OPENING OF THE NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 652, 30 April 1870, Page 2

OPENING OF THE NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

THE SUPERINTENDENT'S ADDEESS. The first session of the present Council was opened on Tuesday at one o'clock. All the members were in attendance except Mr Baigent, and Messrs Eeid, Mackley, Donne, and Franklyn, for the West Coast. Space will not admit of our giving the opening address in its entirety but we subjoin a report of those portions having special refereuce to the Coast which we have condensed from Wednesday's Examiner. Mr Curtis stated that the actual receipts had amounted to £82,000 instead of £IOO,OOO as estimated. Customs Revenue at Nelson had increased —had decreased at Westport to the extent of £5,200 for the year. Greymouth exhibited an increase of £6,600, but only one fourth of the duties collected at the latter port being credited to the Provincial share of the consolidated revenue, the increase did not make up for the falling off at Westport. The amount received for duty on goldexported from the Province showed a considerable decline, the receipts for the year amounting to £18,980 against £25,250 in the preceding year. The miscellaneous goldfields' revenue derived from miners' rights, business licenses, and similar sources, had increased from £16,000 to £18,400. A balance of £1,500 voted for departmental expenses remained unexpended. The Bank of New Zealand overdraft had been reduced from £6,800 to £4,100. In referring to the Nelson and Cobden Eailway, and the question of water supply for the golufields Mr Curtis said:—

"A long correspondence on the subject of the Nelson, Cobden and Westport Kailway will be laid upon your table. Negotiations which, for a considerable time, promised to be productive of a successful result, have, as you will observe with regret, been abruptly broken off, but I learn from private sources that the scheme is becoming better understoodin London, and is looked upon with much more favor by capitalists than it was in the first instance. The modifications in tho Act of 1868, which were proposed by Colonel Maude, namely, the extension of the area for the selection of land as far north as the Mohikinui, and the grant of a block of land in payment of the expenses incurred in the formation of a company, appearing to me to be reasonable, I introduced a bill, giving the Superintendent the necessary powers to concede them, into the House of Representatives, which ultimately received the assent of the Legislature. " I think the terms we have offered are now at least quite sufficiently liberal, and I do not consider that the province would bejustified in granting any further material concession. " The Colonial Government having kindly offered the assistance of the New Zealand Commißsioners, now in

England, to assist in removing any obstacles which may exist in carrying out this important work, which is perhaps rather of a colonial than of a provincial character, I gladly accepted the proffered assistance. The Government have further intimated the possibility of including the Nelson and Cobden line in a general scheme of railways for the colony, which it appears is now under their consideration. " The scarcity of water upon many parts of the goldfields of the colony, and the consequent unproductiveness of much ground that would otherwise be profitably worked, is exciting increased attention in the gold-producing districts. The large expenditure required to lead a sufficient body of water to supply the wants of a district over perhaps, twenty or thirty miles of rough country, together with the uncertainty of an adequate return, have hitherto proved a bar to the construction of aqueducts of sufficient magnitude to be of general public utility, and the interferences of Grovtinimout, either by the eonstruction of such works at the public expense, or by guaranteeing a moderate rate of interest upon private capital employed upon them, appears to be urgentlv required. From the former course this province, at all events, is debarred by the want of funds for the purpose, and from the latter, all the provinces alike are prohibited by the " Public Debts Act, 1867." "During the last session of the General Assembly, a committee of the House of Representatives was appointed to consider and report upon the question, but, owing to delay in the arrival of required information from the Australian colonies, the committee separated without agreeing upon any recommendation to the House. _ "If you should come to the conclusion that some action should be taken in this matter by the Colonial Legislature, a resolution to that effect would greatly strengthen the hands of the representatives of the province, and, combined with the expression of similar opinions by the Councils of other gold-producing provinces, would probably secure the desired result." After passing some high encomiums upon Mr Kynnersley, stating that he (Mr Kynnersley,) and Mr Collins had accepted seats in the Executive Council and expressing a hope that the financial year commencing would, at its close, present a marked and encouraging contrast with its predecessor, Mr Curtis declared the Council open for the despatch of business. After the Superintendent had retired, Mr Luckie proposed the reelection of Mr J. Percy, as Clerk. Seconded by Mr Kelling, and agreed to unanimously. The Provincial Solicitor gave notice that he would introduce, on Wednesday, bills for amending the County Roads A-ct, and the Water Rate Act. Mr Wastney gave notice that he would, on Wednesday, move the amendment of two of the Standing Orders. Mr Wastney gave notice that he would move, on Wednesday, for the appointment of a committee to prepare a reply to the Superintendent's address. The Council adjourned until five o'clock on Wednesday evening.