Provincial Council.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 746, 13 October 1870, Page 2

Provincial Council.

"Wednesday, Oct. 12. The Speaker took the chair at 5 p.m. The following members were present: — Messrs Beawick, Brett, Brown, Buchanan, Cowlishaw, Cox, Delamain, Dixon, Enys, Fisher, Hawkes, Hornbrook, Jollie, Kennaway, Knight, Lee, Mallock, Maskell, Matson, Ormsby, Parker, Richardson, Sawtell, Tancred, Tosawill, L. Walker, F. H. M. Walker, Webb, Westenra, W. Wiltiams, J. S. Williams, Buckley, Perry, Healey, and Studholme. MESSAGE. The Speaker announced that he had received a message from his Honor the Super intendent, confirming the Standing Orders. TIJIARU AND TEMUICA RAILWAY. Mr Ormsby asked the Provincial Secretary whether it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the construction of the Timaru and Temuka Railway in accordance with the terms of the letter of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer to His Honor the Superintendent, dated 13th Septembsr last. Mr Jollie said the Government had no wish to put off this work. If they could proceed with the work at once, they would be very glad to do so ; but if they commenced the work now, and spent the £7500 voted by the Council, they would have to band over to the General Government another sum of £7000 towards the construction of ihe work according to Act of the General Asrembly. And the Government did not wißh to involve itself in any such difficulty. PETITION OF JOHN BOWMAKEE, Mr Birch moved "That a Select Committee, consisting of the Provincial Solicitor, Messrs Cox, Dixon, Maskell, and the mover, he appointed to consider the petition of John Bowraaker, with power to call for persons and papers, to report on Thursday, 20th inst. Mr Bbown moved that the committee should consist of seven members, the names in Mr Birch's motion being Btruck out. Mr Birch's motion, as amended, was agreed to. A ballot was taken, which resulted in the appointment of the following members of committee : — Messrs Wynn Williams, Jollie, Hornbrook, Maskell, Cox, Dixon, and the mover, NORTHERN RAILWAY. The Fpeaker said it was not competent for Mr Brown to move the following resolution, the question having been decided on the previous night. " That the interests of northern districts would be materially advanced by the construction of that portion of the Northern Railway from Kaiapoi to Rangiora, before that part from Aldington to Kaiapoi." CHARITABLE AID. Mr Knight moved — " That a return be laid on the table, showing the actual amount expended on charitable aid in the year ending September 30, 1870, and giving the number, ages, sex, and condition of the recipients." Mr Jollie said there were very full returns on the table, but thty were not in the form desired by the hon. member. The Governmen would have much pleasure in having thoj returns made out ie another form. The motion was agreed to. lIUBEUM, PDBLIC LIBRARY, &C. Mr Cowlishaw moved — "That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into and report upon the best mode of establishing and maintaining upon a perman nt basis of the muieum, a public library, and a echool of technical science; such committee to consist of the Hon. John Hall, Messrs J. S. Williams, H. R. Webb, Enys, Lee, the Provincial Secretary, and the mover; to report in seven days." The hon. member pointed out that similar institutions had been established by public grant in Victoria and other places, and he thought that the same course ehould be pursued here. Ihe motion was agreed to. LAM'S RELATING TO SHEEP. The Hon. J. Hall moved — "For a Select Committee to enquire into and report upon the provisions of a draft Bill intituled an Act to consolidate the laws relating to sheep. The committee to consist of Mr Parker, Mr Tosswill, Mr Cowlishaw, Mr Rhodes, Mr Cox and the mover. This was a subject of great importance not only to one distinctive class, but to every class in the province. During the last session of the General Assembly, it was proposed to pass a uniform law for the colony with respect to sheep, and it was desirable that an expression of opinion should be given by the Council on a matter in which all classes of the community were concerned. On another occasion he would move the addition of the name of tb.3 Hon. Mr Lee. The Hon. G. L. Lee seconded the motion, which was agreed to ; the Committee to report in a fortnight. PLETJEO-PNEUMONIA. Mr Bebwick moved — That a Select Commit cc be appointed to inquire into the circumstances connected with the outbreak of

