Thursday, July 17.

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

Thursday, July 17.

PETITIONS. Petitions were presented from the Mayor and Town Council of Lawrence, praying that certain hind should be set aside as a corporation reserve. — (Mr Brown. ) From certain freeholders in Lawrence, praying that steps should be taken to prevent the flooding of their sections through the operations of the Blue Spur miners. — (Mr Bastings.) QUESTIONS. In reply to questions the Government stated that it was their intention to let the maintenance of the main roads by contract ; and they also intended to have better supervision— to employ more foremen to overlook the contractors. Government were not aware that, during the last few days, 700 acres of land in the neighborhood of Maerewhenua, and supposed to be auriferous, had been sold to the Hon. R. Campbell at 10s per acre ; but the Secretary of Lands would make himself acquainted with the facts, and would answer the question next day. CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS. The Secretary fob Works, in moving that the House should take into consideration his Honor's Messages, No 5 and 6, re railways, asked leave (which was granted) to add the following words to the resolution :— "Provided that no block or parcel of land should be sold for the above purposes of rail and tramway development situated on the goldfields of the Province, until a report has first been obtained from the Warden of the district, and also an independent report from two gentlemen appointed by the Central Miners' Association, setting forth that the land proposed to be sold is not payably auriferous, nor likely, by becoming freehold, to impede mining enterprise ; the cost of such reports to be defrayed by the Government. And in no case shall any land be sold for the purposes specified in the above resolution without being advertised, in accordance with the 81st section of the ' Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872,' not less than one month before being sold by auction, or being considered by the Waste Land Board, in a newspaper circulating in the district in which the block or parcel proposed to be sold is situated, as well as in the Government Gazette." After alluding to the necessity that existed for completing the main lines, if Dunedin wished to retain its position as the first commercial City in the Colony, the hon. member said the only point of difference was the means of carrying out the object desired. From the feeling against the sale of land lately expressed by the Council they knew many members would strongly object to the proposals now made, but many politicians who had thought over the matter argued that if the Province did not sell, as it would be justified in selling, such an amount of land as was necessary for the construction of public works, the Colonial Government might step in and sell the land for them. With regard to the Green Island banchlet it would not only effect such a saving in road maintenance as to go a long way in a few years toward paying for the cost of construction, but would yield an enormous profit to the Government. It had been stated by some hon. members that they should endeavour to induce the General Government to construct those branchlets ; but he might fay that this matter had been mooted between the late Executive and the General Government, and they had received a distinct answer from the latter that it was not their intention to construct those branchlets. He knew that it was the opinion of some hon. members that the Government should allow those branchlets to be constructed byprivate enterprise. He disagreed with that. He might say that the Government had a private offer to construct this line, but they declined to acrept it. He had no doubt that a great many private people would be glad to construct these lines, as they would prove to be payable speculations. But that was all the more reason why the Government should retain the power of carrying out those very desirable works. The next line was the Waiareka Valley. With regard to this line he had collected some reliable statistical information, which he would now lay before the House. He might state that if a light railway were not made down the Waiareka Valley, it would be necessary to make a road there, because it was a fact that for years past the farmers could not get the produce of their farms to market. The Waiareka Valley passed through the garden of the Northern District, and contained 35,000 acres of fine agricultural land. The estimated traffic for the first year was as follows : — Grain and flour, 8,000 tons ; wool, 2,240 tons ; stone, 7,000 tons ; lignite, 2,000 tons ; merchandise, I,soo— making a total of about 60 tons per day. This would give a revenue, at 5s per ton, of L 5,285. The present cartage was double that price. This estimated revenue was exclusive of passenger traffic, and would pay eight per cent, upon the outlay after deducting the working expenses. If the railway were constructed, there would be a probable increase of all kinds of traffic. The next line was the Riverton and Orepuki branch. The estimated cost of that line was X 60,000. A portion of it had already been assented to by the Council last year, £5,000 had been voted and

