REPORT ON PETITIONS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN LAND-OWNERS IN THE PATEA & WAITOTARA DISTRICTS

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 11, 14 December 1872, Page 2 (Supplement)

REPORT ON PETITIONS OF SEVENTY-SEVEN LAND-OWNERS IN THE PATEA & WAITOTARA DISTRICTS

The Petitioners allege that they have uot received auy benefit from either the Provincial Governments of Wellington or Taranaki, and that little or none of the Provincial revenue derived from capitation, licensing fees, &c., has been expended within their districts. They pray that their district may be withdrawn from Provincial administration and administered by the Colonial Government until some Act be passed by the Legislature providing for administratian of local affairs by outlying districts.

The committee examined Mr. Carrington, the Superintendent ot Taranaki, and Mr. Bunny, Provincial Secretary of the Province of Wellington, and it appears that with regard to the allegations contained in the petition that little or no revenue derived from the district has been spent by the Provinces, the petitioners appear to be misinformed, as from the evidence of Mr. Carrington, Superintendent of Taranaki, it is shown that for the last two years all the revenue derived from the district by the province has been expended for public purposes, and that in addition thereto large sums have been expended by the General Government for roads and bridges. That no taxation in the shape of road rates or education rates has as yet been imposed by the Province of Taranaki, although road and educational rates are imposed by the Province of Wellington. lam directed to report that the committee do not consider it within their province to offer any opinion to the House with respect to the policy of creating the petitioners’ district a new political division of the Colony. PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE. (Signed), Thomas Kelly, Chairman.