pieuro-pneumonia amongst the cattle on the Maori Run, Woodend, and the claims of those persons who had cattle destroyed in consequence, to consist of seven members, viz.. Messrs Studholme, Buckley, Hawkes, Hornbrook, Fisher, Cox, and the mover, to report within 21 days. The motion was agreed to. EDUCATION BILL. Mr Wykn Williams, in moving the second reading of this Bill, desired to assure hon. members that there was no misunderstanding between the Board of Education and the Government, as seemed to be inferred by the hon. member (MrKennaway). He also begged to state that certain amendments proposed by the Boird of Education would be inserted in the draft Bill and printed in italics, in order that they might he more specifically pointed out. The object of the Bill was to consolidate the Acts at present in existence. He felt rather a difficulty in moving the second reading of the Bill in consequence of the amendment proposed by the hon. member for j Riccarton (Mr Tosswill), to the effect that the Bill was inadequate to meet the requirements of the tTOvince. The question of education had attracted a very great amount of attention, and had been brought before the Assembly by Mr Richmond. It was thought by many that it would be better if the subject of education were dealt with by the Provincial Council instead of the General Assembly. He did not think it possible at the present time to j provide schools for all the children in the province, but this was no reason why some scheme should not be introduced whereby as many children as possible could be brought to attend school. He would not pretend to offer an opinion as to the working of the school committees, as there were several hon. members much better acquainted with the working of those committees than himself. He thought the Council ought first to consider what they ought to have in the way of education ; secondly, what they already possessed ; thirdly, what they ought to have at once ; and fourthly, what there was a reasonable probability of obtaining. He fully agreed with what had been asserted by many authorities, that railways and other public works were of very little use if education were neglected. He was in favour of grants being made, so that boys at present being educated at the ordinary schools might have an opportunity of going to night schools, and thus fit themselves to tecorne an honour and a credit to the country. Grants were given for the establishment of local industries, but he considered that education was more important. It must not be assumed that he was opposed to grants being given for the encouragement of local industries, but he considered that inducements should also be held out for the extension of education in this province. Mr Williams referred to the speech delivered in the Asßen.biy by Mr Richmond, who advocated Unit provision should be made for educating ibe whole of the children in the colony. He (Mr Williams) would say that the question the Council would have to consider was, how far they would be able to effect that end in this province. The hon. member for Riccarton (Mr Tosswill) had intimated to him that he intended to give his views as to what ought to be the system of education pursued in this province. Under these circumstances, he (Mr Williams) thought it was hardly necessary to occupy their time at any length before he heard what the hon. member would propose. No doubt hon. members were pretty well acquainted with the Bill, but there was one point to which he wished to direct their attention, namely, whether education should be carried on from a grant, or whether they should give the people the power of taxing themselves for the purposes of education. The question, however, would arise— whether the higher schools should not participate in the funds raised by such rate or not, and for this reason, because it seemed to be manifestly unfair to tax those who already paid a high sum for the education of their children at superior schools, that they should pay the education rate, and yet receive no beritfit from it. He thought it would be well to instil into the minds of the people that if they really wished education to be carried out, they must make up their minds to pay something for it. He thought that it was the opinion of the province that so far as their means had gone, the Board of Education had carried out the syetemof education very satisfactorily; and he believed that if increased means were provided, the Board would endeavour to provide much greater facilities for education, so as to enable it to reach the outlying districts. He trusted that unless Mr Tosswill was prepared to change the entire nature of the Bill he wo^ld allow his amendments to be printed in italics so that they might be printed and be in the hands of hon. members by Friday, It was impossible that schools could be provided for the whole of the children in the province, but it was quite within their means to increase the facilities for education. It would not be advisable to proceed with the discussion until hon. members had an opportunity of considering the amendments proposed by the Board of Education and the hon. member for Riccarton (Mr Tosswill). As he said before these amendments would be in the hands of hon. members by Friday, and the debate could be proceeded with, on the following Tuesday. He now begged to move the second reading of the Education Bill.

