WATER SUPPLY ON GOLDFIELDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 918, 3 July 1869, Page 18

WATER SUPPLY ON GOLDFIELDS.

■■ '<• ' '>< v (J/aWrd-rJune, 9,kh.,)> j- ,',. /.y, . Mr W. tf. Harrison^ ! said 1 that,- before' moving the resolution, etanding iii his name,' he should quote the, concluding paragraph of . the speech delivered by His .Excellency to the House ia 1867 :— " '" : ' ' ' " A Bill will also .be submitted to you for •xtending the benefits of the Colonial credit o enterprises calculated to foster and extend the important industry of tbe goldfields, by offuring a guarantee of interest on capital invested (under proper restrictions and super, vision), in procuring supplies of water for tha operations of gold mining. The very spsoial character of the taxation and laws of tne goldfields justifies and requires suoh provision for their interests." . . ' The House concurred in that portion of His Excellency's speech, but from that time to the present had ever been heard of the matter. " He believed a Bill had been drafted, but ho had been unable to learn anything as to its provisions, and the only reason whioh suggested itself to his mind why the subject was referred to in the speech was that it was intended to catch a few votes. It appeared to him that the time had come, when so much oE the revenuo was being expended on unprofitable operations, that they should endeavour to divert it in other directions, and he was perfectly certain that if a scheme were devised for the encouragement of permanent works for the supply ot water on th« goldfields of the colony, the revenue would be largely increased. He did not know what was the case in Auokland, but in Otago there were districts requiring works for the supply of water, the capital for the construction of which wou.d be beyond tho in'.ans of private individuals. On the Weßt Coast of the Middle Island there were hundreds of thousands of acres, rich in mineral deposits, which could not be worked, as they wero at suoh a high elevation above the ordinary channels of the rivers ;" but there were some means, in the way of levying rates or by raising a loan, which might be brought to bear on this work. The Westland County Council had considered the subject, and for the last 12 months the surveyors had gone through tho country to make the necessary examinations, and had fixed upon poiuts for reservoirs for the water, whioh was to be obtained by diverting the rivers and lakes. If the Houso would grant the Committee, he believed a large amount of evidence could be brought to bear upon the subject, which would enable thorn to arrive at a resolution as to whether or not the aid of the Government ahould be given, by loan or guarantee, for the encouragement of works of that kind. Mr Macawrew had much pleasure in seconding the resolution, and could bear testimony to every word that had fallen from the honourable member. He did not know that any better subject for legislation could be brought under the consideration of the House, and ho therefore hoped that the committee would be granted. Motion madt>, and question proposed, " That a Select Committee be appointed to consider the question of affording the encouragement of the Government, either by loan, guarantee, or otherwise, to the construction of Permanent Works for the supply of Water on the Gcldfiolds of tho Colony ; such Committeo to have power to call for persons and papers ; the Committee to consist of Mr Haughton, Mr Barff, Mr Stevens. Mr Bradehaw, Mr Gallagher, Captain Kenny, Mr Curtis, and tho Mover; three to form a quorum ;to report in a month."— (Mr W. H.Harrison.) Mr Barff trusted that no opposition would be offered to tho resolution, as he felt certain, if action was taken in the matter, that the result would be very beneficial to the colony at a time when the permanent settlement of the mining population on the goldfields occupied so large a portion of public attention. If the Committee wore appointed, there was no doubt that sufficient evidence would be brought forward to prove that a considerable intrease of revenue would result if aotion wore taken in the direction proposed. The County Council of Westland had adopted a series of resolutions, undor which they propouedto guarantee a certain portion of tho outlay in sohemes for supplying the goldfiolds with water. Ho should not quote/ them at length, but would merely state that one provided that no company Bhould apply for a guarantee unless registered under the Joint Stock Companies Limited Liabilities Act ; another was to tho effoot that the capital should be not lees than LIO.OuO, and th&t no suoh raco should oonvey less than thirty heads of water. There wero also certain conditions under which companies could apply for tho guarantoo, bo that a fair protection might bo afforded to tho Council against any waste of publio money. Ho thought that if boards were established to report to the Government beforo any guaran* too was applied for, it would bo an additional seourity that tho monoy would not bo thrown away, and in all probability tho gunranteo wonld not be fjivon or advisod by the board unless thero waß almost a certainty of the work boinq a buoooss. Under tho resolution! of tho Council, whioh had boen gazottod, applications had boen already made to tae County Council for a guarantee. Thosohomes wero aob yot perfected, but he had not the slightest doubt that they would bo of auoh a nature as to astenißh tho rest of tho oolony. It was calculated that ia tho first year tho dividend from one race which wm oontemplated, would be something ;hk« .2oo percent., ?ho capital bein« about {.MjOOX and tho estimated rovonue from L 28,000 to LjO.OOO. Ho had much ploaiiuro in Bupporttng tno r«.

