THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 352, 2 May 1874, Page 3

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

- „ The Council met on Wednesday at noon. There were thirty-two members present. His Honor the Superintendent read the address, which was a very comphrehensive one, touching upon many subjects. On the present occasion, we will only give a sumftnary of some of the most important items ■contained in- ifc. The export of gold shows a decrease on former years. The immigration from the United Kingdom ■during tha twelvo months has amounted to •4407 ; and the natural increase during the same period has been 3168. " The gross total of the Consolidated Revenues of the Colony collected in Otago during the period in question amounts to £436,147,- the whole of which, as you are aware, goes into the Colonial Treasury. Out •of this the Province has been credited with £55,580 as capitation allowance. " The payments into the Provincial Treasury during the year amount to £415,425, whilst tho expenditure has been £376,607. •'There have been sold during the year 258,849 acres of agricultural laud, to 404 purchasers ; of town land, the Bales have ' amounted to 1624 acres to 596 purchasers ; •of agricultural lease areas on Goldfields there have been granted 30,000 acres to 320 ■J.6SB6CS* "Last session a Bill was passed by the House of Representatives, extending tho area <of land which may be' taken in any one year on deferred payment from 30,000 to 100,000 . acres. This Bill was not passed by the Legislative Council. It is proposed to renew the next session, and also to provide that where there are more than one applicant for deferred payment sections, the selection will be submitted to auction." His""Honor recommends the rising of the price of land from £1 to £2. " Another question of vital importance to Vhich I would solicit your attention, is that of water rights on Goldfields : a very serious conflict is impending between the mining -and other interests in respect to this matter. The Executive Government has been appealed to, but does not see that it would be justified in allying itself with any one interest in the Province as against another." In order to attach the mining population to the soil, his Honor expresses ifc as his conviction that the miner should possess the free•hold ef the land «n which he is mining. "In this case, he {t*ro miner) would have strong inducement to preserve and replace the surface soil. No doubt this suggestion is surrounded with practical difficulties. They are difficulties, however, which I venture to think knight be overcome ; and I feel assured thafc, if the miners could see their own interests, they would unanimously petition the Legislature in this direction, Were this suggestion given effect to, there would be no necessity for miners' rights, goldfields staff or gold •duty." Amongst the branch railways to be constructed is one to Tapanui, and the extension *f the Lawrence line to the Dunstan as a main trunk line, is also recommend. A number of papers and reports were laid <m the table, some Cemmifctees were ap- • pointed, and the Council then adjourned till 3 p.m. next day (Thursday.) Thursday, April 30th. The Speaker took the chair at 2 o'clock. A number of notices of questions and motions ■were given, after which The Provincial Secretary stated that the ' -Executive had resigned. He.found that his •own time was so tied up with his private affairs that he was unable to devote a fair portion to his duties as Provincial Secretary =ond Treasurer. That was one reason, and the main one. The other is that there were certain differences of opinion amongst the "members of the present Executive in regard to the administration of public affairs. There is another which has jrarfcly guided us in coming to this conclusion. We think that the .offices, as ut present formed — for which toe responsible — are not *exactly in the . *be«fc shape to carry on tho business of the •country. The majority of us think the '.Secretary for Goldfields and tbe Secretary for Public Works should be distinct offices. I admit — and I have to say thafc since last year my opinion on that point has altered — - -and I desire most distinctly to repudiate the idea of saying anything derogatory to my who has carried on the duties of these two departments, for I think he has displaced =a great deal of activity and - ability, and could =do it as well as auybody could. Mr. Fish said it was an extraordinary course ■for the Government to pursue to resign before the Council had an opportunity of criticising their actions during-the recess. Remarks were made by Mr. M'Dermid, ,' ISr. Donald Reid, and • others, and some un- '•', important .biasness transacted, after which '-.' *he Council adjourned .till Monday, at 2