Mr Tosswiix wished the Government to understand that he had not brought forward his motion with the view of embarrassing the Government in the slightest degree. It was not so much that he objected to t! c Bill as to the S3 stem of education that had prevailed in this province. It was not necessary for hon. members to go very far to find where an education rate had been imposed with very satisfactory results. In Nelson, a law existed whereby every householder in a district had to pay a rate of £1 a year, besides 58 a year for each child up to four between the ages of five and fourteen. TheNelion

Act had acted more satisfactorily, both financially and as regarded the attendance at the schools, than the law that had prevailed in this province. The Nelson Act would work well, both financially and otherwise, in Canterbury. As to the numbers of children who attended school in both provinces, the attendance at school of children between the ages of five and fourteen in this province was from 47 to 43 per cent., whereas the per centage ia Nelson was 70 per cent. The fees in thie province pressed very heavily on the heads of families compared with the amount paid in Nelson. In connection with this subject, he had also to complain of the inadequate remuneration paid to schoolmasters in Canterbury. (Hear, hear.) He thought it quite possible that a remedy could be devised. The proposal he had to make to effect this end was the classification of schools and a system of regular promotion. Let them have first, second, and third class schools, paying first class teachers say £250 a-year, second class teachers, £200 ; and third class teachers £140. By these means they would be able to obtain more efficient teachers, and when they got a good teacher the prospect of regular promotion would induce him to Btay with them. He believed that if it were generally known that a young man, after passing an examination, could obtain a school at £140 a-year, and the prospect of promotion in a course of say four years to a first-class mastership at 250 a-year and a free house, he believed that they would get good teachers, and men who made teaching the profession of ■ their lives. Hitherto, teachers in Canterbury had been miserably underpaid. At the same time he was free to admit that some men were paid more than they were worth. (Hear,' hear.) He thought it would be more desirable that the Board of Education should appoint the masters instead of the local committees. At the same time, he thought that the local committees should have fuller powers in another direction, namely, in the election of me libers of the Board of Education. In a country like thie, it was impossible to over-estimate the importance of education. (Hear hear.) He had con versed with several members of local committees, and they all expressed themselves as dissatisfied with the system of education now pursued in this province. He was not in favour of a compulsory system of education, but he was ia favour of the passing of a law compelling every householder to pay for education, aa in the province of Nelson. (The hon. member quoted from a work relating to education on the Continent, more particularly with regard to the progress of education in Holland.) If his views were coincided in by the Council, he would suggest that a committee should be appointed to consider the subject of education, and if the bon. the Speaker wou'd waive his privilege, and consent to sit on a committee, together with another gentleman, also a member of the Board of Education, he thought there would be no difficulty in agreeing on the principles of a 811 that would meet the requirements of the province. In conclusion, he begged to move as an amendment, " That in the opinion of this Council, the Elucation Ordinance, 1870, is entirely inadequate to the requirements of the province." • Mr Knight moved the adjournment of the debate until to-morrow night. The adjournment of the debate was cartie 1 on the voices. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Mr Jollie, in moving that the House do go into Committee for the purpose of considering the estimates for the year ending 30th Sept. 1871, Baid— Sir,— The late period at which the General Assembly of the colony met, and the long session consequent upon the many important measures which were brought forward, has been the cause of this session of the Provincial Council meeting at a later date than was anticipated. This, however, though in some respects to be regretted, will enable me to place before tbe Council a fuller and much more reliable statement in regard to the finances of the province than had the session been earlier, and a part of the past year's accounts been merely estimated. It will, no doubt, be gratifying to the Council to learn that the accounts of the Provincial Treasury were placed before the auditor within two days of the termination of the financial year, as it affords a sufficiently convincing proof that one of the most important departments of the Government is very efficiently managed, and it enables me at this time to place before you a comparison between the estimated, and actual receipts and expenditure for the past year: — • Receipts, 1869-70. schedule a.

