SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT.

North Otago Times, Volume 1, Issue 13, 19 May 1864, Page 6

SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT.

The following is the Report of the Select Committee on the Oamaru petitions, as adopted by the Executive Council :— *" Your Committee in bringing up their report are of opinion that the town and district of Oamaru have strong claims on the Provincial Revenues, on account of the large sums which have been received from the land* within the town of Oamaru and the adjacent country ; and also on account of the valuable lands still remaining for sale, and from which a large profit will accrue to the State. There are 13 Blocks of Land surveyed within the survey district of Oamaru, containing 52,691 acres, of which 80,117 acres'have been sold, realising the sum of £55,401 10s. Gd. A portion of these lands, containing about 11,000 acres, is, strictly speaking, within the Otepopo di&triet. The survey district of Papakio. within the Oamaru Hundred, contains about 40,000 acres, of which 25,391 acres have been surveyed. The first sale of these lands will commence in a few days. Of the town of Oamaru, about one-third is sold, for which £16,752 have been received The gross bum of rural and town lauds which has been received up to the present date, amounts to £73,213 10s. 6d. The settlers in the Oamaru and Papakio districts entirely depend on the Oamaru port for the shipment of produce, and the importation of goods. Independently of this, there is a very large tract of country, including the whole of the Northern part of the Piovince and that part of Canterbury ljing adjacent to the River Waitaki, which also depends upon the Port of Oamaru for the export of wool, now amounting to 5,000 bales, and the import of goods. Your Committee are of opinion, from the evidence before them, that the erection of a bridge over the Whare Kuri, on the noithern interior line, is a very necessary and desirable undertaking. With regard to Clause No. 2, that is, the completion of the road between Otepopo and Oamaru, a favorable recommendation has beeu made by the Chief Engineer of Roads, with due regard to the claims of the Province generally. The formation of Severn-street through the town of Oamaru, is an essential part of the Main Northern Road, and your Committee are of opinion, with the officer above referred to, that it should be proceeded with as early as possible. The proposed improvement of Arun-street, your Committee regard as properly coming under the authority of the Town Board. With reference to the sewer in the town of Oamaru, your Committee are of opinion that such works should be undertaken on a general principle, applicable to all localities; the same rule should apply to cemeteries. Your Committee conceive that the question respecting Educational Reserves has been disposed of by a general resolution of the House ; but think that grants for the Municipal Reserves should be obtained as early as possible, and the municipality established. With regaul to the improvement of the Port of Oamaru, your Committee are unable to offer any opinion, as the Marine Surveyor has not yet been able to make a survey of it ; but they understand that a survey will shortly be undertaken, which they consider a most necessary work.