PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 252, 29 October 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28.

The Speaker took the chair at 3 o'clock.— Present—'l'he Provincial Secretary, the Provincial Solicitor, Joseph May, Esq. (Executive), Messrs. Beveridge, Creighton, Dignan, Dyer, Douglas, Mitchell, Stratfotd, Shauafihan, Taylor, Ellis, Re.vburn, Sam, Philips, Hay, Hamlin, Gordon, Martin, Shepherd, Swanson, Freer, Hill. The Clerk read the minutes of the preceding sitting, which were, confirmed. PETITIONS. Mr. Carleton presented a petition from David Kidd, ; Mr. Gordon a petition from John Murray; Mr. Reyburn a petition from Thomas Preston ; Mr Carleton a'so presented a petition from Valentine Oliver. These petitions relit ed to grants of land. Captain I'reer presented a petition from- certain brewers, praying that a sum of £20, improperly paid into the Provincial Treasary, be c paid. On the motion of Mr. Carleton the Standing Order No. 25 was suspended, with a view to move that all petitions having reference to private grievances be referred to tho Private Grievance Committee. R.th motions were put and carried. ~ " STANDING ORDERS. Mr. Brookfikld moved, "That- a Committee on Slanding Orders be appointed. Committee to consist of Mr. Speaker, Mr. Carleton, Mr. Creighton, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Maclean, Mr. Shanaghan, and the mover." On-the motion of Mr. P. A. Philips, tho name of Dr. Sam was added to the Committee. - -,; j 77 PAPERS. The Provincial Secii-TAky bid on the table the report of the Provincial Engineer on the Queen-street Sewerage ; also, a report of the Gold Discovery Reward Commissioners. The papers were ordered to be printed. , On the orders for the day being called, the Council proceeded to consider message No. 5, from the Superintendent, iv which His Honor informed the Council of his having extinguished the claims of Mr. Busby, by stpayment of £23,000. The Provincial Secretary in a lengthened speech, moved, " That while this Council is of opinion that the award is fairly and justly a charge npon the colony, the arrangement made by His Honor-the Superintendent is expedient under the circumstances." The question was warmly debated and the following amendment was moved by Mr. Carleton, " That while this Council expresses no opinion on the question whether the award should be made a charge against, the province or against the colony, the arrangement made by the Superintendent was expedient under the circumstances." He would move that as an amendment to the original motion made by the hon. gentleman the Provincial Secretary. Another amendment w_s subsequently-moved by Mr. Ellis —"That in the opinion of this ouncil, the principle of compensation by the House of Representatives, iv the instance ol Mr. Busby's land claims, by shifting the liability from the General Government to the Province of Auckland, is unjust and arbitrary. That, recognising the wrong inflicted on this [provincethrough theissueoflandserip, by which !„ large proportion of tho waste lands of the province was threatened with absorption, this

Council is of opinion that, having regard to the principle" established, the, Superintendent has "acted 'precipitately in compromising Mr. tfusbv's claim without the advice of the Provincial Legislature first obtained." The discussion mainly turned on the fact of the settlement having been made, and the money paid, without consulting the Provincial Council, the Executive accepting the question as one of confidence. A motion of adjournment was defeated by the Ministry,, and supported by a majority of one, but at length, at nearly half past c even, the Ministry consenting,- the debate was adjourned till Tuesday.