iqtibe'iwlow-e'd^ "ened : made 5 bj^^^lMlmow Jin/JiM; w^,j, ; to'meniberp£ v the . House,},! andftb'a't" action ! .wo)ild be taken [in: the *&*#, teri which" could 5 adt, he felt sure, haye;oth&| than »' beneficial result. ',', „ '! .V' 1 . ' A discussion then toot place with refer>< once to the names upon the proposed Committee, which resulted ' in the withdrawal of' the motion. On the following day Mr Harrison again brought forward his motion, hnving added Meswfc O'Neill and Swan to the Committee. He said :' He was quite aware that tho question of the financial relations' between the Provinces and the colony was very likely to be raised on a question of this kind, but he thought it would be vory mconveniont if that diacussion were proceeded wMi unfcil after the report of tho Committee had been brought up, because ho thought it was quite possible that ways and means might be devised by that Committee ■without affecting the financial position of the Provinces and the Colony. 'Even if it should not be so,^ and the Committee found that they had sufficient evidence before them to . show ' that an immense amount of benefit could be conferred upon the country by a reversion of the financial arrangement which now existed, then, wh«n the report of the Committee was before the House, the discussion of the question could be better entered upon. He hoped the^House would agree to the appointment of a Committee, which would De of very great service to the country.

MrDii/LON Bell Tegrotted that the honorable member "who had brought this motion forward had done so *t the present moment, because he could not conceive that it would lead to any practical result. However advantageous it would be that there should be encouragement to the supply of water to the goldfields, and however right it ■was to conaider the best means for attaining that object, it would be vain for honorable members to conceal frum themielvea this fact, that the resources of the Colony were already so largely pledged, and would probably be so much more so, for the security of kfe and property, that it was impossibl« that a guarantee of Jinoney should bo given for the purposes sought to be attained by the appointment ef this committee. He felt very strongly on this subject, and would recommend honourable membersto consider it. In the Provincial Councils, year after year, and session after session, the farce was cone through of voting thousands of pounds for works which the members of the Counoils knew there was no money in the Treasuries to pay for, and which thoy knew there was no chance of their obtaining. By the appointment of this Committee the inhabitants oE the goldnelds would bo led to believe that it would be possible, by the establishment of a syetem of State aid, to bring water to the goldfields ; and he thought that those people ought to be, at the earliest moment, relieved from the impression that it was possible such a thing could be done. There was no reason why the goldnelds should have the guarantee of the State for this bringing in of water, any more than the cities should have it for the same purpose, or that it should be given for carrying out other public works, such as the formation of railways, the opouiug of roads, and such like. But if evon ho was wrong in this opinion, and the goldfields had a special claim to recoive assistance from tho State, still he must repeat that the House could not disguise from itself this faot, that they would require every sixpence both of money and credit at their disposal to meet the pressing emergencies of tho country, and they were bound to discourage anything that might divert their attention from that fact, or give the slightest cause for the belief that they had money for anything but what was absolutely demanded for tho maintenance of Government and tho security of life and poperty in tho disturbed districts of the colony. He therefore objected to this motion, not because he did not sympathise with the object in view, but bocause he considered it would only act as a r delusion to tho inhabitants of tho goldfields. Mr Borlasb would just say that this buestion divided itself into two brandies ; first of all whether a Committee was to bo appointed wnich might rccoinmeud to the House that cortain legislative powers ahould bo given to persona on tho goldfields to got water without being interfered with by le^al aotion as they would bo at proaont; or whether' tho Houso was to give them a guarantee so aa to enablo thorn to raise monoy. Now ho could only say that tho Houso wan not in & position to give any guarantco juat now ; but ho thought it tm well worth consideration whothor this legal power should not bo given to tho authorities on the goldfiolds to carry water through pnvato persons' grounds from one placo to another, of courso undet proper reatric tions. Mr Rkynolds differed entirely from tho reraarkß of tho last two «po»kors, and boHoved tho appointment of this Committta miaht bo tho very best moans for sottling a largo popuUtion in tho colony. If this wcro tho case; and if, by giving a Kuarautoo, or by any othor oonooivablo moans they opuld dovUe, thoy oould ooouro a largo population, it would result not in a loss of revenue but in an inoroa«o of it. Ho was not going to say whether ho would support ft gnarau. too now ; but ho thought tho House would do vow wrong if it refused to allow this Committee to bo appointed, m order to see what recommendation they would melw. He believed the members of that Com. raittee would deserve tho thank* o( the wholo colony if thoy oould ■ugflost any mean« by which it would bo poMiblo to mcum per.

