THe Southland Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1866.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 202, 15 January 1866, Page 2

THe Southland Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1866.

The labors of the G-eneral Assembly at its last session seem to have been of a somewhat extensive character, judging from the number of laws passed. ~No fewer than seventy-eight enactments have been published, out of which three only are what is termed local and personal. Those specially affecting the interests of this Province are, fhe Southland Waste Lands Act, and the Southland Provincial Debt Act. The former repeals the Southland Waste Lands Act, 1863, and all regulations previously in force for the sale, letting, disposal, and occupation of the Waste Lands of the Crown in the Province. It contains an important provision, that every Act which the Superintendent is thereby authorised, or required to perform, he shall perform solely in accordance with the advice of his Executive Council. The upset price of rural land is fixed at twenty shillings per acre, with free selection in any part of the Province, and in case any land shall be sold which is comprised within an exclusive pasturage license, the holder of such license is to receive out of the purchase money, compensation at the rate of two shillings per acre, where the license shall have a term of nine years and more to run. Where the license shall have a term of not less than six nor more than nine years to run, one shilling and sixpence per acre is to be given to the run holder. Where the license shall have not less than three, nor more than six years to run the compensation is fixed at one shilling per acre — any less term than three years, sixpence per acre. In case any land comprised within a pasturage license shall have erected upon it buildings, fences, or other improvements of a permanent nature, the purchaser must pay to the runholder the value of such improvements, such value in case of difference to be determined by arbitration. Holders of pasturage licenses are to be entitled to pre-emptive rights over portions of their runs as follows — runs under 5000 acres, 5 per cent, of the acreage. Runs above 5000 acres, 250 acres. The land selected being circumjacent to the homestead, or principal station. One very excellent provision is that relating to the payment in land for the execution of public works. In the present financial state of the Province, this portion of the Act is peculiarly acceptable. It enables the G-overnment to complete those public works, which have so long been at a stand-still for want of funds, as well as to commence other works of great importance, such as the projected tramway on the East Eoad, &c. It provides that no greater amount of land than two hundred and fifty acres shall be granted to any person, in payment of contract works, unless the amount shall be voted by the Provincial Council, and no greater amount than one thousand acres in the aggregate, shall in any one year be granted for such purpose without thespecial recommendation of the Provincial Council, and, confirmed by the Governor in Council, by a proclamation to to iesueiiii $c Mw

Zealand Gazette. There are various otter alterations in the Land Regulations, as adopted by this Act, the knowledge of which can only be acquired by reference to the Act itself. The most important, however, are those we have mentioned, viz., the reduction of the price from 40s. to 20s. per acre, and the clause enabling the payment for public works to be made in land when practicable. The augmentation of the upset price of land from 20s. to 405., which was effected by the Act of 1863, has long been detrimental to the advancement of this Province, entirely putting a stop to the sale of land, and thereby depriving the Province of its' chief source of. revenue. The settlers have lost no opportunity of calling the attention of the Legislature to the injustice of the measure, and it is a matter of congratulation that their efforts have at last been crowned with success. There can be little doubt that the illjudged action of those who were instrumental in the passing of the Act of 1863 has been the means, to a great extent, of placing the Province in the embarrassing position under which it has for sometime labored, and we may loot upon the repeal of that statute as the opening of a brighter prospect for the future. The Southland Provincial Debt Act provides for an examination into all claims against the Province, and all debts certified by the Auditor- Q-eneral and Sup erintendent to be due, are to bear interest at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, until paid in money or in debentures, which the Q-overnor is authorised to issue for that purpose. Any creditor holding debentures issued by (he Superintendent, may come under the provisions of the Act, by giving notice to the Colonial Treasurer of his intention to avail himself of it before the Ist day of May next, and agreeing to deposit the Provincial Debentures in the Colonial Treasury. If any creditor shall have sold, or shall after giving such notice, sell or offer or agree to sell his debentures, he is debarred from the benefits of the Act. The payment of the principal and interest, (six per cent, payable half-yearly) is charged upon the ordinary revenue of the colony. The whole of the Land Revenue of the Province is to be paid over to the Colonial Treasurer, for the payment of the Provincial liabilities, as certified by the Auditor- General, within two years from the lstinstant, and if debentures are issued by the Colonial Government for the extinguishment of these claims the land revenue is to remain as a security for the payment of such debentures. No further Provincial Loans are to be contracted without the sanction of the General Assembly. By this arrangement it will be seen that while the means are provided for the speedy settlement of existing claims against the province, the land revenue will remain impounded until these claims are settled. It therefore depends entirely upon the rapidity with which sales of land can be effected how soon the Province may regain the advantages to be derived from the expenditure • of its Land revenue upon reproductive public worts. The great inducements which this part J of the Middle Island presents to the capitalist for investment, and to the agriculturist of moderate means for settlement, both with respect to soil and climate, are undoubted, and we look forward confidently to the extinguishment of all the liabilities of the Province, through extensive sales of rural land, much within the period of two years named in the Act. Before concluding our resmne of the laws affecting this Province passed last session, we may mention one, the necessity of which has no doubt been dictated by the seizure of the Railway plant on behalf of a creditor of the Province some months ago. It is entitled the Provincial Lawsuits Declaratory Act. The preamble sets out that doubts liave arisen whether a judgment against the Superintendent of any Province could be enforced by execution or attachment. It is provided that in any such action no execution or attachment or process in the nature thereof shall be issued out of any Court, but such judgment shall be satisfied out of any money to be appropriated by the Provincial Council for that purpose, and not otherwise ; as provided by the Provincial Lawsuits Act, 1858. It is much to be regretted that the framers of the Act of 1858 were not more careful in its construction, so as clearly to have conveyed their intention — for there can be no question that intention has but now been expressed by the Act of the last session. Had the Act been intelligible, it would have saved the Province a vast amount of vexation and annoyance, not to say degradation; and while we do not anticipate that occasion will again arise where creditors of the Province will be compelled to have recourse to a court of law for the settlement of their claims, we are glad to notice that the disgraceful scenes lately enacted at Campbelltown and the Mokoraoko, when the seizure of the Government property took place under a sheriff 'b warrant, cannot be repeated ia any p&yt (tfthe Qolq»|i

