Auckland Provincial Government Gazette.

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

VOL. XX.] TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1871. [No. 28.]

MEMORANDUM BY THE PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE OF AUCKLAND IN RELATION TO THE IMMIGRATION AND PUBLIC WORKS ACT OF THE ASSEMBLY.

1. The Immigration and Public Works policy of the Colonial Government appears to contemplate the expenditure of about Four million pounds sterling upon Immigration, Public Works, and the purchase of native lands during the next few years. The Census just completed serves to show that the population of the Province of Auckland numbers very nearly one fourth that of the colony as a whole; while that population, as can be easily demonstrated, is of a class likely to bear its full share of the public burdens of the country. It would therefore appear reasonable that one fourth of the amount about to be expended upon Immigration and Public Works within the Colony should be so expended in connection with the Province of Auckland, seeing that no reasonable doubt can exist that the people of this Province will be called upon to bear at least one fourth of the burden of debt contracted. The amount to which this Province would in this way be entitled would amount to about one million pounds (£1,000,000).

2. The works as yet authorised by the Provincial Legislature in connection with the Colonial policy may be regarded as being only three—a railway from Auckland to Mercer; the continuation of that railway through the Waikato district; and a Water Supply for the Thames Goldfield. Of these it is understood that the Auckland and Mercer line is likely to be constructed upon the principle of guaranteed interest on the capital expended, a mode peculiarly suitable in the case of a line such as this, which has been partly constructed already. The Waikato extension of this line, if carried to the frontier settlements, would probably cost about £250,000. The sum asked by the Provincial Council in its last session for the supply of water to the Goldfields amounted to £50,000, and it is hardly probable that the actual cost of the work will largely exceed that amount. To these may be added a small sum of less than £1,000 advanced for land purchases, principally within the Goldfields districts. On the whole, therefore, the amount to which the Province has taken steps to participate in the Colonial Loan does not at present much exceed £300,000.

3. The Executive feel strongly that while the Assembly may adhere to the feature of the Loan policy of last year, which provides for a gradual expenditure of the money over a series of years, there is every probability that the works upon which the great proportion of the Loan will be expended, will practically be decided upon during the approaching session. The uncertainty surrounding the question of the negotiation of the Loan, accounts, in the opinion of the Executive, for the reluctance of the Provincial Council in its last session to recommend the construction of Public Works within the Province. It appears certain from events that have since transpired, that the Loan will be successfully negotiated, and that the aid proposed to be given to the construction of Public Works in the several Provinces, will be readily available to the full extent anticipated by the framers of the financial policy of last year. Your Executive did not feel justified in advising your Honor to summon the Council to a session previous to the meeting of the Colonial Assembly considering that the short time that would have been available for the discussion of the important matters involved.