The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1872.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 105, 2 May 1872, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1872.

In tbese days of " progress," which is but too often synonymous with reckless expenditure and unlimited borrowing, the address of bis Honor the Superintendent on opening the present session of the Provincial Council, must have created no little surprise in the miuds of those who were present at its delivery. In the times in which we live the fact of the expenditure of a province being within its revenue seems almost too absurd to be believed, while iv the idea of devoting a couple of thousand pounds, which in tine case is the difference between revenue and expenditure, towards paying off a public debt, there is something so thoroughly novel and unexpected that we could with difficulty bring ourselves to believe that his Honor was not hoaxing the gentlemen of the Provincial Council. However, aa he maintained his gravity while reading the startling paragraph, and as it is bas since appeared in print, we are bound to believe, that he was stating a positive fact, and, although there may be those who will look upon such an extraordinary circumstance as an evidence of slowness, and one which could not possibly have occurred in any other province but that upon whose chief town has been bestowed the nickname of " Sleepy Hollow," we venture to express our gratification on finding that those at the head of our affairs have not yet been seized with the take-no-tbought-for-the-morrow mania that is just now so prevHlent, but tbat they are possessed of sufficient prudence to endeavor to make both ends meet in their administration of the finances of the province. We do not propose just now to review the address i.t length, but merely to remark upon one or two of its principal features. As might be expected, it commences with an allusion to the short lived Payment to Provinces Act which promised so much and < fleeted so little, and to the result of its collapse upon the financial state of the province, the actual revenue, in consequence of the inability of the General Government to fulfil their engagements, having fallen very far short of tbat which was estimated. His Honor also touches upon tbe misappropriation by the Colonial Government of a portion of the £24,000 tbat was voted by the Legislature for the expenditure upon roads within that part of the South West Goldfields south of the northern boundary of tbe Buller Electoral District. Of this sum, it will be remembered, that the Superintendent recommended that £6000 should be expended upon a road in the Upper Buller, and ib tbe coirespondence on the subject that was yesterday laid on the table of tbe Council we find him stating most positively to tbe Minister for Public Works for the iMiddle Island that as a "result of a compromise with the members for tbe Grey and Bnller districts, and with their consent, the clanse was framed so as lo include that portion of the Buller Valley which is outside the narrow limits of the electoral district." How, in the face of this, the Colonial Government could take upon themselves to divert the money from the purpose for which it clearly was voted, it is difficult to understand, and it is not to bo wondered at that tbe Superintendent complains of such conduct on their part. Allusion is made to the recent gold discoveries in the Inangahua Valiey, and to the intentions of the Provincial Government with respect to that district in the matter of throwing open the agricultural lands in the neighborhood for sale, making roads between tbe gold and stock producing part of the proviuce, &c, and we then come to a modest little paragraph which, however, is of the greatest importance, in tbat it opens up an entirely new policy. •" Proposals will be submitted to you, having for their object tbe formation of a special settlement in the central part of the Buller Valley, combined with the completion of a road available for stockdriving," &c., and agaiD, " your sanction wili.be asked to the preparation of a measure which will enable me to apply the principle of special settlements to the Grey Valley, and any other part of the province containing land adapted to the purpose;" The manner in which it is proposed to establish these settlements will, no doubt, be fully explained' by the Treasurer in his statement, and we believe

it will be found to be something to this effect : that the General Government will be asked to purchase the land from the Provincial authorities, by whom the money will be laid out in forming roads connecting the new settlements with the other parts of (lie provincp, the General Government to dispose of the land either to newly-arrived imtnigranls, or to persons already resident in the colony iv accordance with the provisions of the Immigration and Public Works Act. This opening up and settling the lands in the interior is what has long been wanted, and we hail with satisfaction Ibe policy shadowed forth iv the opening address, believing, as we do, that it 19 one which will very largely tend to the welfare of the province.