Thursday, June 9. CROWN LANDS REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1856, 17 June 1887, Page 15

Thursday, June 9. CROWN LANDS REPORT.

The annual report of Mr M'Kerrow, Secretary for Crown Lands, was laid on the table. He states that the main efforts of the department during the last few years have been directed not to raising revenue by cash sales, but to the promotion of the occupation of the country by a population holding land on residential and improvement' conditions. Last year was remarkable for the greater development of tins feature, and the number of selectors was double the usual average. The number of selectors was 2424, absorbing 245,000 acres. Theihcrea se is mainly due to the special settlement and village homestead systems. The land sold on immediate payments was as follows : — Town,46 acres to 109 purchasers ; village small farms, 227 acres to 65 purchasers ; suburban, 430 acres to 74 purchasers; rural, 32,633 acres to 243 purchasers. The cash received amounted to £36,653, and the scrip represented £135. The following was the quantity sold on deferred payments: — Rural, 50,527 acres to 557 selectors; nine special settlements, 43,873 acres to 445 selectors; village small farms, 585 acres to 112 selectors. The Instalments from these and former selections still current amount to £67,290. As agricultural leases on goldfields, 475 acres were leased to 247 selectors, and rents from these and former ones amounted to £1934. As perpetual leases, 49,475 acres were leased to 244 selectors, and rents from these and others current amounted to £6091. In small areas, 850 acres let to 23 selectors brought in £39 ; under the