It will probably be in the recollection of most hon. members that during the debate last year on the financial proposals of the Government, very great doubts were expressed as to the truth, of the calculations which had guided the Government in placing on the estimates for appropriation the large balance in hand which appeared on the estimates for ordinary receipts, Schedule A. It was shown that the sum standing at the credit of this account, after withdrawing the amounts appropriated to railway extensions, would be about £21,000, and that this sum would be required, and would be sufficient to meet payments up to the 30th of the ensuing April, and to leave at that date in hand about from £6000 to £7000 to pay the April liabilities. The treasury accounts show that on the 30th of last April there was actually in hand the sum of £8368 13s sd. It will be observed that the estimates now submitted propose that at the end of the current year, that is 30th September, 1871, there shall be £21,547 12s in hand. The necessity for having this sum in hand at that ■date arises from the fact that the bulk of the revenue is received in the months of May and June of each year, while the expenditure is constant. The current income per month from August to the succeeding April is less •than the current expenditure. If the financial year ended on the 30th April instead of the 80th September, it would not be necessary to have on the 30th April a larger sum than might be sufficient to cover the April liabilities, which in the ordinary course of business would be paid in the first week of May ; but the year, ending as it now does on the 30th September, it becomes necessary that there should be in hand at that date a •sum sufficient to cover the excess of current •expenditure above current income for the period between the 30th September and the •end of the ensuing April. The amount required for this purpose is, as I have already shown by a reference to the proceedings of the year now ended, about £21,000. I will now direct the attention of the Council to the estimated receipts under Schedule A for the "twelvemonths ending September 30*, 1871. The balance in hand on the 30th September, itB7O, is £32,540 11s lOd, the estimated balance having been £21,156 lls Id, thus leaving the sum of £11,384 Os 9d in excess of the -estimate. The next item of available assets is consolidated revenue, £80,000, this amount sis about £17,000 in excess of the sum credited ito the province last year, this increase is owing 'to the new system of finance introduced into ■the colony by the colonial Government, by which the consolidated revenue paid to each province is estimated at the rate of £2 a head and for this year the population of Canterbury is taken at 40,000. Under this new arrangement Canterbury will obtain her fair and proper share of the revenues collected by the •customs department, upon goods consumed ;by the inhabitants of the province, and the 'great uncertainty which has hung over our ■receipts, under the late system, will now be in a great measure done away with. At tho same time, so long as the accounts between the General and Provincial Governments are liable to be disarranged by unexpected claims to large amounts for past expenditure on behalf of the province, it is impossible to feel that certainty in regard to our available funds which we have a right to claim in our financial arrangement with the colony. From this £80,000 must be deducted the sum of £35,000 provincial charges, which is the amount — as near as we can ascertain it — which will be spent in the province, under the authority of the Colonial Appropriation Act, 1871, thus leaving available, as provincial revenue, about £45,000;. the first charge upon which ia the interest on consolidated Joan by the Colonial Treasurer about £34,000.

