HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE GOLDFIELDS AT QUEENSTOWN.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 743, 5 February 1873, Page 2

HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE GOLDFIELDS AT QUEENSTOWN.

His Honor the Superintendendent, accompanied by 11. Bastings, Esq., arrived here on Saturday evening, via Arrowtown. Their visit was official, but the lateness of the hour rendered it unadvisable, of course,, to commence on their duties. The following day was spent pleasantly, we believe. In the morning, they attended St Peter's Episcopalian Church, after which they drove to Thurlby Domain, the residence of Mr B. Hallenstein, M.H.R. where they had dinner, and returned next morning. It had been the intention to entertain the visitors at a banquet, but owing to the necessity of their leaving early on Tuesday morning by steamer for Kingston; and it also being their desire that no public demonstration of the kind should be got up, the affair was shelved. His Honor expressed regret that himself and coadjutor were obliged to leave so soon; but they had so many portions of the province still to visit, and so much to do when they got back to Dunedin, that it was almost impossible to remain longer. On Monday, alo it mid-day, accompanied by the Mayor and Mr Betts, they drove to Arthurs Point, to view the works just commenced for the erection of the Arthur s Point bridge, and, on their return, held

A CONFERENCE in the Council Chambers, with the Mayor and Council. There were also present B. Ha'lenstein, Esq., M.P.C, M.H.8., and Messrs Powell and Worthington. The Mayor directed the attention of his Honor to a letter from the Provincial Treasurer, dated August last, in which they were desirous of ascertaining whether the Corporation would be willing to take over the main streets within their boundary after being put in repair. His Honor remarked that there was a circular of later date issued, enquiring for what amount the Municipalities would be willing to put the roads in order on taking them over,—as the Executive had thought that a considerable saving would be effected if the works were placed under the control of the various local bodies.

The sum of £2OO was mentioned, which His Honor remarked was more than double the Government estimate. After discussion, Council agreed to accept £IOO. In regard to the Water Supply from the One Mile Creek, his Honor stated that the Municipality could not avail itself of the Municipal Water Works Act until the Provincial Council met, as it was uecessary, according to that Act, to procure the sanction of the Superintendent and Council first, which thera would be no difficulty in obtaining. Some doubt was here expressed whether the Act gave power over water rights outside the Municipal boundaries, aud if not, it would be necessary to extend the town boundary. Mr Hallenstein expressed himself in favor of using the One Mile Creek for a water supply, but was against the extension of the town at present His Honor thought there was no question of the j>ower conferred by the Act, and also thought the Council could take preliminary steps in anticipation of the Act being brought into force.

The subject of the various reserves being next brought under notice the Mayor requested that the so-called Recreation Reserve in rear of the Breakwater, and extending to limits of Messrs Robertson and Co's Jetty, should be vested in the Corporation, with power to lease, <fcc., as, owing to some misunderstanding, it was at present under the jurisdiction of Commission of Waste Lands Board, and to the Ctct of Corporation thus hiving n> control in the management was due its present disgraceful state. His Honor htated that if a Management Reserve Ordinance were brought up at next n eeting of the Council, he would give it his support. Cr Warren thought it would be much better if the whole of the Lake Reserve within the Municipal boundary could be brought under the control of the Corporation.

His Honor considered, and suggested that the Council should also take the necessary steps to get the same at next meeting of the Council.

Cr Warren asked that the Cricket Reserve mu'ht be vested in trustees. Mr Worthington mentioned that the ground used by the Club had been similarly gazetted, and requested that it might be placed under their own control. His Honor said the difficulty could be removed by vestihg it in the Corporation for the Cricket Club, and he wcuid take the necessary steps to hand these reserves over. It was then requested that remaining unsold sections in block 41 should be reserved from sale as a manure dej.dt. His Honor said he would advise Corporation to buy the various sections desired at the next Government sale, and in which case the purchase money should be refunded by the Government. In reference to the Supreme Court sitting at Queenstown, His Honor remembered that a motion to that effect, had been brought forward in the Provincial Council, by Mr Hallenstein, M.P.C., M.H.R., anJ he did not think there would be any objections in the matter, and would try to get it effected. The Corporation must remember the expense and triable entailed by persons being called upon to serve as jurymen, and, perhaps tbey would find themselves, after all in possession of a white elephant The matter was left in his Honor's har da In reply to Councillor Warren, regarding the Winton-Kmgston railway The Superintend nt assured the Council that it should not be allowed to sleep, as id he would do everything in his power to have the line commenced and pushed on. The Mayor next directed the attention of his Honor to the unfinished state of the Glenorchy Track, adding that it was an important track to the Martin's Bay road, and wanted but a comparatively small sum of money—say £l5O to be spent to make it thoroughly practicable.