village homestead system 28,700 acres were given to 896 selectors, and under the homestead system 6977 acres to 49 selectors. As small grazing runs, 62,628 acres were leased to 68' selectors, and rents from these and others current amounted to £3805. The pastoralrents from 11,006,557 acres, held in 1236 leases, amounted to £170,595, and from coal and mineral leases and timber licenses about £18,800. The total revenue was therefore £305,208. The cash sales on freehold tenure have diminished very much, and excepting town lands there is very little opportunity given for acquiring freeholds. During last year 87,018 acres were reserved, of which 76,401 acres were for forest, and 7919 acres for primary education. The deferredpayment system is the most popular, and since 1873 has been availed of by about 8000 persons, who have selected over, one million acres, of which one-third has been made freehold by fulfilment of conditions. During the year 1012 persons have selected 95,400 acres, and 33,500 have been made freehold. In Otago, where the system has made much the greater development, 70 settlers made freehold' 11,248 acres, having paid in all £20,162. The immediate effect of capitalisation on the revenue is to diminish it by considerably more than one-half. The ,sum outstanding in arrears on .March 31, 1886, was £32,130, and on the same date last year it was. £22,450, or nearly £10,000 less. None have availed themselves of the other method of obtaining relief— that of exchanging deferred-payment leases for perpetual leases. The rents of pastoral leases have come in very well upon the whole, but there is a sum of £3000 outstanding in Otago, which the lessees have not been able to pay on account of the great expense of the rabbit pest and the diminished carrying capacity of the country. Part of this money will most likely never be recovered, as several of the back-lying runs have been abandoned, and it is on these back mountainous runs that the rabbit difficulty is most felt. By giving long leases at nominal rents and in other ways the department gives every encouragement to the lessees to cope with the evil, which, though held in check over the older infested districts, is unfortunately reported tobe extending its ravages by the back country from Otago into Canterbury. From a table at the end of the report it appears that the total area of land sold since the foundation of the colony is 12,718,685 acres, the cash received being £12,810,487. The total open for selection is 11,920,365 acres, and the area remaining for disposal independent of this is 19,620,291. UNPRECEDENTED SCENE IN THE HOUSE. One of the most; "extraordinary scenes ever witnessed in the New Zealand Parliament took place last night over the West Coast Reserves Settlement Act Amendment Bill., This measure has been in the charge of Mr Ballance, who has been assisted by Major Atkinson and the other Taranaki members. As already stated, one of its objects is to relieve those tenants who a few years ago offered such high rtnts for the reserves on the West Coast, by allowing them to surrender their leases with a view of receiving fresh ones on a new valuation. The reserves are managed by the public trustee and a trust board, that under the original act had no power to come to the relief of the tenants. The Maori owners are unable to afford relief, and it is asserted that unless such relief is granted to the tenants many of them will be driven to seek the protection of the Bankruptcy Court. Major Atkinson has been very active in pushing forward the bill, and it is in fact said that to a large extent his re-election depends upon his securing its passage. The Maori members had stonewalled the bill in the early part of the day, but their objections were overcome, and the passage of the bill through committee appeared to be only a matter of a few minutes. Mr Samuel had proposed a new clause during the evening providing that those who surrendered their leases could reacquire them. This was discussed for a long time and adopted. No sooner was this done thau the Treasurer got up and said that he was not aware 1 of the clause having been put, and he objected to it mest strongly. The bitter opposition which he evinced and the tone adopted to his colleague in charge of the bill led to inquiries as to the cause of it, when he informed the House that he was in charge of the Public Trust department and the matter had only been taken up by the Native Minister for convenience. He intended to assert his rights, and he actually accused Mr Ballance of agreeing to clauses which he (Sir J. Vogel) had never agreed to and had not seen until it was on the Order Paper. Mr Ballance maintained a dignified attitude, notwithstanding the fierce onslaught on him. He retired from the table, giving the charge of the bill to his colleague, the Treasurer, who moved to report progress. Of course the display was taken advantage of by the Opposition, and some Government supporters also commented upon the extraordinary spectacle. They, however, resisted the motion to report progress, and the Treasurer calling for a division, he was badly beaten and the bill was reported. Sir J. Vogel then moved that the amendments be considered at next sitting, but Major Atkinson resisted this, and called upon Mr Ballance to fulfil his promise and carry the bill through. Mr Ballance said that as the bill had been taken out of his hands he was powerless. He quite admitted that the Treasurer was lu*ad of the Trust department. He had approved of all the steps taken, and he had understood that Sir J. Vogel had done the same. Mr Seddon then proposed that the bill be recommitted at once. Sir J. Vogel spoke very warmly about the matter. He pointed out that a deputation had waited on him asking for the same concession as was asked in the clause that those who surrendered should be allowed to take up fresh leases. He had brought the matter before the Cabinet only three days ago, and the decision arrived at was that no such concession should be made. A new clause had been sprung upon them reversing this decision, and he insisted on the Government leading the House so long as they remained in office. . Mr Ballance, in language which he took pains to make dignified, again asserted that nothing had been done unknown to the Treasurer. He fully concurred -in the relief proposed to be given. The motion that the amendments be considered next day was then put and lost on a division, called for by Sir J. Vogel,' by 39 to it Wroth at such a beating, Sir J. Vogel attempted to speak before the amendment to go into committee at once was put, but the Speaker promptly stopped him. The amendment was then put,' but before the voices were taken

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Sir J. Vogel said : I claim the right to speak now. - '" '- * * ■ , ; ! 'The Speaker : The hon. gentleman has no right to speak.

