WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2040, 20 February 1875, Page 2

WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

THE TREASURER'S STATEMENT. [We give only a condensation of the concluding part of the Treasurer's statement, the first portion of which was published in our issue yesterday.] Referring to the expenditure of the past year, the Treasurer showed that whilst the Approsriations had amounted to L 95,210 3s lOd, the actual expenditure had only been L 87,582 163 Bd, being less than the amount voted by L 7627 73 2d. Of the total sum expended, L40, 128 13s lOd was in payment of liabilities previous to the change from the County to the Provincial form of Government. After having explained generally the various classes of expenditure, the Treasurer passed on to the consideration of the estimated receipts for 1875. The first two amounts— L9ooo Gold Duty, and L 5700 Miners' Rights and Gold-fields Revenue (he said) — I will take together, as the arguments which , apply to the one are also applicable to the other. I am aware that after the experience of the past year, these estimates may at first sight appear somewhat large, but I believe I can prove conclusively that we are justified in expecting an increase of revenue from these sources. First there is the certainty that one of our large water-races, I refer to the Kanieri Lake Water-race, will be completed in a short time, and from my knowledge of that district, acquired during a long residence therein, and from information gleaned from many, practical miners, who are thoroughly acquainted with the country, I am convinced that the completion of this work will .have the effect of bringing back this district to something approaching its former flourishing condition. Secondly, the construction of a track over Kelly's Range, in accordance with a resolution of this Council, will give easy access to a large area of country which is proved to be auriferous, and I may observe that I am speaking from personal observation, as I. travelled over this track with the Chief Surveyor when he inspected it, and was shown by the men who accompanied us, several terraces on the west side of the Taipo, which were known to contain gold in sufficient quantity to pay for sluicing, and to ! which it would not be difficult to, convey water. I also saw a quantity of gold procured from the flat at the termination 'of the 1 track, and' which I think gives evidence that the money spent in the formation of this road has been judiciously invested, more especially as it renders access to the gold-bearing reefs known to exist in this locality, comparatively easy. I look forward, therefore, to the opening up, in this part of the Province during the coming year of a large aud productive gold-field. ; Bat it ii to the southern portion ©f ih« >

