THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1896. THE LOAN BILL.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 196, 2 September 1896, Page 2

THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1896. THE LOAN BILL.

iTiiE Aid to Public Works and Laud Settlement Bill, by which it is proposed to raise £1,000,000, has passed through committee. In the schedule I attached to the Bill it is proposed to I allocato the 6um us follows:—Kail-* I ways, £250,000 ; lands improvement,

£260.000 ; native lands purchase, £250,000; goldfields roads, £200,000; development of the thermal springs and scenery, £50,000. The last sum did not pass without opposition. Mr B. Thompson moved the substitution of £25,000 which he thought was quite sufficient to spend oa touri ts while the northern roads remained in so deplorable a condition We do not find fault with Mr Thompson for drawing attention to the state of the roads in his electorate, hut we would point out that the openingMip of the natural beauties of the colony would prove most remunerative. Every tourist who I visi'is these shores is a source of income to the country, and it was with a. knowledge of iliis fact that the Premier spoke of the vote as one of the '.:ost necessary and profitable in the i-chedule. We are not so selfish as to desire that the whole £50,000 should be spent here. There are other localities deserving of consideration when the money comes to be finally allocated, which will be when the Pub lie Works estimates come down. We assuredly think, however, that it is the bouuden duty of the Government to place our sanitary condition on an unassailable basis, and from the re~ marks made by the Commissioner o[ Crown Lands when here the other day we believe that, such is the intention.