Sir Julius: I' claim that I have a right, to • spepk to the amendment. , The rfpeaker (advancing from the chair and speaking- in clear, emphatic terms) : I. say most undoubtedly you have not the right to speak. ' Sir J. Vogel was about to explain that he- still claimed the right, when the Speaker, in still louder and more emphatic terms, informed him that -he had no claim whatever. The hon. gentleman, he said, had already spoken to the motion and amendmenc, and no member could speak more than twice, whereas the hon. gentleman claimed to speak tour times. Sir J. Vogel : I intend to-morrow, sir 1 , to challenge your ruling. The Speaker: You have already challenged my ruling. You had better put a motion on the Order Paper censuring the Speaker. Sir Julius : I will take the vote of the House to-morrow on your ruling, sir. ' • The Speaker : Table a motion of censure on the Speaker. Sir Julius did not attempt to push the matter any further, as cries of " Chair f" were raised all over the House. The soene, which was a most painful one, then ended. The tones of thunder in which the' Speaker delivered his few' words, at the same time speaking in a calm, judicial style, will not soon be forgotten by those present. The bill was recommitted and the clause carried. On the motion to report the amendments to the House, the irrepressible member for Dunstan thought the opportunity too good to be lost, and he suggested that he would Hke to add to the report an expression of the pleasure felt by members at seeing the brethren on the Ministerial benches dwelling together in unity, with the Premier and the leader of the Opposition almost affectionately embracing each other, the Minister of Lauds standing out of the game, and the Treasurer playing a lone hand. It should be mentioned that the Premier had to" take charge of the bill in the end, Major Atkinson having appealed to him to assert himself. THE OUTCOME AND THE APOLOGY. The Treasurer attempted to-day to have the bill recommitted with a view of amending the clause, but his attempt to set up the public trustee as an obstacle did not meet with favour, and he was again defeated. Later in the day he apologised to the Speaker for his action of the previous night, stating that he had not intended to violate the respect in which the Speaker was deservedly held. The Speaker accepted the apology as due to the House. Mr Ballance is admitted on all hands to have behaved ia a most dignified manner. Naturally he has felt sore, and when the bill was before the House to-day he absented himself and was nearly the whole day away. It was noticeable to-night also that he was absent from the Ministerial dinner. All this has, of course, given rise to rumours that he is likely to retire from the Ministry, and talk of a probable coalition has also been revived, and it is considered by many that the outbreak of last night may pave the way to Sir R. Stout and Major Atkinson joining forces. Whatever may be the outcome, it is not at all likely that there will be any immediate result. THE PUBLIC TRUSTEE. Mr Samuel in the course of to-day made an attack on the Public Trustee, contending that from his position and surroundings he was unable to comprehend or sympathise with the circumstances of those who applied to him in connection with their affairs. Mr Garrick foli lowed this up by contending that Mr Hamerton had displayed an utter incapacity for his office, as he was not only afraid to act but afraid to think unless he were indemnified. Messrs Gulness and Downie Stewart defended the Public Trustee, and Sir G. Grey also said a few words approving the manner in which that officer carried out his duties. STUMPING THE COUNTRY. Mr Scobie Maokenzie to-day received a pressing invitation to visit Canterbury and deliver one- or two speeches in that provincial district. After consideration Mr Mackenzie' has decided to decline the invitation at present. He considers that it is not the place of the Opposition to assume the aggressive by the members composing it speaking outside their own electorates. If the Government side takes the initiative, however, he thinks the others should retaliate ; and in that case he might reconsider his decision. WORKING RAILWAYS. In laying before the House the report on the working railways, the Minister for Public Works took occasion to justify the statement that the Government had made savings. He said it was only fair to the Government and the department to point out that the report showed that during the past three years- a saving had been effected, taking as a basis a mileage rate, on the lengths open at the rate of fully £10,000 per annum, without reducing wages or salaries. He then quoted a portion of the tables to show that the adverse criticisms that the savings were owing to the lessening of the traffic were incorrect. The total' receipts for 1884-5 amounted to £1,045,712 ; total expenditure, £690,026; total tonnage carried, 1,749,856 tons ; while the total receipts for the year 1886-7 amount to £898,768 ; total expenditure, £699,072 ; total tonnage carried, 1,747,754 tons ; the tonnage carried and the expenditure for the two periods being practically the same, and the difference in receipts (£50,000) being mainly owing to the reductions made in the rates for local productions. The report further shows that during the same period, while the expenditure has only inoreased £9046 on the past year over that for 1884-85, we have opened, maintained, and worked the traffic on an additional 250 miles of railway with 53 new stations. As to the future, the, Minister says: "As regards the estimates for the current year, it has been stated that the, expectations of the Government cannot be realised. lam glad to be able to state that so far as we have gone we have good reason to be satisfied. For the first" four weeks the gross ' earnings were £7133 more than for a period of one day less than that last year, which would for purposes of comparison be equal to an improvement of nearly £1000 ; while at the same time the expenses were only increased by £86, again showing -that the expenditure does not, as has been stated, by some, increase with Increase of traffic, the fact being that our present train services will permit of a still larger increase of traffic without much increase of expenditure. THE NEW ELECTORATES. Dr Hislop having arrived, the commissioners for fixing the new electoral boundaries were engaged at their task' all day. The result of their labours will not absolutely be known till next ' Monday . week. It , is believed that the Bruce electorate will tak in Inch Clutba and Clutha, and that Clutha will take in as far as Kelso. A new electorate in Southland will probably be called Waikaia, and will extend from Switeersto Gore. This would confine Hokonui to the western

