THE SUPERINTENDENT'S MEETING.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 733, 5 November 1870, Page 2

THE SUPERINTENDENT'S MEETING.

A large public meeting, convened by his Honor the Superintendent, was held at tho Masonic Hal! on Wednesday evening. Mr J. Bickertou Fisher was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced his Honor to the meeting.

Mr Curtis said that his object in coming among them, and in holding that meeting, was to endeavor to rectify any erroneous impressions that might exist, and to cultivate a better feeling between the goldfields' people and the inhabitants of tho North-east portion of the Province. Where one portion of the population was entirely engaged in agricultural pursuits, and another section entirely in mining, local, jealousies were very apt to creep in, but he trusted these would give way, as the people became mora blended and their interests more identical. lie could not but think that tho enterprise and energy, exhibited by the mining population, might be very proainljly omuLioa L.j- fefre jjcuplc of the Wairnea, while the hitter's prudence, industry, and economy, were qualities which might be most advantageously copied—even from the farmers of the Yv'aimea. He was in hopes that as the gold-mining industry became more settled and permanent in its character, and as the goldfields extended into the heart of the agricultural districts of Nelson, the two interests would become more blended, and each operate beneficially upon the other. A great deal had been said about the expenditure on tho goldfields, and that outside the goldfields, and it had been porsistently contended that a very largo proportion of tho revenue that had been raised on the Coast, and which might have been profitably expended here, had been applied to purposes for the special benefit of the people of North-east Nelson. The question was, after all, merely one of figures, and he would give them a few figures, which would very distinctly show tho proportions of the total revenue which had been expended on the goldfields, and outside their boundaries. The figures were taken from the public accounts of the Province :

SuPEGINTiSNDENOY OP Me SAUNDEBS. Year ended 31st March, 18(55—Total revenue of the whole Province, £44,400. Expenditure on S. W. Goldfields—Coal works, £2050; roads, &c, £3000; proportion of general expenses, £2500; total, £-USO (say one-fifth). Year ended 31st March, 1806—Total revenue of the whole Province, £55,700. Expenditure on S. W. Goldfields—Departmental, £10,400; roads, &C, £4900; ooal works, £1100; proportion of general expenses, £5000; Total, £21,400 (rather more than one-third). Year ended 31sfc March, 18G7—Total revenue of the whole Province, £75,700. Expenditure on S. W. Goldfields—Departmental, £II,OOO ; roads, &c, £15,100; proportion of general expenses, £7500; Total, £33,000 (approaching one-half).

SUPEBINTENDKNCY OF Mb CUBTIS. Year ended 31st March, 18G3—Total revenue of the whole Province, i 135,500. Expenditure on H. W. Goldfields—Departmental, £33,200; roads, &c., £51,700; proportion of general expenses, £7500; Total, £02,400 (more than two-thirds). Year ended 31st March, 18GJ—Total apparent revenue of the whole Province, £00,100; legs deposit reckoned as revenue in previous year, £12,000 —£87,1C0. ExpendiOfl tf.W.Goldfields—Departmental, £25,G00; roods, ike., £12,900; coal-mine, £5400; proportion of general expenses, £7500 j Total, £51,400 (nearly two-thirds). Year ended 31st March, 1870—Total revenue of the whole province, £82,000. Expenditure on S. W. Goldfields—Departmental, £19,500 ; roads, &c, £l2 000 ; coalmine, £6100; proportion of general expenses, £7500; total, L-15,100 (more than one-half). Half-year endad 80th September, 1870— Total revenue of tho whole Province, £34,000. Expenditure on S. W. Goldfields —Departmental, £9,900 ; roads, &c, £8600) coal-mine, £3100; proportion of general expenses, £3750; Total, £25,250 (more than three-fourths). Note. —Expenditure in all the other parts of tho Province upon public works during tho above period, £3800; against, £II,OOO on tho West Coast.

