PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 233, 26 March 1866, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21. Evening Sitting. SPECIFICATIONS. Mr. HAT moved that the Government lay on the table the original Specification for the Contract for .the RoUing Stock of the Oreti Railway. He (Mr. Hay) was desirous of comparing the original specification and estimate, with the prices actually paid for the rolling stock, on the Oreti line. It wouldjbe satisfactory to aU parties to possess the information sought for. Tho PROVINCIAL TREASNRER said that every inquiry had been made relative to these documents both in the Superintendents office and the Engineer's office, bnt the. documents could not be obtained. The Provincial Engineer went to very considerable pains in endeavoring to obtain information about them, but it appeared they never had been in the Railway ofiice. It transpired that they had been taken to Melboiu*ne by Mr. Davis' agent, in order to compare them, as usual in such cases, with the work in course of construction. TENDERS. Mr. SWALE moved that the suppUes required by the Sonthland steamer be advertised for and letby tender. He (Mr. Swale) said that the tenders ior supplying this vessel with provisions, &c, should in future be pubUcly tendered or advertised for. The motion was carried. RE-UNION OF SOUTALAND AND OTAGO. ThePROVINCIAL TRE ASURERmoved "that the communication of date 11th January, 1865, relating to a proposal for the re-union of Southland ■ and Otago, be taken into consideration." He said that he had brought on the motion ih order that it might be fairly discussed. At that time he should not express any opinion. Me. JOHNSON said that in his opinion this prsgpflsition opened with the whole question of separation, lt was contemplated to form three large and powerful provinces at the expense of the smaUer ones in the . Middle Island, and what after all, said the hon. member, was this but a fight for power. Otoga 6imply wanted to absorb Southland in order that she might become more powerful and disctate her own terms to the General Government. It would not be for the true interests of Southland if she agreed to reunite. He (Mr. Johnson) thought that the feel-" ing against this measure was so strong in the Council, that the matter needed scarcely any discussion. He beUeved that the provinces had not accompUshed their mission yet. Dr. HODGKINSON thought the motion need not be discussed. He beUeved the Council were unanimous in their opposition to it 3 and would at once express such an opinion. Mr. COWAN said a distinct expression of opinion of the Council must be giren. He felt assured that aU Southland was opposed to annexation to Otago so long as the Provincial system existed in New Zealand. It was not probable that the people of tliis Province would desire to subject themselves to the grasping neglect which marked the period when they were united to Otago. He woidd move — "that it is the opinion of this Council that a re-union of Southland and Otago is not at present desirable." Mr. ARMSTRONG second the motion. He did not think much need be said, as the universal feeling here was that it was not desirable to reunite. He would not impute motives to Otago, but he must say that he would sooner be at the tender mercies of the General Government than those of the Provincial Government of Otago. Several objections having been raised to the word " present," Mr. CUTHBERTSONsaidthe Government had a resolution on the subject, but had not submitted being desirous that the frank opinion of the Council should be eUeited. He should now move as an amendment, that the union of Southland and Otago was not desirable, and that a respectful address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent requesting him to communicate that decision to His Honor the Superintendent of Otago. At this late period of the session any lengthy discussion was not desirable, neither was it required. He did not believe a single settler in Southland, was in favor of a re-union to Otago. No doubt that Province would be strengthened by absorbing Southland ahd its importance considerably increased, but he could not see that any benefit could accrue to this Province. He should at once move the amendment. Mr. WOOD seconded the amendment. He said, it was not necessary to debate the question and he should avoid doing so, inasmuch as he did not desire to say anything discourtious to Otngo. The movement in Otago no doubt was induced by a statement made in the Council there las'; session to the effect that if Seuthland was pofled