slope of those hills. All is conjecture, however." The MoeraM seat is likely to be named Waihemo. Mr Bu'ckland, the member for Waikouaiti, , will contest this seat with Mr J. M'Kenzie, the Government whip; - • • ■ ' TO-DAY'S BUSINESS. , In order to enable the prorogation to take • place to-morrow^ the House meet at 11 a.m. to-day. They settled down. to business at first, passing the Mining Bill as cut down by the*' Goldfields Committee in" a few minutes.' ' In committee on the' 'Mining Act, Jin,. the Upper House, clause 8, allowing half the cost -, of resuming lands to be paid out of the goldfields revenue of the district was strongly-opposed,* and an amendment was carried removing the ' gold duty from the operation' of the clause. ' The West Coast and South Island Native Reserve Bills , were disposed of, and an attempt was-made to bring on the Oamaru Harbour Board Bill and the ■ celebrated Christchurch District Drainage Bill ; but as' the Premier had promised to give Sir G. Grey's Diminution of Votes Bill a chance, ai\d it [was found impossible, Sir G. Grey secured one victory by having the committee's report adopted. However, when victory' appeared within reach, Messrs Samuel and Hatch took up the' task of talking out the measure, and they kept it up till s o'clock. At that hour it hadbeen agreed to take the Public Revenue^ Bill, so that they were successful. On the Revenues'" Bill 'it was expected that a number of members would take the opportunity of addressing their constituents through " Hansard." Only' two spoke, however, and when the 5.30 p.m. adjournment was reached, on the Premier announcing that the prorogation could not take • place to-morrow unless the bill was sent to the other House that day, the debate came to au end, and the third reading was passed. i THE COUNCIL. In the Council the Mining Act Amendment Bill went through with some alteration, including a' clause to prevent managers acting as sharebrokers. This, the Premier explained in the House afterwards, did not preclude legal managers from acting, as managers were defined as meaning only those in charge of works. The question in dispute as to the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill was postponed till tomorrow, as were also the West Coast and South. Island Reserves Bills. '. THE OPPOSITION POLICY. Many members of the Opposition party regret that their leader has not thought fit to place before the colony the leading parts of their policy so as to allow the country at the general elections to have two alternative policies before' it. If this were done they contend that more members would come back pledged to support one side*, and there would be fewer rail-sitters or independents. As it is, the major has only indicated that he is in favour of thorough retrenchment and the placing of the finances on a thoroughly sound footing. , MISCELLANEOUS. The Minister for Public Works laid on the table to-day a table making a comparison of the goods rates charged in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia with those of this colony, showing .that generally the New Zealand rates are lowerSir G. Grey intends to bring on a motion, if at all possible, to-morrow that a court should ba constructed in each of the islands to consider any application for the adjustment of rents m the interest of either Crown tenants or theCrown, so as to secure the imposition of a fainrent in all cases of Crown lands. Fbiday, June 10. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, it was stated that the purchase of land at North Head, Auckland, for a torpedo shed had not been completed. That arrangements would be made providing for periodical payments under deferred-pay-mant system being made through post offices as well as by ordinary methods; That the Government could not entertain the idea of selling the land on which the Wellington post office, lately destroyed by fire, stood. No definite statement could as yet be made as to rebuilding the post office. That the Government was not yet in a position to open New Zealand ports for the importation of stock, but the Colonial Secretary was .considering the matter. That it is not desirable to grant long-se-mce medals to efficient volunteers, such a practice not being followed at Home. That the Government could not Consent to tax theatrical tickets. That members would receive the earliest possible iptimation ofj alterations of their respective districts. That the question of contributions from the colony to the Imperial Institute must be dealt with by next Parliament. t LOCAL BODIES' LOANS ACT. With reference to this act, The Hon. Sir J. VOGEL said the conference j had ( agreed to the removal of the retrospective part of the new clause of the bill, but refused to strike out the whole clause. He pointed out that the amendment' as it stood made it inapplicable to local bodies .who had already applied for a loan. He moved, pro forma, that the be agreed to in order that the House might express an opinion on it. He did not approve of the amendments to the bill, but would let the House deal with it. The Hon. Sir R. STOUT also disagreed with the amendments introduced by the Council. He thought it as well to postpone the bill till next ' session* ' The, Hon., Major ATKINSON agreed with that suggestion. . ■ A' motion that the amendments be disagreed with was. then carried and the bill was dropped. A PERIPATETIC MINISTRY. A return, of, Ministers' travelling allowances and expenses was laid on the table ,to-day, but on motion was made that it.be printed. It was furnished ia response to a motion, by Mr Allwright,'ahdthe hon. member complained that he had asked for the return on the 6th May, and it was only furnished on the last day of the session. As there was no intention of printing it, Mr Allwright moved the adjournment of the House, and in doing so read the return, so as to get it into "Hansard "at least. It is an instrue tive dooument, and the Premier's defence of it was that in 1879 and 1880 Ministers' expenses were mnch larger, namely, ,that two blacks make a white. I telegraph return,

