PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 132, 21 May 1872, Page 6

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Friday, 10th May. RAILWAYS. IV Webster asked a question as to the pre-"S-mi position of the survey on the Waitaki and Moeraki railway, which was answered by Mr Reid ; and, in reply to Mr M'Kenzie, Mr Reid stated that the General Government had been advised to proceed with the survey of a line between Duuedin and Waikouaiti a"s soon as possible. NASEBY. It was recommended that a small parcel of land should be set aside for purposes of re» creation at Naseby. OTAGO UNIVERSITY. The Hon. Mr M'Lean moved that His Honor the Superintendent be recommended to reserve 100,000 acres of pastoral land for the benefit of the Ota 30 University. A considerable discussion ensued, in the course of which Mr M'Dormid moved as an amendment, that 500,000 acres should be set aside for the elementary schools of the Province ; but afterwards withdrew, in the mean-

time, his amendment, promising to bring it forward again in another shape. The original motion was carried. The only other matter of any importance was a motion by Dr Webster in reference to the Dunedin Hospital, the first clause of which was " that one half of the whole expenses should be continued to be defrayed by the Province, and the other half by public contribution." There were four other clauses in the motion chiefly relative to the manner of management of the institution. The first clause, after some discussion was put and lost; and the others were withdrawn temporarily.

Monday, 13th May. Mr Sumpter asked the Provincial Secretary why effect had not been given to the resolution passed last session, —asking the Government to publish in the Gazette, at the end of every year, a complete alphabetical list of all persons whose Crown Grants were ready for issue. Mr Reid replied that the expense incurred in the preparation and publishing of such a list would be too great. Mr Shepherd moved, " That the following petitions be referred to the Gold-fields Committee : —(1) Petition from the Mayor and Councillors of the Municipality of Alexandra. (2) Petition from the Royal Standard Quartz Mining Company." Carried. On the motion of Mr Cutten, the Council resolved to express its thanks to the Volunteer Representatives of Otago in the Annual Interprovincial Rifle Match of 1872, for the able and successful manner in which they represented the Province. The following motion was put and carried : —"That an area not exceeding four acres be set apart for each agricultural or agricultural and pastoral society in the Province." Mr G. F. C. Browne moved—" That the following clauses be added to the Waste Land Resolutions: —"(l) Every holder of a miner's right having a claim within a Hundred or block and every holder of a business license occupying land by virtue of license within a Hundred or block shall be entitled to run two head of great cattle free of charge. (2) Every holder or occupier of any land within a Hundred or block under or by virtue of a mineral lease or license shall be entitled to run three head of great cattle by paying the assessment provided by the Otago Waste Lands Resolutions." The motion was carried. Mr Reid moved—" That this Council, having had under its consideration the Otago Waste Lands Bill, passed by the House of Representatives during the last session of the General Assembly, and having made cer'ain amendments therein and added certain resolutions thereto—Resolved : That a Bill be prepared embodying the resolutions as now passed, with a view to the Land Laws of the Province being simplified and consolidated into one Act, in accordance with the desire of the inhabitants of the Province, as expressed by its representatives in this Council. That a copy of the Bill (as soon as it is printed) be forwarded to each member of the Colonial Legislature, and that they be requested to give it their support in the Assembly, and endeavour to get it passed into law. That Mr Speaker be requested to forward a copy of the above resolutions to each member of the General Assembly." Motion carried.

Tuesday, 14th May. EDUCATION ORDINANCE, 1864. Mr Macassey asked the Provincial Solicitor —" Whether the words 'reading the Bible,' in the 40th clause of the ' Education Ordinance, 1804,' implied that the Bible should be read without note or comment ; and whether the words ' instruction' meant the reading only ?" Mr Bathgate said : I am of opinion that the words " the Holy Scriptures shall be read daily," mean that the Bible shall be read daily without note or comment, and the words " such instruction" refer to such reading only Tt seems to me to be clear that the will and purpose of the Legislature were to limit religious instruction to the simple reading of the Bible as commanded. I may state that the interpretation which I have given is that which is put on the Ordinance by the Education Board. QUARTZ REEF POINT TRACK. Mr Hickey asked the Secretary for Works what steps the Government had taken towards the construction of the track from Quartz Reef Point to Cromwell Bridge ? Mr Bradshaw : The Government gave instructions to the Engineer of Road and Works to prepare specifications in connection with the work. It was found, however, that the estimate was so much more than the vote that it was thought the Government would not be justified in advertising for tenders. CHINESE PETITION". Mr Macassey moved—" That the petition of 827 Chinese residents in the Wakatip District be referred to a Select Committee, with power to call for persons and papers."—The petition requests the removal of Mr Warden Beethatn. A considerable discussion ensued as to whether it should not be rejected ; but many members expressed an opinion that an enquiry should be instituted, being certain that such enquiry would only redound to Mr Beetham's credit. The motion was eventually carried. A motion was carried recommending the Superintendent to reserve 500,000 acres as an endowment for the ordinary schools of the Province. Mr Hickey moved—" That the petition of the Cromwell Quartz Reefing Company be referred to the Goldfields Committee." 'Motion carried.

