PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 2872, 3 May 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Yesterday. OAMARV HOSPITAL. Mr Peynolds thought it would bt better to put a sum on the estimates instead of endowing the hospital at Oamam, as every hospital would ask similar endowment, especially as the whole question would coire up again when the general question of reserves for hospital purposes w as considered. He would therefore move the previous question. The Provincial Secretary wished the question settled. He thought the Council might do worse than grant land not immediately available for settlement. Mr Turnbull agreed with the Provincial Secretary as to the character of the land r«

served, and he was favorable to endowing hospitals with pastoral land. The amendment of Mr M‘Lean was put. On a division, the amendment was lost lo voting for the motion and 18 against. Mr Turnbull then moved, as an amendment, that 2000 acres of pastoral land be added to that proposed by the Governm Mr M‘Demid opposed the amendment, as he thought it would be better to postpone the consideration of the endowment of the Oamarn Hospital until the discussion of the general question. He moved the adjourn- »"<* Marvyn ..pporW ‘HrACTtagU tie Ooueeil bound to grant the land for endowing the hospital. * The question of postponement was lost, and Mr Turnbull’s amendment carried. HOUR OF ADJOURNMENT. Mr M'Glashan moved, ‘‘ That this Council adjourned during its sitting this Session not later than 11 p.m., the business before the House at the time of the adjournment to take precedence on the Order Paper next Bit Mr g Hemierson would support it on condition that the House met at 12 o clock mDr Webster would support the motion if the House met at 10 o’clock. Tbe Speaker explained such a proposal would clash with tbe Standing Orders. The Provincial Secretary opposed the motion on the ground of probable inconvenience and extension of the session. The Council could determine by majority when it would interfere with the privileges af the House, and might be used by a combative member to obstruct Reynolds said if the motion was likely to be carried he was prepared with an amendment, recommending that business should be entered upon after elei en o’clock. The Speaking was mistaken as to the bearing of the Standing Orders. The House might meet at six o clock m the morning if it chose. _ The motion was withdrawn. IMPOUNDING ORDINANCE. Mr M'Keuzie moved, “ That a select committee to appointed to inquire into the working of tne Impounding Ordinance, the appoinment of poundkeepers, and generally regarding all matters connected therewith, with power to call for persons and papers ; such committee to consist of M r Speaker (with his consent), Mr Smith, Mr Allan, Mr Sumpter, bon. Mr Holmes, hon. Mr Menzies, and the Mover.” The motion was earned. IDA VALLEY RUN, Mr Mervyn moved, “ That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will be pleased to cause a copy of all correspondence with Messrs Stafford and Bell, in reference to their offer to give a portion of Ida Valley Hun, without compensation, for the purpose of settlement, to be laid on the table. Mr Shepherd, as an amendment, moved the insertion of the words “ in connection with the Ida Valley and the Dunstan. The amendment was carried. RETURNS. Mr M'Glashan moved—“ That there be laid on the table a detailed return, showing to whom the agricultural holdings, or homesteads, numbering 647, according to his Honor’s address, have been sold ; and the number of acres respectively, and also the districts where sold.” The Provincial Secretary said such a return was impossible. He believed his Honor’s statistics were taken from the Census returns. He doubted if the return were laid on the table, few hon. members would examine it. The moving of the returns was frequently moved to excess, and gave a good deal of extra trouble. Mr M'Glashan wished for information, but would not regret the motion being rejected, . ... On the motion being put, it was negaMr' M'Glashan moved—“ That there be laid upon the table a return, showing the amount of land opened for sale daring the past year, and stating the districts where opened, and the number of allotments sold, with the acreage of each.” The motion was carried. On the motion of Mr Bradshaw, the name of Mr Barton was added to the House Committee ; and Andrew Thompson’s petition was referred to the Private Petitions Committee. The Northern Reserves Management Ordinance was read a first time. On going to the Orders of the Day, tbe Provincial solicitor moved the second reading of the Riverton Reserves Management Bill, and the Invercargill Reserves Management Bill. Both motions were earned. Tbe second reading of the Police Ordinance (Southland) Repeal Bill was moved by the Provincial Solicitor and carried, as was also tbe Licensed Carriage Bill. The Bills passed through Committee, and were reported to the House. Excepting the Invercargill Reserves Management Bill, which was postponed, the whole were read a third time and passed. Tins Day. A few notices of motion were given. Amongst them one by Mr Sumpter—that on Monday he will move that the Council adopt a congratulatory address to Her Majesty on the recovery of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. RETURN. In reply to Mr Mervyn, The Secretary for the Goldfields said he had made inquiries respecting the return of expenditure on the goldfields. A good deal of time had been devoted to its preparation, and it would be laid on the table when completed. The Sub-Treasurer reported that ten or twelve days wholly devoted to the work would be necessary to its completion. INVERCARGILL RESERVES MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE. On the motion of Mr Bathgate, the Invercargill Reserves Management Bill was postponed to Tuesday, SHIRES BILL. The Provincial Secretary, on moving the Shires Bill, said large powers were intended to be conferred on shires by the Bill. He explained that it had been introduced in accordance with a resolution of the Council last session. The intention of the Government was not to interfere with existing road districts, but merely to throw upon the

