for the period 1870-71, being only about

L2OOO less than in 1869-70— the figures being LBO,OOO against L 82,000. This reduction is attributed, no doubt correctly, to the diminution of the population on the gold fields. The alteration in the apportionment of the Consolidated revenue between the General Government and the -Provinces is passingly alluded to as a measure which has considerably simplified J the accounts between the two governments, and imparted a certain accuracy to the estimate of the amount to be received from the General Government. His Honor alludes to the desirability of affirming the principle of deferred payments for land as being highly calculated by its adoption to facilitate permanent settlement upon the gold fields. He expresses the hope that another recommendation by the Council would secure the consent of both Houses of the Legislature. The references to the question of Annexation are not of a very positive character. Mr CurLis reminds the Council of the appointment of a Commission of enquiry into the proposal, and directs attention to the report of Mr Hodgson, which would be laid before them. He proceeds to say : — ln compliance with the prayer of a numerously signed petition, presented to the House of Representatives, the Colonial Government introduced a bill to effect the annexation of the country lying between the Grey and the Teremakau to the Province of Nelson. At a late period in the session, however, the Government thought it expedient to withdraw the bill, with the understanding that a Commission would be appointed during the recess to enquire fully into the subject, and to report thereupon for the information of Parliament at its next meeting. In the meantime, it is desirable that you should express your opinion upon the question, for the guidance of the Legislature, as it appears to me that the junction of two heretofore separate communities, under one Government, can only be expedient when sanctioned by the approval of each, or by that of their elected representatives. With regard to the railway from the Brunner coal mine to the port, His Honor reviews the unsuccessful negotiations that had been going on so long with English capitalists for the carrying out of the Nelson and Cobden Railway, and states that resolutions will be submitted for the consideration of the Council, recommending to the Colonial Government the construction of a small portion of each end of the proposed line — namely, between Nelson and Fox Hill at the Northern, and between Cobden and the Brunner Coal Mine at the Southern extremity. Anticipating concurrence of the Council in these resolutions, he had obtained the promise of the Colonial Government, should they consider further surveys should be needed for the information of the Legislature, to cause them to be executed without delay. He asks the Council to assent to the preparation of a Bill to be submitted to the General Assembly, authorising a loan of L 30,000 for the extension of Waterworks, and the construction of Gasworks in the City of Nelson, the Colonial Government having undertaken to recommend the measure to the favorable consideration of the Legislature, on condition that the principal and interest of the loan shall be secured upon the rates raised for the supply of water and gas, and upon the ordinary rates levied by the Board of Works, and not upon the Provincial revenue. After stating Un> nto^o tv»a v. o a been taken with regard to preparing plans for a system of Water Supply to the Gold Fields, the Superintendent recommends the withdrawal of several large blocks of land in the Valleys of the Buller and the Grey from the operation of the Gold Fields Act, and their sale or lease for agricultural purposes. The speech concludes by a reference to His Honor's recent visit to the Gold Fields, and the hope that the result of that visit has been not only the acquisition of valuable information in reference to the administration of the affairs of that energetic and prosperous part of our community, but also the removal of much injurious misapprehension which existed as to the treatment which the Goldfields have received from the Provincial Council and Government. The Annexation question was brought prominently before the Council on Wednesday. The Provincial Treasurer moved the appointment of a Select Committee to take into consideration that portion of His Honor's speech which referred to this question, consisting of Meesrs Barnicoat, Collins, Tarrant, O'Conor, Wilkie, Donne, and the Treasurer, with power to call for persons and papers. In the course of his remarks the Treasurer said : — " A considerable difference existed between the state of affairs now, and their condition last year. The method of dividing the Consolidated revenue between the General and Provincial Governments gave a much larger sum to the Grey District than fell to it under the capitation allowance now in force ; and that fact would form a valid ground for a reduction in the estimate of the value of the territory proposed to be annexed, especially as there was a large debt, part of which Nelson would have to take with the territory." In the course of a few days we shall no doubt learn the result ; but we consider the course adopted by the Council a very strange one, considering that they had before them the report of their own Commission on the question. Even after the Committee has reported, the question will have to be discussed in open Council, and why this should not have been done in the first instance is not easy to comprehend.