PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ITEMS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 324, 21 May 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ITEMS.

(Condensed from Dunedin papers ) MIKING BOABD. Mr. de Lautour asked tlie Secretary* for the Goldfields if the Government had any objections to state for what reason it was decided not to appoint a Mining Board for Otago ? Mr. MaoKellar explained that the Government had decided not to appoint a Mining Board in the interests of the miners themselves... He would, however - indicate some of the reasons. It would be remembered that the Provincial Secretary had previously stated that the Government would take the matter into" their serious consideration. The Government did take into their serious consideration, and it was considered that on the whole the Mining Regulations had worked well, as evidenced by the fact that so comparatively little litigation had taken place on the Goldfields when compared with the large amount of litigation that had taken, place on the Goldfields of "Victoria, where Mining Boards were in operation, and to which fact it appeared to be partly owing that so much litigation had occurred. It appeared'to them that the law was sufficiently complicated already, and that to introduce new regulations by local boards—because it could be hardly .supposed, if the appointment of a Mining Board were once made, that the? -* appointment of a.number would not follow —would, make the matter more complicated than The experience in "victoria had gone -to show that the law was so continually changing that the miners were in- absolute ignorance of the law; and claim-jumping and other disturbances had cropped up. If a Mining Board had been appointed its powers would be limited to goldmining under miners' rights, and unless the Government was prepared to go in for-a very extensive alteration of the law, a Mining Board could not deal with goldmining carried oh - under goldmining leases, nor" even with cutting and extension of. water races, or entering for mining on ground held under agricultural 1 leases. These were sdme'of thereasons which he had to offer. He could only say that, if the hon. member had - any suggestions to. make which he considered.would, if adopted, result in ofbetter regTflatiqhs than at present' existed, the Government would be HPEfrtpjgive effectlo there appeared any .necessity], for. /their adoption-;;.; i r ■- Ftl ■'-'" : ' ; : '"-' -'' -• •' c "^ ''mOTKaSTTEVISTOBS. .. ~ .. T .. Mr. Bastings asked the Secretary for" the Goldfields if it was the intention of the Government to appomtTinining- surveyors' in ininifig centre's", in accordance with -!the.irecommendation cbntained-'-m ;Mr^;"Dlric^'s. ; repprt?=—-(See part 4, modes ;ofjoj)emng;Bnd )( exploitatio'n of the reefs*) • i Mr. MacKeUar.statgd" that the Govern-! I ment would .be glad, to comply with the ,'ahd more especially if itheycould see'their way to employ, these i surveypfsjto; prepare, topographical plans ;of the" district; but, as the Provincial Secretary had already explained, the sur-; vey staff was now more efficient than it was, and the Government were, satisfied; that/with the present staff, they would be able to overtake alt the work'to -which ' Mr. OTrich had alluded. But Mr. TJlricb. had fallen l into an= error when he stated that " the--.deficiency existed in conse r | quence of the' want '' of qualified mining surveyors." : The were aware that the 'deficiencies referred to' existed , because th'e ihihing companies did' not ; take advantage even of the surveyors th'ejr had at thpir company wished to r 'have a,: survey of this : kind they had only to, apply to the of the district.,,. "Until lately the staff was so fully occupied with agriculi; tural survey, and in making up.arrears in; connection witluthe Goldfields, that it .was. ,previously ..hardly 'possible •: to' keep up with the work.. The Government were I quite-satisfied- that--if the miningsproprietors wished anything of the kind indica- , ted by Mr. Ulrich the present staff would be able to overtake it.

