Wednesday, July 16.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 286, 24 July 1873, Page 8

Wednesday, July 16.

PETITIONS. Petitions were presented from the inhabitants of Hyde and the neighborhood, praying for the construction of a bridge over the Taieri river (Mr Oliver) ; from Mr F. C. Fulton, landowner, and Ephraim Machin, leaseholder in the neighborhood, complaining of the closing up of the Main North Road. QUESTIONS. In answer to questions, Government stated that they had obtained a report on the flooding of and damage to the Main Central Road, caused by the silting up of the channel of the Silverstream, and the Engineer recommended that a careful survey should be made, in order to determine the best means of providing for the escape of J;he flood waters of the Silverstream. In the meantime, the Government had placed a sum on the Estimates to afford temporary relief until the necessary survey could be made. — Government thought they would be justified in subsidising Boards of Conservators out of the Provincial subsidy, and on the same footing as the Road Boards. The Secretary of Lands moved (in reply to Message No. 9)— " That this Council having had under consideration his Honor's Message No. 9, relative to the proclamation of Hundreds, approves of the recommendation as therein contained, and respectfully requests his Honor to take the necessary steps to give effect thereto." He said there was an impression abroad that the Waste Land Board were in clined to act in opposition to the Government. He could not believe it, but that all they desired was that they were expected to act independently of any influence. The Board included men whose interests were bound up in the prosperity of the Province, and therefore would act with the Government if there was no attempt to go beyond the law. With regard to Hundreds on runs 185 and 250, the ground was between Deep and Lees streams, and, according to the chief «urveys, half of it was ploughable and fit for cultivation in grasses, and therefore suitable for stock. The Hundred on 74 and 165 was between 400 and 1,000 feet above the level of the sea. It was in the neighborhood of bush and the next Hundred was extensively settled. The block on runs 137 and 123, 300 to 1,300 feet above the level of the sea (of 15,000 acres) had in addition about 5,000 acres added, and was set apart for purchase on deferred payments. More than one-third of it was capable of cultivation, and it was determined to throw it open on deferred payments, to give the settlers upon it the advantage of grazing rights within Hundreds. Mr M'Kenzie moved that the House consider the resolutions in Committee. Dr Menzihs moved the adjournment of the debate till to-morrow, to enable contingent notices of motion to be put on the notice paper. Mr Reid asked the Secretary of Lands what was to be sold on deferred payments ? The Secretary of Lands complained of inconsistency in the plans of the Government, which he held were altered from day to day. With regard to some of the Hundreds, he had heard they were not adapted for settlement, but were worse than the Traquair Hundred. At the time it was proclaimed it was not considered good land ; but was better than some about to be proclaimed. In the Grookston Hundred choice land was surveyed and laid out, and when brought into the market was bought up by the runholder at one pound per acre. He wished that to be avoided by setting aside a quantity of land on each Hundred in deferred payments. It had been regretted that not more than 30,000 acres could be opened up on deferred payments in one year. It was possible, however, to extend this by giving compensation to runholders on the goldfields, and opening it for settlement under the Agricultural Lease system. On the Crook - ston Hundred there was no settlement, but had that been settled on deferred payments, it would be better than at present. Another provision of the Land Act was that land which had been open for sale could be sold at 15s an acre on deferred payments, and he thought it would be a great advantage to the country. He should not agree to opening Hundreds if sold as the Clarkston Hundred was. Mr Shand said the Government had put 20,000 acres of the best land in the country into blocks on deferred payments, a course which had been csmplained of bitterly by old settlers. From his knowledge, not half of the land proposed to be proclaimed into Hundreds was the best in the country; but, although 1,200 feet above the level of the sea, if sold at 20s per acre, it would be put to a better purpose than at present. Mr Stout said, if the land was so valuable as represented, the Government would do well to reserve the whole on deferred payments. The Secretary of Lands asked how Hundreds could be declared unless one-third was agricultural land ? The land in Hundreds was not so good as that reserved for sale on deferred payments. Sir M'Kenzie supported the adjournment. Mr Haggitt would not be prepared to support the Government unless convinced the Hundreds satisfied the 97th section of Act 1872 read with 97 A. It provided that one-third of the area should be suitable for agriculture. He was not acquainted with the character of the land in two of the proposed Hundreds, but on the reports of persons held reliable by the Government. If the other Hundreds were of the same character, the Government would be a 8 likely to have sold as if the whole Province was proclaimed a Hundred Amongst the land proposed a Hundred in 1871, was that called the Beaumont Hundred, of which only 1,500 acres out of 10,000 acres was suitable for agriculture. Therefore the chances of having it proclaimed were very remote. If that were the case, how could the Executive persuade the Governor there was one-third agricultural land. The opinion was found on the evidence of Warden Simpson, Peter Robinson, and others of all classes. If that was the class of land, the Government could not have thoroughly considered the matter. Either th© country had altered in its features, or the evidence of the witnesses was not reliable. He could not believe that the Government had stated it was their intention to reserve all the agricultural land for settlement on deferred payments. Mr M'Dermid thought the question had not been put fairly and clearly before the House. He could not support the Government without further information. The debate was adjourned. TREE PLANTING. The Secretary of Lands moved— "That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting him to make application to his Excellency the Governor to declare ' The Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Act 1872,' to be in operation in the Province of Otago." Mr Reid said in the Waste Lands Act of Otago provision was made for a like purpose better calculated to ensure the object. Were people aware of the regulations, land would be extensively taken up for the purpose. More planting was required. He believed people were deterred by an idea of the expense. Dr Menzies concurred in the object, but suggested that the Government should consider which Act was most conducive to the encouragement of planting. Were it possible to have the sandhills planted on the Ocean Beach, the climate would be much improved. In certain parts of Europe, where sandhills drifted on to agricultural land, it had become stable by planting certain plants. The same might be done in order to grow forest trees. Mr Allan thought if L2OO or L3OO were placed on the Estimates for seeds for gratuitous distribution, it would do much towards securing planting*