expended upon the construction of a bridge over Jacob's River, and some of it upon the survey of a portion of the line. Although he did not agree as a rule with the principle of paying for public works in land, yet he thought this was an exceptional case. It was only requisite that a light railway should be put tnrough this portion of the country in oi der to open np a very valuable timber trade ; and unless this portion of the Province was made accessible by means of a railway, it was probable that it would lie dormant for many years. The Warden of the district had also informed him that if this portion of the country were opened up, they would find at the extreme end of the line a. very valuable goldfield. The district was also very rich in other resources. The line from Riverton to Otautau passed through a very large agricultural country, and the Government would be obliged to construct through the district either a main or a light railway. The cost of the railway would be very little more than L 20,000. In answer to Mr Ireland, The Goldfields Secretary said the Government intended to dispose of the pastoral land in blocks of not more than 2,500 acres and upwards, but not more thau 5,000 acres in one block. Mr Reid admitted the necessity for the completion of the main trunk lines, even if the Province had to do them ; but thought their energies ought to be concentrated on the completion of the line from Ounedin to Moeraki, which was the more important of the two. It was impolitic for the Province to go on constructing a number of lines at once, as the effect would be to paralyse the labor market. He was of opinion that the only way they could get those railways constructed was by means of a loan in some shape. He did not believe they would be able, even if desirable, to sell a sufficient area of land for the construction of those lines. He would propose an amendment, but he did not do so from any hostile feeling towards the Government. He would propose the following amendment :—": — " That all the words in the first resolution after the first word ' That ' down to and including the words ' hereby given ' be omitted, with the view of inserting in lieu thereof the following :— ' That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient that the extension of the Southern Trunk Railway from Balclutha. to Mataura and the Main Northern line from Moeraki to Dunedin, should be at once proceeded with, and that the General Government be respectfully requested to take steps under the Immigration and Public Works Acts, with a view tojfche construction of these lines.' In the event of the General Government not agreeing to undertake the immediate completion of these railways, and in order to place the Provincial Executive in a position to do io, this Council resolves — (1.) That the whole of the unsold agricultural lands through which the lines are to be constructed, and such areas of pastoral lands contiguous thereto, as may be calculated to yield sufficient revenues to repay the cost of constructing the works, be set apart, and that the revenues to be derived from the sale and occupation of such lands be placed to a fund for repayment of principal and interest on any sums which this Council may sanction for the construction of the said railways. (2.) That the whole of the agricultural lands included in the areas so set apart shall be alienated on the system o f deferred payments only. (3.) That the pastoral lands (in the event of any being sold) shall be exposed for sale in blocks of net more than 2.500 acres, due care being taken to reserve auriferous lands." The difference between this amendment and the resolution would be that it would be clearly understood that the lines were to be constructed out of borrowed money. Dr Mexzies seconded the amendment. Mr Bastings said the Government would consider the proposal of the hon. member for Taieri in the spirit in which it was brought forward. He would propose that the debate should be adjourned, in order that the amendment might be printed and considered by hon. members. The debate was then adjourned, and made an order of the day for the next sitting. MAIN BOAD FROM PALMEBSTON TO SHAG POINT. Mr M'Kenzie moved—" That in the opinion of this Council the Government should take over the main road from Palmerston to Shag Point, and provide for the maintenance of the same as a main branch road." — Carried. DAILY MAIL TO OAMABU. Mr Stout, in the absence of Mr Mills, moved — " That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will ur^ge on the General Government the great necessity that exists for the establishment of a daily mail between Dunedin and Oamaru, calling at intermediate Post Offices." — Carried. IMMIGRANT VESSELS TO CALL AT THE BLUFF. Mr Kinross moved — " That this Council is of opinion that the recommendation of the Reunion Commissioners, under the head Immigration, ' That at least every third vessel should make the Bluff an advertised port of call, or oftener if found necessary,' should be carried out; and requests the Government to take steps to carry the recommendation into effect.*" — Carried. GOLDFIELDS COMMITTEE. Mr Mackellab brought up a report by the Select Committee on Goldfields, respecting the Cardrona Arbitration Case (Cottar and others). The Committee stated they were of opinion that it was not competent for the Government to take the stand of saying that no compensation would be paid by them ; and further that the Government were bound to pay the award, or to take steps to have the award set aside, and a fresh arbitration entered upon. He also brought up a report by the same Committee, upon the petition of forty-two miners and shareholders in mining companies in Manuka Creek District. The Committee reported as follows :—": — " Ist. Your Committee is of opinisn that the prayer of this petition should be granted, and that an arrangement should be made with Mr Murray, of Glenore, in the same friendly spirit that gentleman shows in his letter herewith attached. 2nd. That an absolute exchange of ground should be made if [ possible — non-auriferous land being given for the auriferous hind now in Mr Murray's possession. 3rd. That, however, the said land should first be ascertained to be undeniably auriferous. Your Committee would also draw your attention to the desirability of the -whole question of mining on freehold property being dealt with by the Legislature, and your Committee •would urge upon your attention the immediate necessity of introducing a clause into the Waste Lands Act reserving all minerals in the soil to the Crown." SUPPLY. On the motion for the House going into Committee of Supply being put, Mr Reid said, as he intimated on the previous day, he considered that in dealing with the salaries of the Civil servants, the Council should fix some scale that would be fair to all of them, so that those who might have friends, and so that outside influence might not be exercised in favor of some officers, while others, perhaps equally deserving, were left at the reduced rates at which their salaries were placed some two years ago. He moved : — That it is inexpedient to increase the salaries as voted on last year's Estimates, except in such special cases, if any, as may be shown to require alteration ; and in the event of any increase being made other than those specially referred to, this Council is of opinion that the whole of the salaries should be reinstated as they were before the reductions were made in 1871." Mr Lumsden seconded the amendment. Mr TuRNBULL intimated that the amendment would be accepted by tie Government as a Government question, and reminded the House that they stated on the day previous that they were not disposed to raise the salaries all round, but considered the officers should be paid according to their qualifications and the work done. He did not see that because one man was worth L 25 a year more, the Government therefore must raise the salary of every other officer. Such was not the practice carried out in private affairs, nor should it obtain in public affairs. A great deal of time and attention had been given to the Estimates, and the Government were not prepared to remodel them in the manner indicated. After some observations by Messrs Fish, Stout, Davie, Haggitt, and Roberts, a division was called for and taken with the following result : — Ayes, 12 — Messrs Allan, Green, Ireland, Kinross, Lumsden, Menzies, M'Kellar. M'Kenzie, Reid (teller), Stout (teller), Wilson, a»d Wood,

