The Southland Times. MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 941, 27 April 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1868.

The third session of the third Provincial Council of Southland is to meet to-day. The only business of importance —indeed, the only question for which the Provincial Council has been convened — is to take into consideration the consent of the Q-eneral G-overnment to finish the Northern Line of Railway with iron rails to "Winton. The plan proposed originally was to set apart 60,000 acres of land in payment to the contractor for its construction. The Council, at its last sitting, with this object in view, passed the necessary resolutions, but since that time it has been found more expedient that an endeavor should be made to obtain from the General G-overnment means to finish the work by cash payments. Our readers are acquainted with the successful result of the mission of His Honor the Superintendent, and the Provincial Treasurer (Mr Blacklock), to Wellington ; and we presume the object of calling the Council together on the present occasion, seeing that the financial period wants two months to expire before fresh estimates are required, is to obtain the necessary authority to send to England for the iron rails. The Grovernment, no doubt, will be prepared to make such arrangements as will enable them, without interfering with the roadmaking now in progress, to send for a great proportion, of the material required, to be shipped on board vessels bringing out immigrants. If this plan can be accomplished, a great advantage to the Province will result, for by this means vessels will be laid onforthe Bluff at regular intervals to carry immigrants and merchandise, which vessels will be possessed of an additional guarantee in the shape of railway" freight. It is to be hoped that no delay will be made in sending the order to England, and pushing on with all possible despatch with the work. We learn that the sitting of the Council will be a short one.