tnauent l le<ktlemisnt; by. ifie large/Mmi^ "of | >mia&a, f noAv f li6^^ thought, fiikppbi question; Wasi ont) of v.'Buffi- « : oie!it Mp^alicfe'to' 'prevent House refusinWtbe'appoMffi^^ nwv ~,t\ '^< *&•■•*; *•>;'# •• ', ' ' v ; "fi/h; I , ,'Mr KJKAHAMThatJ no\iritentiriri prising ,«peafc direotlyi'to' the;, subject* xnotter , on;, the , Notice^PapeVj but,< represehtuig'' as he'did, '» ( district^'seconii', only " inVimportance^ ( to .the goldfields in the' colony* he could not pass, Ik silence the < Remarks 1 of • the s ~ honourable, member* for Mataura, *,and' the 1 succeeding speaker, with' regard to their .views astp the assistance te ba given to" various districts by> loan, guarantee, or otherwise" WitK the millstone that they had round their- necks 'at'pre-' sent it would bapractically impossiblefdr them' either to meet their liabilities, or, in /act to 'go on, unless some assistance was given to them in developing their various resources, either in goldfields or otherwise. As no doubt he would, have to' speak more directly on the subject, whioh was more immediately in- ! teresting to the district he represented, he had merely risen now to protest against the opinions that had been given utterance to by* those honourable members. Mr Maofaklakb," witKoiit entering- into tho general question, took leave to make an observation in repiy to what was stated by the -Colonial Secretary "in regiird' ,to the, Thames Goldfields. The honourable gentleman seemed to think the' honourable member for Newton was wrong when he Bpoke ad' if the Thames Goldfields Were the' only goldfields in the colony, and he (Mr Macfariane) might reply, that in reßpecit'to this particular question, the Thames "> Goldfields had an interest larger than all others in the colony, i and therefore it was that the Thames gold; fields ought to be more fully represented on ithat Committee than they were. Ho thought that the request, which had been made by the Superintendent of Auckland, that the Thames goldfielda should be fairly represented in that Conlmittee, was not at all an unreasonable request.

