THURSDAY, 19th JULY.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 524, 23 July 1866, Page 2

THURSDAY, 19th JULY.

MORNING SITTING. Shortly after noon the Speaker took the chair, and the Council being opened in the usual form, the minutes of the previous sitting were read and confirmed. Present : — Messrs Blacklock, Armstrong, Pearson, Clark, Howell, Crerer, Davis, Stuart, Luuisden, Swale, Johnson, T. M. Clerke, and Cowan. PETITIONS. . Mr STTJAET presented a petition .from certain residents of Southland, praying for a change in the system of allowing a few to have the monopoly of the Crown Land Surveys, and gave notice of a motion for the evening sitting for the appointment of a Select Committee to investigate and report upon the subjectmatter of the petitioners. QUESTIONS. Mr LUMSDEN asked if any reply had been received to his Honor's letter to the Colonial Secretary, as regards the proposed leasing of the railways. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER stated that no reply had been received. .RETURNS, &c. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER laid on the table a letter from the Chief Surveyor haviug reference to permanent sheep reserves ; and a return of the number of lunatics at the present time confined in the gaol, from which it appeared that there were six, who were maintained at a weekly cost of eight shillings and eight pence ; a memorial from "the inhabitants of Campbelltown with respect to the proposed alteration of the site of the Railway Station, with the correspondence that had passed between the petitioners and the government. Mr LUMSDEN supported the prayer of the petitioners. lie pointed out, at considerable length that mistakes had been made in not marking out reserves in the early settlement of the Province. Still it was matter for serious consideration by the government, if such an error could not be rectified even now! He considered that the Campbelltown people had shown great spirit and deserved the most liberal consideration. He would moved that a select oommittee, consisting of Messrs T. M. Clerke, Stuart, and Armstrong, be appointed to enquire into the matter of a petition presented to his Honor- the Superintendent, by certain inhabitants of Campbelltown and others, having reference to the proposed railway terminus, and to report thereon at tomorrow evening's sitting. Mr STUART said, being one of those who had signed the petition, he did not consider it polite for him to sit in judgment upon it. Mr JOHNSON'S name was substituted, and the motion, was carried. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER stated that the Government were not indisposed to comply with the request of the petitioners, but there was difficulties in the way that rendered great circumspection necessary. The house was aware that a contract was in existence, and great care should be taken in making deviations, as by so doing they would give an opportunity to contractors to make claims for compensation. ORDERS OF THE DAT. BLUFF HARBOR AND INVERCARGILL SALE ORDINANCE. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER said,inrisingto propose the second. reading of this bill, that some explanation was called for. It might have been brought before the Council simply as a resolution? but the government deemed it more expedient to bring in a bill' at once. It was evident that if the railways we're sold , even at what might be considered by many a small sum, undei matured conditions such sale would be politic, and to the advantage of allinterested in th c settlement o f the pro - vinee. He believed that the banks, who held Southland debentures would afford every facility for the caz'rying out of the proposal. He was aware that it was an exception to the usual rule for a government to fling from it a work which gave them immense opportunities for patronage, but the condition of the province required it, and they felt it a duty to do it. There were other reasons : — The government could not carry on the works with the same prospects of profit as a company might. They might, if they kept the railways in their own hands, be liable to frequent and heavy claims>shQuld accidents occur. Even taking it for granted that the province rapidly progressed, if in the, hands of the G-overn-ment, the continual demand for a reduction of fares would most probably involve a heavy loss. In the event of a sale, the public interest would be protected — the same restrictions as to fares, time, and the like, would be made as definite as though they were leased. It wa3 not necessary to go much more fully into the question. The conduction of railways by the G-overn ment in other colonies had not proved -advantageous ; even the Victorian railways did not pay, and the G-overnment was paying interest on the capital expended for future benefits to be enjoyed by the community at large. Admitting that .the Southland railways had cost too much, a lesser sum, on commercial pr.'nciples, must be taken for them. The hon member briefly reviewed the arguments contained in the letter of Kis Honor to the Colonial Secretary on this subject, and stated to hon members that it was to get clear or reduce the amount of interest that had now t® be paid. By selling a large amount this would be saved, while the purchase money would go far to remove the difficulties with which the

province was now encompassed, He - even thought were the Province out of debt, it might be desirable to sell the | railways, in order to obtain the means of constructing roads, and carrying out necessary public works. He would submit another objection to retaining the railways : — when the provinces ceased to exist in favor of a central government, which sooner or later would be brought about, would the railways be allowed to remain the property of the district ? He thought not. It would probably become general property although it had been constructed from our land fund. If sold the province would reap the advautage of the proceeds, and be enabled to carry on some of the many works that were urgently required. This view of the subject he thought worthy of serious consideration. Mr AEMSTRONG- had much pleasure in seconding the motion. He • most thoroughly concurred in the remarks of the previous speaker. The railways had been in a great measnire the cause of Southland's difficulties, and the sooner they were-out of the hands of the" 1 government, if disposed of on equitable terms, the better tor the province. Mr LTJMSDEN opposed the motion, although he would not do so if he saw a probability of selling at cost price. This could not he considered or deemed likely. He was more hopeful in his expectations of the future than previous speakers appeared to be. But the idea of selling the railways at present time considering the monetary crisis, at home and abroad, was visionary. In a long speech he pointed out the improbability of the government being able to sell; that if even money was plentiful, unless the government was able to lay before capitalists reliable statistics, prove to them that it would be a profitable investment, all their efforts would .be futile, and concluded by moving that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr GO WAN thought that the government comtemplated a great sacrifice would have to be made, and other hon members appeared to think that if this bill was passed,, any kind of sale might be effected without their being further consulted. He found, however, a saving clause : — one by which the Council. was required to be consulted before the sale could be effected. Considering the heavy interest that was being paid, he was disposed to support the sale if a fair prire could be obtained. Dr HODG-KINSON" supported the bill, pointing out the advantage likely to arise, and expressiug a belief that it was better to sell than to lease. Mr CLSEKE took a similar view, exS pressing an opinion that it would be better to sell on equitable terms at 50 per cent, discount than keep them ; that they had been must costly in their construction, aud that v they would be a fearful burden on this impoverished, province which it could not bear. Mr PEARSON replied to some of the remarks of previous speakers, endorsed the view of Mr Clerke, and gave the bill his decided support. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER having replied, the motion was put, and the bill carried without a division. The House adjourned until 7 o'clock in the evening. »