The estimated receipts for pasturage rents we have put down at £34,600 ; this is based on the amount received last year, as are also the sums which we expect to receive from publicans' licenses, auctioneers' licenses, stage carriage licenses, boatmen's licenses, lunatic asylum, hospitals, rents, sheep tax. dog fees, maintenance "of debtors, and harbours. The item £1500, the payment by Waimakariri Conservators, is a debt due the province on account of protective works erected by and at the cost of the Provincial Government between the Ist day of September, 1868, and the commencement of the Canterbury Rivers Act, 1868. This amount has been demanded by the Provincial Government, but at the request of the Chairman of the Board of Conservators the Government allowed the payment to be deferred until this Council had met. The next item, profit on railways, £13,000, this amount must be taken subject to revision when the railway estimates for the current year, which are in course of preparation, shall have been completed. In the meantime, I may state as a very gratifying fact that the receipt from traffic on the Lyttelton and Christchurchline were, for the year ending 30th September, 1868, £23,564; 1869, £30,569; and 1870, £36,358. And on the South line for the same year respectively, £9523, £12,598, and £16,709. The interest on bank deposits is estimated to amount to £1500; the reserves at Little Kiver to be sold, £750, will only be expended, if received, and the same amount appears on the other side ; lighterage and cartage, £7000, will be received and paid out again, it therefore, also appears on both sides. The last item of receipts is rents for educational reserves £1000, this, with the other sources of income which I have named makes the total estimated receipts, including balance in hand, amount to the sum of £151,246 11s lOd, against a proposed expenditure of £129,698 19s lOd, thus leaving a balance in the Treasury on the 30th September, 1871, of £21,547 123, to meet the excess of expenditure over income during the seven months which will elapse before the pasturage rents are paid. I will now direct the attention of the Council to the proposed expenditure under Si hedule A. The permanent charges amount to £43,107, made up ny interest on unconverted debentures £6648, sinking fund on the railway loan and Canterbury loan £1952 ; interest paid by colonial treasury on consolidated loans £34,107, and the Cass pension, £400. In Class II. — Executive, there is a decrease of £20 as compared with last year's vote. In Class 111. — Uectoral, £50 increase. Class IV. — Legislative is the same as last year. Class V. — Justice is nearly £1400 more than was voted last year, nearly the whole of the increase being in the police department. Class VI. — Charitable Aid is £ 1050 less than last year's vote, but this is only an apparent decrease, as this vote last year had to bear the expense of providing for the orphans, for which separate provision is now made under Class VIII. of £2053. Class Vll.— Hospitals, £4295 ss, is less by £142, although the sum asked for the Timaru Hospital is £165 more. This decrease is caused by our not having to. provide a separate establishment in Lyttelton The Council will, I am sure, Bgree with me when I say that the thanks of the [province are due to the medical officers of the Christchurch Hospital for the care and attention which they show to patients on all occasions, and the ability shown in the performance of their onerous duties. Class IX. — Lunatic Asylum is less this year by £294 lls Bd, the decrease being in rations. Class X. — Inspection of Sheep, £1830, has no change. Class XL — Harbour, £2957 2s 6d, is an increase of £480 caused by works required at the Saltwater Creek , and £50 each at Sumner and Eaiapoi for maintenance of boats, signals, and stakes. Class XII. — Museum, £950, is an increase of £300. Of this, £100 is an addition to the salary of the director, and £200 in excess of last year's vote for fittings, &c. Class XIII. — Departmental Miscellaneous, £3865, is a higher amount than last year by £580. This is in consequence of including in this class what was not in it last year — Steward of Reserves, £200 ; and Inspection of Weights and Measures, £300. Class XIV. — Public Works Department, £1925 ; there is an increase here of £25 to the salary of the clerk, and £50 in contingencies. Class XV. — Provincial Government Works, £3032, provides for keeping in repair the West Coast Koad, and the other roads, bridges, and buildings which the Government has charge of, and for clearing the Avon where it runs through the Park and for a short distance below Christchurch. Class XVl.— Public Plantations, £733 4s 6d, is the same as last year. Class XVl l.— General Miscellaneous, £2480, is £1741 5s less than laßt year, caused by the Railway Renewal Fund not being included in this class thiß year. Class XVIII. — Education, Salaries, &c, £10,625 ; this is an increase upon the vote of last year of £3825, the chief item of increase being in the maintenance of ordinary schools, which is estimated to cost £8800, or £3650 in excess of last year's vote. The expenditure under this head has heretofore been included inachedule B, not because the land revenue was considered the proper source from whence to draw the ordinary expenses of the department, but because the ordinary revenue would not supply the expenditure without leaving unprovided for those departments of Government which are absolutely required for our protection and well-being. We have to thank the Colonial Treasurer for having introduced such a change in the finance of the colony as enables us to charge the ordinary revenue with the ordinary expenditure on education. Class XVIII. — General Contingencies, £2000 : this amount is the same as last year. The next estimate under this schedule is. Special, £11,419 3s 9d ; which includes Little River Hoad, contingent on sales of reserves, £750 ; lighterage and cartage, £7000 ; railway renewal fund, 5 per cent on earnings, 1870, £2650 ; and Bank of New Zealand interest,

