COUNCIL PAPER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 108, 7 May 1874, Page 2

COUNCIL PAPER.

The following correspondence relating to the Provincial loan was laid upon the Council table last night : — His Honor tbe Superintendent of Nelson to the Hon. Colonial Secretary. Sir — I have the honor to request the j atteDti-n of the Government to the difficulty ! in which the Provincial Governmmt will le placed in the absence of sufficient fundß to carry out the scheme of special settlements, so as to mtke it available for the location of a portion of the immigrants who may be expected to arrive withia a few months from this date. I trust therefore for the assistance of the General Government to ennbje me tD mako the four blocks of land which have been set aside tor special settlement available, without delay, for the purrees of settlement by means of continuing the existing dray-roid further down the Bulhr Valley. 1 hose blocks are situated on four tributaries of the Buller, namely, the Owen, the Matiri, the Mataltitaki, and the Maruia, and tho road requires lo be continued from tbe Devil's Grip to Hampden and the Maruia, between which points only a pack track exists, and immigrants, with their families and goods, could only bs conveyed to their locations with much expense and difficulty, while they would afterwards be subject el to heavy charges for carriage of supplies. The Provincial Government i<* without funds to construct this road, which is absolutely necessary lo tbe location of immigrants upon land under the special settb ments scheme. Under the circunist"!ncep, I hope tha Geneial Got ernment. will see their way to assist the province by an advance of the sum of £ 1 2,000, to continue the dray-road from

its present termination near the Devil's Grip to thi Owen, where the nea-eßt block is situated; and, nlso, tho fnr* her sum of £80CO .to connect the four intended settlements by carrying on the read from ths Owen to Hampden ard Maruin. I proprsc that the £12,000 should be repaid by the province at the expiration of twe'.ve months from lhe dnte of advance. With respect to the £<500J, I hope the Government will contioue to contribute that sum, from the funds avai'able for immigration purposes, on receiving an undertaking from the pro\ince to refund the money in twelve months in case the special settlements should not be formed. I have, &c , Oswald Curtis, Superintendent. The Hon. the Coi onial Secretary to his Honor the Superintendent of Nelson. ■ fiß— deferring to your letter of tho 21st ultimo, I have the honor to inform you that tV.e Cabinet bave agreed to advance tbe sum of £20,000 to 5 our Honor, for the purposes, and on the torms, mentioned in your letter. The Treasury will arrange the details as to mode of payment with your Honor, making the payments direct on vouchers approved by you and certified by tbe Provincial Engineer, to whom also, advances can, if . neces ary, te made. The Government nccepfc your Honor's letter of February 21 as a formal undertaking en the part of the province to fulfil the con ditions fri respect of the several sums of £12,000 and £8000 respectively, which are sated therein, and to apply tbe money to the purposes for which it is to be advanced. I have, &c, Daniel Pollen.