THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, MAY 17, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1986, 17 May 1875, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, MAY 17, 1875.

The question has recently been pretty well discussed whether the loan to the United Pumping Association should be regarded as a Provincial responsibility or merely a loan direct from the Colonial Government to the Pumping Association. The matter has been argued from the view point obtained, by reference to the 1 debates on the Bill granting the loan, and the terms of the Bill itself. We think it would be as well for the Superintendent and Provincial Council to ; make, some enquiry into the circumstances attending the early stages of this business, and if they do we fancy they will find that, from the very first the advance to the Pumping Association was looked upon i.s an advance to the Pbovince. It will bo necessary in. order to make this clear to go back to the month of February, 1874u I At* that during the "visit of Hon. Mr Vogel, the I business was matured after, numerous meetings and conferences as to the nature and extent of the assistance which should be asked towards developing the deep levels of the Thames. On the 25th. February a deputation waited on the Hon. Mr Vogel. (who was then on a visit to the Thames) with, their plans fully matured. They asked for £100,000 to carry on the Pumping Association shaft, to continue sinking the Bright Smile shaft, and to, prosecute the Kuranui Hill Tunnel. The two latter works were ultimately struck out, Mr Vogel pointing out that the Government could not be expected to subsidise a company which was on gold, and that the Xuranur Hill Tunnel was more of the nature of a public speculation. The question then narrowed itself down to the proposed assistance to the Pumping Association. The deputation explained the nature of the work already done by the Association, and what was contemplated in future operations. An elaborate report was prepared, and equally elaborate plans, and Mr W. C. Wright, mining surveyor, was present to offer explanations ; and when tho.,,,position of affairs had been fully explained; Mr Vogel replied. He said, after referring to the terms which, the deputation proposed for repayment of the loan-

"JSTow you are all aware of the fact that, although the goldfields are in the hands of the Governor, the Goldfields Act gives powers of delegation, and the goldfield is now virtually in the hands of the Superintendent, to whom the Governor's powers are delegated. " (At this stage of the proceeding His Honor the Superintendent, Mr J: Sheehan, Provincial Secretary; and Mr G. M. Seed, Provincial Treasurer, came into the room).

"Mr Vogel: I am glad to see your Honor here, as what I am about to say has reference to you. The whole charge of the goldfields has been delegated to the Superintendent, and what is more to the purpose, the whole of the revenue is received by .the Superintendent and expended by him under the authority of the Provincial Council. Those who have charge are the proper persons to carry out such schemes as that now proposed. If the Provincial Government' ask the General Government to carry out the scheme for the desired advantage of the goldfield it would, to my mind, be equal to desiring the General Government to take over charge of the goldfields, and I see no reason for that desire. The scheme is properly one for the Provincial Government, and if the Provincial Government wanted assistance it would have 1,0 be obtained through the Parliament. On this., point I give my opinion.

I don't know how far His Honor might wish me to express my opinion. ;. Whatever arrangements are made by the Provincial Government would ■ go before Parliament for general consideration, as what assistance would be rendered by the General Government would depend on the approval of the House. If carried out at all it should be carried out by direct arrangement between the Provincial Government and the miners. As far as I am able I would assist the Superintendent in carrying the measure through '■Parliament, and even, if the Superintendent showed that there was a pressing necessity, the Government would advance funds, always supposing that the scheme is such as meets with our approval, or is likely to be approved by Parliament. . . . . You have now my opinion. I have thrown this out as a suggestion, not dictatorially. I hope you 'see that it is impossible for me to say anything more. It would be indecorous in me to step in and say I would render assistance over the Superintendent's head, but if His.; Honor proposed some such scheme I would gladly assist him."

After some further discussion the deputation thanked Mr Vogel and withdraw. At 2 o'clock on the same day, immediately after the conclusion of the business with Mr Vogeli the same deputation waited upon His Honor the Superintendent, John Williamson, and put the case before him as strongly as possible. To show the light in which Mr Williamson viewed the matter we give portions of his reply:— .