Mr M'Lean thought that as many persons had planted expensive trees largely, the Act should be bi ought into operation for their protection. Mr M 'Gush an thought the provisions of the Act were not sufficiently liberal. It was brought forward by Mr Rolleston, Superintendent of Canterbury, where land was worth 'L 2an acre. He thought three or four aereß 1 should be given instead of one to one, for planting was an expensive process with trees at L 5 a thousand. Mr Stout thought the object was not to pay for planting, but to encourage it, and therefore one acre to one was sufficient. Dr. Webster said that for every acre planted a bonus of two acres was given. Mr Reid explained that the provisions of the Act gave power to purchase eight acm instead of one. The motion as amended was carried. Mr Wood moved:— "That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he reserve from sale and set apart all that piece or parcel of land shown on the record map of the Green Hills township as block 4 ; also the land situated between the said block and the Bluff ani In vercargill Railway, together containing 6a 2r 16p, more or less, as a Stone Reserve for the use of the Municipality of InvercargilL" Mr Lumsden seconded the motion, and said that although it was fifteen or sixteen miles from Inveroargill, it was the only means of obtaining stone for road and street metal Dr Wbbster said the Government would prefer that instead of counting the advantages to In vercargill, the motion should be altered to make the reserve applicable to public purposes. Mr M'Glashan thought the reserves of gravel and stone for road purposes should be placed under the control of road boards. Dr. Menzies supported the motion. A few years ago stone for road metal cost 17s 6d a yard. The Government made an arrangement with a person at 10s a yard, and now that the railway passed through the proposed reserve, stone could he obtained at reasonable prices, and in unlimited quantities. Mr Wood explained. What was asked was only a small area compared with the quantity of stone, and there would be ample supply for all pui poses. The motion was carried. MISCELLANEOUS. The following motions were carried : — That the petition of the inhabitants of Harrisville be referred to the Government ; that sections 25 to 31 inclusive, black 7, Western District, be set apart as a coal reserve. CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS. Mr Bastings stated, with reference to the series of resolutions standing in his name proposing the completion of the main line of railway from Waitaki to Invercargill, and the construction of several branch lines, that he had drawn up another set of resolutions, and therefore wished to allow the resolutions on the Order Paper to lapse. HARBOR RECLAMATION. Mr Bastings moved the following resolution : — " Referring to his Honor's Message No. 7, this Council concurs with the Superintendent in respect to the expediency of the proposed reclamation of the mud flat at the head of Dunedin Bay, t>rovided the works can be accomplished within the limits specified in the report of the Provincial Engineer, attached to the Message. This Council further hereby empowers the Government to take the necessary action accordingly." The hon. member said it was anticipated that if this land were reclaimed and put up for auction it would realise L 2.500 per acre.