Memo, of items of Provincial Expenditure, partially chargeable to; Mouth-West

Goldiields, included above Goldfields' i share estimated at L 7500 per annum:— Superintendent, Provincial Secretary, Provincial Treasurer, Provincial Solicitor, Provincial Council, Provincial Engineer. Survey office, Land office, Gaol, Police, Hospital, Lunatic Asylum, Printing and Advetising, (Gazette, Council proceedings &c.,) Education, Nelson and Cobden Railway, Interest on Bank overdraft, General Contingencies, sundry small items, such as contributions to Libraries and Firo Brigades, repairs, insurance, fuel, &c. of Government buildings. The above figures did not look like absorption. The itetn3 were taken from the public accounts of the Province, and no one had ventured to dispute their accuracy. From them it would be seen that, all through his tenure of office, two thirds of the revenue of the Province had been expended upon the goldfields. It had been estimated by the local paper that the goldfields contributed two thirds of the revenue. It was impossible to arrive at the exact proportion, as the General Government did not keep the accounts separate, but he believed that estimate would be very near the mark. It must be mentioned, however, that a sum of £30,000 to £35,000, which has not been taken into account at all, was spent upon the "West Coast Goldfields before they had contributed, anything whatever ; and it would not have been very unreasonable if, when a large revenue was raised, it had been charged against the goldfields. That, however, had never been done. If accounts were taken from first to last, the goldfields would, he believed, be found to be greatly indebted to the remainder of the Province. But he contended that no separate accounts should be kept, but that the money should be spent where required. Unless that principle were adopted it would he impossible to expend money in developing what might be believed to be a very rich district. It came, however, to very nearly the same thing as spending the revenues of a district within that district, since where the population and industry were, there the money would chiefly require to be spent. There appeared a feeling that, as soon as the Council voted any 311 ms of money for specific works, the money should bo expended. But many lost sight of the fact that the Provincial Council voting the money was no guarantee that the money would be forthcoming; unfortunately the Appropriation Act was not accompanied with a cheque, and when the estimates of" probable revenue were sent down they were very liable to error, especially in estimating a goldfields' revenue. The speaker referred to the 1 resignation of Mr Alexander Keid as representative of the goldfields in the Executive, the appointment of Mr ' George Donne and the necessity of 1 placing that office on a more satisfactory footing, and the altered institution of the Executive under which | the Superintendent had not alone ' transferred some portion of his administrative functions, but also a portion cf his responsibility. He found that certain remarks, passed by him upon the gold-miners of the Colony in the 1 General Assembly, had been so misin- , terpreted as to make him appeal* to have a feeling of contempt and hostility towards these communities. What he did say, with respect to the migra- ' tory character of goidfiolds' pursuits ' and the uncertainty of fixing a population, he would read to them from the ' New Zealand " Hansard." Now what , he had said then would, he thought, be ' admitted—that the miners did not build 1 houses, that they did not obtain freehold properties ; and that they were , not settlers in the country, in the sense in which the word is used where efforts | are being made to colonise the country. When quartz mining had taken the place of the alluvial workings, lending a more settled character to the industry, the population would be entitled to the same basis of representation and the same privileges as the, so termed, settled districts. But it must not be forgotten that they already possessed special privileges. The mining class was the only ono that was admittedtothe exercise of electoral privileges on so wide a basis as the miner's right, while numbers in the Colony, including large classes such as clerks in bauks and merchants' offices, shop-keepers' assistants and others, not being householders, had no such privilege conferred upon them. He would not say ' the right to vote had been improperly extended to the miner, but he wished to impress upon them that, in place of having no consideration extended towards them, they had been placed upon a hotter footing than other large classes in the Colony. Another matter, rather of a personal nature, was that he had not visited the Coast so . frequently as desirable. Now he possibly differed with many when he expressed .an opinion that, perhaps, no more expensive taste could be indulged in, at the co3t of the Province, than for a Superintendent to assume the fole of a travelling amateur engineer, carrying out his own crotchets, instead of leaving it to be dono for him by those who had beon specially educated for the efficient exercise of those duties, Ho took it that the duties of a Superintendent could bo best performed by exorcising a supervision of the affairs of the Province at head-quarters. He would not go so far as a notable individual, who had said that if he had his will he would hang any member of the Ministry who absented himself a distauco of ten miles away from "Wellington. In fact, he had fully intended to visit tho Coast last year, but tho cropping up of the Wangapeka row, and, subsequently, the necessary duties in connection with preparing for the session of Council, and the attendance at the sitting of the General As-