Mr Main had intended to allow this motion to pass without speaking to it, because it affected alike every goldfield in the colony ; but he was constrained to address himself to the question when the honourable gentleman said the water question affected the Thames goldfields more than any other. He had the honour of representing a distriot in another place comprising goldfields, and lived in the midst of his constituents, and he might say there were no less than 100 miles of water-races in the district, all formed by individual enterprise, which, under the present ciroumatances, miners were obliged to content themselves with. Muoh money was lost to the country, and miners were prevented from setfringonthe goldfields, because it required not only combination but capital on the part of miners to profitably work the alluvial gold deposits whioh were to be found scattered over the whole district in which he lived. Now", that was a question whioh had long engaged the attention of all gold-mining oommutities within the colony, andalthough ithadoropped up ia other places, it had from time to time been shelved, and a referenoe been made to tho General Assembly. In theaddressof his Excellency the Governor on opening Parliament the year before last, some promise was made to the gold mining interest of the country, that the attention of tho Government would be drawn to tho consideration of the subject during that particular session, but tho Beaaion was allowed to pass over without the subject having been once mentioned. When he saw the name of the honourable mover standing at the head of the motion, he thought that honourable gentleman, at any rate, had well considered the subjeot, and that some feasible plan by which the mining interost would be further developed, and a Urge supply of water brought into the principal goldfieWa without the probability of any aotaal outlay by tho moans pointed out in the resolution, namely, by guarantee, loan, or otherwise, would bo adopted. He hoped the Committee in their deliberations would find out how that very desirable work oould be completed. That it was roquirod no one who was at all acquainted with the working of goldfields would deny. In fact the goldfiolds of tho colony seemed to bo in want of some united effort to prodnoo the supply of water for the purpose of. dovolopingthe very valuable deposits which wore found almost everywhere to exißt, but in such limited quantities that without a largo supply of water tho gold could not easily bo extracted from tho aoiL He could not have any objection whatever to tho oonstitution ol tho Gommittoo, for ho found some Otogo members on it. Still, as far as recarded th«so names, they might as well be conndored Auokland «oldtields' representatives, for they certainly did not live in Otago. Ho felt sure, howovar, that tho inhabitants of the Otago gold Holds would bo pleased to find thono names on tho Committee, otherwise, it might bo thought that tho gold ft olds thoro had not been propofly represented. He saw practical mining reproeentatifeß, oivil engineers, financiers, and Superintend™*, plaoed upon tho Committeo, andthoroforo he thought tho Honsa could have do roason. for being dissatisfied with it. Ho hoped it would produce to the Houto a feasible plan whoreby large supplies of water oould bo brought on to tho goldfiolds, so that the mineral rosourcot of tho various fiolds might be properly doveloped. With regard to itt not being a sohemo whioh should properly oomo undor tho attention of the Government at the prcaont juncture, and to tho remarks of tho honourable member for Mataura, who stated that he did not too why tho miners www entitled to hare water brought into thogoldlields any morn than the Inhabitants of ottioi and o£h«rpUot« who

