PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 26, 30 January 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, January 29. PUBLIC WORKS LOAN. Tlie Council metlast' night. Present : all the members. s The Fkovincul Treasurer ?aid : I feel, Sir, that it has fallen to my lot to move one of tho most important resolutions ever brought before this Council, but I am encouraged by the belief that though there may be some differences of opinion with regard to the details, its general principles will be fully endorsed by the members of the Council, who, I hope, will sink for the time all party differences and render every assistance in their power to advance the interest of the province as a whole as well as of their own individual districts. The task that I huve undertaken is one that is entirely opposed to the coume that has been usually adopted hitherto in Nelson. We have looked upon it as one of our greatest merits that have kept out of debt, and when other provinces have increased their liabilities and have, perhaps, temporarily hampered themselves by so doing, we have been in the habit of pointing at them somewhat reproachfully and congratulating ourselves that we were much better than they. But a change has come over the people, and during the late elections there was a unanimous desire expressed throughout the province for raising a loan for public works. There is one matter that we may fairly consider and enquire into, that ie, what is the result of our refusal to borrow; how far has the Province benefited by keeping . out of debt? The question is best answered by the smallness of our population end the large portion of our territory that still remains inaccessible. This is not a satisfactory state of things, and it has at last dawned upon that nothing more satisfactory can be expected so long as we rely solely upon the small revenue we have at our disposal. If any present desire that we should continue to ad litre to the non-borrowing policy they will certainly vote Bgainst this resolution, but I believe that the whole Council are with me, and that they are one and all of opinion that we cannot hope to improve unless we can obtain a loan to assist us. What has been done elsewhere? Let us take for instance a province that in population much resembles our own, and which at one time was sunk in the lowest depths of poverty. Four years ngo it was supposed that Wellington was irretrievably bankrupt, and it was acknowledged that her debts must be paid by the General Government in order to preserve the colonial credit. The sum of ,£85,000 was applied for in 1871, but there were many who opposed it on the ground that recovery was utterly hopeless, and that it was far better that she should be abolished from the provinces to which she was a disgrace. Look at her now. By means of roads and bridges the country has been rendered available, her population has largely increased, and lands hitherto worthless have acquired a marketable value. All who know the province now must admit that it is making rapid advances which are entirely owing to the impetus supplied by borrowed money. Then again there are Otago and Canterbury, the latter of which eHpecially is so enormously rich that she actually does not know what to do with her money. At one time these two were burdened eo heavily with debt thit thtir pecuniary position was no b itter than ours is now, but the country was opened up and the land rendered available for settlement, and now they are very far in advance of all other parts of the colony. It is true that they possess great natural advantages, and that Canterbury especially has enormous tracts of land fit for cultivation, but she is without afivantag' s that we possess. If ehe is rich in land, we are rich in mines, and our wealth will some day under proper management be quite as great as if not greater than hers. Buc the lands of Otago nnd Canterbury were not rendered available without borrowing; by anticipating their revenue they obtained revenue, and their example should weigh with us in dealing with the future of Nelson. The Superintendent in his speech refers to the stoppage of provincial loans in 1867, which was most unfortunate for this province. Up to that time the sale of lands had furnished the Government with a large revenup, but just as it began to fall off there arose a serious claim for funds. A great effort was required for opening up the goldfields which certainly yielded a ( ., large revenue, but, as on all alluvial diggings, a heavy departmental expenditure was necessary. The population was constantly shifting, and tracks had to bo made at a great expense, for labor was naturally very dear. This was the time that money was wanted for carrying | out works, the execution of which would, by the amount of payable ground they would have opened up, have retained many here who were compelled to leave by the difficulty of getting about the country. It was just then that provincial borrowing ceased, and ever since we have been gradually sinking lower and lower, our prosperity has been fading away, and our population leaving our shores. To get them back will be exceedingly difficult, but now for the first time there appears to be an opoprtunity afforded us of obtaining the means for developing the country, and that the Council will readily avail itself of that opportunity I cannot for one 'moment doubt. We have a most valuable estate that only requires a judicious expenditure to open it up. In all the calculations that have been made of the value of the estate proposed at one time to be given for the railway, a most moderate price was placed on the land through which it was to run, but that does not represent what would be its value if the railway were opened and roads constructed through it. Then, lands cow worth next to nothing will be rendered valuable, and, what is far more important, settlement will progress, and gold-mining will be carried on by a hard-working class of " men who will eventually form homes of their own, and secure to the province a most desirable population. In the last f.esaion of the Assembly a strong d( giro was displayed to assist the provinces either by permitting them to borrow, or by the General Government borrowing for them. Every province fell in with this except Canterbury, even Avealthy Otago proposing to obtain £300,000 fora railwy outside the General Government proposals. The general acceptance of the measure by the House was remarkable, and the principle was adopted by a large majority. Ceytaiji Bills were brought in, and among them was one introduced by the Superintendent to authorise the raising of £110,000 vith the sanction of the Council. That was for a portion of the works now on the schedule, but since that it has been deemed advisable to extend tb f e sum. This loan will be spenf; to tho greatest advantage by being spread over a Beries of years, as to enter rashly and quickly upon largo works must, however great the temporary good that would be done, be followed whep the expenditure ceased by depression and distress. It will be better to enter upon them steadily but persoveringly, adopting as our motto prudence and progress. How is all this going to pay? ia a question frequently asked, and I will ansvrpr it. The land to be given as security is eet down ai, 4#0,00Q acres, and of this a large portion, say fully 2,G0,0Q0 acreß may very f uirly be expected to be sold while the works arc in progress at £[ pep acre. The harbor worke will be decidedly reproductive, and the increase of population will add considerably to the revenur. What with those proposed to be bought in by the Government and others who will assuredly come to a place that shows signs of progressing, added to the natural increase, it is quite rei»sppable to presume that by the time the works are completed at least 10,000 will be added to the population, and this, oven at the present low

