PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 133, 28 May 1872, Page 6

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Friday, 17th May. MESSRS SIMPSON AND PYKE. Mr Shepherd moved—"That an Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting that a copy of all correspondence between the Government and Messrs Simpson and Pyke, relative to leave of absence granted to Mr Simpson, and the removal of Mr Pyke from the Dunstan district to the Tuapeka district, be laid on the table." The motion was carrried. LAND ENDOWMENTS FOR HOSPITALS. Mr Shepherd moved—" That an Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, recommending that blocks of 20,000 acres of Grown Lands, in the districts of Tuapeka, Dvnstan, Wakatip, and Mount Ida respectively, be granted as special endowments for the Hospitals in those districts." Mr Bastings seconded. Mr Bathgate moved, as an amendment—- " That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient that all reserves made for Hospitals specially should be applied for the maintenance of Hospitals generally, and so managed that the revenues arising therefrom should be entered in a special account, to be called The Hospitals Account, and the amount at the credit of such account to be distributed annually towards the support of the various Hospitals, in proportion to the number of patients, and the amount of voluntary contributions to the funds of the Hospitals respectively." Mr Shepherd's motion having on a division been virtually negatived, Mr Bastings moved that 5000 acres of pastoral land should be reserved as proposed by the original motion ; but this was negatived on a division, — there voting for it 9, and againts it 21. Mr

Bathgate's was then discussed, and after some amendments upon it had been lost, was put and carried. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The House went into Committee, and Mr Reid delivered his Financial Statement, which will be found on our seventh page. CROMWELL. Mr Bastings moved—"That the Petition from the Town Council of Cromwell be referred to the Goldfields Committee." Carried. MOA FLAT SALE. A discussion took place on a motion by Mr Bastings that 500 acres of land be granted to Mr C. W. Adams, as compensation for loss sustained by him, through the survey of Mr Clarke's purchase being given to another surveyor. The mover read documents, showing that a condition of Mr Adams's appointment was that he should have the surveying of all the land sold by Government in his district, except in cases of " peculiar urgency." By the survey being given to another surveyor, Mr Adams was deprived of £llOO or £I2OO, which should have gone to him. Mr Reid considered that Mr Adams had suffered no loss, as it was a condition of the sale that the survey should be made by Mr Clarke's surveyor. Had the land not been bought by Mr Clarke it would not have been surveyed for many years to come. The discussion of Mr Adams's claim was postponed till Wednesday. Monday, 20th Mat. MUNICIPALITIES. In answer to the Hon. Mr M'Lean, Mr Reid said it was the intention of the Government to hand over the revenue accruing within Municipalities since the 31st March last, after deducting any sums expended in the interval on the main roads. ALEXANDRA. Mr Shepherd moved that the report from the Goldfields Committee on the Alexandra petition,—praying that the Warden and Gold Receiver attend at that place more frequently, —be referred to the Executive, for the purpose of effect being given to the report. Mr Bradshaw explained that it was believed it would be sufficient if the Clerk attended once a week, and the Warden once a fortnight at Alexandra. EDUCATION. Mr Mervyn moved for leavp to bring in a Bill on Education, having for its object the permissive instead of compulsory reading of the Bible in schools, and also the prevention of religious instruction. Leave was given, and the Bill was re d a first time. JUDGE WARD. Mr Macassey moved—"That this Council views witli regret the appointment of Judge Ward ; and that His Honor the Superdent be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the Colonial Secretary." The motion was carried on the voices. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY'. The House then went into Committee of Supply. A number of items were passed without comment ; but on the items under the head of " Superintendent and Executive Council" being moved, Mr Macassey wished ts know if, while His Honor and members of the Executive were at Wellington at the House of Representatives, any extra expense was entailed on the Province in regard to the arrangements made for the performance of their duties. Mr Reid explained that there was no charge to the Province at all. A number of other items were passed, none of any special interest to Cromwell readers ; and the Council adjourned. Tuesday, 21st May. Considerable discussion took place upon a set of resolutions by Mr Tolmie, having in view a remodelling of the form of the Government of the Province. They provided that the Government of the Province should be in the hands of a Board, to consist of the Superintendent, and a certain number of members of the present Council ; such Board to meet two days in the week, or oftener if necessary, with the Superintendent as chairman. Mr Macassey moved an amendment to the effect that the present Provincial Council should consist of only nineteen members : and that two, with the Superintendent, should form an Executive. Both motion and amendment were nega tived. CHINESE PETITION. Some discussion took place as to whether witnesses should be brought from Queenstown to give evidence in regard to the Chinese petition for the removal of Mr Warden Beetham ; but it was decided to leave the whole matter to the consideration of the Government during the recess. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. In Committee of Supply, under the head of " Roads and Works," an item of £3OO to be spent on the road between Dunstan and Cromwell was passed ; as also £770 between Cromwell and Queenstown. Between Lindis and Wanaka £IOO was passed ; and between Cromwell and Wanaka, £2OO. Wednesday, 22nd May. After some unimportant business had been transacted, the House went into Committee of Supply. Among the items under the head of " Main Branch Roads," the following were passed : —Dunstan to Nevis, L.50; Cromwell to Nevis, L.50; Cromwell to Cardrona, L.250 ; Cromwell to Bendigo Gully, L.120 ; Albertown to Cardrona, L.50 ; Arrow to Cardrona, L.50.

Under the heading' of " Works and fit ings," the following were passed :—Crou, Court-house, L.600; Cromwell Bridge, L Cromwell Bridge to Quartz Reef p, L.700 ; Queenstown to Martin's Bay, L.l| OTAGO LOCAL REVENUES BILL. Mr Bathgate moved the second readb this Bill. The intention of the Ordinal to enable the Corporation collectors to col all license-fees under the new arrangeu with Municipalities. Mr Mervyn withdrew the opposition had previously manifested to this Bill • remarked that great credit was due to Mayor of Dunedin for his action in the j ter of the new arrangement, but thought up-country Mayors had been made catsp of by the former gentleman. ' Mr Bastings objected, as an up-cou: Mayor, to such a title, and thought then sure was a very fair and just one, as wel up-country towns as to Dunedin. The Bill was read a second time. MR C. W. ADAMS. On the motion of Mr Sumpter, this gen man's petition was recommended to the vourable consideration of the Governmeij; LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. Mr Shepherd moved " that 15,000 sera thrown open in the Dunstan district for 4 cultural settlement; and that this Coune of opinion that the land should be broa under the deferred payments clause in Otago Waste Lands Bill." Mr Reid proposed the insertion of words " provided it can be obtained at ai sonable rate of compensation" after the wo "Dunstan district." This was agreed and the motion passed as amended. DUNSTAN HOSPITAL. Mr Shepherd moved that a sum of L. be placed on the Supplementary Estimate a special grant to the Dunstan Hospital.] Mr Sumpter moved, as an amenpni. "That the special grants to all hospital* considered at one and the same time." Tlie amendment was carried, and the a ter was held over for future consideration