PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 2870, 1 May 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tins Hay. The Speaker took the chair at two o'clock. NKW MEMBERS. The Speaker announced that the Superintendent had written to him, announcing that Messrs Hallenstein and Lines had been duly elected to represent the Lake district in the Provincial Council. papers, &c. The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table plans connected with Professor Black’s re-

port respecting Stewart’s Island. Mr Clarke presented a petition from certain settlers in the Taieri district, against certain sales of land specified by them. Mr Bastings presented a petition from Mr Adams, a surveyor, complaining that 5000 acres of Mr Clarke’s purchase had been surveyed by Mr Connell. Mr Duncan presented a petition from Jane Carson, the purport of which was not staled. The whole of the petitions were received. The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table a report by Mr M'Kerrow respecting the sale of 45,000 acres of land to Mr Clarke on Moa Flat. It was ordered to be printed. SESSIONAL COMMITTEES. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, a Printing Committee was appointed; on that of Air Bradshaw, a Private Petitions Committee ; and on that of Mr Thomson, a Committee of References under the Compulsory Land Taking Act. ADDRESS IN REPLY. Mr Tolmie, in moving a reply to His Honor’s address, expressed his gratification at the prosperity of the Colony. With regard to the erection of a quartz crushing machine for testing quartz, it was a step in the right direction. He believed that eliminating any objectionable matter from schoolbooks was a gi-eat thing. The Province should go in for a secular education, pure and simple, of which he had always been an advocate. He considered the proposal to establish a school of mines would be beneficial. Ho had no doubt subsidising local industries would be beneficial, and was better than protection to adopt which was retrograding. He was not sure that the Bill for establishing shire conn ils was not premature. It was worthy of consideration. He was inclined to think it was fortunate the land resolutions of last year did not pass. Revenue must be had from the land in order to make roads. He concurred partly in the view of giving bom file settlers facilities for buying land, bat he would not confine it to them. He would give facilities for the sale of larger blocks. He should like to see the best land marked out in blocks to suit settlers, and sold on deferred payments. The quantity of good land was small, and if his ideas were carried out, schools and churches might be built, instead of the people being scattered over the country as now. At the same time he would limit the purchasing powpr of any one person during the year. The same plan should be adopted on the goldfields; but he would more fully explain his views at the proper time. He concurred with his Honor that business could be better conducted if more immediately under the cognizance of the Superintendent, backed up by a board of directors. Business would then he done more expeditiously. There was now too much red tape, and the system marked out would consolidate offices, and enable them to dispense with poorly paid clerks. He should like to have seen it referred to that the Council should give utterance tq its views on the great questions likely to be discussed in the Aesembly. The hon. member for Dunedin, Mr Reynolds, had advocated financial separation, and fie thought the time for it had arrived to secure a fair share of expenditure in public works, which we seemed not likely to get otherwise. He should like to see unanimity amongst the members of the Province, as good must result from it. A few words were «aid about the San Francisco mail, but be would not detain the House on that point, and would move the reply to the address as printed.

“We join with your Honor in expressing satisfaction at the advancement made in the settlement of the country, and the large increase in the value of our exports during the past year. “We are glad to learn that a quartz-crush-ing machine is in course of erection for the purpose of affording persons engaging in quartz mining (he means of testing accurately, under the supervision of Professor Black, the value of samples obtained from their reefs : And we concur in your Honor’s opinion that a plentiful supply of water and the construction of the necessary works to utilise it would tend to develop our Goldfields, and give increased and profitable employment to a large population. “We agree with your Honor in the opinion that our educational system has on the whole worked well, and learn with satisfaction that steps have been taken to secure regular and effective inspection of our schools, and that teachers will be required to pass examinations and obtain certificates of competency before being employed in connection with tho public schools of the Province. We approve of and will assist your Honor in the endeavor to eliminate from our school books all that is calculated to give offence to any section of the community. ‘ * We are glad to be informed that a school of mines and chemistry has been added to the University curriculum. This addition cannot fail to prove instructive to the students, and be a means by which the wealth of the Province will be further developed. “It is gratifying to learn that tho bonus offered by this Council has proved the means of establishing a woollen manufactory on a comparatively extensive soale, and we beg to assure your Honor that any proposals calculated to stimulate the establishment of similar industries will receive our earnest attention. “ The Bills to be submitted having for their object the formation of shire councils, and for securing to municipal and shire councils the revenues accruing within their borders, will receive our favorable consideration. “ We regret that the resolutions passed by this Council recommending alterations required in the existing Land Acts were not passed by the Assembly, apd we join in thp hope that any resolutions which arc passed by the Council during the present session, with a view to a satisfactoiy settlement of this important question, may be allowed to become law. “ The other important matters referred to by your Honor will receive our serious consideration, with a view to such measures being adopted as will be calculated to prove beneficial to the Province and its inhabitants generally. ” Mi’M'Kenzie seconded the reply, which was adopted. [Left sitting.]