On. .this ; matter the ' Guardian' comments' as" follows :—'The [ reply of. the: Goldnelds' >■ Secretary to -the question of the member fop •Ppapeka oaxtsed us so much amazement when we first read it in our columns, that, until Wehad compared our: report with.the reports of our contemporariesj we hesitated to believe" it possible that he could have uttered the nonsense ascribed to : him. 'For his answer had: about as much, and no more, relevancy to the question • asked, as the. pla-, . cards'of the Fakir of .Ooljx have to the ? chapter of the-prophet Daniel. It really was apropos of nothing, asuonr French friends would put it. Evidently the Secretary does not'understand what is implied by the term' mining surveyor.* He talked most learnedly of mining surveyors preparing topographical plansrrr-. averred that the ''survey staff'- was how more efficient than of yore—intimated that with the present stiff the department would soon be able to. overtake all arrears —and (crowning absurdity tered the astounding assertion that the mining companies - do not take advantage * even of the surveyors they: have now. at their command T This, is the most exquisite fooling of all. Even yet we cannot believe that Mr. MacKellar earnest. Why, there-is not at the present time and has not been for many years, a single mining" surveyor in all Otago, and, if-the present Head of the, Provincial Groldfields; //Department does not know this, we venture to say that there are.not ten.miners in ithe Province who Are not sorrowfully aware of the fact. "What on earth does Mr. MacXellar"suppose- are the duties and functions of a mining surveyor ? Does he suppose these to be matters 6f ordinary survey,, such as land-surveyors could take in hand or properlv perform ?; It-would seem so. \Bufc If thisTje indeed the case, -we must (even at,the risk of, seeming rude) r inform him th%t,'th'ej sooner he 'jgocs to school and 'makes liimself aiittle' better ; acquainted ;W,ith;this and similar; rudimentary knowledge pertaining to the department over which fie is supposed to preside, the better .will it be for the Goldfields and the Government. .- . :...-,.. _.ME. ; ;GIASSFdiD's'EirN. '_''.'■",. i ; = Mr. Hazlett. asked the Secretary for Lands, why the Hundred, agreed to by ,the Council during, last session, containing 6,ooo.acres or thereabouts, on deferred payments, on Mr. Glassford's run, No. 223, has not been opened, and if the Government have any objection to state what course is proposed to be pursued to cause the speedy opening of the Hundred on block as recommended ? ■' : Mr. Eeid, in reply, explained that this Hundred had not been opened in consequence of pressure of work on the District

Surveyor P Tenders were called for tie work of survey, but none were received. It was doubtful whether or not this was a disadvantage after all, as a sludge channel would pass through tho land, and it was well that this should be first laid off. He expected that the District Surveyor would shortly commence this work.': ' MOUNT IDA PUBLIO WOBKS.

In moving ..for copies of all unconv ploted contracts on tho Mount! Ida'Pubfic' Works, Mr. de' Lautour brought in a strong bill of noglect against the Government. In a calm and dispassionate djiobch, every word of which bespoke that he belived in and could substantiate ovory, assertion ho made, the hon. member for Mount Ida charged tho Government with wholesale neglect - first in allowing tho General Assembly vote of £43,000 to bo reduced a couple of thousand pounds, while it was known thtft the appropriation was far short of what was actually represented, and the votes from the same source had been increased £20,000 in favor of the Thames, £40,000 for Westland, and £20,000 for Nelson; and secondly, in originally letting the contract at a lesser price than tho engineer's estimate, and in spito of that officer's protest ; thirdly, in taking no steps to prevent tho " inordinate delay" that had taken place in constructing the works. On this latter point he said the present contraots should have been completed on »»April 22, 1874, but they would not be so until December next, iF then; and under charge two he made some serious statements as to tho way tho contracts had been carried on. In agreeing to the motion, the 1 Provincial Secretary contented himself by saying that it was unnecessary to make any remarks until the papers were laid on the table, when it would be seen that the member for Mount Ida had

been drawing very largely apon his imagination, which aroused the ire of Mr. Fish, whwsaid such grave statements deserved more than the flippant trcat- * ment they had received at the hands of ■ the Government. Somewhat similiarly Mr. M£Dermid expressed himself, and the Hpn. Mr. Reynolds got up to say that wh en the papers were laid on the table it would be found that the statements of the member for Mount Ida were far from correct.