m —f Mr Bastings thought there «u a ram placed on the estimates for the track, adding that, if it was so, the amount would assuredly be spent It was suggested that the sum voted for tbv Mavora to Hollyford track—via, £loo— be devoted for the Glenorchy road, which, together with the £65 on the Iktftmates, will be sufficient for the purposa It was decided that, if there had been no expenditure already incurred, and the District Engineer reported favorably, the money should be handed over to tbfe Council to expend in formation of the trade The District Engineer should also report In regard to the alteration in line of road at Battery Hill ; and if funds were available, and cost not hravy, it should be carried out In reply to Mr Powell, his Honor said that he was strongly in favor of as against Government being employed to conduct the Government sales, as be thought better prices would be realised, and it was, he considered, due them, the Government taxing them heavily for their license fees. In reply t j some remarks, His Honor and Mr Bastings informed the Council that Mr Eews, the DistrictEEngineerr r would receive instructions to spend all the money voted for the tnu k—viz., £l5O. Mr Bastings said all the votes for the Gol- 0 fields would be spei t The attention of the Superintendent waa called to the importance of a bridge over the Kawarau, at the Falls. Land had been sold as high as £6 per acre in the vicinity; but the purchasers were almost debarred from improving, or even settling down on their land, owing to the impossibility of conveying their produce to market. His Honor said that, in recent cases, the Government had adopted the plan of making the approaches, and calling for tenders to construct the bridge, allowing the tenderer, in payment, the lease for fourteen years, and right to all tolls, a maximum charge of 50 l*r cent above road changes being allowed to be levied, tbe Government having power to take over such bridge at any time, and throw it open free. He thought they could take it for granted that a bridge would shortly be erected at the Falls. The Council then directed His Honor's attention to the failure of the Depasturing Regulations. His Honor admitted the fact, and deplored the continual strife among the stockownere; bnt be would suggest that, owing to the importance of the question and magnitude of interest involved, it would be a fitter question for the Provincial Council to consider. Mr Hallenstein, for example, could move for a committee to be appointed on the whole matter relating to commonages, Ac. On the proposal to hand over the manage* ment of the cemetery to the Corporation, His Honcr expressed his opinion that before anything could be done it would be necessary for the present trustees to resign. Thereupon, Messrs Uallenslei i and Powell expressed their willingness ,to resign, and also that of their with the exception, perhaps, of one. Cr Warren requested, on behalf of the Jockey Club, that the Racecourse Reserve should be vested in Trustees; they could then get the ground improved by leasing it. llis Honor could not be certain whether the Crown Grant had issued to him ; if so r he would introduce au Ordinance, as soon as possible, to transfer its management to trustees. A vote of thanks to his Honor and Mr Bastings, for their attention to the varioua requests asked by the Council, brought the meeting to a close. The School Committee had an interview with his Honor the Superintendent and Mr Bastings on Monday evening, at their rooms, Powell's Hotel. The only questions of consequence brought up were the Grammar School and extension of buildings. His Honor said he would do WfjjalT hecould towards the establishment of a Grammar School; but that would rest with the Education Board. With regard to the extension of the buildings, his Honor suggested that they should apply to the Municipal Council for two or three acres of tbe Park Reserve, and sell the present School grounds, and apply to Government for a subsidy to erect entirely new buildings, of stona. Mr Worthington said he should be happy to exchange about an acre and a-half on the other side of the Peninsula, on the Lake shore. His Honor thought the Committee might do better if they could make arrangeattnts to get a portion of the Park Reserve. The Committee thanked hia Honor for tbe interview, and retired.

Messrs D. Powell & Cot robm hied to. the hammer, on Saturday ia.st. by order of the Trustees in the estate of Boult M'Kiy A Co r the sections and building in Beach street, lately occupied by them as a timber yard. After a spirited competition, they were knocked down for £129; one vacant section mining the handsome sum of £l3 The auctioneers request us to call attention to the sale of the steamer " Wakatip," Ac., on Thursday, the 6th inst ; and the sa!es of fat and store rattle, and growing crop of oats* barley, Ac., for Monday r the 10th inst. Mack ay's Almanack, for 1873, has just been received by us, and though last is by no means least. The publication is more bulky than issues of previous years, and contains, besides the indispensable cal ndars, guides* and directories, a large fund of useful intonation, such as the Fencing Ordinance, 1878, ready reckoner, pipuLati -n statistics and tables, postal arrangements, memoranda on stamp duties* time tables, Ac. The information contained in the business irect-wy is (at least » fat -as the Wakatip is concerned) generally pretty torrecL Mr it. iioyno is ag> nt for Queenstuwn. In a paragraph referring to Sir George Bo wen's appointment as Governor of Vietona, the Melbourne Telegraph states that be is an old literateur" Ithaca in 1850," M Mount Athos, and Epirus," and u Murray's Handbook of Greece." being from his pen. same paper also says that Sir George was married in 1856 to Countess Itoma, only daughter of Connt Soma, G.C M.G., President of the Benate of the lonian Isles.