Occasional Notes.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 45, 20 May 1875, Page 6

Occasional Notes.

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

I observe the Provincial Council has been discussing the question of its own existence — whether it shall or shall not be It has been said "this is not a fitting subject for tbe Council fo argue about, as it is one whiclr will be settled in the General Assembly. We can hardly expect, however, that the Council will tamely submit to be knocked on the head without uttering even a ieeble remonstrance. Some talk about the proposed constitutional change may also do good, by bringing the subject more prominently before the people of the province. His Honor the Superintendent seems to have come out in the character of a very strong provincialist, and appears, moreover, desirous to impress upon onr minds that his opinion is given altogether irrespective of the. fact that he happens to have a personal interest in the subject. Well, I suppose we may give his Honor credit for some amount of disinterestedness, especially considering that even if he were ousted from the Superinten dency, there are paths open to him in the labrynth of politics, and that he would stand a pood chance of soon occupying an honorable or lucrative berth as a member of the General Government. Anyhow, in my humble estimation, I think there is a considerable amount of force in Mr Macandrew's address to the Council on the subject of the abolition of provinces. That if the province were handed over, bound hand and foot to the tender mercies of the General Government, there would be a considerable less amount of revenue, arising from various sources, spent in the province, then there is at present, seems highly probable if not absolutely certain. I don't quite see either why his Honor should be charged with selfishness, because he supports the doctrine that a considerable amount of revenue should be spent in the locality in which it is raised. The carrying out of that principle does not seem to involve the doing of an injustice to the rest of the colony. Even regarding the subject from an expedient point of view, it would probably be better for the whole of New Zealand that Otago should be permitted to follow her go-a--head inclination, than that she should he snubbed and drained of her resources, in order to force on other localities, the natural resources of which do not enable them to make such vigorous progress. Whether or not the Provincial Government of this province performs its functions in a manner altogether fair and equitable, has for years been a subject of considerable doubt, and a suspicion that it does not do so, has frequently caused a considerable amount of dissatisfaction among the inhabitants of outlying districts The question, however, for the people maturely to consider is, whether or not there would be more attention paid to their wants, and more money spent inneighborhoods in which they reside, under the auspices of the General Government than under those of the Provincial Government. Before we insist upon a change, let us endeavor to ascertain whether it is a change for the better. German to this subject is the old proverb of v out of the frying-pan into the fire," and also the fable of the frogs, who, being disgusted with the the administration of King Log, because he did nothing for them, got King Stork instead, who swallowed them Undoubtedly the principal and most important duty of the Provincil Council is the division of provincial revenue in a fair and equitable manner, and after the Council has decided on the application of the funds, it would seem to be the duty of the Executive . to see that the directions of the Council are attended to, and not to allow certain votes for works to lapse as not unfrequently has been the case. If lam not mistaken revenue has been administered tolerably fairly for the last few yea rs,but complaints of neglect and injustice will come forward though the attempt be made to administer the public funds in as just a manner as possible. Occasionally these complaints are not justified by circumstances, but in some cases they are reasonable enough, and particularly so, I believe, in a particular case I propose to draw attention to viz., tbat of THE MOLYNEUX RIVER, I truly believe tbat the Provincial Council and Government have been guilty of neglect and oversight as regards the welfare of the province, and of injustice towards the people of a certain district in not having endeavored long before now to utilise this fine river for the purposes of traffic. The amount of attention this subject has received, and the money laid out in connection with it, are altogether disproportionate and insignificant in comparison to the importance of the subject It is preposterous to put fr.rward the Southern Trunk Railway as an excuse for this neglect. To suppose a navigable river will not he utilised because a railway happens to crop up, is absurd. The river may be a very important feeder to the railway, and would also be used probably to some extent independent of the railway. To give settlers as much facility as possible for the conveyance of produce is what is required. A navigable river and a railway are better than a -railway only. I do not think it is going to far to say that there has been. . gross neglect as regards this Molyneux

River. It is really too bad that so little has been done to clear the river of snags, which exist as very formidable obstructions to navigation, but which could be got away with by, it is said, a moderate outlay of cash. Here we see Mr Reid has gone to the expense of buildins* a steamer, very carefully adapted for river traffic, yet the first journey she makes above Balclutha she fouls upon a snag, and loses a rudder, though she seems to have been handled with great skill and care by the master, Captain M'Doull. Then there is the work of improving the entrance to the river, for which probably the outlay of a few hundred pounds would do something; and a jetty at Balclutha is a work requiring instant attention. No doubt the Provincial Government cannot satisfy all the claims made upon the funds at its disposal, but this regarding the Clutha River is a very long outstanding claim, and a very important one, and as such deserves a place among the first in the list. It is a matter, not merely of local, but of provincial, and even colonial importance.