THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 923, 12 July 1871, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1871.

The County Council meets for the " despatch of business" to-day, at Hokitika. It is not probable that the County Chairman will deliver a very elaborate address on the occasion, as the topics upon which to exercise the official mind are not at present very numerous or exciting. Of course, Mr Lahman will congratulate the Council upon the steps taken by the General Government for the construction of a main road through the County. But it is doubtful whether he will think fit to ask the Council to furnish the quid pro quo asked for in the shape of large reservations of land for immigration purposes. Still it may be as well for the Council to be prepared for an enforcement of this demand, and to learn that the Colonial Government will most likely so amend the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870, as to make it incumbent that large colonial reserves should be set aside on the lines of all roads and railways constructed out of Colonial funds. "Immigration purposes" does not necessarily mean the introduction of immigrants into every place where these reserves may be set aside ; and although the Government may discover that Westland does not need "immigration" in the ordinary sense of the word, it will in all pro-

bability insist on the reserves being made for the purposes of immigration generally throughout the Colony. Indeed, we don't see how the Government can do less, if it is to carry out its public works policy as the Act intends. The expenditure it is making in Westland and elsewhere is being paid out of loan, and not out of revenue, and the Colony will 1 undoubtedly look for substantial security for the money spent in the various Provinces. The County Chairman has not, in all likelihood, made himself acquainted with the Public Works Act, or the political surroundings of that measure, further than its superficial features in relation to the recent action of the Government in Westland, and we would recommend him and the Council to study it a little, and not be too hasty in expressing unalloyed thanks to the Government. From the utterances of the County Chairman on public occasions recently, we take it for granted that he will be able to give a satisfactory explanation of the financial condition of the County — satisfactory in so far that its liabilities have been considerably reduced, and that it is in .a favorable position for meeting all demands upon it. But we fear that the satisfaction will end there. It is not likely that he will be able to show a probability of the Council having any considerable surplus to vote for public works. Even if the estimate of revenue for the past half-year has been realised -'-a doubtful question — and that no diminution in the receipts may be expected during the ensuing six months, the Treasury will not have any surplus over the expenditure, and the revenue generally is only about equal to the necessary departmental expenses and the cost of maintaining the works already constructed. It seems moat likely that the County Couucil will have to confine itself mainly to watching its ordinary expenditure without indulging in the further construction of public works. The Council last half-year voted away .£29,616, against an estimated revenue of £22,300, and although the items of expenditure included two or three sums which were contingent liabilities, and which will not figure again, it is quite evident that as not a single new work was authorised, the ordinary expenses of Government absorb all the County Revenue. The departmental expenses had already been cut down, so that much room for further economy does not seem possible. We shall wait with some curiosity to see what scheme Mr Lahman will propose to get rid of the dilemma. There will be a slight increase in the capitation allowance through the discrepancy between the Colonial Treasurer's estimate of population and the Census returns, but as the local charges for General Government departments, and interest on the' debt pretty nearly eat up the County's share of the Consolidated revenue, not much relief can be expected from that source. It is a pity Mr Lahman is not a Superintendent or he might follow the example of Mr Fitzherbert, and enjoin the Council to look for its remedy in local taxation. But this phase of local self-government will come in due time, and probably its first necessity will be for the maintenance of the "main road." We presume the County Chairman will lay before the Council the Beport of the Otago Mining Commission, and if we were in his place he would preserve a golden silence upon the merits of that document. Mr Barff will no doubt seize upon it as his especial prize, and do all the talking necessary. There is one of the features of this Report that we would recommend the Council to be cautious with — the recommendation for a reduction in the duty on gold. The County Treasurer expects to get about £18,000 a year from this source, and the County could not very well afford to see this amount seriously reduced. The technical amendments of the Mining Acts, recommended by the Olago Commission, will give the Gold Fields members plenty to do, and Mr Guinness will find occupation in the Public House Act. It is to be hoped Mr Lahman will invite the Council to seriously consider the Water Supply question with the view of making suggestions to the General Government, and that he will ask the Council to remonstrate against the excessive charges for the General Government departments in the County. And he should conclude by asking the Council to do a little less talking, to avoid indulging too much in " Committees," and to get through with its business a little quicker ihan it r has been in the habit of doing.