£1019 3s 9d. In reference to this last item, I would remark that it is a charge made by the Bank in 1868, and disputed by the Government. The next item for which I shall ask a vote is outstanding liabilities, £13,391 14s Id, stated to be due to the colonial treasury forinterestsaid to have been short charged in 1868-69, and liabilities to 30th June, 1870. I will now direct the attention of the Council to Schedule B, Estimated Receipts. The balance in hand is £4944 19s Id. The land revenue receipts are estimated at £32,500 on the sale of 17,500 acres at £2 an acre. £2500 received for the sale of this land is estimated as paid direct to the district south of the Kangitata, and therefore does not appear here as a receipt by the Provincial Treasury; £500 is the amount put do vrx as contributions for school buildings ; £4000 as receipts from immigrants ; and £10,000 released sinking fund, which we expect to receive from the trustees in whom the sinking funds of the various provincial loans is now vested, makes a total of £51,944 19s Id as the amount which this Council will be asked to appropriate under this schedule. But before I proceed to exolain how the Government propose to appropriate this amount, I may state that during the current year we have every reason to believe that we shall receive from the trustees the sum of ££0,000 accrued sinking fund, after paying the amount due to Westland on the basis of the arbitration award, £10,000 of this we have placed on this schedule of the estimates to defray a portion of the expenditure now being incurred on account of immigration, and £10,000 has been placed in Schedule C for railways, bridges, &c. Our reason for thus appropriating this fund is, that we think that the released sinking fund should be regarded in the same light as borrowed money which ought to be expended in reproductive investments. The proposed expenditure under Schedule B, is Waste Lands' Board, £500; Surveys, £6790, which is the same as last year's vote ; Immigration, £13,365, of this sum £10,000 is to meet the expenses in England ; and £3365 for local expenses, as shown in detail under Class 111. It may be objected to this amount appearing on the estimates, that the General Legislature of the colony has in the Immigration and Public Works Act passed last session — made provision for immigration to the provinces being conducted and paid for out of general funds, but I would remind the Council that the sum on the estimates is for the purpose of meeting engagements entered into by the Provincial Government, prior to the passing of the said Act, and the General Government may reasonably refuse to be answerable for the liabilities of the past year, which will fall in for payment during the present year. Until the course which will be taken by tne General Government in regard to immigration is ascertained, the Immigration Agent in London has been instructed to continue to correspond with intending immigrants with a view to their dispatch by ships to arrive here next spring. I take this opportunity of stating a few facts in regard to immigration, which will be, no doubt, interesting to the Council. The number of ships bringing Government immigrants during the past year has been four, bringing 542 adults, the whole of whom, with the exception of a few families, met with ready employment immediately on arrival, at fair rates of wages. From returns laid on the table, it will be seen that since 18S5 there have been introduced into the province 2896 families, representing 7839 statute adults, 3336 single men, and 3854 single women , making a total of 15,029 statute adults, being at the rate of about 1000 per annum. The total amount paid for passage money was £220,254, being at the rate of £14 13s a head ; but of this amount £76,365, or more than one-third, was contributed by their friends. About one tenth of the total cost was provided for by bills drawn, accepted, and payable io the province, and, with very few exceptions, these bills have been paid in full. The amount for which promissory notes were given by immigrants before leaving England was £50,743. Of this sum £24,062 has been collected, and £4777 marked off as bad, leaving a balance to be collected of £21,904. The present cost to the province of the immigrants brought out by the Provincial Government is £99,393, being at the rate of £6 lls 8d per statute adult. On the whole, I think the Council will agree with me that the province has reason to be satisfied with the conduct of immigration both in England and here. The next item of expenditure under Schedule B is Buildings and Works, Class IV, £20,990. This large proposed expenditure is, as will be seen on reference to the several items, chiefly for buildings, bridges, and other works, which for the last few years have been urgently required, but which the Government has not heretofore proposed to construct, as other pressing works sanctioned by this Council have absorbed all available funds. The next class, Road Boards, £8125, is 25 per cent, on the estimated land sales. This amount it is proposed to distribute among the several Road Boards in such a manner as may be approved by this Council. The sum of £8000 voted by the General Assembly under the Payment to Provinces Act, 1870, is also to be divided among the Road Boards of this province, in accordance with a scheme to be proposed by the Superintendent and approved by the Governor in Council, the scheme of distribution when prepared by his Honor will be submitted to this Council for its opinion upon it. The total proposed expenditure under Schedule B is thus £49,770 Os Id, leaving a balance in hand on the 30th September, 1871, of £2174 19s Id to meet payments which may be due. I now come to Schedule C — Estimated Receipts. — The sum in hand on the 30th September, 1870, was £69,484 10s 8d ; this, with £10,000, which is a moiety of the amount which we anticipate to receive from the accrued sinking funds, makes £79,484 10s 8d as the total ameunt proposed to be expended in works as shewn in detail in these estimates. It will then be seen that to meet the engagement