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so that ' local Joseph Humes may read, mark, and inwardly digest it. It is as follows :— Betubn showing the Amount of Tbavelling Allowances and Expenses Drawn by Each Minister and Attendants During the Financial Year Ended March 31, 1887. 1. The amount drawn as travelling allowance by Ministers as fixed by the Council in the last act. Hon Sir R Stout ... . ... ... £239 7 9 (This includes the amount drawn during attendance at the trial Eegina v. HaU at Christchurch.)

2. Amounts paid for fares and travelling expenses for each Minister : — Hon Sir R Stout ... ... £216 3 5 (This includes the amount drawn during attendance on trial Eegina v. Hall at Christchurch.)

(3) Amounts paid as travelling allowance to attendants, including private secretary :— To Premier ... ... ... £150 17 4 (This includes amount drawn during attendance on trial Kegina v. Hafi at Ohristohurch.)

Amount paid for fares, &c. travelling expenses of private secretary and attendants :— Private secretary to Premier ... £52 14 2 ('1 his includes amount drawn during attendance on trial Regina v. Hafi at Ohristchurch.)

A large portion of the expenditure was incurred before the 1886 session, but of course was spent during the financial year ending 31st march 1887. Mr ALLWRIGHT wished to state that the total amount for the year, including Ministers' salaries, was £13,146, which far exceeded the expenses and travelling allowances of any Ministry which had held office since he sat in Parliament, and which actually proved that they were not the economical Ministry they took credit for being. The return had been called for on one sth of May, but had only been laid on the table that day. It was evident the paper had been kept back by Ministers till the last hours of the session. Mr LEVESTAM defended the Ministerial allowances, and said they were very moderate. The Hon. Sir R. STOUT said the Grey Ministry in 1879 drew a larger amount for travelling allowances than the present Government did last year. Mr Allwright should have mentioned that the large expenses of the Minister of Mines were really incurred before last session. He contended that the present return was not excessive compared with former Ministries. So far as some of' the expenses were concerned, travelling was a loss to Ministers. THE MINING ACT AMENDMENT BILL. As a good deal of opposition was shown to this measure on its return from the Legislative Council, and Mr Buckland (Waikouaiti) insisted on calling for a division, while Mr V. Pyke was strongly opposed to the measure, I have made inquiries as to the objection to the bill, and find it to be as follows :— The Midland Railway Company having of course the right to take up alternate blocks of land all along the line, and nothing having been reserved for mining, it is evident that a large tract of auriferous land will fall into their hands. There is in the bill the following mysterious provision : " Sub-section 2 of section 142 of the said act shall only apply to drainage areas, and nothing in the said act contained shall be read and construed as preventing the construction of dams across the