THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 176, 22 June 1871, Page 5

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, June 13.

ROXBURGH. Mr. Bastings presented a petition from 350 residents at Eoxburgh, setting forth the limited extent of land open fo^agricultural settlement, the absence of available land for commonage, and stating that settlement^ had been confined aud retarded in the district, and praying that commonage should be proclaimed in connection with all agricultural holdings. ALEXANDRA. Mr. Shepherd asked the Provincial Treasurer and Goldfields Secretary — "1. Why the Gold Receiver, Mr. Field, has been removed from Alexandra? 2. "What arrangements have been made for transaction of the Warden's office business at Alexandra ?" Mr. Bradshaw stated that some time tune ago it was decided that the services of one of the clerks at Clyde could be dispensed with, and the Receiver at Alexandra was sent to the Arrow to fill a place there which had become vacant. The "Warden's office at Alexandra was not closed. The Warden at Clyde held a weekly Court there, and the Eeceiver at Clyde went to Alexandra to receive revenue and and issue certificates. The whole matter was before the Executive, and was subject to further arrangements.

Wednesday, June 14. waitahuna. Mr. G. F. C. Browne presented a petition from residents at Waitahuna, in respect to a proposal to spend £300 on the road from Haveloek to Dewe's store. SHINGLE BLOCK. Mr. Shepherd asked the Govern-ment--"If the survey of the block of land adjoining the Shingle Block on Eun 199 is completed, and when it will bo open for application ?" Mr. Eeid explained that the survey of the block was not yot completed ; the plans had not yet been forwarded to the office. As soon as the plans were furnished and proper arrangements made, the block would be opened for application. BRIDGE ACROSS THE MOLYNEUI. Mr. Shepherd asked the Government — " What steps they have taken towards the erection o/ a bridge for foot passengers across the Molyneux, at Eoxburgh?" The honourable member explained that he had been induced to ask this question, because he had received a letter from residents in the district asking him to do so. Mr. Reid replied that no steps had been taken in the direction indicated, and he could not hold out any promise that a sum would be placed on the Estimates during the present session. If any of the residents offered to accept, under the Act, payment in land, there might be a disposition shown to act in accordance with such a proposal. RAILWAY FROM LAWEENCE TO CLYDE. Mr. Shepherd's motion— "That a line of railway be surveyed and made from Lawrence to Clyde, and that this resolution be forwarded to the General Government " — was lost on the voices. \ the clyde school beßerte Balb oedhtance. On the motion of Mr. Bathgate, the above Bill was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Monday next. POLICE BUILINGS. Mr. J. C. Brown asked the Government — " What steps they have taken towards the removal of the polio©

buildings from East Clutha to the township of Eoxburgh ?" Mr. Reid explained that the buildings had not been removed, because of the want of means to carry out this and similar undertakings. Steps had been taken to ascertain the probable cost, and a site had been reserved. He could not promise that the building would be immediately removed. Mr. Brown pointed out that unless something was immediately done, the buildings would be washed away by the river.

Friday, June 16.

SETTLEMENT IN GOIDFIELDS DISTRICTS. Mr. Bastings moved — " That in the opinion of this Council, in order to encourage settlement in populous Goldfields districts, the Government of the day should cancel any Runs fit for settlement in close proximity to the same, and throw them open under the agricultural lease system, the cost of such cancellation to be a first charge upon the revenue derivable from the Runs of the province." The honourable member remarked, in support of his motion, that if something were not done in the direction indicated, people, instead of coming into the country to help them to bear the burdens imposed by the Colonial Government, would leave the country. It was folly to send money out of the country to inti'oduce immigrants when j already there were people here who possessed money and were anxious to settle in the country if reasonable opportunities of doing so were afforded them. He wished to call attention to the results of the cancellation of certain runs. There had been cancelled 90,000 acres, commencing from Table Hill, as far as Lawrence, which were occupied. The population of Tuapeka was about 5000. Run 137, held by Mr. Maclean, consisted of 30,000 acres, from which there was derived as rent by the Government £178 per annum. Euu 106 consisted of 10,000 acros, and the rent obtained amounted to £175 per annum." Run 123 consisted of 26,240 acres, and the amount of rent paid per annum was £262 10s. The total amount of rent paid was £615 10s, and the total number of acres 66,240. Out of that there were 22,000 acres fit for agricultural purposes and settlement. Again, there were 45,000 head of cattle, 60 horses, and 17,000 sheep running in the Tuapeka district, from which the country derive a revenue of £1293 16s BJ, £678 8s 8d iv excess of the sum received as rent from the runs. It had been said that there was a desire to take land from the pastoral tenants of the Crown merely with a view to settle another class of squatters upon it ; that statement, however, had been mado without foundation. The land in respect of which the sum of £1293 16s 8d was received, belonged to 297 settlers, all of whom were holders of agricultural leases. Since those runs had been thrown open, there had been no less than 500 applications for agricultural leases. There were 10,000 acres now leased in the district, with 7902 acres nnder cultivation. That fact alone was sufficient to justify the Government in cancelling runs in populous districts. Besides, a large profit would thereby accrue to the Crown. This matter had occupied the attention of the people whom he represented for a long time past. Five years ago a petition was sent to the Superintendent, asking that certain runs should be cancelled, and had that request been granted there would have been at" the present time 30,000, instead of 10,000, acres under cultivation : and people who had gone to the Fiji's, New Caledonia, and other places, because they could not acquire proper facilities for settlement, -would have remained and spent in the provinte the money which they took away from it. He could mention thirty persons at least who came to the district poor men; but who by perseverance and industry accumulated money, men who had families, and whom they were desirous of settling in Otago ; but in the absence of sufficient inducement to remain, they had gone elsewhere. He also thought that rather than take a run of 16,000 acres, and thereby render the remainder almost useless to the runholder, they should take the whole and give compensation. Mr Mervyu and Mr G. F. C. Browne rose simultaneously to second the motion. On the suggestion of Mr. Reid, Mr. Bastings consented to strike out the latter part of the motion, and said he believed there were people in the district he represented, who would lend the Governmeut money to enable them I to obtain the land required for settlement. The motion was put and carried, in the following amended from :—": — " That, in the opinion of this Council, in order to encourage settlement in populous Goldfields districts, the Government of the day'should cancel any runs, fit for settlement, in close proximity to the same, and throw them open under the agricultural lease system." CEOWN GRANTS Mr Bastings moved — "That the Government be requested to ascertain who is responsible for the unnecessary delay in issuing Crown Grants to purchasers of land within this province* and to endeavour to expedite their issue in something like a reasonable time." The motion was agreed to.