"His Honor said that he had read the report, and he had also heard what Mr Togel said, and he was

very desirous to do all in his power to give effect to their wishes, as they proceeded from practical men. Believing that they believed them practicable, ho felt disposed to do all in his power to give them effect. He could not pledge himself to more than this. The Government of Auckland would meet a number selected from the deputation to confer as to details, so as to judiciously and carefully carry but a plan It was a great work, and if by combined effort they could devise a plan by which there was a prospect or probability of making it successful, he should feel culpable if he stood in the way of its development. (Cheers.) He should dri all in his power to give it practical effect. It* was necessary that the Government should sit down and consult with their wisest men. They would be prepared to meet the men selected either here or in Auckland, and so secure the public interest while assisting these private undertakings. He thought his colleagues ; were of the same ©pinion, and he trusted the scheme would develop this great goldfield of the Thames. (Cheers.) If the committee appointed half-a-dozen men to confer with the Government and asjsist in drawirig'up a scheme, the Government had no objection |to proparing that. In the meantime he was assured by Mr Vogel that if they produced such a scheme as; he (Mr Vogel) could approve ofj lie would be •prepared even before the Assembly met to provide funds to enable them to .prosecute it. But: he (Mr Williamson) should insist on the.'Government having something to say in tho outlay of the money. There should be periodical returns of the work done, and they should see that the money was expended in the proper way. 'By that safeguard the public interest would be, proteted.""' . i

We think everyone will admit that it : was intended the Province should assume some responsibility in this matter, or whyshould the Superintendent or his Government having anything to say in the matter. ■■- During Mr Williamson's lifetime they had something to say; the money ■was paid to the Association only on the certificate of the Provincial District Engineer. It may be said that the legislation on the; subject superseded any previous understanding between the General and Provincial Governments, but we think we have shown that thers was an implied responsibility on the part of the Province, and the Provincial Council will assume a graver responsibility if they now -refuse to vote;the money to the" Pumping Association and so bring an important work to a standstill. With the; good taste or policy of the Colonial Secretary in forcing the Province into the position it is in through this vote we have not at present to do. The.finances of the Province are bad enough, but if a stoppage of the Pumping Association should ensue, they will soon be worse. Auckland is as much, dependent upon the carrying out of the Thames mining operations as the successful prosecution of the Pumping Association works is upon the continuance of the subsidy.

In our present issue we publish the Provincial Treasurer's financial statement of the affairs of the Province of Auckland, which is put in plain terms and figures— so plain indeed that the position may be seen at a glance. The Treasurer is forced to the conviction that the General Government will have to step in and make provision for the "decent Government of Auckland, or the thing will come to a financial standstill.. It is a humiliating position for the Province to be placed in, and the question naturally arises what would our Provincial rulers have suggested had the proposal to abolish the North Island provinces never beenmooted. It cannot be charged against the Colony that this state of things has arisen out of Mr Vogel's famous resolution; possibly j during the debate:on the Treasurer's j statement some of the members of Council may seek to prove that it is due to the Public Works policy, or it may be that nothing more than general statements will be made, charging injustice and neglect 'against the Colonial Ministry. The real difficulty, however, is patent, and a. remedy must be sought, either in the abolition of the Provinces altogether, or I in a full consideration and adjustment of the relations between the General and Provincial Governments. Our readers will perceive that the proposed expenditure for the six months from Ist of July to the 31st of December, 1875 embraces only what is actually necessary to keep things going, and contingencies may arise of an urgent nature for which no provision is made. How they are to be retired is', a question which must be met when the occasion rises. The debate on the statement stands adjourned till tomorrow. Possibly some new light will be thrown on the situation. As it; appears it is bad enoughs and there seems to be no way of escape but to accept the Treasurer's ultimatum — throwing on the General Government the responsibility of carrying on the Government of the Province at the end of the financial period embraced by the Treasurer's statement, unless the difficulty should be met in the next session of the Assembly by the reconstruction of the Constitution and placing the Provinces on a more equitable footing regarding the revenue from the waste lands of the Crown. '