sembly, had made it impossible for him to carry out his intention. During six months of the year it was quite impossible for him to get away, and any very urgent and exceptional business, arising during the remaining six months, ivould also interfere with a visit to the various goldfields of the Province. He did not know that his absenting himself would prove any material disadvantage, beyond not being seen and talked to upon tho various matters of interest. There was ono subject to which ho attached very great importance—that of water supply to the goldfields. The vote of £200,000 had been augmented by a subsequent vote of the Assembly to £300,000, but be regretted that the present condition of affairs in England rendered it highly improbable that the financial measures of the Colonial Treasurer would be carried through, and the goldfields' water supply scheme, with maiiy others, would, of course, depend upon the success or otherwise of a large New Zealand loan. He had hoped, so impressed was he with the importance of this question, to see even a larger amount set aside for the purpose. He could inform them that Mr Dohson was collecting much useful information in respect to the subject, both as to the best sources of water supply, and the districts to which they might be most advantageously applied. He bad endeavored to touch upon the various matters in which explanation was necessary, but it was quite possiblo that some had escaped his memory. He would be glad to reply to any questions, or to offer further explanations, where he had failed to render himself perfectly clear to his hearers.

Mr Whyte : Is there any greater probability of the Nelson and Cobden Railway scheme being carried through, than there is of the financial proposals of the Colony having a successful termination ?

His Honor : Both, according to my way of thinking, are in much the same predicament. The Nelson and Cobden Kailway scheme had been all but successfully negotiated, and a contract for its execution was on the eve of being signed, when the declaration of war took place, and in consequence of that, the contractor declined to proceed further. The negotiations for the railway cannot be said to be going forward at the present time, as it is impossible to look for any immediate results. The same cause that might operate in keeping back the Goverument supply of water to the Goldfields, has operated iu deferring the construction of a railway

Mr AVutte : Is it the intention of the Provincial Government to withhold the granting of agricultural and other lf>nsf»s on lauds that have been reserved for railway purposes, when practically the railway scheme has lapsed ? His Honor : This is a subject that has been under the careful consideration of the Executive. They considered that the proper course to take, in connection with these leases, would be to act as if the railway uould not be carried out. The railway was a matter to which the Provincial Council attached much importance, and they decided, therefore, to take no steps whatever, uutil the Council had an opportunity of reconsidering its decision. Until the Council meet, nothing will be done iu respect to the applications.

Mr Munro : Is it the fact, a3 stated, that acting upon the decision arrived at by the Executive Council, you have applied to the General Government to support a loan for the Province of Nelson of £OO,OOO, to be apportioned as follows: Brunner coal mine, £30,000 ; Nelson gas works, £15,000; and Nelson waterworks, £15,000 ? His Honor : Such an application has been made.

Mr Mukro : Might not a similar course be adopted in respect to such an important work as the supply of water to the G-oldfields ?

His Hoxoe : It is my decided intention to apply for a portiou of any sum that may be available for that purpose.

