HON. C.H. MILLS AT PICTON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 79, 24 April 1901, Page 3

HON. C.H. MILLS AT PICTON.

PROSPEROUS CONDITIO* OF TWS COLONY. SURPLUS OVEB £408.000. PKK PBESS ASSOCIATION. Picton, April 23. The Hon. C. H. Mi'ls addr*ssed a large »od appreciative eathering of his constituents in the Volun'eer shed ttis waning, A. P. Seymour, Esq., the Mayor, presiding. In his opening remarks, Mr. Mills referred to the rapid march ef events daring the past years, in this connection reference being made to tbe war in South Africa, the death of our late Queen, the ascension of King Edward VII. to the throne, and t!>e visit cf the Duke and Dachess of Carnwall and TTork to tbe colonies. Coming to the «<jaestions of the day, he first of all referred to tbe Lands and Survey De partment, and showed that the number of selectorß plaeed on the land for the past ten yeais, exclusive cf surrenders and fo'feirurps by the present Government w»s 13,842, and the expenditure on ioids, bridges, and other public works for the sime period was •£1,886,407. He instanced the case of Cheviot which when purchased only kept; 160 people, whereas tfce population was now 1380, and from a comparison of the post office rtveaue there, which, prior to its being taken under the Lands for Settlement Act, oiily amounted to .£326 for mosey oidera issued per annum, now amounts to .£8,186 per annum, and tbe deposits had increased from £BIO in 1891 to £6,437 in 1900, thus proving the success of the Government policy with respect to the land for settlement. He next referred to tbe great remissions of taxation m?de by the Govtrnment during last session in tbe customs, railways, post and telegraph, and lands departments. Notwithstanding the remissions, which amounted in the aggregate to £327,000, ordinary departmental revenues show larg.? increase'. The total revenue for tbe yeir, prior to concessions, was £4,859,700, while for tbe year just «cded it is anticipated the amount will be £5,112,200, the surplus probablv being over £400,000. Upon tha qu»stion o!thsiailway policy he strongly advocate! the ronrpletisu of tho ma ; n trunk littM in both islands and for a fast fc ry service across Cook S'rait In conntciioa with tbe opening up of trade with South Africa he was of opinion that there should bs a continuous service established with tint country. It was to our intereit to find new markets for our produce and he Wt sure tbe appointment of tbe Trade Commissioner just mide and his voting other countries in the interest cf commerce would tend eventually to iscrease the export trniq. The gross public debt of the colony np to SisMarch, 1900, was £47,874,852, but 'he indebtedn ss was represented by sub stantial apse's. He camp'ime nted the managing directors and officials of tin Bank of New Zealand Hpon the very sat : sfactory result of the pist yen's tracsictions, shares tow being wort v i £1 Up, whereas a few years ago thej were unsil aMe la canclusinn he said tint from \hi rasuh cf tho past. yeir's t anmctions everyone must ad rait that th--ro was a and glorious futaro beforo Now Zeahnd.

Mr. Mil's addnswd the m'-eting r or an hour an f thiee-quvteis and ou eittirg do*ti .v;-s warmty applauded. Tin foil-wing res jlu'ion "that this mee'iug thank* the Hon. C. H. Mills for h's able and ins'rnctive address and hft l " great pWasuie in expressing entire confiden'e in him as their member and, in tte Gi.V'.rnf ent of which the Right Hon. It. J. .Sedilon is Premier " wns carried uiii'dmouslv. T! o rowing closd vvit'.i tl e usual voti of thin'-ts to the chair.