Expressions of dissent from the latter induced Mr. Reynolds to modify his re--mark, and to say that from his own personal knowledge he could state that things were not exactly as had been stated. "When replying, Mr. do Lautour fell foul of the Government benches by stating that the production oi the papers referred 'to had been refused. "By whom P" came the quick question of the head of the Provincial Executive; and the equally sharpy answer "By the Goldfields Secretary. ' The reiteration of the assertion brouoht to his feet Mr. MacKellar, who gave it a " completo denial." Sticking to-, his assertion, yet waiving it as immaterial, Mr. de Lautour concluded by saying he could substantiate every statement he had made in moving the motion, which was agreed to. WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE. Mr. de Lautour moved " That a "Waste Lands Committee bo to specially consider and report upon all questions connected with the waste lands that may be referred to it. The committee to consist of Mr. Stout, Mr. M'Kenzie, Hon. Dr. Menzies, Mr. Shand, Mr. Bastings, Mr.Lumsdcn, and the mover ;,with power to call for persons and papers, and to report from time to time."—Carried, . ' PHOVINCIAI StTEVET. Mr. de Lautour moved. "That it'be ~ an instruction to the Waste Lands Committeeto'take into consideratibn the pre* sent system of survey in the province, the charges 'levied in different districts, 5 the facilities afforded to settlers, and other questions connected therewith $ and to report "thereon Frpni time Id timV;"—tJarried. -■■'■•- *'• THE KAWABAtT BBIDGE. ~...,.». I Mrv de Lautour, brought up" the re'& port on the ■petitions of certain minersT praying that the Government would purchase the Kawarau' Bridge and throw the same open for traffic free of charge; The committee recommend that, as it appeared the scale of charges at present imposed at tHe bridge was' excessivo, the Government be requested to put clause 9 of the memorandum of conditions into force, with a view to the reduction of the charges. At the same time the committee .urged upon the Government the advisabinty of abolishing altogether the. toll levied on foot passtngers. Tho committee further recommended tho purchase of this and other private bridge's erected under Government conditions put'of any loan or advance obtained from the General Government, and the reduction of tolls' oh such,, bridges to a limit that shall provide funds sufficient for interest; for a sinking ftad, and for maintenancelof the bridges. .~; \ ; . ~ './ PETITION'S. :' ''. ' '"'. ,"] ''■''. were presented as : - follow :-*•' By Mr. Armstrong, ;from residents at St. Bathans and other places, praying for a bridge over the Manuherikia. By Mr. de Lautour, from A. H. Keene, mining engineer and surveyor, praying to be reinstated on the list of authorised l'surveyors. From Jacob Lory, manager of a. water race company; praying, inter ah'a, v

that his property. might be protected. From residents in the Upper Taiori, XinbUrn, and Serpentine districts, praying for the opening up of land in those districts. Prom Richard Pilkinton (late of the Police Force), praying for favorable consideration on account of his having been compelled to resign his position in the force through ill health. By Mr. Ami. strong, from residents at Hyde, praying for the opening of commonage. SELECT COMMITEES* BEPOBTS. Mr. de Lautour brought up Interim Report No. 3 from the Select Committee on Goldfields, in re the petition of Jacob Lory,; manager of the Surprise Water Race Company, which was as follows : "The petitioner prays for protection in the matter of certain water rights. Your committee has carefully considered that petition, and reports as its recommendation that the petition bo referred to the Government to inquire into the premises, and to grant such relief as may bo reSuired. Your committee would also raw the attention of the Government to clause 10 of the petition, in which the want of a person, who might be dealt with in matters of this kind, is referred to." Mr. Clark submitted Interim Report No. 2 from the Select Committee on Private Petitions, in re petition of Alfred H. Kecno, mining engineer. " Tho petitioner prays to bo re-instated on the list, of authorised surveyors. Your committee has carefully considered this petition, - and taken evidence thereon, and is of opinion