it would be found that the people almost to a man would be in favor of re-union. He maintained that almost to a man they would be strongly opposed to it, there was no one in the Assembly who contradicted this preposterous assertion and hence the false impression prevailing in Otago. Dr. MENZIES and other members having spoken. ' Mr. CO WEN asked permission to with draw his motion in favor of the amendment. The amendment became the motion and was carried unaminously. ORDERS OF THE DAT. The " Local Improvement Ordinance " and the debate upon a " Vote for Immigration purposes " were adjourned to next sitting. RAILWAT COMMISSION ORDINANCE. Mr CUTHBERTSON moved the third reading of the Railway Commission Ordinance. He said that the urgency for a througher investigation in Railway matteis would not be disputed. Mr ±* EARSON submitted that the nature of the Commision was not defined * he considered that it should be stated that the commissioners should not be residents of Southland, and not less than two Civil Engineers of known ability placed upon it. He would move that a clause to the effect "that the commission should consist of nonresidents of Southland and that two competent civil engineers should form part." Mr HAT seconded the motion. Mr CUTHRERTSON opposed the motion. The Governmeat were fully ..alive to the desirability of not having on the commission any residents in Southland, and of having two competent civil engineers from the neighboring provinces or colonies, and it was their intention, if possible, to have it so constituted; still he objected to *7be restriction being put on the action of his Honor and the Government which this would. It might not be possible to obtain two civil engineers, and the j-hafcter. which shoidd be immediately gone in^lwoukl be delayed. He hoped the Council wouldiake. this statement as evidence of the Government's intention to carry out the spirit of the hon. gentleman's motion. If it was insisted to insert the clause in the bfll it would imply a want of confidence in the integrity of the Government. After some discussion, Mr PEARSON expressed thorough confidence in the Government, but many accidents might arise — some one or more of those gentlemen present might die, and others take their place in whom he had not confidence ; therefore he must press for a division. The amendment was lost, and the motion, on a division, carried. — Ayes : Messrs Blacklock, Cuthbertson, Wood Swale, Johnson, Cowen, Hodgkinson, Nurse, Menzies, Macdonald, Armstrong, and Clark — 12. Noes : Messrs Pearson and Hay — 2. Cattle Trespass Ordinance, and the Sheep Ordinance (third reading) were read postponed." FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER in moving the Appropriation Ordinance, 1866, said the Province of Southland has passed through a period of depression, unprecedented in severity and duration in almost any connnuuity. The primary cause can be distinctly traced to the discovery of goldfields in our neighborhood, on which foUowed, as is usual, overtrading and aitificial values on property. Re-action is, from experience, known io be a concomitant, and Southland has not been an exception. The severity, sir, in her case has been intensified throng the Provincial Governmen,t hskving beopjaf fmhjjrftsg^d also, wjien '■■'#"'■■

people in business were not paid monies, which would have reheved them, and in some instances saved their credit. The unfortunate position of the G-overnment in this respect, as in others, added fuel to the flame. At last, sh, after having come through this long dreary night, we can, I think, see the dawn of better times. The heavy debt which was , contracted in an evil hour, has been taken off our shoulders by the General Government, so that we now start with a clean sheet ; but, sir, we have in consequence to lament the loss of our land revenue. Notwithstanding, there is yet hope for the Province, and a gradual, vet certain recovery is apparent, tending ultimately to a bright future. As an index to a better state of things, allow me to refer you to the estimated revenue for the current financial year. It has been deemed desiraUe, since the financial statement which was prepared for a year, to only ask the Council to vote suppUes for the half-year ending 30th June, 1866. He (the Provincial Treasurer), drew attention to this in order that the figures he should quote, being calculated for the entire year, might not be confounded with the suppUes asked which were only for half-a-year. He might remark that in the preparation of the statement, great care had been taken