THE GREYMOUTH HARBOR WORKS ADVANCE VALIDATION BILL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1255, 7 August 1872, Page 3

THE GREYMOUTH HARBOR WORKS ADVANCE VALIDATION BILL.

In the House of Representatives, on the 24th ult., Mr Reeves, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said it would perhaps be well to recall to the remembrance of honorable members the cause that had led to the introduction of the Bill. In the month of February hut, serious floods occurred in the Grey River, which resulted in a very large damage to the town, which swept away the defences which had hitherto existed, and rendered the town itself liable to destruction by future floods. The distress which was occasioned by those floods led to a very wide expression of sympathy from people in all parts of the Colony, and emboldened the Government, as expressing the feelings of the people at large, to meet the demands made upon them by the authorities at Greymouth to assist them in their difficulty. At that time his honorable colleague the Premier happened to be at Greymouth, and communicated with the memberUff the Government in Welling-, ton, staling the distress of the people, and asking that inquiries might be made by the engineers into the condition of affairs. Those inquiries were made, and professional advice was given that certain works should be undertaken, the estimated cost of which amounted in all to about L 13,000. A large part of these works would, in any case, nave been necessary at some future time in connection with the Brunner Railway. It was therefore arranged .that a certain portion, to the

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extent of about L6OOO of the expenditure should be met from the funds which would be available for that railway. Another portion was met out of the Native trust funds, as there was a veiy valuable property in Greymouth belonging to that trust. It became necessary for the Government to advance the re-' mainder. The Government endeavored to obtain the best security which was available under the, circumstances. For that purpose he (Mr Reeves) entered into an agreement with the Mayor and Corporation of the town, by which they consented to pledge their rates and other available assets, to execute a first mortgage upon them, and, in common with the County of Westland, to execute a mortgage over the coal reserve when required. Upon those conditions, *a portion of the money had been advanced, and it was for the purpose of validating the execution of the deed that the present Bill had been brought in. The clauses of the BUI were few and simple. The schedule was in itself a copy of the deed, and explained the terms upon which the money « as given. The amount advanced was L4OOO, secured upon the whaif rates, rents of land, tonnage rales, and the general revenue of the Borough. The principal was to be paid in five annual sums of L 750 and one of L 250, tho first payment to commence on the Ist of May, 1873. The interest was six per cent., payable on .the Ist November and the Ist May in each year. In case of default in payment of pnncipal or interest, the Government might enter upon possession without notice or demand. Those were the leading features of the Bill, and both the Connty and Borough were consenting parties to a mortgage, whenever it was required, over the Grey River coal reserve, the area of which was about 5000 acres. Mr Rolleston said that it would be satisfactory to honorable members if the Hon. the Native Minister would inform the Home of the principle upon which a contribution was demanded from the Natives towards the required sum, and the amount so contributed. It would not be fair for the Native trust to be subjected to a different rating principle from that which operated with respect to other property. MrM'Leansaid that the principle on which the contribution was based was, that tbe Native property was endangered as well as tbat of Europeans.' The arrangement had been made upon the suggestion of Mr Mackay, who acted as trustee of the .Native reserves, and who was fully cognizant of the value of the Native land. The rates chargeable upon the Native land were in the same proportion as those for lands held by Europeans, the same advantages of security from floods being derived by both. He did not remember the exact amount, but he could easily obtain the information if the honorable gentleman desired it. Mr Fox would supplement the information which bad been given by telling the honorable gentleman that by far the most v.-ilnable part of the town of Greymouth atoft-l upon the Najtive reserve. The anoint assessed upon it, L2OOO, was quint small enough; in fact, he rcmembei e*l saying, when upon the spot, that that sura might fairly be increased by another LIOOO. The Bill was then read a second time.