cmmingfintiamtW^ 'commeriCe^Jt^ , ;Mttchf ' of r the prosperity ,<Sf the colony '^addepended upbn'tb'at (htereifc fqri'niilny f^yto f paßt,;and , >it .ought ndt'nAwi torbe%egleb^ed;in/the M tune ' iDf'«^ubleiir'' :i 'Bvra^jhtt"^liei? ( hoa»P><li!f- 'our'ex- - Wemit/it^'wouldi'be^wise'" t6 'consider well some scheme 1 whereby; BO"im£ortant an interesfc could -, fee fostered to the' utmost. He might mention that ,in>.thesColony of Victoria the* attention of the „ Legislature had been di^ rected.to the consideration of this subject, and that large sums of money had .been spent on sunUar ?( worka, .which, had turned out to be highly, reproductive., Large streams of water had been diverted into .reservoirjj upon the principal goldfields,' and the s whole subject had been under the consideration of the Victorian Legislature many years ago. On these goldfieldf, where public reservoirs, had been constmpted,,tbe miners could purchase what water they required, and were thus enabled to , add largely to the amount ; of gold which was annually exposed from that colony. He hojiedthat r whatever interest might be paramouni!, this one would not be forgotten, and that the Committee would bring up suoh a report a* the House could immediately act upon, notwithstanding the exigencies of the colony. „ Mr Swan did not see why the merits of the different goldfielda of the colony should bo placed against one another in that House. In the , appointment of that Committee he thought thai, at the same time that members forHhe goldfields wore placed, on it, there should be an attempt made to have some members on it who had some knowledge of the construction of engineering works. He might say that, however much the goldfields on the' West Coast, or other, goldfiolds, required water to be brought in, the Thames goldfield was or would be entirely dependent, for domestic and crushing purposes, on watt r brought froma considerable distance. Within the last few months' a company had been formed to bring in a supply from a lrirge creek, and he thought it would be well if some means could be devised by which some assistance might be given in that direction. He was anxious that the Committee should bring in a report whioh would be useful to the House. He had no objection to tKe Committee being selected in any way the House might ace fib, even though it might go the extreme length of appointing its members by ballot. ' Major Heaphy, V.C., hoped that in the report of tho Committee, if it were appointed, they should find that the subject of the safeguards of the Colonial finances had been duly considered, and that no report would emanate from the Committeo if ,it did not recognize that, beforo any sum of money Bhould bo voted, or any guarantee given by the colony towards the cost of any large works that might be necessary for the supply of water to the goldfields, a full and satisfactory roport, either from a Commission or from the Geological Director of the New Zealand Institute, or some other competent authority, should be made to the Government, so that there might be a security against what Beemed to be feared by honourable members, namely, the danger of a large sum of money being exponded upon goldfielda of only a temporary importance. He had no feeling whatever of apprehension as to the permanent importance of the Thames Goldfields. The manner in which gold was found in the mountains of the Thames District wns of so different a nature to that of other parts of New Zealand, that he believed it must be placed in quite a separate category. He looked upon the mountain range of Cape Colvillo as constituting a district which would be the future Cornwall of New Zealand. The further mining operations wore carried into the mountains of that range, the more permanent and extensive were the manifestations of the existence of gold. Unfortunately the streams of water that wonld be otherwise abundantly *ufficlont for the supply of a largo community thero, were daily becoming necessary for mining purposes, whioh rendered them unfit for domestic use. Even that stream which had been alluded to by tho honourable member for Franklin, tho Kauairanga Creek, was not by any means uncontaminated. Within a few wcoks of hia leaving Auokland for Wellington he went over tho ooun. try at tho head of that stream, and found that tho Roldfields wero actually extending into that valley, and operations going on, apparently with success, whioh would result in quart?, crushing, and necessarily in tho contamination of the stream. Ho thought, therefore, that the question should bo looked upon from a point of view boyond that indicated by the present circumstances of that goldfleld. Tho honourablo mem'er for Port Chalmers was porfoctly satisfied with tho constitution of tua Committeo : he could not say that he was por« fectly satisfied with it. He believod it was nominated with overy sincerity of purpose, but still it was not of a character which was satisfactory to him, nor would it bo to tho diflgem in the north of New Zoaland. Analyzing it, he found upon it throe gentlemen roprSienting tho goMfields on tho West Coast of tho Bonth Maud ; throe gentlemen roprwenting the goldfieldi of Otago; ©no representing tho ooldllelds of Nelson ; one representing Marfborouch; and one ropro. sontlng whatever goMflelds thero might ba In Canterbury. If they looked at tho wturn of tho amount of gold wucrtod during the nuarter ending thaSlstofMarohlM^ they fmind that from Wertland there had been 13,868 ottnooi j from Nelson, 45,268 ounoes; utd trom AuoWand, 41,67* ounoos. Auckland, therefor*, tho third In point of importhum in respect to the export of gold wm

Apparently, almost the last in the. . mind, of* the honourable;gentleman with regard to its representation jpn, the ;. Committee. , In fact, there was , only', one member on behalf, of Auckland, - so that it was placed <on ,an equality with Marlborpugkand Canterbury; He could not say that the material of the Committee was satisfactory to himself. He wished it to be understood that he did" not speak in an invidious manner as regarded honourable members personally, but- he hoped, that the composition of the Committee » would be amended. .

