CHANGES IN PROVINCIAL BOUNDARIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 191, 12 August 1872, Page 2

CHANGES IN PROVINCIAL BOUNDARIES

{From the Evening Post.") Mr Curtis moved that in the opinion of this House, hasty changes in the boundaries of provinces, aud especially the establishment of new provinces, tend to uncertainty and confusion in government, and to ueedlees increase in departmental expenditure; and that it is therefore inexpedient to make such changes otherwise than upon some definite and permanent scheme applicable to the whole colony. He said be was by no means inclined to say that the present boundaries of provinces were all that could be desired; but if any changes were to be made they must be upon some general system. He instanced the boundaries of Wellington, Auckland, and Hawke'e Bay, which were straight lines, while those in other provinces were in some cases straight lines, water, &c. But still a change should not be made unless upon some general scheme. He considered the attempts which had been made to alter the boundaries of certain provinces against their wish by the present Ministry very objectionable. He hod opposed these . attempts so far as regarded Nelson, but he was then threatened that a good slice of Nelson would be taken away from it, and the bill already introduced was the consequence. The representatives of Nelson were not given to log-rolling, and the members, as a body, did not support the present Ministry, and these facts made the special attempts to interfere with the boundaries of the Nelson province peculiar. Continued attempts to niter boundaries of provinces raised financial difficulties in the conduct of provincial business and paralysed legislation. He - did not think the separation of Hawke's Bay from Wellington, Marlborough from Nelson, Southland from Otago, or Westland from Gan** terbury, had been successes. He deprecated arbitrary,, interference . with the boundaries of provinces. Mr. Harrison moved the previous question. : Mr. Stafford said the resolution merely affirmed a general principle, and did not prejudice the bill. Mr; Macandrew supported the motion,:, but reserved the right to deal with the hill for .the alteration of the boundary of i Nelson when it came before the House. The Premier opposed the motion, which h e said was haid ; and si] ly , at the same >, time it was a trap to catch certain members to agree to the proposition ithat nexchange should .be made that did' hot affect! the goiufields of* Otago and „Auckland*, Auckland* likewise. He said Westland and,tb«iNei-,j son goldfields had heen boiling over !; with virtuous indignation at the government oif the plaee'by - Nelsoh. ; He urged ' tha% £i Mn'*. r Curtis' arguments against the alteration of boundaries were fallacies; and he said the Government would endeavor to govern the colony for the good of the people, and not only s l^!ift;^iri^^s^fph^ ! > Superintendent and Executive of Nelson; ■'-••-' ¥$ziMik e^m^t ?vf aiting to avow his l^ention .with regard $o the, motion ;^n^iff^h^ jrleiSSt^. ifad"' .given , . > Mm, a clue as to. how i\-^&yoi\m*^Qu\d g&, and he ; sai tothffi i&e^tej^ w^Wpa ye S^n '^rtti&Veij^^ i

upon which the-ycolony had entered, than in ascertaining how many miles of road exis.ie^ii^rife' Nelson goldfields — a matter upon! whLbh l i;the Houße would prefer thb opinion oP*a professional man to even that of the Premier. Mr. J. Shephard enid the object of the Premier in visiting Westland was to foment; discord and disaffection. " • /y~ Mr. Curtis said the Premier, when on the West Coast goldfields, consorted with publicaus and disappointed land-jobbers who. had been prevented by the Provincial Council from preying on the miners. He had , held , jmeetiugs. in answer to large ! < requisitions, nod nowhere was there any appearance of dissatisfaction. ; On tho. .question beiDg pat, Mr. Curtis' motion Was carried by 37 to 29, v Ayes, 37: 'Curtis, J. Shephard, Mervynj O'Rorke, Stafford, Luckie, Rollestou, Paratfi, Swanaon, R. Richardson, Henderson, Monro, Wakefield, Fitzherbert, ColHop, Sbeebap, Taiarpa, Gillies, Creighton, Williamson, C. Parker, Bunny, Bradshaw, Bathgate, M'Gillivray, Macandrew, Buckland; Pearce, Jackson, Wood, Johnston, J. E. Brown, Murray, Clark, Seymour, Kenny, W. Kelly. . Noes, 29 : Harrison, Tribe, Yogel, Ingles, O'Conor, Shepherd, Reed, Bluet, Ormortd, Reeves,' Rhodes, Andrew, Bryce, G. Parker, M'Glashan, O'Neil, Brown, Fox, Thomson, Gisborne, Studholme, M'Lean, T.Kelley, E.Richardson, Munro, Stejvarf, White, Carrington, Katena.

The Lyttelton Times says that '• so far as elementary education is. concerned, the great and crying waut of Canterbury is, au adequate supply of really good teachers. This.is.almoat imivei;sally recognised, and the conviction is becoming daily stronger, not only that something 'must be done, but that it must bo done quickly,"