OPENING OF WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1802, 15 May 1874, Page 2

OPENING OF WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hokitika, May 21i

The Provincial Council opened to-day. All the members were present except Messrs Wickes, Guinness, and M'Gaffin.

Mr Bonar, in his address, expressed his desire to increase the permanent settlement of the Province. He hoped the deliberations of the Council would tend to that end. The. revenue received for the quarter ending March was L 7507, showing a deficit on the estimated amount. There was a marked falling off in spirit licenses, amounting to fully LI OOO, owing to Fox's Act. The debt of the Pro\ ince was being gradually cleared off. The Westland Loan has been successfully launched, having realised L 50.80 0; L 40.030 taken up atLlO] 10s, and LIO,OOO at LI 02. The Bank of New Zealand advance of L 31,067 had been paid off. Further tramway claims had arisen through the completion of the Greymouth and Marsden road, but they were being pressed against the General Government. He referred to the Rec«ss Public Works Committee's report, and defended the borrowing of L 285,00 0; the expenditure to be extended over five years, He intends asking the Council for a modified scheme for the first year, consisting of works most urgently needed and likely to be most immediately reproductive. The works he would submit for consideration are as follows :-— Mikonni Water-race, L 35,000 ; Qieat South Road, H0,Q00; Arnold to Brunner, L 500 0; road to Taipo reefs, L 200 0; Hokitika. river protective, L 10,00 0; Hokitika Hospital and Lunatic Asylum, L 4500 ; school, buildings, L 3000; Provincial Government buildings* L4QOQ — total, L 78,600. He referred to the undoubted

security the Province could give. The Mikonui race he estimated to return Lßooo a year. He referred to southern settlement in favorable terms, and to the steps taken re the Christchurch road, concluding with the hope that the Province would be relieved of the burden: The General Government was favorable to the construction of a railway between Hokitika and Greymouth. The correspondence thereupon would be laid on the table. He advocates the construction of this line prior to connecting with Nelson or Christchurch. It is intended asking the Council to adopt the Municipal Corporation Water Works Act for Hokitika. He asks for an expression of opinion from the Council in reference to Road Boards. He hoped that there would be unanimity of action in reference to the public works needed, and that the members would sink' tall minor differences for the common weal. The Council adjourned to Monday.