PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume II, Issue 98, 14 December 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11. TACPO BOAD BILt. On the motion of Mr Lusk this bill ivas read a second time and pa.-aed through committee without ainendaaents,aud the third reading was tiled for to-day. THE iAKE DISTUICT. Mr Sheehan moved, " That this Council recommends for purchase by the General Government, out of moneys available for that purpose under the Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, the native territory about Eotorua, Rotomahana, and the Lake Country, and requests his Honor the Superintendent |to forward thin resolution to the General Government. 3. That out of such lands there should be reserved in perpetuity a public park and recreationground for the whole colony such an area of such hinds as will include the sites of the most interesting of the natural wonders of the Lake District." In the Lake District there were manifestations of geological agency without parallel in the whole world with one exception, and his object was to prevent this interesting section from becoming tho property of private persons and being cut up into small farms, &e. When the American route became a more certain means of arrival and departure, a great number of people would, he believed, come to the colony solely for the purpose of visiting the Lake country, which would become a source of profit to the province and the co'ony. Mr Douglas, seconded the motion, which was carried. KAILWAT COiiaVSlCAnoy WITH TAP.AXAKI.

Mr Shcehan moved, "That this Council is of opiniod that the extension of railway communication by way of the Wail;ato, to connect with tire Waitara railway, in the province of Taranaki, would have a most beneficial effect in opening up for settlement" an immense area of first-class agricultural land, and in providing a good market for the stock and agricultural produce of the districts through which the proposed lines would pass. (2) That this Council recommends for construction under the Immigration and Public Works Loan, so much «)f the proposed line as is within the boundary of the province of Auckland, and requests his Honor the Superintendent, to submit this and the preceding resolution to the General Government." During the sitting of the General Assembly a meeting was held of the members from Auchland and Taranaki in reference to connecting the two provinces by railway, and all the Auckland members, three Taranaki members, and a member representing Whanganui, were in favour of such connection j but no practical action resulted, He referred to the advantages that would accrue to both provinces by the construction of the line, which would pass through a conn try offering no engineering difficulties, and of the very best description, and which would afford much easier means of transit from Taranaki lhan at present. There was a rival scheme which was to conneot Auckland with Wellington by joining the Napier line with the line from Wellington to Taranaki across tbfr llimutaka range, but he bolieved that the present scheme was an infinitely better one, and wits more favourable both to the people of Taranaki and of Auckland. The only drawback in connection with it was the native difficulty, which however could be overcomo as it had been in regard to other similar works. With regard to the financial view of the question, there were many public works authorised which would not be commenced for a long time, and there was a chance for them to cut in with this scheme. More money would have to be borrowed there was no doubt. The line "would enable the province to receive produce from the best agricultural country in the colony, and which had been described as the " garden of the colony." Major Stonoy seconded the motion, and in. doing so, supplemented Mr'Shfehan's remarks rclatixe to the nature of tho country in Taranaki —Motion agreed to.

TOLL-BAR AT OTAHUHU. Mr G-onbn moved, " That, looking to the peculiar cireumstamvs in which Mm ratepayers residing in the highway district of ai-e iu relation to the toll-bar sitimV;! n" O:a!iuhu, this Council is of opinion that the bar should be let mrvr the conditions that the ratepayers living in the district be allowed to pass and re-pass ( to and from Otahuhu without, ptiyin/toll. Tliat a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent forwarding the foregoing resolution." —Motion negatived. LOCAL INDUSTMES. On the motion of Mr Shechan, the following report of the Local Industries Committee was agreed to :—" The Committee have the honour to report that Messrs MeLeod and Perston have established a fish-curing establishment, consisting of two const stations, and they employ about 100 men, and 21 vessels are regularly engaged. Casks, cases, nets, &c., are made at the stations, and Messrs McLeodand Perston have prepared nbout 70 tons of dried andfroickled iish of different sorts; 20 tons have been exported u. places beyond tiie colony, and about 50 tons are now waiting for ship nioiit. That, samples of the fish have been tested in this province and other parts of the colony, and, in every instance, a favourable report has been given both as to quality and flavour. Messrs MeLeod an 1 Perston have invested capital of over two thousand pounds in establishing this industry. That, although the reeommendatinn of the Council was that the bonus oflerod by it should bo paid when fifty tuns should have been entered at the customs for exportation, the committee consider that Messrs. MeLeod and Perston, having actually exported 20 tons, and having prepared another 50 tons, which are now ready for exportation, have substantially complied with the conditions. The committee therefore recommend that the bonus on 50 tons should be paid to Messrs. MeLeod and Perston, on their giving security for the exportation of another 30 tons up to the Ist January, 1873."