that the petitioner has no ground of complaint that would justify the committee in recommending' any '-"interference "between the petitioner and the Board of Examiners. ' PALMBBSTON TO CLYDE. Mr. M'Knnzie asked the Secretary for .Land and Works if the railway survey from Palmerston to Clyde was completed, and, if so, whether he would lay the surveyor's report' upoirthe 'iable during the present session ? Mr. Reid said he believed that-the survey, was .completed with the exception, of tlie'portion betweeh'Parmerstbn arid Waihemo, andvhe believed, that that portion would be completed in about a week from the present time. ArepOrt, as regarded the work from Waihemo to Clyde, could be furnished at any time, but it was considered better to furnish a report on the whole work. ALLEGED ILL-TBEATMENT OF IMMIGEANTS. Mr. G. F. C. Browne asked the Government if any report was obtained in reference to alleged ill-treatment of immigrants forwarded to the interior Goldfields in the worst month of the year for employment on the Mount Ida Public Works, and whether the Government" would lay all papers or correspondence connected therewith on the table ? Mr. Eeid replied that a report was obtained in regard to the alleged ill-treat-ment of immigrants. He did not know, however, if it occurred during the worst month of the year, or what might be considered the worst month of the year. There might be differences of opinion as to which was the worst month of the year. A report had been obtained, and there was no objection to lay it on the table, as. well as all correspondence connected with it • .: ..; HYDE. Mr: deLautour moved: " That the petition of residents of Upper Taieri, Linbura and Serpentine, and also the petition of residents at Hyde, praying for the setting apart of land for agricultural purposes in their, respective districts, be referred to the Goldfields Committee."—Carried. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The Provincial Treasurer moved, " That the House go into Committee of Supply. Mr. Bastings in a lengthy speech referred to the dissatisfaction expressed by members of the House in reference to the departmental arrangements of the Government, arid to the Estimates as brought down, and that the large and important Public Works which had been undertaken by the Province had not received that supervision which was necessary to ensure their being properly carried out. In support of such being the case, he referred to the Waipori Drainage Channel, for which £ll,ooohadbeengranted. This work had been finished only within the last 12 months. Regulations had been prepared for the management of these works fourteen or fifteen months ago, yet up to the present time no proper supervision had been established in reference to them. He then referred to the delay which had taken place in reference to the Mount Ida Water Works, and said, the; result was that the people had to leave the district, which was now to a greatjextent unpopulated. He next referred to the inconvenience experienced through the residence of the Goldfields Secretary at Cromwell, instead of Dunedin, and to another hon. member of the Government who resided in Southland. He moved as an amendment, " That, in the opinion of •this Council, the -financial proposals brought down by the Government are not satisfactory,, andjijat the present distribution of Executive offices has not been foundqtq jbejcqnducive to .the proper ministration of the affairs of the Province. The Council, therefore,, requests the Government to reconsider their present position; with'-a view to better nriahcial and Administrative arrangements being arrived at." Several hon. members having spoken cn'themotion,-' ■■:■,}{, •• > ■,.■ . -,..- Mr. de Lautouiv was quite satisfied that the member for. Eawarau had exerted his abilities to the best of his power, considering the place where he resided! Dunedin was the central resort of miners, who would never think of visiting Cromwell for the purpose of consulting him. It had been said that they should specify in what the Goldfields Secretary had failed, but it would have beeri'more consistent had it beon pointed out what he • had to do. He had always held that the office of Goldfields Secretary was unnecessary, and that the Province would be better with6ut any such officer. He considered that the motion Jdid not at the Goldfields Secretary, but at all the member,sof the Government except the Provincial'Sebretary. He then referred to the delay ' which* ; took place in regard to answers being .received from the Govern-; ment to letters addressed to them from, the interior districts. " " : "'

i The Provincial Secretary moved the adjournment of the debate.' This, He corisidered, would be acceded to at once, as the hon. member'for Mount Ida had challenged him, in his "reply, to answer the charges brought against the Government. The debate was then adjourned until the next day. - j •''■' '