WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1744, 7 March 1874, Page 2

WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Wednesday, March 4. We make the following extracts from the reports of the proceedings of the Provincial Council published in the Hokitika papers :— The ETon. H. Lahman brought up the report of the Petitions Committee, re the application ot Messrs Ward and Douglas to purchase 700 acres of land near Peringa river, at 10s per acre. The report recommended that the prayer of the petitioners should be acceded to. The report of the Committee re Julius Matthies's application, was brought up, recommending that 700 acres of land, should be granted to the petitioner, in full payment for the track cut by him from the Abbey Rocks to the Haast river. The report of the Committee re the petition of Constable Cashion, was brought up, recommending that his legal expenses (Llß)be refunded, but declining to recommend the return of the fines imposed ou the petitioner by the Commissioner of Police. The report of the Committee on the petition of the police, warders of the gaol, and assistants of the asylum, was brought up and read, recommending that their pay should be increased by sixpence per diem. WATER-RACE. Mr Seddou moved—" That his Honor T»» vaqiiaa+nd.'fa pWa Ml the -Estimates a sum sufficient to defray the expenses of surveying a water-race, commencing at the; flat at foot of Greek's Gully No. 1 and Duffer's Gully, and terminating at the head of German and Maori Gully, Arahura district." Mr Houlahan seconded the motion. It was considered better that a Committee should report on the localities where surveys should be made, and the motion was upon a division lost. j ARAHURA BRIDGE. - MrSeddon moved — "That this Council requests his Honor the Superintendent to at once complete the purchase of Thomson's Arahura Bridge, and throw the same open for foot passengers free of charge." Mr Houlahan seconded the motion. His Honor said all that was necessary to complete the purchase of the bridge, was the consent of the Couucil. All the preliminaries had been arranged. Hd miglit mention, however, that a sum of LI7OO would have to be expended in effecting certain repairs. He would be happy to give effect to any resolution of the Council. Mr Guinness would oppose the motion. The 'bridge would cost altogether L 3696, and he trusted the Council would pause before consenting to the amended motion. The motion was carried without dissent; ; PRICE OP GOLD. Mb Robinson moved—" That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to take action in the manner adopted by the Otago Government, 1 for the purpose of securing to the miner a fair and equitable price for his gold." He did not expect the motion to be carried. The action of the Banks had neutralised the reduction of sixpence per ounce taken off the gold duty. The majority of miners on the Coast were working poor ground, and rushes were taking place in other Colonies, where the taxes on the miner were less than here. Otiigo offered facilities to miners to send gold to Melbourne to be coined. Mr Gniuness seconded the motion. His Honor sympathised with the object of the mover, and would be glad to check any combination on the part of the Banks, but he pointed out that much Additional expense would be incurred by following the example of Otago. It was also likely the Government would have to initiate a system of making advances on the gold deposited by the miners. Mr Robinson having replied, the motion was carried without dissent, OLIFTON COURXrHOUSB. Mr Dungan moved — "That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to. place a sufficient sum on the Estimates for the removal of the Clifton Court House to Maori Creek Township " Mr Wickes seconded the motion, which was carried, after some discussion, without dissent. GREYMOUTH LAND SALES. Mr Lahman moved — " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to lay on the table a return showing the land sold and amount realised in the Borough of Greymouth from Ist January, 1873, until Ist March, 1874." : Mr Cuming seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. ... SUPPLY. On the motion of his Honor the Council

