REEFTON BATTERY RETURNS.

Westport Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 3275, 2 December 1884, Page 2

REEFTON BATTERY RETURNS.

[By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.] Reefton, Monday. The following are the battery returns for the week ending Saturday last: Welcome Company amalgam, from 00 tons. Keep-it-Dark Company—37S ounces of amalgam, from 20-1 tons. Inkerman—3oo ounces of amalgam, from 400 tons. Globe Company—l2o ounces of amalgam. Fiery Cross Extended C 0.—130 ounces amalgam. Golden Treasure C 0.—142 ounces retorted gold.

THE HON. MR. BALLANCE "AT WANGANUL (Br Telegkaph—Pbess Association.) Wangantji, December 1. Mr Ballance was banquetted on Friday night. Mr Bryce presided. Replying to a toast Mr Ballance said, in referring to the remarks'made by the chairman, as to his present dual capacity as member for the district and Minister he had held iu theory that the two positions were perfectly compatible, and the member who neglected his constituents because he had been appointed a Minister, deserved their censure. Of course he would be told that a new broom swept clean, but he looked upon parties as political necessities, and it was essential to good Government of the Colony that one party, who had worn, its broom out, should give way to another who had a new broom. The change in the Ministry of the Colony was absolutely necessary for the continuance of its progress. Mr Ballance then spoke on the measures which had passed last session. The Married "Women's Property Act, which was of great importance, and a measure that had received cordial support from both parties. He believed the time was not far distant when we should advance another step and give every woman the electoral franchise. He was convinced that the North Island main trunk line would benefit the North Island generally. It was intended to commence construction at certain points along the line, and certain sums of money had been appropriated for opening roads to the line for the conveyance of material. Mr Rochfort had suggested that the Wanganui river should be one of such highways, and in this way considerable benefits should accrue to All such blatters as these, however, must be looked at from a financial point of view for interests of the Colony. Referring to the unemployed question he said it had been asserted that the unemployed difficulty was principally due and could be traced to persons of the working classes, who indulged too freely in strong drink, and to those who did not work, but on inquiry the Government found that the distress was not confined to these classes alone. Some of the better classes were also suffering and were in some cases those who were in employment. Under those circumstances the Government did not propose to continue immigration until the surplus labor had been absorbed, and he believed that in the settlement of the land the difficulty would lie solved. He then spoke of the charges made against the Government of unlimited borrowing powers. He assured them the Government intended to borrow only so much as would complete the work already sanctioned by Parliament, and for such works <is would be productive. He thought there was a great future for the industries of the Colony, which would be supported by the Government as far as possible. With regard to the question of the defence of the Colony the Government believed that while it would be impossible for any permanent possession it was their duty to place the principal harbors in a state of defence and to depend upon volunteers. As regards the purchase of native lands it was the intention of the Government in future to acquire land for settlement only, and upon commercial principles, and they would not borrow money except for lands that would be made to reproduce at least 5 per cent of purchase cost. The native difficulty had resolved itself into simply a question of settlement of land. It was the intention of the Government to establish a Land Association that could take up land to the extent of 50,000 acres. Restrictions were placed on native lands so that 4i million acres on the line of the central railway would not be available for open purchases, and this had met with the approval of the great native chief, "Whahanui, and Major Kemp. The pastoral lands of the Colon}' should not be alienated. They represented 12,000,000 acres and the revenue would yearly increase. It is the intention of the Government to cut the present large runs into smaller blocks. At the same time he recognised the fact that runholders were most important part of the community, and their position was most worthy every consideration. He approved of land settlement on purchase extending over ten years. The extent to be 100 acres, on three conditions, namely—good land, close proximity to market, and low price of land. Particulars of the Association system would be gazetted in a few days. The question of local government and taxation would shortly be referred to by the Hon. the Premier in Dunedin.