(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 194, 26 October 1871, Page 5

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

THE 50,000 ACRE SALE OF. LAND TO MJi. CLARKE.

Wellington, October 21.

The Committee oF the Legislative Council have, reported on the sate of land by Provincial Executive to Mr. Clarke, of Moa Flat Station, and the result of their inquiries are as follows :- —

That the nott price o£ the land sold was about 15s per acre.

T mt the pu'dic interest will be preju : iced by the sale. Tliat t!ie Warden's report, as to the uuriferous ivituro of the country, was not obtained.

That the 5000 acres set apart ior sett lenient were not reserved.

T lafc tie Covenant for 11,000 acres, which could have been withdrawn for rft'ttle nent jit nnv moment free from

compensation, was not exercised. Tiiat 2s per acre was »ivcn for survey, which might have been dove for 6d.

That roads were not reserved.

That an unusual allowance war made to Mr. Clarke's agent for commission, and

That the legality of the transaction is questionable. I'ne Piovim-hii Treasurer stated the land was auriferous. •

Wellington, Oct. 25th.

Last nis»ht Mr. Vo^el moved the House into Committee to consider the Brod^en contracts. He characterised t!ie assertions of the opposition Press iia impudent fabrications especially resrardin^ the contractors' profits which were limited to s^' per cent. Mr. Vo^el concluded by moving the nou-aeceptance of No. 1 contract.

Mr. SMep'ierd. mov«d an adjournment tuat fie contracts were highly dotremental to the colony and that nil contracts should be let by public tender.

M1 1 . Stafford supported the amendment oi' the donate, and tliat the G-o-vornnu'iit should l>rini» down the At-torney-Generai'.s opinion iv the vali ditory of the contracts. Mr. Voijel said that the AttorneyGeneral and Counsel in England were of opinion that the Government 'iad authority to enter iuto the contracts.

Mr. TY>x f;i'd fc'ie Government were oouvui by tH° ctm'.rnrtb *, \\ vontvanr resolution would be taken as a vole of no confidence. The debate was then adjourned.