rate of the capitation allowance, gives £7,500 a year, which lit once provides for the interest on half the loan. In this way and by large sales of land, funds will be obtained lor still further works which may proceed indefinitely until the whole province is peopled, minirjg is carried on upon a scale that enn never be the case so long as we remnin as we are now, and manufactures spring up in our town providing articles not only for home consumption but for export. It is by no means unret sonable to expect that before the loan is spent such effects will have been realised that the pressure will not be felt at all by a population that will be thriving and constantly increasing. Reference has been made to the doubts that exist with regard to our obtaining this money, but I think that the unanimity that prevails on the subject in the province will go far towards securing it. As railways increase there must be an increased demand for ronds as feeders to the main line, and by executing works such as are proposed by the Government traffic will be provide 1 for the railway for which we have so long been struggling, but ■which will lose half its usefulness unless the country through which it passes is intersected by roads. I feel that I have not nearly done this subject justice. It is one that; might be spoken, written, and debated upon for weeks, but I have the satisfaction of knowing that it is needless for me to enlarge upon tbe many advantages to be secured by a judiciously- expended loan. I know the people are with us huart and soul in our endeavor to secure it, and I am aware that they are looking to this Council to assist them in their endeavor to emerge from a state of stagnation and to enter upon one of progress. It is for the Council to pronounce iis decision upon our project. lam quite aware that the eum to be asked for might be advantageously increased, but the Government thinks that it will he better to ask for a moderate sum with every chance of obtaining it than to aim at more, and in so doing run the risk of getting nothing. It may be urged that possibly this will be the last chance of borrowing money for public work?, but I do not think it. 1 am r.ithiT of the opinion that by the mere fact of our laying out this sum judiciously and economically with a view to opening up fresh country foT settlement and increasing our population we shall encourage the General Government, to trust us agaiu whenever we m»y find it necessary to apply for further means for carrying on the great work. I hope and believe that the Council will be united and pull together in this matter, that they will show to the people of the province an', what is more important aDill, to ths General Assembly, to whom we must go, that they are at one on this subject, that., after due consideration they have arrived at their decision, which is to leave no stone unturned to obtain tbe money, and having obtained it to devote it to works that must tend to the advancement and prosperity of the province whose interest we all have so deeply at he«rt. I move, Sir, " That in the opinion ot this Council it is expedient that, Public Works should be executed to the extent of .£250,000, and that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to take such steps to obtain the necessary funds, under authority of an Act of the General Assembly as he may think desirable."

Mr Guinness seonded the resolution, which was carried unanimously.

Mr Guinness had much pleasure in seconding the resolution so ably moved. He w«s exceedingly glad to find it admitted by the Government that the non-borrowing policy had been a mistaken one, and that steps were now to be taken for the initiation of a policy totally different from any yet brought before the Council. He hoped and trusted that all the anticipations shadowed forth by Mr Shephurd would be fully realised, for he believed that the province of Nelson contained all the elements of prosperity which only required the application of capittil to turn them to account. He thought that in discussing tbe schedule it might be deemed desirable to extend the amount to be asked for, but at the same time he quite agreed with Mr Shephard that it would not be right to endanger tbe Bcheuie by asking for too much. He really believed that the time would come when the revenue would be so enlarged through the means of the public works policy that it would be sufficient lor all subsidiary works without further borrow ng.

