PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2385, 23 November 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The debate on the Immigration and Public Works Act was resumed last nicht by Mr Hutcheson, who condemned the scheme, repeating the stock argument of its being a delusion and a snare, without proring that it was so. He was followed by Mr M ‘Gillivray, who in a sensible speech moved an amendment showing that although the Council did not concur in the financial policy of the General Government as a whole, it should, rather than forego until an indefinite period, the advantages that would accrue to the Province by the immediate application of LIOO.OOO towards water supply on goldfields and railway construction, at once close with the offers of the General Government. The amendment was seconded by Hr Fraser. Mr Shepherd excelled all his previous efforts at distorting facts hy stating that the General Government since they had held office had made something like one hundred appointments at high salaries, a statement which it is almost needless to observe was received with doubt by the House. Mr Calder, as a further amendment, moved the desirability of works having for their object the development of the goldfields, and the resources of the Province being undertaken without delay, the inexpediency of the Council making any recommendation with the view to the initiation of works under the Immigration and Public Works Act until its whole policy has been considered by the various constituencies throughout the Province, and either approved by a new Parliament, or modified in such a way as would leave the Middle Island free to deal with its own finances. The amendment concluded by stating that tbe only practicable way of .arrivin'; at such a result was by financial separation of the two Islands. Mr Wilson afterwards moved the following amendment:—

“ Ist. That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient that the constitution of the Colony should be amended. 2nd. That the present cumbrous, disjointed, and unnecessarily costly system of double Government should bo abolished. 3rd. That for the purpose of securing a more economical and efficient administration of public affairs by reconstruction of the Constitution, provision be made for one Government and Legislature for all that part of the Colony south of of Cook’s Straits, free from northern interference in reference to public works and other matters locally affecting any part of the southern division of the Colony. 4th. That such relations be maintained between the two great northern and southern divisions of the country as may be conducive to the interests of the Colony as a whole.”

Messrs Clark, Wilson, Johnston, Mosety, and Gillies, condemned the Government scheme while Mr Rejmolhs at considerable length defended his conduct in the Assembly, The .Secretary for Land and Works intimated that they accepted M'Gillivrays amendment as a total negative to the original motion, ml would not support it, and aft> r some slight discussion, progress was reported, and leave to sit again obtained on the motion of Mr Allan.

The Secretary for Land and Works laid on the table maps relating to Southland, and correspondence relating to the admission of cattle into the Province of Canterbury. There was a short discussions as to the ruling of the Chairman of Committees last night in rejecting that portion of Mr M‘Gillivray’s amendment in favor of separation, but no satisfactory solution was arrived at, the Speaker being of opinion that the Chairman was wrong in so ruling, while Mr Haughton expressed his intention of repeating his ruling. Among the notices of motion given for to-morrow, was one by Captain Mackenzie, to the effect that in the opinion of the Council the Waste Laud Board should be composed of gentlemen unconnected with politics. In answer to questions, the Government stated that the dredge New Era was now at Black Jack’s Point ; that the Government would be prepared to consider during the recess the advisability of setting apart a portion of the Dunedin Hospital for the reception and treatment of persons temporarily insane, and should the information obtained be such as to render it necessary that some steps should be taken in that direction, would make the necessary recommendation to the Council. That there was no objection to lay on tbe table a return, showing the names of tenderers, and the amount of the various tenders for selling the public lands by auction, although the request was an unusual one. The tenders came before the Waste • Land Board to-day, hut as yet no decision was come to. In oue way the Government had restricted the tenderers to those at present holding an auctioneer’s license, and iu another they had not. It was intended that no one should bo allowed to sell land, except he paid a license fee to the Government; but it bad been resolved to receive tenders from those who would first take out a license. That L 57 4s had been spent on the road from Port Chalmers to Blucskiu, and the vote for the work would receive consideration amongst other votes on the estimates. ' That' the' steam dredge was not in a very satisfactory condition at the present time. It was at Biack Jack’s Point, and was about to undergo an overhaul, as some of the planks were found to be rotten. One. of the planks between tha ladder and tbe side had'completely gone, causing aleak, the dredge sinking in shallot water. It had been occupied at the Point during the last three mouths, but before that had formed a channel at the Stuart street Jetty. The depth of water alongside Rattray street Jetty was 4 feet C inches at the shore end, and 11 feet at the upper end at high water, and those depths were substantial!;, the same as when the dredge left off working there. Its cost per month was—wages, LB7 ; coals, &c., LIOO, At present there had been no result from

the resolution of the Council on the subject of introducing into the Assembly a measure for the drainage and improvement of land. The petition of certain landowners and agriculturists in the Oamaru district, the petitions of John Hardy and William Hall, were referred to the Private Petitions Committee ; and returns wore ordered to be laid on the table, shewing the approximate revenue from sale of lands, approximate revenue from pastoral rents, &c.