Mr Mttkeo : How is the sum of £30,000, borrowed by the City of Nelson, proposed to be refunded ? His Honor : The interest and sinking fund for the £15,000, proposed to borrowed for additional water-works, will be paid by the people of Nelson, in the shape of rates, in a similar manner as with the £20,000 previously borrowed for water-works. The proposal, with respect to the gas works, will be precisely on the same footing. _ The City of Nelson is not a municipality, and could not, therefore, borrow money as a corporation. For that reason, the Province was asked to apply for the loan—as a portion of the Province, the Groldfields give security, but beyond that nothing. Mr Munbo .- Is it definitely understood that the opening up of the Mount Rochfort coalfield is still dependent upon the contingent scheme of a railway between Nelson and Cobden. If the sum of £30,000 could be advantageously expended at the Brunner, might not a similar or larger sum be very suitably applied to opening up Mount Rochfort ? His Honob : I do not believe that forty, fifty, or sixy thousand pounds would be of any use to open up the Mount Rochfort coal-mine. The amount of money it would require being bo comiderabb, I thought the railway project and tho coal mines, by being offored in conjunction to a company, were vory likely to assist each other. To work railways you must have coal, and in order to profit by your coal you must construct a

railway. Mr Morrison, to whom I entrusted the floating of this scheme, was instructed, in the first instance, to endeavor to got a company to construct the railway, and, in the event of the inducement offered for its construction proving not sufficient, he was authored to include the Mount Eochfort coalfi- Id in tho scheme. The whole mutter must now he rof'erred to the Provincial Council for reconsideration.

Mr Eeid : During the past six months the Coast is stated to have had

expended upon it a sum of £25,000; distributed as follows : —Departmental Expenses, £O9OO ; Roads, &c, £BSOO ; Brunner Coal Mine, £3IOO ; General Expenses, £3740; would the Superintendent explain some of the chief items included in the sum of £8500? His Honou: The chief item is £1377 for Buller River Protective Works, or rather, it is the second

largest item, the largest being Coast Roads, £1530; Grey Valley Roads figure for £llOO, ,£I3OO has been expended on a track to Napoleon's, £950 to the Ahaura, and to the Lyell, £550. These are the main items. Mr "Whyte : In the event of gold being discovered within the ground reserved as a coalfield, or within other reserves in conjunction with this Railway scheme, what action would then be taken by the Provincial Government?

His Honor : That is a matter that would have to be arranged by the General Government.

Mr Munro : Am I to understand his Honor that the Nelson and Cobdeu Railway scheme is to be entirely abandoned ? His Honor: It is my intention to submit the entire question to the serious consideration of the Council. Mr Mttnro: "Without desiring to unduly press the question, I should be glad to know whether it is his Honor's intention to recommend that the scheme be abandoned in the meantime; whether, in fact, it will be a Government proposal that the scheme be abandoned ? His Honor : I do not know that I am called upon to state what my individual opinion is, still I may say that my own feeling is to drop the scheme for the present, and to deal with any matters that may arise as if no such

scheme were in existence. At the same time, I ■ have now to share my responsibility with the Executive. Previously, when the various Executive officers were on a different footing, the Superintendent really held all the power, and was individually responsible. Now, however, this is altered, and, in sharing the powers with the Executive, I also mean its members to participate in the responsibility. Mr Rum : Is it the intention of his Honor to visit the Coast more frequently ; are his visits in future to be annual or triennial ? His Honor : T have previously ex. plained the cause of my lengthened absence. I decline to bind myself by any distinct promise, as circumstances. might arise which I cannot foresee, rendering it impossible for me to visit the Coast at the lime that I might have previously arranged. For that reason [ would prefer not to make any promise ; my present intention is, however, to return to the goldlields within the next twelve months. _ Mr. O'Conor : I should be glad if his Honor would explain a statement he is alleged to have made, to the effect that "Westport owed its existence to the expenditure of public money. His Honor : I believe that some such remark was made by me. I referred to the very large expenditure in Westport in 18(57, and any one, living here at that time, must have been fully aware that a very large expenditure was goiug on in Westport and the neighborhood, while the scenes of mining activity were in other portions of the goldlields. Mating the Coast Ifoada in this neighborhood, clearing and forming the streets, with other items, chiefly in cocnection with Westport, caused an expenditure during six months of about £35,000. At that time the only workings of any importance in the vicinity were Addison's and that district was not in a flourishing condition. I believe still, but for the very large expenditure of public money, at a critical moment, Westport would not have occupied, at that time, such a position of import-

