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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4225, 5 October 1874, Page 2

A report of an interesting nature has just been issued respecting the receipts and expenditure of the Nelson and Greymouth Native Reserve Funds. The report is by Mr. Alex. Mackay, and by it we are informed that "the aggregate sum collected from various sources on account of the Nelson Fund during fae above-named period, added to the balance h hand on the Ist of July, 1873, computes a total of £1,794 IBs. Id., while the expenditure fcr the same period was £1757 ss. Id., leaving a balance to the credit of the fund of £37 lis. Out of the sum expended, £BO9 16s. 7d. has leen spent in various ways for the behoof of ;he Natives having a beneficial interest in the estate ; £343 ss. 2d. for purposes in connection with its administration; £504 3s. 4d. for salaries; and £IOO towards the construction of a school for the Natives of the Wairau." The sale of a section in the Town of Nelson, to the Provincial Government, for a site for a public school, had been effected for the sum of £2OO, and the amount had been paid to the credit of the fund. It appeared that " the amount of income collected on account of rents payable to the Greymouth Fund during the past year was £3960 2s. 6d., and £lB9 was realised from the sale of land in the Upper Grey, making a total of £4149 2s. 7d.; this added to the sum of £4562 os. lid. on hand from last year, augments the amount to £B7ll 3s. 6d. The expenditure to the 30th ultimo amounts to £3BOO 14s. Id., leaving a balance of £4910 9s. sd. in hand. Of the amount expended, £2929 2s. 2d. was spent on behalf of the Natives,,£s92 Bs. 7d. for expenses in connection with the estate, and £279 3s. 4d. for salaries. Out of the first-mentioned item, £SOO was expended as authorised in the purchase of 1000 acres in the Upper Arahura, at the instance of the Natives, who were desirous to acquire the laud for the sake of old associations, as it is supposed by them to contain the remains of the mythical canoe that originally conveyed the Pounema to the West Coast ; £142 was also spent for the erection of a school and master's house at Arahura ; and £252 for a breakwater to protect the property there from the encroachment of the river. It was supposed at the time that three wingdams would be sufficient to protect the banks, but since the breakwaters have been erected the necessity for another is evident, and the District Engineer has recommended that a fourth should be added to make the work complete. Considerable damage has been done to the banks of the river in other parts of the property by the heavy flood that occurred :in April last. The main road to Christchurch, through the reserve, has been destroyed to such an extent that the Provincial authorities decline to make any further expenditure on it, unless the present damage is repaired at the expense of the Native Reserve Fund. According to an estimate made by the Provincial Engineer, the expenditure of a sum of £560 would be necessary to effect this object and to protect the river banks; and even that amount may be found inadequate." The Natives who own the land having expressed their assent to a reasonable expenditure being incurred to protect the property from further; inroads, it was recommended " that an arrangement should be made with the Provincial Government, after a properly organised plan has been decided on for carrying out, the work, to have it put in hand before the summer floods take place." For facilitating this, detailed statements of expenditure requiied had been prepared. The . expenditure of the fund had been for agricultural implements, funeral rites, buildings, passages of Natives, medical aid, loans, allowances paid for rent, fuel and food, printing rates, office expenses, purchases of land, protective works, and sundries of divers kinds.

Some difficulty appears to have arisen in Sydney iu connection with the departure of Sir Hercules Robinson on his mission to Fiji. His Excellency was detained by " particular business" until after the races, in which lie took a lively interest; and when he did go, the Government took no care to see that an Acting Governor was sworn in in his stead. The reason is plain. The Acting Chief Justice of a Colony is now recognised by the Imperial authorities as the person by whom the duties of the Governor shall be discharged in his absence. But Sir James Martin is the Chief Justice of New South Wales, and Sir James and Mr. Parkes are not only not friends, but open antagonists and avowed enemies. Mr. Parkes no sign." Sir James Martin found it necessary to look to his own honors; and as tho Premier did not propose that tho Chief Justice should bo sworn in as Acting Governor, but appeared to prefer that the Colony should get on for a time without a Governor at all, Sir James himself has " moved" himself and the other Judges on the subject. We shall be curious to learn whether Sir James Martin, as Chief Justice, can swear himself in as Acting Governor. Here, Sir George Arney has held that office, pending the arrival of a Governor; and had Sir James Martin and Mr. Parkes been friends, no difficulty in the matter would have arisen in Sydney. It may be relied upon that if Sir James Martin is sworn in as Acting Governor during the absence of Sir Hercules Bobinson, the Premier will find for him. but little work to do during his brief term of power.