shires the maintenance of main roads. After a few remarks respecting the provisions of the Bill, he said so far as endowment was concerned, it might be a wise course, under certain circumstances, to endow them with small portions of land. People commenting upon this subject said they would have a Bill from the General Government. But the Colonial Government was in no better plight than the Provincial Government to assist them, excepting that the latter could not borrow money. But that was the only advantage. Excepting that the Colonial Government could bestow greater powers, he saw no advantage. In regard to rating powers, it had been provided to limit them as much fas was consistent with the functions they were expected to fulfil. The Bill provided a light voting qualification, which he thought fully "justified. . , Dr Webster thought one fault in the Bill was that public roads were not to be handed over to the shires, and that the Government, after providing the means, should remit the roads to the snire councils. With regard to endowment, some territorial revenue was necessary. He commented on a few of the clauses of the Bill, and concluded by seconding the motion. Mr Thomson thought it would be better to postpone the measure until it was found how the Roads Ordinance worked. Though he had not had time to go through the Bill, it seemed likely to be a very expensive arrangement. Mr Shepherd objected to the Bill, because it did not provide for the establishment of shires on the goldfields and in the pastoral districts. The- Provincial Secretary’s Provincial law must be very rusty when he said the General Assembly was no more powerful than the Provincial Council. He hoped next session such a measure would be introduced. Mr Tolraie recommended the withdrawal of the Bill. Mr Holmes moved the adjournment of the debate to Monday next, to give newlyarrived members an opportunity of considering the Bill, This was seconded by Mr Basstian, The Provincial Secretary consented to the adjournment. Dr Menz’es considered the resolutions of the last session, with the exception of endowing shires with territorial revenue. What the Colonial Government might probably propose might be gathered from what was proposed last year. In those Bills it was proposed in the Assembly that the powers of Provincial Councils were to cease, and in lieu a Council of nineteen members should be adopted. The General Government proposed to withdraw all the powers of Provincial Councils, and vest them in the Governor and his Executive. Although the Bill did grasp the whole subject, it provided local powers of administration, in which others might be grafted. The adjournment would give opportunity for considering the provision of that Bill. Mr Mervyn supported the adjournment. Mr Cutten said there could be no doubt a change in the Institutions of New Zealand was intended. It was therefore essential to discuss the measure, and take the initiative. Any proposal for self Government, emanating from a central Governmant, invariably ignored outlying districts, more or less. Mr McLean proceeded to discuss some of the provisions of the Bill which he considered ton limited; and th.t many road districts were as extended as the proposed shires. Mr Hutchison supported the adjournment of tbe debate, but proposed it should be to Wednesday evening instead of Monday. This was seconded by Mr Bastings. The Provincial Secretary said his only objection was, there was but little business before the Council, and it might be a waste of time to postpone it so long. He explained that the Government were not wedded to areas of twenty-five square miles ; and that it was altogether left to distiicts to decide whether they would join the shires or not. On the question being put, the debate was adjourned to Monday. LAWRENCE RESERVES MANAGEMENT BILL. The second reading of the Lawrence Reserves Management Bill was postponed to Monday. LAWRENCE HOSPITAL. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary it was resolved to present an address to bis Honor the Superintendent, recommending certsin reserves to be added to the Hospital Reserve, Lawrence—viz. section 16, 17, 18, block 2, Lawrence (1 rood 32 poles.) ORETI RAILWAY. The Hon. Dr Menzies moved, “ That an addressed be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will be please to cause copies of the specifications and contracts for the construction of the Winton railway ; of the correspondence referring to the completion of tbe contracts ; of the deed of submission referring disputes to arbitration ; of the evicleuc given before the arbiters; and of the award of the arbiters, to be laid upon tbe table.” The hon member reviewed the various circumstances out of which the arbitration had arisen, and urged the necessity of the House being placed in possession of the information required. The Don Mr Holmes seconded the motion. The Provincial Secretary intimated that there would be no objection on tbe part of the Government. After a few remarks from Mr Lumsden, tbe motion was agreed to without opposition. Mr Bradshaw laid on tbe table the Report of the Roads and Works Department for the year 1871-2. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary, the House, at 3.30, adjourned till two o’clock on Monday.