i auee. Mr O'Conor: "Would his Honor explain why the Government were unable to furnish the Council with an account of their liability in connection with the works on tbo West Coast ? His Honor : All necessary accouuts were supplied to the Council, and they were, or should have been, fully aware of the amount due for existing contracts. The return, which I now hold in my hand, was laid before the Council ; it shows a liability of about £2OOO for works that were in progress at the time the Estimates were framed. There, no doubt, were items of an insignificant amount which were not given, but these could have no effect either one way or the other. Every necessary and possible information has been given by the Government to the Provincial Council. Mr O'Conor: Were there no other liabilities ? His Honor : There were no largo liabilities. Mr O'Conor : Was not the Nile Bridge charged against the revenue of the OUtrent financial year? Hih Honor: It was included, though 1 cannot say whether the work wiw exooutod this year or last year. Mr O'Conor: Does his Honor think that while, as ho admits, tho

goldfields contribute two thirds of the entire revenue of the Province, the basis of representation is a just one, being only five members for the goldfields as against thirteen members •eturned by the districts outside the joldlields ? His Hoxon: I have explained jefore that until the inhabitants have i permanent interest in the country, iiitil they have established homes and jold freehold or leasehold properties

similar to the inhabitants of other tortious of the Colony, I do not con-

aider them entitled to as large adegrei of representation as those who havt evidently a large stake in the country As the diggings assume a more permanent character and the population become more settled, they will be entitled to the same measure of representation as the people of the Northeast portion of the Province. Mr Wiiyte : If the settlement of

the country is deemed so necessary by bis Honor, will he inform the meeting what provision or inducement the Go • ve rumen t are offering to bring about its settlement ? His Honou : The question of colonization ia one that really cannot be properly discussed at a time like this. I only know of two means of inducing settlement, namely —selling land, or introducing immigrants. The Province cannot sell the laud on a goldfield without the assent of the Governor,

and the reason that assent has never been asked h that we did not know what lands were auriferous. For the

same reason we did not grant agricultural leases, in the fear of prejudicing the mining industry by the disposal of large areas which are likely to prove auriferous. Mr Whtte : Am I to understand that selling land is all that a Government can do towards the permanent settlement of a goldfield? His Honor: I know of nothing beyond immigration and selling the binds. If anyone present could devise some other method I should be, very glad to learn. Mr Whytk : I believe moneys are voted for the assisted passage of immigrants. Could that be applied to the Coast, or could not the Government offer, as a premium to people to settle, a free grant of land as in Canada or America?

His Honor : I do not think the system of assisted passages could be satisfactorily extended to the goldfields, owinv; to the migratory character of the population. Money is advanced in settled districts to parties, subject to its being returned within six months. The system here, I think, would be liable to much abuse, and would not answer. Mr IvEID: At what period of a goldlield's history does his Honor then consider it entitled to the same basis of representation as those enjoyed by the, so-termed, settled districts ? Hrs Honok: I consider the representation should be based upon the electoral roll of the Province ; aceord- ■ ing to the number of the entire roll, and the number on the roll in the various districts, should be based the entire repre.-ientatiou of the Province. Mr WurTK: You would then make every possible distinction between a miner and a farmer Mr O'Con'or: Do you think that a miner, who spends hundreds of pounds in constructing races and iu the puri suit of bis calling, is less entitled to a voice in the Government than the i laborer who pays bis two or three shillings weekly rental, and who, as a rule, possesses neither the energy nor the intelligence to better bis condition ? Ilia Honor : I do net consider a 1 man entitled to be placed on the roll, i unless be shall have qualified himself, by at least showing that he is a per- ! manent inhabitant of the country. A Mixer: How can a man become a freeholder, when you will not sell the land ? Mr O'Conor : Are you aware that the Revising Officer, for this district, held his court at Cobdeu, and by that means placed it beyond the power of objected to, (many of whom were fully qualified to have their names on the electoral roll of the Province), to appear and set aside such objections ? His Honor : I know nothing about tho matter; it is entirely a General Government affair.