We understand tHt bis Honor the Superintendent is slowly bit surely recovering from indisposition. His m«lical advisers give favorable accounts of the patienis progress. The business pa the lesident Magistrate's Court for the last few day, has been very trifling. On Friday, Mary Am O'Brien, an habitual drunkard, was sent i> gaol for 14 days. One civil case of no publii interest was heard and decided when the Cove adjourned. An Amateur dramaiic performance in aid of the funds of the Ladies'Benevolent,Societywillbe given at the Theatre loyal on the 24th current. The programme is attractive and judging by the uccess attending* the kindly of the ladies and gentlemen engaged, on the last occasion there will be a bumper house. The Cologne Gazette finding its news frequently taken without acknowledgement by a German contemporary, determined recently to punish the offender in a somewhat original manner. Having received telegraphic information of Mr Cobden's death, and of Mr Bright having been present when the event took place, it announced in the " exchange " copy intended for its contemporary, and of course in that copy alone, that Mr Bright had succumbed, and that Mr Cobden had received the last adieu of his friend. The bait was swallowed whole. Not only did the newspaper thus hoaxed announce the death of the member for Birmingham, but it added a sketch of his carreer. Tbe Cologne Gazette is of course in ecstasies. In a General Government Gazette, published on Saturday, Dec. 30, we notice that John Scott Caverhill, Esq., of Hawkeswood, is permitted t o keep foxes in confinement ; that the Superintendent of Southland has been empowered to form a Waste Land Board ; that information of Charles Sidebottom is wanted at the Colonial Secretary's Office ; a notice inviting tenders /or supplying the New Zealand Government vith stationery ; that the following gentlemen hay« been appointed Justices of the Peace : — E. C. latter and Eobert Townsend, of Akaroa ; and J. D. Enys, West Coaßt Eoad ; that T. S. Duncan, Esq., has been appointed Crown Solicitor for the Westland Dis. trict ; that the post-offices afc Forks, Marlborough and at Arowhenua, Canterbury, have been closed ; that the Dunstan Creek Post-office, Otago, shall in future be known aa St. Bathan's ; a list of names of places to which the money order system is extended j that S. Locke, Esq., and W. Ellison, Esq., have been granted licenses to act as surveyors ; that forms of application to the Native Land's Court can be obtained at the Eesident Magistrates' ©oiarts throughout the Colony ; that the following persons have been appointed Officiating Ministers of the Free Church of Scotland :— The Revs. J. Hall, A. Shepherd, W. McGowan, R. F. MacNicol, and John Waters - a notice of registration of the Taranaki Lighte Company (limited) ; and also of the Freemason's Hall Company (limited) j that tenders will be received by the Directors of the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, for twentyfive New Zealand ponga tree ferns ; a notice to applicants for Crown grants ; that the Southern Cross Quartz Mining Company have determined to wind up their affairs voluntarily ; and a statement of the average amount of liabilities and assets of the Bank of Australasia, in the Colony of new Zealand, during the half-year ended October 13, 1865. The other morning, cays the Wanganui Chronicle, as a respected settler in this place, who is in the habit of rising early, was turning the corner of a street about halt-past four o'clock, whom should he meet but Major-General Chute, accompanied by Major Pitt, both in plain clothes ? He was accosted by the General as being an early riser, and was asked how long he had been in the colony. "Twenty-six years," was the reply . "Then you must know something of the natives," remarked the General. "I ought to know a little about them." " And what is your opinion of this war?" asked the General. "Well," said our fellow-townsman, " I wish I could get the ear of the General, and I would give him a bit of good advice." " What would you advise him to do ? " "My advice to him would be to harrass the natives day and night, and every morning before eight o'clock to hang all the prisoners he had taken during the previous twenty-four hours. If he would do that, the war would be over in less than six months." Whatever Major-General Chute may have thought of this advice, it is certain that most; of the colonists will agree in its being a most efficient mode of obtaining a profound peace. It is whispered in political circles in Wellington says the Nelson Colonist, that Mr. Stafford has advised the Governor to lead the Colonial force at Wanganui in an endeavor to compel the delivery or effect the capture of the murderers of Mr. Broughton, and others, whom the rebels have killed in cold blood. Such is the intention, according to the information received from wellinformed quarters ; but we believe no authoritative statement has been made on the subject.