THURSDAY, AUGUST 24.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 112, 1 September 1876, Page 3

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24.

In teply to Mr Dignan, The Hon Major Atkinson said the reward of LI 0,000 offered in 1873 for the discovery of new goldfields was not now open, and the Government did not intend to renew it.

Mr Lumsden irioved that in compiling the next census tables of agricultural statistics of the Colony the number of freehold and leaseliold holdings should be shown separately.

Agreed to. Mr Murray askfcd for return show- j ing the total cost of the railway from Dunedin to Clutlia, and how much had been expended upon rolling stock, additidns, &c, by the Provincial Government of Otago. Motion agreed to. On the' motion of Mr Murray^ It was agreed to furnish a return showing the current liabilities incurred under Immigration and Public Works Acts which must be met before Ist January* 1877. The interrupted debate on Mr Sheehan's motion — that the provision 1 pro- , posed for public works in the districts north of Auckland was inadequate to the requirements and necessities of those districts— was resifnied.

Mr Russell supported the motion. Whatever good districts in the Colony might have derived frclm expenditure On public works in the wdy of increasing- the value of the land, the districts north of Auckland had ndt so benefited. There was an inimense area and large population that h&d been entirely overlooked. Mf Rfces supported thfi motion, and

expressed his astonishment that any objection should be taken to it by anyone, and dwelt at considerable length on the way in which the vast districts north of Auckland were neglected; The population of those districts paid at least £80,000 per "year into the Colonial treasury, and in return did not get more than £5000 a year spent upon them.

Mr Ormond pointed out that there were many districts in the Colony that were in exactly the same position. He was quite ready to admit that it was time the Government should devise some plan by which they would be enabled to deal more liberally with the outlying- districts.

Mr Lusk did ndt agree with the remarks of the last speaker, inasmuch as he was better able to show that the districts north of Auckland we're worse treated than any other. The member for Clive's remark was to show that they we- re not.' He would have blamed the Provincial Government for this, but that he knew they had been robbed of all their rdeans by the General Government.

The Hon. Mr Reynolds read a compilation to show what percentage each Province had received out of the Consolidated' Revenue and general loan during 18 years up to 1874. The returns showed that Auckland received out of revenue 42 per cent, in proportion to her contributions and 31 per cent, out of loans ; Taranakij 82 from revenue, 79f from loans ;. Wellington, 46 from revenue, 31 J from loans ) Hawke's Bay, 37§ from revenue, 40 from loans ; Nelsonj 47 from revenue, 16 from loans; Marlborough, 96 from revenue, 66 from loans ; Canterbury, 32| from revenue, 23f from loans ; Otago, 43 from revenue, lGf from loans. But if they considered the Native and Defence expenditure, they would find that the North Island received Llßo for every LIOO it contributed to the revenue, while the South Island got only 6| per cent. Mr D. Reid argued at considerable length to show there was great inconsistency in asking the Government to expend money in this way, while they were in the same breath accused of reckless extravagance. Besides, such a proceeding' would be unjust to the rest of the Colony;

Bills were introduced and read a firsttime as follows: — Lawrence Recreation Reserves Bill, Duuedin Water Works Extension Act Amendment Bill, Dunedin Exchanging Reserve Bill. FPJDAY, AUGUST 25; Mr Wood asked if the Government intended calling" for tenders for the completion of the fencing 1 of the Bluff and Invevcargill Hail way. The Hon. Mr Richardson said that the line was still in the hands of the Provincial Government, and the Government knew nothing about the fencing*. In reply to Mr Teschemaker, The Hon. Mr Bowen said there was not enough of business to justify the Government in appointing; a Resident Magistrate at Waimate at present. The Building Societies Bill was advanced a stage in Committee. The Rating' Bill was further considered in •Committee. A iong discussion ensued on the second sub-section of clause 40, relating 1 to mmmg 1 property. A division took place on the question, whether the following words should be 1 inserted in the second clause of section 40 : — " And i any lands held under lease or license ! for mining- purposes, other than goldmining, shall be rateable property only to the extent of their surface value." The amendment was rejected by 28 to 24. Sub-section 3 (Exempting lands occupied for public purposes by Crown or local body of the district) : Mr Murray- Ay nsley moved that the sub-section be struck out. Mr Hunter moved an amendment — li That the exemption shall only apply to such properties Occupied by the Crown as belongs to the CfOwh. 1 ' He urged it was not fair that owners of property reiited by the Gbverntnent should escape paying rates. The" sub-section was retained as printed; A good deal of discussion ensued as to whether churches^ chapels, and rfeligidus schdols should be exempt from rating 1 , several holding that the clause be struck out. . On ah amendment fey Mr Rowe'-^- --" That the words ' churches and schools established by religious bodies' be struck otit," A division "was taken, and the amendment was rejected by 41 against 16.

The evening sitting was occupied in Committee on the Rating Bill, which was reported with amendments. TThe Premier stated that on Tuesdayhe would ptobab'ly be able to announce to the House what course the Government proposed to take regarding the appointment of ari Agent-General.