Mr Fitzherbekt, whilst thinking that the 1 greatest possible weight ought to be attached to the observations and .warnings of the honourable member t for Mataura, was yet of opinion, considering the national importance of the gold-producing interest, that it would be very undesirable, if ,that , House were to show such a reluctance to consider any question which was of vital, importance to its development as to refuse an enquiry/ He did not conceive that the honourable gentleman who had moved for the,, Committee had arrived at' any foregone conclusion as to the manner in >whioh funds should be found for that undoubtedly desirable' objeot ; but, on the contrary, he seemed to have carefully guarded himself on that point. If it were otherwise it might be a, question how far the Houip ought to consent to commit itaelf by (granting the Committee ; but the motion asked" for a system. " either by loan, guarantee, or otherwise," and he thought, therefore, that if a number of gentlemen who ' possessed local experience, and to whose opinion tho House -would bow, could, by consulting together, devise a plan by which an united effort might be made, a great point would be gained.

Mr Dilion Bblli feared that the honourable gentleman had misunderstood him. He should have entirely concurred in the motion if its objeot had been what the honourable gentleman stated ; but he objected to the appointment of a Committee which was to bo specially charged by the House to devise some means by which the assistance of the Government might be given tog the construction of permanent works.

Mr Fitzheebbrt gave every weight to the remarks of his honourable friend, which he thought had been very opportune ; but the ■wording of tho motion did not appear to confino the enquiry as to the providing of funds to the method of either loan or guarantee. It was the alternative suggested in the word •' otherwise" which enabled them to grant the enquiry, with every hope that it might be a satisfactory one, and without committing theHouseto any objectionable course, against which his honourable friend the member for Mataurahadveryproperly cautioned them. It strnck him as being exceedingly likely that those gentlemen might find that there was a mode, either by local rates or by some other arrangement, by which combined aotion might take place without so trenching oa the credit of the colony as to, perhaps, render their proposals inadmissible. He did not think that tbero could be any ground of alarm in the minds of honourable members representing one particular goldfield, or who were interested in one goldfield more than another, as to the composition of the Committee. It was not intended to grant assistance to any one particular goldfield, bub the enquiry was asked for in the hope that some general measure might be devised, after enquiry and consultation, which would be applicable to all the goldiields in New Zealand, so that he thought there was no ground for any jealousy on the subject. Any suggestions mado for the enlargement of the Committee, would, no doubt, be cheerfully adopted by the House Ho could not conceive any subject on whioh he considered he wm more bound to concur in the warning of the honourable member for Mataura, but, at tho same time, they must not forgot, as they had been reminded by the honourable member for]Porfc Chalmers, that the hour of their need wm the vory time when, so far m they could safely do so. they should foster those interests whioh, ho did not hesitate to aay^ mainly formed .the basis of their present oredit with other countries. It was undoubtedly owing to the fact that this was an increasingly gold-pro-ducing country, that peoplo wore willing to trust us, and would continue to do go. It wm therefore a subject whioh they Bhould approaoh, not in any narrow spirit, or m placing ono goldfield against another, but belioving that there wm a common in* tcrost, and that the objeot ;of that House ■would bo to givo equal assistance to all. Whilst ho thought it quite right that no dolusive proippcts should be hold out of further trenching upon our credit, by extending tho endorsement of the colony to loonl loans, at the aarao time ho wm of opinion that thoso interests wore to great that something might be dovieod whioh would be of a practioablo charaoter, and which would give that reliof which was sought for by those honourable gentlemen who had very properly brought the matter under the consideration of the House. He hoped that the remarks whioh ho had made-lor he h*d felt it to be his duty to answer the ftppoal made by the honourable member for M*taur*— would uot bo interpreted into any desiro to throw oold water upon tho enquiry, whioh he oontidered to be an important m any that oould bo brought under their notioe.