Mr Boase would support the resolution, for he believed that upon some such measure depended the salvation of the province, which, unless someth ng was done to assist it, would soon be hopelessly lost. All over the world there was now high pressure exertion in every department in life, and ancient fallacies were relaxing their hold upon the public mind before the light of truth and knowledge. One of those fallacies was that borrowing was unwise and to be guarded against, but this was gradually disappearing. What was the cause of our present depression? It was not that our Council had been wanting in intellect; it was not owing to, past maladministration ; it wg.s not that our Executive was not responsible, but it was the want of money. We must have a change, and it was for every member of that Council to stand forth fearlessly and boldly, and give his support to the measure before them. Mr Ivbss must say a few words in support of the resolution. Hr was right glad to see the action taken by the Executive to obtain money for roads, and regretted, that jt had not beer} done before, and that private enter* prise had been allowed to undertake such works as bridges. He trusted there would be no opposition in the Assembly, for he felt sure that in five years time the population and consequent revenue would have increased so largely that we should then be in a position to pay off the loan.

The Provincial Solicitor felt sure that r.o arguments were required from him in support of the resolution It was really cheering to see the una,nirnity tliat existed in the Council on this question among members from all parts of the province, from the West Coast as well as from the settled districts. He hoped that the result of the measure would be to settle the country, to developo its resouroea, to connect Nelson more nearly with the West Coast, to do away with the distinctive terms of West Coast and settled districts, and to render the whole province united and prosperous. It had been said that the chances of obtaining the loan were exceedingly problematical, but he did not believe this, if the Council and the province were true to theuiselve?, and perfectly unanimous in asking for it. We had had previous experience ot a division in the camp and of its results, as we'l as of thoFO of unanimity. Some years ago there was a diyersity of opinion with regard to tb,e railway, and our attempts to obtain it failed in ponsequence, fiince then we had been perfectly united in pressing our claims, and the result was that ;he Government had come to our assistance. He believed it would be th.e same with the loan.

Mr Gibbb approved of the principle, but hoped some alteration would be made in the schedule. Mr Macle n wou'd heartily support he resolution. Mr Rout thought the amount should be increased, and the further consideration of the resolution postponed until _the schedule had been apreed upon. Tho Provincial Secretary >aid that tie views of the Government had been so clear'.y expressed by the Provincial Treasurer that it was unnecessary fqr hjm to say n^ore than that the resolution had his warmest support. Me could not agree with the sugggestion of the lust speaker. The VRoytNOiAh Treasurer said that there really was nothing for him to reply to. He was delighted to find that the Council

were so entirely at one on this subject, the only differed ce of opinion that had been expressed being to tho effect that the amount to be raisel was not Jarge enough. The unanimity displayed on the present occasion would do more than anything else to obtain the sanction of the Parliament. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously amidst unmistakeable demonstrations of satisfaction from the audience outside the bar, which, however, were speedily checked by the Speaker.

A Strange •' Pledge." — A very amusing case heard before the Mayor and borough magistrates of Nottingham at the Tovvn^hall yesterday, when a man named Edward Brown was charged with being drunk under the following remarkable circumstances: — A young man named Cox, an assistant in the shop of Mr Samuels, a pawnbroker of the town, stated that at 6 o'clock on the previous evening two men entered the shop and placed upon the counter a large bundle securely eewn up. They immediately left without speaking. Witness felt the bundle to discover if possible what it contained, and it then rolled off the counter on to the floor, and witness was very much startled at hearing a moan come from it. The bag was then cut open, and found to contain the prisoner, who was intoxicated. He could give no account of himself, and was given into the custody of a police-officer, who conveyed him to the police-station. The Mayor, to witness: — Did the men ask you how much they wanted on the bundle? Witness. — No, Sir; we don't tuke in live stock. (Laughter.) The prisoner said he had some drink, and could not tell who had sown him up, as he was asleep at the time. He was fined 10s for drunkenness. The case created considerable amusement. — London per.

'Land and Water' makes the following remarks about a dog fight at Now York : — ■" Judging from the publicity given to no exhibition of this description lately held at .New York, it would appears that certain of our Transatlantic, cousins are cultivating a taste for tbia brutalising past time. It seems that two well- known dogs, called respectively Scalper end Brandy, were matched to fight for 1000 dollars, and such was the interest excited that other betp, amounting to 3000 or 4000 dollars, were depending on the result. Long prices were paid for seats, aud the ' New York Herald* evidently considered the matter of considerable public importance, as one of its columns was devoted to a detailed description of the fight, in which we are told Scalper, after twentyeight minutes' hard, struggling, man" nged with bss sharp teeth ' to grind the life out of the old veteran.' The sufferings of the beaten animal are facetiously described, and its 'weak and plaintive cries' seemed to have whetted the appetites of the spectators for a further exhibition of cruelty, to satisfy which the victorious dog was separated from the other in order that he might the better make the onslaught on his exhausted and mutilated victim, whose life only would satisfy the crowd. Hundreds witnessed this disgrncefu, spectacle, but were not once molested! as we are told the police • were not

aroused.'