natural streams situate in many mining districts ; provided further, that on the recommendation of the Ministers the Colonial Treasurer may pay one moiety of the compensation, including costs (if any), payable for land resumed out of the goldfields revenue of the district, or other revenues derived from such district in respect of mining." It will be seen that though the first portion of this refers to drainage areas, the second provides that.the Colonial Treasurer may pay a proportion of the compensation for resuming lands. This, it is contended, will mean that the colony will have to buy back from the Midland Railway Company such portions of the land as are auriferous. It was explained by the Premier that the money would be voted by the House, and everything would therefore be under its control, while local bodies will have to pay one-half tne compensation. Mr Backland and others, however, view the provision with alarm, and as being of a most dangerous character. Mr Buckland therefore insisted on calling for a division last night, although surrounded by West Coast members, who implored him to refrain. THE NATIVE RESERVES BILL. The rejection of the,W#st Coast Settlement Reserves Bill and the Soubh Island Native Reserves Acb Amendment Bill by the Legislative Council wiU be a great disappointment to the Europeans interested in these reserves, but has saved the country a great deal of dissatisfaction among the Maori race. As showing the depth of Native feeling, the Hon. Mr Taiaroa said if the bill became law and proved to be a failure the wrongs of his race would be heaped upon him both in this world and in the future in another place. THE CLOSING SCENE. The House met at 2.30. There being barely a quorum (a number of Southern members having left an hour, previously), the House presented a desolate appearance. The only business of importance was the rejection of the Legislative Council amendments to the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill, and consequently the bill was dropped. The balance of the time was occupied in discussing the return on Ministerial allowance; Dr Newman severely condemning Ministers in the matter ; while Messrs Guiness and Hatch spoke in their defence,

„ Native Minister „ Minister for Public Works „ Minister of Mineß (This includes trip through the Haasfi Pass before last session) „ Minister of Justice „ Colonial Secretary „ Hon W H Reynolds ... 23 10 7 45 9 6 217 1 0 6 17 8 68 14 8 Nil Total £455 5 1

Co Treasurer ... ... „ Native Minister „ Minister for Public Works „ MinUter of Mines „ Minister ot Justice „ Colonial Secretary „ Hon W H Eeynolds ... 55 5 0 71 5 0 45 0 0 99 10 0 11 5 0 63 0 0 9 15 0 Total £505 17 . 4

[on SirJ Vogel... [on JBallance ... [on B Richardson ton W JM Larnach [on J A Tole ... [on P A Buckley [on. W H Keynolds 13 3 li 276 18 1 177 2 H 214 11 : 21 1 I 103 19 1 1 13 I Tofcal £1023 18 .

[on Sir J Vogel... [on J Ballance... [on B Richardson [on W J M Larnach EonJATole ... [on P A Buckley [on W H Beynolds (Mr Reynolds only received allowance when absent from his home in Dunedin.) 158 5 9 268 16 0 88 4 0 361 4 0 176 7 0 121 16 0 79 16 0 Total ... £1493 17 6