Mr Oajxaohkr oonld bos concur in tho remarks of the honourable member for the Northorn Division, that a water supply wm of greater interest to Auckland than to all the rest of Netr Zealand put together, Every man who had any experienoe in Now Zealand, and especially aw the West Coast, knew that in. every plaoo artlnotal mpply of witter wm required. At Charleston fchsro

were; more than lOOOaores of 'auriferous ground, nnd not a drop of water./ During web weather, men oould obtain at that place from >L 4to L6,a week, but it was quit© desetted on account of the want of. water. A company, was being formed, now, and the day that the Superintendent left Nelson a deputation had waited upon him to see if he could ' assist' them in anyway to turn the waters of i the Nile through the Charleston Plains. There was not a from the Grey Distridt to Mohikinui where there was not an artificial supply of water required. Mr .Babe's 1 said that it was a matter of notoriety that, with reference to alluvial goldfields, a larger quantity of water was required than in districts where quartz reefs alone were being worked. Although he had not had the 'advantage which the honourable member had probably had of visiting the Auckland Groldfields, still he had visited other districts of the same nature, and he had found th^tr in the majority of cases water was. required for domestic purposes, and only a email quantity was wanted for crushing— such < a quantity as might be brought in by a private company ; hut the oase in alluvial districts was very different. In working such fields as thoso on the West Coast of the Middle Island, and in Otago, every few men required a head of water to work to advantage. ( He could not agree with the , honourable member for Parnell, when he qiioted figures with regard to the different amounts of gold exported, to show that' Auckland required more consideration in regard to that question than other places. .It was a well known fact that in the majority of cases in Auckland gold had been obtained byja few parties — the fewhad. made fortunes, but the many had made nothing at all ; but then it was far different on alluvial goldfields, whero the earnings were small, and every man obtained a little. In alluvial diggings, whenever water was brought in, the earnings of every person would be inoreased to a very great extent. He regretted that the dispute had arisen, and he felt, as the Colonial Treasurer had said, that the question should not be looked upon from a party point of view, but that they should regard it as one of general interest to the colony at large — not as one one affeoting the interest of any place in particular, ft was a matter which he wm sure would receive the fullest attention at the hands of the House. He trusted the Committee would be able to devise a scheme which would be found workable, without interfering with the credit of the colony at the present time. Mr W. H. Habhison only wished to Bay a few words in reply. It appeared to him that a studied attempt had oven made to make out that he had .endeavoured to leave out the names of members from the Province of Auckland. The names ot those placed on the Committee were those which had been suggested by the members for Auckland themselves ; and knowing that tho Standing Orders of the House limited him to ten members, he had no alternative leffc, as he could not withdraw any of the names he had previously placed on the Committee. He was exceedingly sorry that ' these petty feelings of jealousy had been displayed, arising as they did out of Provincial distinctions, whioh he hoped would soon be swept away. Ho satv every day the revenue falling off on the goldfields of the colony. In the Province of Auckland there were goldfields which would bring a largn profit to the capitalist, but would not bring a large profit to the large body j of men at work there. In Weslland a j large body of miners had been compelled to leave, as they oonld not profitably work the ground. It was juat possible that in spita of all the difficulties and objections in the way of borrowing, a scheme might be devisod by whioh the turners might bo induced to invest their earningo in undertakings of the nature proposed^ ■ In about a fortnight's time some 1,500 mon had left for Queensland, during tho rush to that placo, and tlmy hod drawn out some L 30,000 which had been deposited in tho banks, Minors distrusted joint stook companies, as m%ny of thorn woro speculations, and turned out to bo failures ; but ho felt cortain that iv largo works, which would boaaporma nentastho goldfleldß themselves, miners would be themselves disposed to invest, if ensured of making good interest, nnd the population, and consequently tho revenue, would be largely inoreased. Ho wished to make one remark in rcforenco to.wb.ut hod fallen from tho honourable mombor for Mataura, who very properly said th it it was an unusual time to bring forw.trd anysoherao whioh was likely to strain tho credit of tho colony, whon all its resources wero likely to bo Btrotohed to the very limit. Thoro was no doubt that tho oredit of tho colony wonld be strained to tho utmost for war liabilities— a most unprofitable mode of spending monoy — but it was questionable whotbor or not it would bo injuriously affooted by borrowing money for the construction of works which would be directly remunerative Motion agrood to,