THE M.P.C. FOR THE INANGAHUA ON PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1603, 31 January 1873, Page 4

THE M.P.C. FOR THE INANGAHUA ON PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION.

At a meeting of electors at Eeefton, Mr. Ivess, who has been elected as the member for the Inansahua in the Provincial Council, spoke as follows: —

BOAD9 ON THE GOLKFIEIDS.

Quite recently he had traversed the greater portion of the district, having travelled over fully 150 miles of road, and the experience gained from the journey painfully illustrated the repeated assertion that there really existed throughout the goldfields no roads worthy of the name which had been constructed by the Province. This road through the central Buller formed a portion of that famed 700 miles of road to which the Superintendent had referred in the Assembly, and he must say that it was not a work that pointed at all to the efficient administration o£ the Nelson Government. On reaching the Lyell, he had been informed that, as he ascended the Buller Valley, he must exercise a discreet reticence in respect to the shortcomings of Nelson, as the people were strongly imbued with Provincial proclivities. The few, however, he fell in with proved to be as fully alive to the effectiveness of Provincial administration as the residents of the Inangahua and Coast districts. Nor without reason.

A DANGEBOTXS BKIDGE

As an illustration of the grounds of dissatisfaction existing, he might mention that a bridge spanning a gorge on the road to the Matakifcaki is in a condition '.hat must imperil the lives of passengers. The timber used in its construction is in the last stage of decay, the stringers are thoroughly rotten, and at amy moment the entire fabric threatens to gave way nnder the weight of a single passenger. So rotten is

c timber that the blade of a knife may be inserted 'aft deep into its heart without any great degree of pressure. One very serious accident had occurred quite recently to the owner of three horses being taken across the bridge. The first two got over safely, but the third fell through the roadway and the man in charge was injured most severely, and now lies in a perilous position. •

PBOTINCIAIi EXECUTIVE,

In this email Province not less than £2,210 was annually expended in maintaining a Provincial Executive. Be could not but believe that it would be advantageous to the administration of the Province, economical, and calculated to promote more harmonious relations between the Superintendent and the Council if the Executive were entirely dispensed with, and the Superintendent made directly responsible to the Council. According to its present constitution the Council bat rarely came into contact with the Superintendent, except at its opening and close. Communication, in the meantime, was maintained by message, and it would be readily understood that this caused considerable delay, and was very liable to give rise to oonstant misapprehension. He thought it would be of very great advantage if the Superintendent of [Nelson like his brother Superintendents in the Provinces of Hawke's Bay and Marlborough, were to sit in the Council and were directly responsible to the. Council.

THE LANS SALE AT THE INAKGAHUA.

The sale of lands contemplated in the Inangahua was likely to clash with the interests of agricultural leaseholders who had entered upon the lands in good faith that the Government would not sell. As the matter now stood, any person, if he was so disposed, at the ensuing sale, would be able to buy the lands over the heads of the present holders, who, impoverished by the outlay already disbursed in improving their hol'lings, would not be in a position to enter into a keen competition for the fee simple. That required serious consideration. It was a mockery, enare, and delusion to grant land to persons, accepting their deposit of £10 or £12 for mere revenue purposes, when it was known that it was the early intention of the Government to sell the land.

THE LEASING QUESTION,

The leasing question had also been a bone of contention, sinoe it was obvious that the Superintendent in attempting to deal with this matter brought no special knowledge to bear upon his decisions in respeot to the various leases, and yet took upon himself to act in direct opposition to the recommendation of the Warden. When on a visit to Reefton he declined to visit the reefs, urging chat he was totally unable to form any opinion of their productiveness or otherwise. It seemed singular, therefore, after this admission that he should be ready to act in contravention of the recommendation of a qualified person. The delay in dealing with these matters was also a subject requiring remedy, many of the leases having been six, nine, and even 12 months under consideration. He thought; that a system similar to that in Victoria, with a Minister of Mines and the appointment of Mining Boards would be found to answer.