THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 175, 15 June 1871, Page 5

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, "June 7th.

Two matters which evoked unlimited discussion were considered. The first was the question of railway construction throughout the province ; and the second, that apparently inexhaustible topic, the land question. The former was introduced by Mr. Reid submitting a motion, which asked the Council to request the Colonial Government to take steps tofacilitate the immediate construction of the following lines of railway, in terms of the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870 :—lnvercargill: — Invercargill to Mataura, Moeraki to Waitaki, Tokomairiro to Tnapeka, Mosgiel to Outram, Winton to Kingston, and Balclutha to Matanra. Mr. Duncan contended that it would simply be a waste of public money to construct a railway from Balclutha to Mataura, and suggested that when made it would be comparable only with the railway in Southland, where an engine driver, presumably according to custom, once stopped the train to enable an old woman to cross the line, and when requested to " hurry up," she indignantly replied, " Bless me, you're in a great hurry this morning ! " Ultimately, the Hon. Mr. Bell moved that the motion should be amended to the extent of providing that the Council should express an opinion upon the course taken by the Colonial Government for the commencement and continuation of the Clutha line. He also explained, that the line, so far as it had been tendered for, had been taken up within the estimated cost, namely, LSOOO per mile. Ultimately the debate was adjourned until to-day. Subsequently a debate took place nn the first of Mr. Cutten's land resolutions, which is as follows :—": — " That the Hundreds Regulation Act, 1809, and the Hundreds Regulation Act, 1870, are injurious to the interests of the people of Otago by impeding settlement, creating delay in opening land for purchase, and diminishing the land revenue of the province, and therefore the said Acts should be repealed." On this an amendment was moved by Mr. M'Glashan, " That the laws of Otago affecting land, both inside and outide of the goldtields, are injurious to the interests of the people of the province, cause heartburnings and jealousies, and set class against class, thus impeding settlement, and diminishing the provincial revenue. Therefore it is the duty of the Government to bring before this Council a well-digested scheme, whereby justice will be done to the various existing interests and facilities given to bona fide settlement. That until such is done, this Conucil cannot entertain the resolutions now before them." During th 9 animated and acrimonious debate which followed, Mr. Barton threatened that if gentlemen on the Opposition benches insisted upon endeavouring to stave off the consideration of the question by attempting to postpone the discussion he would propose, v That a tax of Is. per acre per annum be imposed upon all uncultivated freehold land throughout the province." I Mr. Cutten characterised Mr. M'Glashan's amendment as a vote of want of confidence in the Government, and added that if the honourable member, when speaking of heart burnings and jealousies, had said that the want of seats on the Government benches had. .created them, he would state that was nearer the truth. Mr. M'Glashan's amendment was lost on the voices, and at a quarter past 12 o'clock progress was reported, and leave to sit again obtained.