to render it as far as possible correct, to be under the mark rather than over it. He would now give an epitorae of the Estimated Revenue -. — Customs -. £13,000: for the last five or six months there has been a steady increase. In October, 1865, the amount coUected was £575 133 9d; in November, £743 6s lid ; in December, £882 Os 5d ; in January, 1866, £961 Os 7d ; in February, £358 6s 9d. In Riverton there has been a stiU greater increase. For the quarter ending 30th June, 1865, was £159 5s 6d • the quarter ending 30th September, £336 18s 4d ; the quarter ending 31st December, £426 17s Bd. I have every reason to beheve this increase will be much greater in the future. Rent of Jetties : — £410. This, the amount for wliich they are let, viz : — InvercargiU, £350 • Bluff, £60 per annum, to £49. Riverton Jetty Dues, £70: which Jetty Tonnage Dues, £40 : last year these amounted amounted last year to £54, may safely be expected to be greatly increased should it be proved that a goldfield exists there. Pilotage, £700: the amount coUected from this source last year was £613 12s 3d. The proportion of each harbor was— Bluff, £453 4s lOd. New River. £149 16s sd. Riverton, £10 lis. Dog Tax, £250: the amount coUected last year was £113, which was less than the previous year. If the New Dog Ordinance had. been brought forward it would have made a considerable difference, and I think we are justified in estimating that it wfll produce £250. Sheep Assessment : The amount the •Government wfll receive wfll be about £1000. Cattle Sales and Branding Fees, £50 : The amount received last year was £16 14s 9d, but as the fee for registering cattle brands has been raised from 2s 6d to 10s, I estimate it will produce £50. Auction Licenses : £120 is expected from this source. The amount last year was the same. Hawkers Licences, £10 : last year they amounted to £9 15s. Immigrants BiUs are estimated at £400. The amount received last year was £103 ; the smaUness of tliis item is easily accounted for ; after the railway works came to a close, money ceased to circulate, and immigrants out of employment, were of course out of funds. A large proportion of them went to the West Coast diggings, and those moderately successful may be expected to refund to a considerable extent. Rent of Ferries, £250; the Mataura ferry is let for £200 per annum, payable in advance. We have already received that, and I estimate that the New River ferry wfll produce to the Government at least £50 ; steamer Southland, £3000 ; we estimate this vessel to earn her expenses, and pay insurance ; we have put her earnings down at £3000, and her expenses at the same amount. Oreti Railway, £1000 • — The takings of this railway amounted in the last six months of 1565, to £441, ss. 3d, and I think we are justified in estimating the traffic for the present year at £1000. Bluff Harbour and InvercargiU Railway, £4500 (six months) the amount is merely a guess, but we estimate that it wfll earn its expenses, and have put the receipts and expenditure at the same. Miscellaneous ; £360 ; the amount last year was about £300. It is composed of sale of Ordinances, Gazette advertisements, refunds^sale of horses and other items of revenue, not included in any previous amount. Cemetery Fees, £80 ; last year amounted to £90 17s : Publican's Licenses, £700 : Amount received last year, £749 17s Sd : Accomodation House Licenses, £500 : the amount last year was £312 10s : The new Ordinance which came into operation during the latter part of last year wfll I expect increase to this item ef revenue the amount mentioned for this year. Special Licenses, £5 : .Amount last year, £4 : Wholesale and Grocer's Licenses, £150 each. — These Ucenses are granted at the rate of £10 per annum and expire on the 30th June ; last year they amounted to — Grocers, £112 10s : Wholesale, £92 10s : As the Ordinance did not come into operation till September no .license could be granted for more than 9 months, and consequently paid only in proportion. THE ESTIMATES. The Estimates were gone through, item by item, but very Uttle alteration was made. The only change worthy of note, was in the Pohce Department, which with the fuU consent of the whole Council, was raised. CATTLE TRESPASS ORDINANCE. On the motion of Mi* CUTHBERTSON, this Ordinance was read a third time, and passed. The Council met on Friday, when the estimates were finally passed, and the bill awaiting the third reading, assented to. Several matters were discussed, and His Honor the Superintendent in a brief address, declared the session of the Council to be terminated.