* Noes, 25— Messrs Bastings, Brown J. C, Browne G. F. C, Cl.irk H., thimming, Daniel, Davie, De Lautour, Fish, Haggitt (teller), Hazlett, Mollison, M 'Der 11, id,l l, id, M'Glashan. M'Lean, M'Neil, Oliver (teller), Roberts, PiO.^ers, Shand, Teschemaker, Tolmie, Turnbull, Turton and Webster. Mr Reid explained that his amendment had been misunderstood. He regretted the Council had not agreed to adopt some uniform system before going into Committee, and had he had the opportunity he could have shown that the amendment was calculated to assist the Government in getting the Estimates passed without that scrambling which usually took place The Provincial Treasueer, at a later period of the day, said he was prepared to accept the assurance of the member for the [ Taieri that he brought forward his amendment in no hostile spirit; but that hon. member must be aware that the Government could not look upon the motion except as an intimation that they were to remodel the Estimates ; and under these circumstances the Government had no option but to decline to do so. The hon. member had referred to the spirit which actuated the Government in framing the Estimates — that they did so with a view to helping friends, or in compliance with the representations of persistent friends of certain officers. He ceuld assure the hon. member that the Government had not been actuated in the slightest way by outside influence. They had considered the case of each officer on its merits, and the duties he was called upon to perform.