REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOA FLAT LAND SALE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 226, 30 May 1872, Page 7

REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOA FLAT LAND SALE.

(Brought %p by Mr. Thomson May 22. ) Your Committee have had before them : Ist. The papers laid on the table on the motion of Mr. Mervyn. . 2nd. Reports from Mr. M'Kerrow on MY. Clarke's application. 3rd. Printed Report of the Legislative Council on Moa Flat Land Sale, with minutes and evidence. 4th. Maps of the Blocks and surrounding country. They have also examined the following witnesses : — Messrs. John F. Kitching, John Mackay, John Aitken Connelf, D. H. Mervyn, H. Bns"ings, J, B. Bradshaw. The Committee prepared certain quest;ons which they transmitted by tt-bgraph to Mr. G. F. Mackay, Roxburgh, to which they received also by telegraph certain answers. • It is the opinion of your Committee that the interests of the district have been injurimisly affected by the sale, but they cannot agree as to the extent to which these have been so affected. It appears to your Committee that the

Moa Flat Land Sale involves an important question of policy, regarding which your Committee do not feel called upon to express an opinion. The various papers, accompanying the report will enable t'.ie members of the Council to form their own opinions.

Your Committee find that when the Cargill-Turnbull Gove.nmeit siccaeded the Reid- Duncan Government In* overdraft at the Bank of New Zealand amounted to the large sum of £88,000. The Bank urgently pressed the Government tor reduce this overdraft, and Mr. Tumbull, the Treasurer, wrote the Bank Manager, stating that the Government had resolved to ask the Council to authorise the sale of 40.000 or 50,000 acres of land in blocks, -The Reid-Brad-shafw Government, who succeeded the Cargill- Tumbull Government, were still pressed by the Bank to reduce the overdraft, and on the 13th July, 1871, Mr. Reid moved the following resolution, wuich was carried by a large majority :—: — " That this Council, having had under it 3 consideration His Honour's Message, No. 11, is of opinion that it is desirable to provide revenue for the purposes indicated, and with this view resolves to authorise ' the Government to dispose of 50,000 acres of land in one or more blocks ; and would recommend that before the sale of any land under the authority of this resolution, full and careful enquiry should be made with a view to privet the alienation of any land, the sale of which may be, or may be deemed to be, prejudicial to the public interests."

With respect to the recommendation contained in the- latter part of the resolution, your Committee are of opinion that it has not been strictly carried out. Jambs W. Thomson, Chairman. Dunedin, May 22, 1872.