went into Committee, and his Honor delivered the following financial statement : His Honor said, in addressing the Council at the opening of the session, he was unable to lay before members the financial condition of the Province, as owing to the wording of the Loan Act passed last session, certain questions arose, as to what were to be considered debts and liabilities within the meaning of the Act.; Owing to these difficulties, no portion of the money authorised to be raised under the Act had been available. The whole financial condition of the Province hinged upon the settlement of this , question, and, therefore, an accurate statement could not be made while it was pending. The question was referred to the Commissioner of Audit, Mr FitzGerald, for adjustment. The result of his, (His Honor's) negotiations with the Commissioner, had been the settlement, subject to the Governor, of a considerable •• portion of the amount claimed by the Province. The total amount admitted by Mr FitzGerald was LSI, 714, and the r amount still claimed, which was reserved ~ for further consideration, was L 16,996 of - which HO, 300 was owing to the General Government. Leaving the question for the moment, he found that the actual receipts from ordinary ■ sources for the past half-year, amounted to L 20,479 18s ■ 4d, as against estimated receipts L 20,03 7; and deducting L 427 received on account of capitation allowance, not included in the Estimates, the total of estimated and actual receipts were within a 1 few pounds. " k There has been an increase on the gold , duty of L 1620; spirit licenses, 1475 ; and land revenue^ L 96 2; and a decrease on „ miners' rights of L 400; tolls, punts, and ' ferries, LIO2O ; fees and fines, L4O ; and j incidentals, L 23. A sum of L 31,067 12s . 6d, had also been advanced by the Bank ' . of New Zealand, in. anticipation of the loan, making a total of receipts from all sources of L 51,515 63 4d. Against this ''■ there had been an expenditure of L 19,852 2s Bd, on ordinary votes, and L 22.247 13s 2d under special vote, of the Council, in all L 42,099 15s lOd. This left the^ Province (deducting debit balance at^| the Bank on the 30th June last) at the . commencement of the year with ,*r L 4858 13s Id credit balance on ordi-'f'J, nary account. From this, however, had to' be deducted LIOOI 17s sd, for rV unauthorised expenditure rendered heces- -'; sary by unforseen circumstances, and for which he would ask' the Council to make provision. There was also standing to the debit of the Province, the advance of L 31,067 12s 6d made by the Bank of New Zealand. Thus, though on paper, there was apparently a balance in favor of the Province, it was actually L 28,000 in debt, exclusive of outstanding} accounts L 4836, and amounts due on current contracts .-■. L 3922 ; total, L 8758. An examination of the Auditor's statement of receipts for the whole year, showed that there had been, an increase of L 6553 during 1873 over 1874, principally Land Revenue. Amount received in 1872. L 4270 ; amount received in 1873, L 11,322. The following was a statement of the liabilities and assets of the Province :— LIABILITIES. Amount due General Govern- : ment ... £11,937 10 6 '■■ Overstanding accounts (unpaid) ... ... ... 4,836 19' Due upon current accounts ... 3, 922 8 0 : Advance by Bank New Zealand 31,007 12 6 ' 51,763 12 9 Unvoted expenditure ... 1,001 17 5 £52;765 10 2 : , . ASSETS." ' ' Estimated amount due from 1 Sinking Eund Canterbury • : '-: Loans ; ... £10,000 0 0 Cr. balance Bank of New Zealand... ... ... :... "4,858 13 1 Amount authorised by Commissioner of Audit, under ; ■■':•• -^ Westland Loans Act ... 31,714 2 7 Amount claimed, but not yet • authorised, under Loan Act 16,986 510 < Nelson Government, for .; the I maintenance of prisoners and criminal prosecutions 750 0 0

£64,319 16 The long outstanding sum due from the Sinking Fund of the Canterbury Loans (£10,000), was a contingent asset. It was now locked up, as the trustees in England had refused to part with it'without an order from the Court of Chancery, ' to obtain which a'friendly suit would, pro--bably, be instituted. 'He thought the conV. dition of the Province wonderfully good, considering all ciraiums'tances. The balance however, the members should remem--ber, was not easy to. realise. First, there was the LIO,OOO on the Sinking Fund, and about L6OOO which it was. doubtful the General Government would allow out of the loan. _ He then reviewed several items of the Estimates, which had been framed for twelve, months. The estimated receipts had been based mainly on the reault of last years' receipts, with, the exception of the land revenue, where the result had been placed at L 12,000, instead of LII,OOO. On the expenditure, he would offer few remarks, as the items would be dealt with by the Council. After alluding to several amounts, he' stated he had by every means, in his power cut down the expenditure to bring it within the estimated receipts. He had included in the estimated expenditure all outstanding accounts. He : concluded by formally moving that the first item on the Estimates be voted as supply. ' : The motion was carried without dissent. -