Mr Muxro : Is it the intention of the Government to construct another groin on the right bank of the Buller river, for the protection of the inhabitants in Kennedy street and Gladstone street? His Honor : The matter has been under consideration, and it has been decided to await the result of the present construction, and the effect it may have in securing the object with which it has been built. Mr Muxko then moved the following resolution : That, having heard the address of his Honor the Superintendent, and while thanking him for the full explanation of matters con™ nected with the Province, this meeting ig of opinion that the utmost confidence in The administration of the present Government, under the Supcrintondoney of his Honor, might bo secured, provided—that he will make amends for past neglect, by liberally and rigidly carrying out the promises now mado for further improvements; that he will candidly acknowledge that ho has misunderstood the character and wants of the Mining Community of the Duller district; and that he will pledge himself to visit us moro frequently, in order to establish mutual confidence. And said that it might appear that his Honor had made out a very complete case against the goldflelds, showing, not alone, that tho full proportion of the revenue had been spent on the

goldiields, but that there was a balance against the goldiields. It waa very certain tliat he had either been grossly misled by the Weetport Times or the figures furnished by the Superintendent were not reliable. But after all, as his Honor had said, it only amounted to a matter of figures between Nelson and Westport. It was impossible for them to bandle figures without full particulars, and, therefore, they were not in a position to present a counter array of figures to demolish the fabric that had been raised. They could bnty judge from the effects, and, he considered the Government equally to blame, if they had spent the immense sums represented, and were unable to show anything for it. He would defy them to point to one single work, as a lasting record of the vast sums expended in public works. It was clearly a part of the duty of the Superintendent to visit the various portions of the Province, and to see that the public works were being properly performed, and that all matters were being efficiently administered. He had referred to a very early period of the settlement of the Coast, and to the large sums that had beeneipendedincertaindirectiono. Waa it not a matter of notoriety, that there had been a misdirected expenditure in the past, and might not tbat have been one of the causes that had disabled the Government from carrying out the most urgent public works? "Vas it not a fact, that many of the duties devolving upon the Government had been delegated to private individuals, who, as a return for their enterprise and outlay, bad been permitted to levy a species of black mail npon the public ? Tracks were formed by these individuals, and they levied a toll. Bridges were also erected, and those who built them were also well remunerated. The wharves had certainly been built, after a manner, by the Government, but the structures had not been fathfully b-iilt—the wharves were carried away—and not until it fell to the lot of private individuals to construct the wharves, could they get any substantial erections.. The old wharves were built without any proper foundation, and the money, consequently,washopelesslysquandered. The accommodation they now possessed, was entirely clue to the private enterprise of Messrs M'Leod aud Atkinson. .Reference had been made to the cost of maintaining the Nelson Lunatic Asylum, his Honor stating that twothirds of its inmates consisted of West Coast lunatics ; he was not prep '.rod to dispute that, but he had actually referred also to the Nelson Hospital, as an institution to which they should contribute to maintain. His Honor nppeared to have lost sight of the fact that one third of the entire cost and maintenance of the goldiields' hospitals was contributed by the inhabitants of the goldfields. The liducation grant had also beeu specified, although of the £6OOO or £7OOO annually voted by the Council, £550 was the very handsome sum disbursed on the Coast. It surely could not be said that the Superintendent rigidly performed his functions, in allowing large sums of £30,000 to £IO,OOO to be drawn, for people to distribute in any manner they thought fit. He believed tbat he had shown very clearly that responsible supervision was required, and tbat bis Honor had neglected that supervision. If that were so, they could affirm the first portion of the resolution. He thougiit also that his Honor should be willing to admit that he had misunderstood the people. He had condemned them as migratory, and yet in the face of neglect, and the absence of all effort on the part of the Goyernmeut to retain the population, there was still a large community, anxious to obtain the opportunity of permanently locating themselves.