THE EDUCATION QUESTION. Mr Macassey moved :—(1) That this Council recognise the right of the Eoman Catholic body to participate in the annual grant for educational purposes. (2) That the Government be requested to bring in a Bill to amend the Education Ordinances, with a view to the distribution among Roman Catholic Schools of a just and fair proportion of the Education Grant. "—He supported the motion by a long speech, at the conclusion of which he was loudly applauded. Mr Armstrong seconded the motion. A number of the members spoke to the motion, many thinking the question ought to be left to the General Assembly. At half-past eleven, the debate was adjourned. Wednesday, 15th May. A memorandum from the Superintendent in reference to Mr Macassey's motion regard ing Judge Ward's appointment was read. It stated that the General Government had appointed Mr Ward, although his salary was charged to the Province. It also stated that the reason for his appointment was that, since the arrival of several legal practitioners in the Goldfields towns, Mr Wilson Gray's time had been unequal to the whole business of the District Courts throughout the Province. EDUCATION. The debate on Mr Macassey's motion was resumed ; and so many amendments, substantive motions, and further amendments were proposed shortly, that Mr Tolmie moved the adjournment of the debate, that members might get out of the fog into which they had drifted. The debate was adjourned accordingly. Mr Tolmie moved for a return of the mini bers of patients in all hospitals in the Province out of Dunedin, and their daily cost : which return was ordered to be laid on the table. Mr Barr moved for all communications which had taken place between the General and Provincial Governments regarding Mr Ormond's celebrated " Chinese circular." Carried. Mr Mervyn proposed a motion in regard to the rent of agricultural leaseholders, which is shortly as follows:—" Taat in the event of this Council's Land Resolutions failing to become law, the Government be authorised to reduce the yearly rental paid by agricultural leaseholders on the Goldfields from 2s. 6d. ti Is. Gd. per acre, such reduction to come into operation after January 1, 1873." Motion carried. The same member also moved fur a return of all applications received, and those granted, for agricultural leases during t -ee years past; but Mr Roid stated that th .fficials would have no time to prepare it, s« e motion was lost. Some other unimportant business was transacted, and the House adjourned. Thursday, 16th May. MOA I>'LAT SALE. Mr Bastings asked if the Government would place L. 10,000 on the estimates for public works in the district in which 45,000 acres have lately been sold I Mr Bradshaw answered that the land was sold for the purpose of paying for public works previously constructed ; and the Government did not intend to place that sum on the Estimates. gold export duty. Mr Hickey moved—" That, in the opinion of this Council, the Gold Export Duty should be reduced at the rate of 6d. per ounce each year until such duty is entirely abolished." He said that however justifiable the tax might have been before roads were constructed, and other public works carried out, it ought to be partially, if not wholly, abolished now. He pointed out that the taxwas felt to be very oppressive, and showed the necessity of encouraging and assisting the miners, who, in days gone by, developed the resources of the country in the face of considerable disadvantages and privations. Mining had became almost a science, and with a view of contributing to the welfare of the country generally, those persons still engaged in that industry should be shown some consideration, in order that they might be induced to remain in the country. Mr Reid moved, as an amendment, " That all the words in the motion after the word ' reduced' be struck out." The amendment was carried. On the motion of Mr G. F. C. Browne, the amendment was amended by adding the words : "And that an address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to forward this resolution to the General Assembly." Mr Macassey moved—"That an address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to transmit to this Council the official reports received from the Warden of the Wakatip district during the past three years." Carried. Some other unimportant business was transacted ; and then the Council went into debate on the Education question. It would be quite impossible for us, with our limited space, to give even a digest of what was said and done : but the following motion, proposed by Mr Cutten, was eventually carried by 19 votes to 17:—"That this Council is of opinion that the Education Ordinance of Otago lias worked satisfactorily in the past, and regrets that any section of the community should refuse to avail itself of the provisions of that Ordinance ; but, in order to remove any objection to a general system of education, resolves that any Colonial or National plan of education will not be satisfactory unless the teaching be of a purely unsectarian character."