MARLBOROUGH.

Daily Southern Cross, 11 April 1868, Page 3

MARLBOROUGH.

At the recent opening; of the Maryborough Provincial Council, his Honor the Superintendent made a speech which indicates the existence of a very gloomy state of affairs in that province. We quote one paragraph as an example :—": — " Unfairly deprived of our Customs revenue, our land fund is made to supply the deficiency in the General Government expenditure provincially charged ; and unless some steps are taken to reduce that expenditure, or to credit the province with its fair share of ordinary revenue, the amount derived from the sale or lease of Crown land will not do more than suffice for the maintenance of the necessary branches of the public service, including police, gaol, hospital, and charitable aid. Estimates, proposing a very considerable reduction in every department of the provincial service, will be laid before you. This reduction is rendered absolutely necessary by our diminished revenue. Should, however, our financial position be improved by any action of the General Legislature during the next session, I should consider it my duty to call you together at an early date after tue prorogation of that body to ask you to vote supplementary supplies for various objects, and for placing the salaries of the different provincial officers upon the same scale as at present."