LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 273, 24 November 1877, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[PER PRESS AGENCY.] -----

NEW PLYMOUTH. November 2j. Taraiiaki (jold Prospecting Company has been forrxied. Mr Thomas reports that he has visited Kaitake, and as regards the formation of the country, considers the strata as likely td be mineral as any he has seen on the Thames goldfield. NELSON. November 23. The cutter Didd lies wrecked at West Wanganui. She missed stays, and ran on the rocks. Cargo and hull insured in the Union for £l,lOO. MASTERTON. November 2s; At the Agricultural Association dinner last night, Mr Pharazyn said, in consequence of engineering difficulties, Government had decided upon the mider the hill’s line, which will avoid Greytown. It is expected the whole line will be opeiled in eighteen months. Tenders are to be called for this month. MAJOR ATKINSON AND THE MOUNTAIN ROAD. The following letter, received by Chairof the Public, Meeting lately held at NOrmanby, has been forwarded for publication, for general information: Wellington, 13th November, 1877. Sir—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth November instant, covering a resolution passed at a public meeting called for the purpose of urging, upon the Government the necessity of proceeding with works upon the Mountain Road. I recognized, as fully as any one can, the great importance, I may say the necessity, of opening the Mountain Road for coach traffic, at the earliest possible date. I have for a long time past been steadily working in that direction, and, as 1 believe, not without success. Last year there was spent upon the road, or is now in coarse of expenditure, £IO,OOO (ten thousand pounds), in addition to the amount paid for metalling the road through Hawera towards Normanby; and this year, I had Imped to get the authority of Parliament to complete the road, so far as to make it really fit for coach traffic. I proposed to place £3,000 (three thousand pounds) upon the Supplementary Estimates, to obtain £6,000 (six thousand pounds) under the Sartoris, Downes, and Others Hill, and to make up the balance from the Taraiiaki Land Purchase Fund. The present position of affairs is this— The Government have placed £3,000 (three thousand pounds) upon the Supplementary Estimates, but have declined to go on With the Sartoris, Downes, and Others Rill, and have not, I believe, yet given any consideration as to the way in which they will dispose of the balance of the Land Purchase Fund. Should, however, the present Government remain in office, I will, in conjunction with other Members, endeavour to bring the subject before them in such a manner as to ensure its favorable consideration.

1 may say, in conclusion, that, whatever Government is in office, I shall not cease to press forward tine important matter, and that I am hopeful I shall succeed in in giving effect to the reasonable wishes of the meeting.—l am, &c. H. A. Atkinson. C. E. Gibson, Esq., Normanby.

DISCUSSION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT,

From Press Agency Report we learn that, at half-past seven o’clock on Wednesday evening last, in the House of Representatives, on the motion for going into Supply, Major Atkinson proceeded to discuss the Financial Statement. He commenced by giving a review of the Public Works finance of the colony since 1870, and the changes which had taken place in the personnel, policy, and system of finance of the Government during that period. The most important change was introduced by him in 1875, when the annual appropriation of the loan for public works was substituted for permanent appropriation. The debt had been increased about eleven millions in the seven years, but only about eight millions had been spent in the colony, for which they had 100,000 immigrants. 860 miles railway, 2,300 miles of roads, 3,229 miles of telegraph, public buildings, lighthouses, goldfields works, and land worth three-quarters of a million. He reviewed the policy of the late Government, showing how it had provided for all contingencies without seizing the land fund and increasing taxation, and said that in a few months more the finances of the colony would have been placed in a thoroughly satisfactory condition. He pointed out a large number of inaccuracies and discrepancies in the Hon Mr Larnach’s Statement, and asked how the deficiency of £700,000 shown after the land fund was to be met. He denied the Hon Mr Lamacli’s and Sir George Grey’s statements about provincial liabilities, and said that they had all been provided for by the late Government, but fbe present one were treating as liabilities what were not so. He denied the necessity of a four million loan. Treasury Bills could all bo funded under the Inscription of Stock Act. He complained of the charge made of the late Ministry having concealed the indebtedness ofgthe colony, and challenged proof. The policy of the late Ministry had been well considered, was prudent and far-seeing; That of the present Ministry wasillusory, deceptive, and entirely unreliable. Sir George Grey replied at length to Major Atkinson, maintaining the absolute correctness of his own previous statements and those of the Hon Mr J-arnach as to the financial position of the colony. He denied that the late Government bad provided for provincial liabilities and other claims. The present expenditure was £270,000 a week on public works, and in five weeks the whole balance - of the loan would be spent. Not having time to'make fresh estimates of his own, he asked the - House to accept those of his' predecessors as the amounts not to be exceeded, but Jhe Government would, in its administration, make large reductions. He condemned thp finance and administration of the late Government as unjust and guided by favouritism to the few. The policy of the present Government would be justice to all, with a fair system of taxation and representation, a common land law, and a common land'fund. He replied at length to Major Atkinson’s personal remarks and criticisms of the Bon Mr Lamacb’e figures