Mr AViiyte, in seconding tbe resolution, regretted that it should have necessarily been of so quasi complimentary a character. The array of figures presented by his Honor, were not, to his mind, conclusive. He considered that they bad been absolutely insulted by reference to the provision for their educational requirements, when they were told in the same breath that thoy were migratory, and had not complied with the first state of civilization in providing themselves with habitable abodes. He could not believe, that it could possibly have been conceived by his Honor to provide education for a class, respecting whose civilization he held such an opinion. To show that even with the ample funds at their command there had been great neglect to the interests of Province, he might state thatdunngthe last twelvemonths, the local board had been paying rental at the rate of about £7O per annum, because the authorities had declined to incur an expenditure of £2OO for a suitable school building. His Honor said that he had been charged, first, with not spending money, and, secondly, with spending too much money. A good deal had been said that ho should not have considered it necessary to reply to, were it not for the imputation that had been cast upon some of his officers, and whom ho felt it his duty to defend. He must admit ho retained Mr Kynnersloy in office, and that during the hitter's administration largo sums of monoy were expended. If those sums were prodigally wasted, all ho could say was that ho was sorry for it, but he did not believe a word of it. Another officor of tho Provincial Government was Mr Blackett, and ho did not think tho chargo of incompetency could be effectually brought against him. At any rate, ho had beou oilbvod the very

responsible appointment of Engineer-in-Chief of the Colony, and that would not favor such a supposition. They were of course perfectly at liberty to pass any resolution, but he must remind them that any one could be wise after the fact. In any new country it was impossible to avoid mistakes. The hurried influx of population necessitated hurried works, and, after a country had been opened up, it was an easy matter to see how deviations in roads might have been obviated. He must also remind Mr Munro that all the works of the goldfields could not be executed under his nose, even to satisfy Mr Munro; and a good deal was going on and was required that was not visible in Westport. To maintain and keep in repair 500 miles of horse track and road was of itself no inconsiderable

item. With respect to the Education grant, it was voted by the Council, and handed over to the Board. With that he had nothing whatever to do. He believed that he had answered all the main questions, and the accounts were open to everyone, were furnished to all the newspapers, and the fact of the latter not having attacked them, was the best evidence that they were indisputable. With respect to the charge of having insulted and treated them with contempt, it was almost too ridiculous to refer to. If it were a charge to have regretted the necessarily migratory habits of the miner, and have contended that, in the earlier stage of gold-mining, the population was unfixed and unsettled, he could not gainsay it; but he bad always been most active in trying to do something that would give to the population aud country a more settled and permanent character. Mr O'Coiroß could not agree with the resolution. It was impossible for him to reconcile the unsatisfactory representation of the Province with an efficient administration of its affairs. There was the fact that the goldfields returned less than one»third of the members of the Council, while they represented fully one half the adult population, and contributed two thirds of the revenue. There was the little Waimea Valley, ridiculous as it might appear, returned two members to their one, and yet, as a rule, those they represented were men of low circumstances, of humble ability and no independence. His Honor had taken to his bosom the member for Charleston, and he would have to keep him. He would prefer to see Mr Curtis pitch the Executive over altogether; andtosee him visit the Coast, and, to look after eome amongst them, who did not care how things went, so long as they got their salaries. Mr Munro said that he would briefly exercise his right of reply. His Honor had facetiously told them that he was not an engineer, and that he (Mr Munro) required all the works to be performed under his nose, in order to believe that anything was being done. He had also very skilfully attempted to suggest Mr Kynnersley, as the scapegoat for all the past shortcomings of the Government. He would contend, however, that nothing had been shown that should induce them to believe that, in his adminis tration of affairs on the goldfields. his Horor had not shown a negligence in the past, which, however, they might be willing to think would be condoned in the future.

The Chairman put the resolution to the meeting and it was declared carried, there being but two dissenting voices. His Honor then proposed a vote of thanks to the Chair, which was carried, and the meeting terminated.