TIMARU. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

North Otago Times, Volume VI, Issue 107, 8 March 1866, Page 3

TI M A R U. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Timaru, March 5th. On Tuesday evening Mr Hayhurst, being about to leave New Zealand for England, gave an account, to n public meeting called for the purpose, Of his career in the Provincial Council. Sir D'Oyley, as Chairman, introduced Mr Haylmr*t to tho meeting. Mr ITayhnrst stated that ho intended to retire from the Provincial Council. He was of opinion thnt every member should, at the close of a Session, give his Constituency some account of his proceedings. He had opposed the granting of a monopoly of the landing service to a lessee, and he thought this service should have been left to private enterprise, as the Government wore generally bad managers. He had opposed the granting of a subsidy to a steamer to trade exclusively between Timaru and Lyttelton, which he thought would have been unjust to any vessel trading between Timaru and Duncdin, or any other Southern port. lie had been a member of a Seloct Committee for amending the Roads Ordinance, which was a very difficult subject on which to make laws equally applicable to all parts of tho Province. Tho present Ordinance having been mainly framed by residents in tho neighborhood of Christchurch, where good roads (made with money drawn from outlyintr districts) were in existence, was no doubt one which would answer admirably in that neighborhood ; but as one clause made it necessary thnt the residents in a district should rate themselves before receiving any grant from Government, and thnt tho amount raised by local rates should be supplemented by tho Government with a grant equal to two-thirds of the amount so raised ; ho considered tlint this stipulation made it perfectly inapplicable to Timnru. Tho district surrounding Christchurch, being of course comparatively thickly populated, could, by imposing a small rate, raise ( with the twothirds added by grant;, an ample sum to keep in order their already made roads, but it was unreasonable to suppose that the Ordinance could work well in this (Timaru) district, whore all tho road making wns yet to be done, and which was so extensive compared with tho population tliat to raise money enouah by means of local rates would be impossible, without making tho rates ruinous in E mount. It must bo evident to those who would )ok into the matter, that those districts in which ood roads had been made with public money, should ,rate themselves to maintain them in repair, and that to expect the Timaru district, on which no money had been expended on roads, was a manifest injustice. Mr Havhurst in a plain and sensible speech of some lencth referred to several other points on which the legislation of the Provincial Council had been such as to prove its evident inclination to sacrifice the interests and revenues of Timaru district for tho aggrandisement of Christchurch, and on his concluding wns greeted with loud applause. Mr Turnbull deducted from Mr Hayhurst's speech the necessity of an earnest attempt being made to secure selfgovernment, and proposed a vote of confidence in Mr Hayhurst. Tho vote was seconded by Mr Massey and carried. Mr Hayhurst thanked tho meeting ; he mentioned his approaching departure for England, but hoped to have some future opportunity of serving them. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded tho proceedings. The Hev George Bnrclny has been presented by the ladies of his congregation with a beautiful silk preaching gown, cassock, and bands, in value over L20. The present wns accompanied by a note, to which the rev gentlemnn made a suitable reply. Tho boring for an artesian well has been commenced by Mr Smith, tho contractor, at the back of the Sank of New Zealand. On Thursday, Mr Francis Jollie had a "walk over" at "VVaimate for the representation of Gladstone in tho General Assembly. Tho weather has been very fine but on Friday afternoon nnd night wo had heavy rain, and tho high ground in the interior has since been coated with snow. On Sunday a stiff gale from the S.E. blow for several hours.