made for the erection of the Rakaia Bridge, a vote of £6679 10s is required ; we also propose that a further sum of £5000 shall be expended on thio bridge in order that it may be reconstructed with the view of making it strong enough for railway traffic ; these amounts, together with £200 for clerk of works, makes a total of £11,879 10s as the proposed expenditure on this bridge. The next item is £7374 7s — railway or tramway from Rolleston to Southbridge. This work has not yet been commenced further than having a survey made and levels takeu. Though this proposed line cannot be called a portion of the great trunk line of this island, yet, considering that it passes through the greatest producing district of the colony, we trust that when the General Government is in a position to carry out railway works this will receive early attention. The Northern railway has still unexpended on the vote of last year the sum of £45,710, and this amount appears here. This work has been brought under the notice of the General Government as one which ought to be immediately provided for under the Railway Act, and correspondence has taken place between the General Government and the Superintendent, which leads us to believe that when the General Government railway schemes are matured the money now being expended by the province in the construction of the Northern railway will be refunded to the province. In the meantime, no effort will be wanting on the part of the Provincial Government in pushing the works on, and should the amount now asked for be insufficient to meet the expenditure requisite to carry on the line towards Rangiora we shall not hesitate to anticipate a further vote of this Council. Timaru and Timuka Railway. — £7500 is the same as was voted last year, no expenditure having taken place upon it. Breakwater, £400 is the same amount as was voted last year. Jetty at Ly ttelton from seawall, £3000 is required to give further facilities for the export of grain and other produce. Districts south of the Rangitata, £3000 is about the proportion which may be considered due to that district as its share of the £10,000 released sinking fund, which has been put down as an asset on the other side. The other moiety of these funds it has been already explained, will be devoted to immigration, and the south district will receive its share of the immigrants. The last item is Contingencies £620 13s Bd, and the total expenditure under this schedule amounts to £79,484 10s Bd. I now turn to Schedule D, harbour works contingent on refund £20,000. We expect during the current year to receive from the General Government a refund of the expenses of the Northern Railway, and this £20,000 is intended to be part of that refund. The Government will submit plans of the proposed works to the Council, and this will be amply sufficient to enable us to meet the necessary expenditure until the Council is again called together, and this we intend to do should the refund be made before the next session of the General Assembly. I now submit the estimated revenue and expenditure for the year ending 30 September, 1871, for the district south of the Rangitata. Estimated Revenue and Expenditure, Timaru District, fob Year Ending 30th September, 1871 :— revenue. £ Land sales, the whole 9,500 Proportion of Consolidated Revenue — under capitation allowance. £9746 ; lees Provincial Charges, £4500 5246 Pasturage 15,530 Local Revenue from various sources... 2,775 £33,051 EXPENDITURE. Proportion of Outstanding Liabilities £ claimed by General Government ... 1,218 Local Charges 8,766 25 per Cent Land Sales 2,375 Proportion of Loan 14,000 Departmental Charges on Population Basis 5,064 31,423 Road Boards 1,628 £33,051 From this it appears that on the basis of the arrangement made last year, there is a balance of £1628 to the credit of the district, which will be applicable for division among the Road Boards of that district. Before the question for going into Committee was put, Mr Kennaway suggested the adjournment of the debate, in order to give hon. members an opportunity of considering the financial statement, which would doubtless appear in next morning's paper. Ha begged to move I a motion to that effect. Mr Cotvxishaw seconded the motion for adjournment. The motion for the adjournment of the debate was put, and declared to be carried on the voices. Mr Dixon called for a division, which resulted as follows :— Ayes, 27 ; noes, 6. It was agreed that the debate should be resumed next day. CHRISTCHURCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION RESERVES BILL. This Biil was read a third time, and passed. DIVERSION OF ROADS SPECIAL BILL, 1870. Tbis Bill was read a second time, on the motion of Mr Jollie, and committed. The Bill was passed through committee without amendment, reported to the House, and .ordered to be read a third time tomorrow. Notices of motion having been given, the House adjourned until 5 p.m. this day.

