F.-No. 5

6

On motion of Mr. Murison, Ordered, That a sub-committee be appointed for the purpose of drawing up issues, to ba placed before the Committee at a future meeting; the answers to such questions to form the basis on which the Committee should frame its report; such sub-committee to consist of the Cliairman (Mr. Stevens), Mr. Wood, and the mover. Adjourned to Tuesday, 10th September, 1867. TUESDAY, 10th SEPTEMBER, 1867. Present : Mr. McNeill, Major Heaphy, V.C, Mr. Hankinson, Mr. Wood. Mr. Murison, Mr. Stevens in the Chair. The Chairman readaleller from His Honor John P. Taylor, Superintendent of the Province of Southland ; also* resolution of the Provincial Council of that Province, in reference to the proposed railway. The Committee then proceeded to investigate the revenue and expenditure of the Southland Province, and found tho following to be the position of the Province, imder the present financial proposals of the Government: — Payable by the Colony: — Charges on Loans ... ... £27,000 Provincial Charges ... ... ... ... ... 8,000 35,000 Receivable by the Colony : — One-half Consolidated Revenue 20,000 Pasturage Rents 8,000 28,000 Deficit to come out of Land Fund £7,000 Available for Provincial Expenditure, being Miscellaneous Revenue receivable in tho Province £9,000 Before Southland can receive any land fund for Provincial Appropriation, from £5,000 to £7,000 must be deducted from the proceeds of sales. The following Resolutions were then put to the meeting, and carried : — Besolved, That the present population of the Province of Southland be taken at 8,000 in number. Besolved, That the Committee have no sufficient data on which to form an opinion as to the probable increase of population consequent on tjie carrying out of the proposed undertaking. The Committee then proceeded to the consideration of the estimates of Provincial expenditure of Southland, when the question was put, That £1,490 be taken as the amount of a half-year's expenditure for the Blulf and New River Harbours. Tho Committee divided with the following result: — Ayes. No. Mr. Murison, Mr. Wood. Mr. Hankinson, Mr. McNeill, So it passed in the affirmative. The Committee finally estimated the Provincial expenditure of Southland, for six months, at the following sums : Executive ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... £777 Legislative ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 204 Electoral - 10 Administration of Justice ... ... ... ... ... 1,463 Hospital and Lunatic Asylum ... ... ... ... ... 700 Harbours 1,490 Education' 250 Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,137 Repairs of roads (not included) ... For six months ... £6,031 For twelve months £12,062 the amount of the indispensable Provincial ordinary expenditure for one year. Adjourned to Wednesday, the 11th September, 1867. WEDNESDAY, 11th SEPTEMBER, 1867. Present : Mr. Murison, Mr. Hankinson, Mr. Cox, Major Heaphy, V.C, .Mr. McNeill, Mr. Wood. Mr. Slovens in the Chair. A letter from the Superintendent of Southland to the Colonial Secretary, dated 17th August, 1867, was read. Besolved, That in the opinion of the Committee, the lowest Mini for which flic line between Invercargill and Winton can be completed, with flic nine eange as Hie Bluff and Invercargill Eailway, is £66,000. Resolved, That, considering the rough character of the survey made, the Committee having heard Mr. Wood's evidence, are of opinion that the decision already arrived at in respect of cost should be affirmed. Besolved, That in the opinion of the Committee it would require about £4,000 per mile to form a metalled road from Invercargill to Winton. Besot nil. Thai the Committee finds that ordinary gravelled cart roads available for light traffic might be made on tho proposed lines of railway at a cost not exceeding £2,400 per mile. Moved by Mr. Wood, seconded by Mr. Hankinson, That as loads of a weight of from four to five tons have constantly to be conveyed over the proposed lines, roads suited for light traffic only would not suit the requirements of the Province. 1 Negatived. Besolved, That in the opinion of the Committee the cost of maintaining the proposed line between Invercargill and Winton could noi be less than £2,850 annually.