PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2604, 22 June 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Yesterday. Petitions were presented from inhabitants in the Waitahuna district, calling attention to the state of the Ronndbill road ; from the inhabitants at Quartz Reef Point, Bendigo Gully ; from settlers at Jacobs river, calling attention to the state of the roads in the districts. In answer to questions, it was elicited that it was not the intention of the Government to ;-cli blocks or sections containing three or four acres each in the township of Greytown. It had been their intention to sell them in larger area—petitions to that eftret having been received from residents in the district ; but since the survey had been ordered, it was found that owing to the commencement of the Southern Trunk Railway there was a probability of the land realising more revenue if it were sold in smaller al'otments—that the leases for bush reserves with one except'on—that of one granted lo a person at the Tois Tois—had not been signed The reason why they had not been signed, was that a feeling of dissatisfaction had been expressed against their being given effect to, especially in the Popotunoa district. The deputy Superintendent had declined to execute them, as had the Superintendent on his return fnmi Wellington. The leases would now be execute i without delay, occause the Province would be in just as good a pos tiou to obtain the land again after their execution as before. The fol o wing motions were carried : —“ That a line of road should be surveyed from Burwood northward along the valleys of Oreti and Marania, to the valley of the Hollyford river, with a view of rsen tabling whether a line of overland communication can he found between Martins Bay and the eastern seaboard more praticablo than the present route ; that addresses he forwarded to the Superintendent, recommending reserves in the Dunstan and B iloluUia district? fori recreation purposes.”—The Hon Dr. Menzies in an exhaustive speech, moved the following resolutions : “That ir is expedient that a Bi’l should be introduced to provide Ist. That contiguous board districts having comm n interests may unite to form a county, the county board to c iasbt of representatives from the district road boards. 2nd, That in case any district hoard shall fail to perform any duties enjoined by the roads ordinance, all its powers shall be ex crcised by the county board after it shall have hern estahlshed, until the next fallowing election of district members. 3rd, That the district roads shall be under the control of the district boards, the main trunk roads shall be made and maintained by the Provincial Government, and toll-bars established on them until a county board shall have been established, until a county board shr-11 have been established in the district through which they pass, when they shall be transferred to its contn-1. 4th, That the revenues of the county board shall consist of—.-uch portion of the territorial revenue as may be secured to it by Act of the General Assembly ; moneys voted for it by the Provincial Council ; county rates, tolls, and ■ iscel laneous revenue applicable to roads and pub lie works ; and shall be appropriated by it at its’annual meetings to district boards, as may be agreed upon ; a part of such revenues shall be retained to form a reserve fund. sth, The main trunk roads and bridges and ferries on them shall be under the conti ol ol the county boards ; and if any . county board shall fafi to perform any duties enjoined in the ordinance, all its powers shall be exercised by the Provincial executive until the next following election of county members.” Mr Bastings contended that Provincialism was not destined to last many years, and that local municipalities would be able to carry out works in their respective districts more ably than by by the present system. Dr Webster sup ported the motion of Dr Menzies. It was opposed by Mr Shaud, on the ground that it would be foolish to give up the management of land to the General Government. Mr Luinsden supported Dr Menzies motion, and Mr Hutcheson wearied the House by a series of platitudes and sophisms that fell very Hat upon honorable members. In his speech he ventured to say that any work undertaken by the General Government had proved much more expen sive than when carried out by the Provincial Council. Being challenged to name by Mr Haughton, his memory proved bankrupt, and not an instance was stored up in it. Mr Cutten commented upon the resolutions, and in a few forcible words, condemned them. After some opposition by Mr McLean, the Provincial Secretary advocated the measures, and admitted that at some nob distant time Provincialism would cease, and that it wa‘advisable, in anticipation of that time, to extend the principle of self-government. He considered when endowments for education and for public work were deducted from the Land revenue, very little would be left for endowments of Hoad Boards districts He did not object to the proposals but thought it cou}d uoj; be done this session. Dr Menzies was willing that the preamble should be alte ed to a recommendation to the Government to prepare a Bill to submit to the next session.. The Hon. D. Bell pointed out that, if the feeling of the House that such a Bill should be prepared, the Bill four years ago prepared by the Hon. Mr Stafford afforded a model. He himself pointed out that such an organisation struck at the root of the Provincial system. The Provincial Secretary, perhaps, in no unfair spirit at the lime, saw no objection to the principle of the Bill as striking at the Provincial system. Mr Stafford never concealed his intention of su perseding the Provincial system, and he (MiBell) pointed out, if that was the intention, it must be for the people to judge. The events of the last four years had been such as to lead him to say he would nob, as ft u 1 years ago, oppose the introduction of a country system, and he believed the course taken by the Provincial Government during the past four years, had led to a similar change of opinion in the minds of many people. It was evident the action of the General Government tended to chance relations with the Pvovinc.'s, and if it assumed the colonization of the country, the vtry reason for the existence of XVoviucial Councils ceased. The time had conic when the vast resources of Hew Zealand would be recognised at Home, and as the bug-bear of a Maori war no longer terrified intending imigrants, a large population would find its way to the Colony. He could not blame the General Assembly for stepping in when the duty of colonising had been neglected, and the revenue which should have been devoted to it was speijt on themselves. In view o; the action of the Council on the Huudr ds Regulation Act, ami other subjects, he could not help thinking the Council was drifting into a condition unfitting them for their proper duties Mr Puuoau replied ai4

challenged M r Bell to point out a single instance in which the Council had interfered with the rights of the pastoral tenants. Mr Hauehlou .supported the resolutions, and Mr Shepherd having 1 1 ered a few words, he was followed by Mr Thomson. Dr Menzies having replied, the resolutions were carried without a division. The greater portion of the evening was occupied with a discussion on the .-Southland Boundary Question, which being merely' a question of administration, is without public iuteiest outside the district. Tins Day. Petitions were presented by the Hon. J. M'Lcan from Roman Catholic inhabitants of Ky'ebnrn, Hogburn, Macraes, and Oamaru; and by Mr Cutten from Roman Catholics in Dunedin, protesting against the system of education in vogue in the Province. The following message from the Superintendent was read : “ Referring to the correspondence between the General Government and the Superintendent, which has already been laid on the table of the Provincial Council on the subject of capitation allowance to Volunteers, the Superintendent transmits herewith for the considerati m of the Council ninety-four applications for grants in terms of the Volunteer Land Act, IS'io. As this question is assuming a magnitude involving large claims upon the Provincial revenue—claims which will be annually increasing—the Superintendent invites the special attention of the Council to making such arrangements as, while they may not tend to damp the Volunteer cause, may' not be incompiiablc with the (means at the disposal of the Province. As icgards 1 grants claimed at present, amounting t0°2820 acres it would be somewhat ungenerous to refuse them ; at the same lime if these grants are to be continued, the Superintendent is of opinion that there ought to be an absolute condition of beneficial occupation by the grantee.” [Left sitting.]