Estimated. Actual. & b. d. £ 8. d. Pasturage Rents 33500 0 0 34145 13 1 Publicans' Licenses ... 4300 0 0 4598 0 0 Auctioneers' Licenses ... 680 0 0 800 0 0 Stage Carriage Licenses ... 15 0 0 9 15 0 Boatmen's Licenses ... 24 0 0 62 14 0 Pawnbrokers' Licenses ... — 10 O 0 Lunatic Asylum 250 0 0 490 16 9 Hospitals ... 350 0 0 368 12 9 Rents ... 450 0 0 €77 11 6 Sheep Tax ... 2025 0 0 2234 2 0 Dog Fees ... 2300 0 0 2134 10 0 Maintenance of Debtors ... 120 0 0 41 12 10 Incidental ... 350 0 0 635 6 11 Harbour ... 1400 0 0 2114 19 3 Interest ... 500 0 0 5205 5 3 Railways ... 49043 6 8 53392 16 2 Charitable Aid Refund ... — 103 6 9 Sheep Fines ... — 25 0 0 95307 6 8 107050 2 3

BCHEDULE B. £ -a. d. £ s. d. Land Revenue ... 30000 0 0 31858 7 8 Education Contributions ... 660 0 0 450 0 0 Immigrants ... 2200 0 0 3089 3 9 Assessment of Runs „. 200 0 0 303 8 3 ■Educational Reserves ... 400 0 0 518 7 7 33460 0 0 36219 7 3 Expenditure, 1869-70. schedule a. Estimated. Actual. £ s. a. £ s. d. Executive ... 2500 0 0 2459 3 4 Electoral ... 200 0 0 197 12 9 Legislative ... 995 0 0 989 1 2 Justice ... 12000 8 8 11508 18 11 •Charitable Aid... 4500 0 0 4500 0 0 -Hospitals ... 5087 5 0 4191 14 7 Lunatic Asylums 4761 12 6 4147 16 11 Inspection Sheep 1830 0 0 1807 6 10 Harbour ... 2448 12 6 2391 0 9 Museum ... 650 0 0 650 0 0 Departmental Miscellaneous 3285 0 0 3209 18 7 Engineering ... 1850 0 0 1647 410 -Bailways ... 37681 2 10 37128 16 0 Provincial Qovt. Works ... 4114 0 O 4934 13 9 Plantations ... 733 4 6 730 2 10 General Miscellaneous ... 2471 5 0 1896 1 R General Contingencies ... 2000 O 0 1956 11 0 87107 11 0 84346 2 8 BCIIEDULE B. "Waste Lands £ s. d. £ s. d. Board ... 800 0 0 655 0 0 Surveys ... 6790 0 0 6591 8 8 Education ... 9500 0 0 7645 19 7 Immigration ... 9270 0 0 9764 610 Eoad Boards ... 8150 0 0 7850 o 0 34510 0 OJ 32506 15 1