Province that I believe we may look for tho most considerable addition to our gold revenue. Honorable members are aware that the greatest hindrance to the prospecting of this part of the territory in anything approaching a thorough and systematic manner, has been the impossibility of obtaining provisions, but in the Settlement at Jackson's Bay we nave a centre from woich food and necessaries nvty be procured, and the result of this will be that a corsiderable impetus will be given to enterprise iv this direction ; and though the principle object of the Government in establishing the Special Settlement has been to -encourage some portion of the population to engage in agricultural pursuits, and to make permanent residents of those who would otherwise only be birds of passage, they are desirous that every encouragement should be given to those who may feel disposed to prosecute the search for gold. However, as there is already a Committee called for by, the honorable member for Totara, Mr Cuming, we may possibly during the preseut session receive fuller information on this very important *■ subject. Of this, sir, I feel convinced, that no one can read 0s Sector's report upon that part of the Province, a part of which report is inserted in the pamphlet upon the Special Settlement, and also that of our Chief Surveyor, who is thoroughly acquainted with the nature of the country in that district, without acknowledging that we are justified in anticipating a considerable accession to bur gold revenue from that direction, and I may also remind the Committee that upon the recommendation of those who have explored the country, a strip of land' hvgmtk chains in width, extending fr'sistf/^Q^^ northern to the southern .bou^^T^^,^ Settlement, is to be x&s&. tA «>oMhe purpose of enabling inTlig^. ~<&&k the black sand beaches. ThererMjjflftother reason why ' bur expectation^JJonld be realised ; there is no doubt that the efforts of the Government to obtain a fair share of the immigrants who are ar- , riving in the Colony in such larg.3 num- , bers will meet with success, and that the search for gold will then be renewed with ' increased vigor. 1 might also point -to other parts of the Province where we may i reasonably expect quartz reefs to be developed during the year, but I think I have shown indisputably that our estimate is consistent with reason. For licenses the Council will observe' we anticipate receiving L9OOO. This will ibe , explained by the provisions of the Licensing Ordinance, which is uowbafpre you, and under which it is proposed tS'm- - crease the license: fees, and 'the improvement in tho general prosperity of the Pro- . vince, which, for various reasons, we are . led to expect. We therefore coDsider this a fair estimate. ; > The amount of L3OOO under the head of ■ tolls is within the mark, and a reasonable 1 estimate of what we: may expect to re- , ceive. - - -..<•■ We now approach the land-fund, which 1 ' in several other Provinces is regarded as ; the most important item of revenue, but : which hitherto has unfortunately been i with us only a very secondary affair, 1 " and , in considering this part of my subject I ' will first deal with the runs which, as hon. n ; embers are aware, are now sold for five t years at the upset price of one half-rjenuy per acre, and the disposition to invest in this description of property,- which has b^eri evidenced by the keen competition. 1 occurring at the sales, taken in conjuhc- : tion with the high prices ruling in thd I cattle market, leads us to believe that a p considerable, amount of revenue will ' accrue from this 'source, and I may inform the Council that the present annual rental of runs is L 1200; Secondly, the dis--1 position to purchase land upon deferred payments, which has been proved to exist by the very large number of applied tions received from persons desirous of proceeding to the Special Settlement shews chat we shall have no difficulty in disposing of the land in the other blocks: similarly set apart, but which have hitherto been locked up, and as a committee has been appointed to consider the matter, the Council may find it desirable to set aside land in other parts of the Province for sale under the same con- ; ditions. ; Thirdly, there is an evident inclination, ■ ~ , on the part of those who have taken uj^--.:' 1 runs to avail themselves of the pre- ' emptive right given by the fifteenths section of the Waste Lands Act Amendment Act, 1870, by which" holders of runsare entitled to take up five per cent, off the total acreage of the iun at the upsefi. price for rural, lands, such land to ue in. not more than two blocks, and the Board having the power to withhold ground which aiay be considered auriferous. Fourthly. There is at present a large amount due for sections in the town of Hokitika, and the Board contemplate throwing open for sale an extensive block of laud in the Grey diatrict, from which they expect to realise a considerable sum* The immense impetus which has been given to the timber trade during the fpa3t year, by the increased demand that has arisen. in the various markets, has led to many inquiries for land, suitable for sawmill sites, and this, considered in connection with- the fact that the timber in. tfca^>immediate vicinity of our ports is becoming exhausted, shews that we may confi?-" dently-anticipate that large blocks of land will . be purchased," for the purpose of securing the timber. The result of the January land sales^ L 1248 ss, however, I consider the,, most substantial grounds upon which- to base our calculations for the future, and 4 when taken in connection with thti causes I have enumerated, fully ■>; justify, the estimate. The sum of L7OOO subsidy- from the : General Government, to the end of the financial year, 30th June, 1875, isthS unpaid portion of the Bpecial vote of L10,000.-The next item of LSOO0 ■ i UM d minimum amount we anticipate receiving from the same source, and though some honorable members may consider it some* \ ; what problematical, I believe I can put v forward good reasons for our expecting aid from this : quarter. •;■■' ; • : > ; " * > '-\ First we have the recognition jwhu&.the , Colonial' Government has already 'givSm'&r. thd claims which the various Province* have upon them, influenced doubtless by the that the Provincial djffil cuities are caused in a very considerable I degree by the taking from the Province* I th-ur mosc fertile source of revenue. , >■> But it is upon the remarks made by the Colonial Treasurer, when making his Financial Statement at the last session 'of I the Assembly, that we more especially base our expectations of assistance in th* future. (The Treasurer quoted Mr ."fogd'i ; reraarkfc)

