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Press, Volume XI, Issue 1434, 13 June 1867, Page 3

To His Honour the Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury. Youe Honour, —There are several suggestions which the Westland Commission desire to make on matters of great importance to the welfare of the province. The Commission trust that having taken every means in their power to obtain information, both by individual personal observation and from credible evidence, their suggestions on the matters contained in this report will meet with every due consideration from your Honour and the Executive Government. The first subject to which the Commission would draw your attention is that of Government works, as executed in Westland. Having before their eyes sad evidence of the waste of very large sums of public money, owing to the present system of letting by day work or by private contract works of great magnitude, they would in the strongest manner urge upon your Honour the necessity of in future submitting all public works for competition. We believe that your Honour, by adopting this course, would find that works would be completed efficiently and at less cost; and that so soon as the fact of the Government intending to pursue this course became known, men of talent and energy would come to a country in which they know that the public works must be very considerable for a long period. EDUCATION. The Commission regret that they can find no information of any action having been taken by the Government in the matter of a Board of Education for Westland, and that no subsidies have been granted to schools of which there are many in the country well worthy of immediate support. The Commission, however, trust that it is not too late to apply the moneys yoted last session for that purpose. TEAMWAYS. With regard to expenditure already authorised, the Commission express a hope that the uioneys voted last session for public works of necessity will not be allowed to lapse, but that such works will be prosecuted before new ones are initiated; and further, they hope that with a view to the opening ! up of the country by private enterprise, protection will be given to roads, tramways, punts, and bridges so constructed. i The Commission would advise the protection of tramways to a reasonable

extent, for they are daily proving to be the most efficient and best adapted mode of transit for the country. On the coast it is advisable that from this date, looking forward to the time when the rivers will be bridged, a uniform gauge of four feet be adopted ; but that for branch Hues running into the interior, they do not consider it necessary that any particular gauge should be fixed, for the gre;.t expense of cutting a broad line through a heavily timbered country might debar many inland districts from this mode of communication, whereas companies might easily be found to construct the narrower and less expensive line. For all these lines protection is desirable to the following extent, simply that the land actually occupied shall be granted to them for a term of seven years. This protection would save these lines j from destruction through the traffic of cattle and horses ; but would in no case be supposed t > prevent any pedestrian from using the said lines. At the expiration of the lease the proprietors of theee tramways should in no case receive compensation from the Government; but it should be optional for the Government to take over the line at a valuation. MAGISTBATES. The Commission consider it highly desirable that a quarterly sitting of the District Court should be held in certain diggings' townships, for the purpose of hearing appeals, and other business. They also consider it very necessary that the extended jurisdiction should be restored to tho Magistrates' i Courts at Hokitika and Grey mouth, for the fact of having to wait for the sittings of the District Court will doubtless entail great loss of time and money on the public. Further, that Justices of the Peace should be appointed for the various districts of Westland, for in many districts there are, with the exception of the Warden, no Magistrates whatever. TEJ/EUKAPH. The Commission are also of opinion that the line of telegraph may be extended beneficially, and at no great expense, to Eoss and Okarito in the south, and to the townships of Stafford-town and Waimea. In these places the cost of the maintenance of an officer would, they believe, be amply repaid by the receipts. FEKRIES. With regard to ferries in connection with the tracks already being cut into the interior, they would recommend that reasonable subsidies when necessary should be granted to them whenever established. STEAMERS. The Commission also think it advisable, in the event of Government entertaining their view, that tenders should be called for to subsidize to a reasonable extent a steamer to make a monthly or fortnightly call at all ports along the coast south of Hokitika, in order to facilitate communication with that portion of the coast, and a more regular transmission of the mails. Tho Commission having taken the evidence of the Harbour-Master, Captain Turnbull, and that of captains of coasting steamers, recommend that a yard and travelling ball be added to the signal flagstaff; also, that on the signal-staff at night a white light should be used instead of the present red light, as being visible from a much greater distance at sea. That if the white light is adopted the light at the Montezuma hotel be screened from the sea. That on any night when the weather will permit of the bar being taken, the beacons should be lighted from sunset to sunrise, as at Greymouth. That in order to secure the safe landing of cattle imported, a yard for their reception should be erected. At present they are a source of great danger to the public. The Commission would draw attention to the fact that no wharfage fees aro paid ; and that it is desirable that they should be levied at the rate of one shilling and sixpence per ton. Taking imports at 40,000 tons, this would amount in the year to a sum which would go far to repair and improve the wharf. VACCINATION". A very important duty to Westland has been omitted, that of placing the district under the Vaccination Act. We find on good authority that very many parents are too indifferent to the necessity of having their children vaccinated unless they are compelled to do so by law. Therefore we would urge immediate action being taken in this matter to prevent the possibility of great loss of life through the introduction of some casual case of small pox. COAX M2ASUBE. The Commission consider that the leasing of the Grey Eiver Coal Measure would be beneficial to the province, and recommend that a Bill be introduced for that purpose, upon conditions that would secure the immediate working of the mine, and the delivery in Greymouth by rail or tramway of a given quantity of coal per annum. ToW>* SECTIONS. The Commission consider it desirable that the town allotments in Hokitika on which a deposit of 1O per cent, has been paid, under the 27th clause of the Canterbury Land Regulations, be at once put up to auction, and that all the rest of the surveyed sections in Hokitika be at once sold in accordance with the suggestions made by a Select Committee in the Provincial Council in its twenty-fourth session. The Committee would also draw your Honour's attention to the fact that there is a great desire on the part of the public to purchase sections in other surveyed townships. The Commission have now, in accordance with your Honour's instructions, reported on all matters referred to them, and trust that your Honour's Government may be able to take such action on the suggestions embodied in this report as will prove beneficial to Westland and the Province of Canterbury. Further, the Commission cannot but feel that very great public disappointment would be the result if their report failed to make

any representation to your Honour on the important suggestions out of which the appointment of the commission originated, and they beg therefore to suggest to your Honour th.* desirability of the increased representation of Westland in the Provincial Council and in the of Representatives, and the desirability of an alteration of the present irresponsible system of Government in Westland. and the substitution for it oi % an administration based upon constitutional principles, and strongly recommend that in order to tjive effect to these principles it is highly necessary that a Goldfields' Secretary be appointed who should be a responsible member of the Executive, accountable to the Provincial Council as every head of department is for the mode in which he conducts his branch of the administration. Thomas Wooixastox "White, Chairman of the Westland Commission. June, 18G7.