That Westland has proved, ard ia still likely to prove a mine of weal'h to the Colony, is not, I imagine, very difficult of proof ; the stubborn logic of figures will do that most conclusively. We find that in the financial year 1872-3 i the amount contributed by Westland to fh« general revenue of the Oolony was L69,2J7 7s Id; in 18734 we find it to be L 73,857 2s, shewing an increase of L4649 14a lid, and taking the population at 14,907, it shows a very large average per heal in comparison with other parts of the Colony, and as auch gives us special claims. Under the head of recoveries from patients, Lunatic Asylum, we have the sum L2OO. This is about the amount we expect to recover under an arrangement made with the Public Trustee, by which he empowers the Provincial Secretary to proceed against the relatives of a lunatic who may be in a position to pay for his or her maintenance at the asylum. The item of L 3460, the Council will obserre, ia the amount we anticipate recovering from the education rate. The L2OOO Bet; down as derivable from the sale of land in the southern district which forms the only remaining portion of the estimated revenue may, I think, be fairly coveted on. I have already told the Committee that we have, since the establishment of the Special Settlement, received several applications from persons desirous of purchasing land outside the boundary, and considering that the land is of good quality, that we have extensive forests of magnificent timber, and that the port offers unusual facilities for the export of that article, it is not unreasonable to suppose that we shall effect the sale of large blocks of country during the p current year. jHfcwencw, sir, terminated my survey oi^^^Bbusitems of receipts for the year 187l^^^^Hpay.that the Government has careful consideration tothaVHr; They have passed in review a^he arguments for and against the different items, and they are justified in asserting that the estimate is a safe one, and will be jnstified by actual' results, I may add still another cogent reason for supposing that these estimates are accurate, by stating that whereas the revenue for the first quarter of 1874 only reached L 7636, for the month of January this year it amounts to L 3917. We now, sir, approach the subject of expenditure for the year, but as the honorable members have before them a detailed list with a synopsis prefixed, showing the proposed expenditure under each head, I will not trespass long upon their patience, but merely glance at those items which call for special notice. I may say, here, that the Government, feeling that the financial condition of the Province imposed upon them the necessity of endeavoring to curtail expense if possible, have deliberated most carefully on every item. They find, however, that in no case can anything be attempted in the way of retrenchment without running the risk of materially interfering with efficiency, and they are assured that their estimate is only consistent with the due administration of affairs The Council will observe that the largest items are administration of justice, charitable institutions, roads, and works, miscellaneous expenditure, and education.

Under the first, which includes police, wardens, and gaol, we propose expanding L 10,493 2s 6d as against L9991 10s for 1874. This difference; however, is more apparent than real, as we have transferred LSOO, wardens' travelling allowances, formerly charged to travelling expenses of officers to its proper place on the estimates. Under the head of charitable, which includes the Greymouth, Hokitika, and Totara Hospital and the Benevolent Society, we ask for L 8713 10s as against L 6568 10s in 1874 ; this is caused by the LI2OO granted by the General Government towards the removal of the Greymouth Hospital having to appear in this place as well as LSOO in aid of the erection of the new Hospital building in Hokitika, and L 250 for the same purpose in Greymouth, the Nelson Government in this latter case having agreed to contribute a like sum. The LSOO grant in aid to the Hokitika Hospital is placed upon the Estimates, in accordance with a request of the Hospital Committee, and honorable members will see by the documents laid on the table that the removal contemplated would cause a saving of L 370 per annum, which will doubtless cause them to regard this expenditure favorably. For roads and works we have set down L 12.223, as against L 14 ,796 18s 6d for the previous year. The Council will perceive we ask only for L2OOO for the Christchurch road, while the vote for 1874 was L 4850. We also in 1874 required L 3696 to expend upon the Ahaura Bridge, for which no provision is jnow necessary. ••• The vote asked for educational purposes is L2OOO in excess of that asked for in previous years, and to this, I feel suie, no honorable member will feel disposed to raise an objection, but rather agree with the Government in regretting that a larger sum cannot be devoted to this purpose. Having now commented upon such points of the estimated receipts and expenditure as presenting themselves to me as needing explanation, it remains for me •- to take a general view of our position, and that carries me back again to our assests and liabilities. Were our assets all convertable in 1875 we should have a balance to our credit over all liabilities, but as I am scarcely able to say that the recovery- of the interest and sinking fund due to us in London will be passed to our account before the next session of this Council, we must be content to await its realisation.

In the meantime, our estimated revenue | for the current year, as I have shown, amounts to L 57,132, and our proposed expenditure to L 56,876 14s 9d, and we may congratulate ourselves that we d<» not cammence the year so heavily weighted with unsatisfied claims as in 1874. Looking at our prospects for the future, if it is allowed me to be prophetic, I may predict that Westland will indeed prove a mine of wealth to the Colony. Her great undeveloped mineral resources, her numberless quartz reefs, her stately forests of the most durable and valuable descriptions of timber, with her other great natural advantages, all point to the conclusion that although at present we are hindered and restricted in our efforts 10 open up the country, by the want of funds, caused by the absorption of our customs dues into the general revenue of the Colony, we phall ultimately emerge from our difficulties, and be not the least important part of this great and flourish* lug Colony.

£100