PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 2881, 14 May 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Yesterday. The Speaker took the chair at 2 o’clock. RIVERTON TRAMWAY. Mr Basstian supported the motion, as it was likely to open up one of the most important goldfields in the Province. Mr Bathgate spoke in favor of the motion, and thought it would also open up a large amount of agricultural land. The coal of the district, too, was equal or superior to anything in the Colony, Mr Thomson was in some doubt how to vote in this case. It was one of those large questions implying so great a cost to the Province that the Government should clearly express themselves on the matter. He thought the supporters of the motion had made out a good case; but good cases could also be made out in favor of many other parts of the Province, and it would be -well to know if the Government would deal in a similar way with them. The Provincial Secretary did not intend to oppose the motion; yet there was the difficulty of deciding if the work wonld pay working expenses. Were the Government assured upon good authority that there would be sufficient traffic to pay even working expenses, they would certainly support the work being undertaken. Hem. members were in as good a position to form a judgmeat on the subject as the Government was. The motion was agreed to without opposition. BASIS OF UNION WITH SOUTHLAND, Mr Lumsden moved :—“ That the attention of the Government be directed to the following clauses in the report of the {Commissioners appointed to arrange a basis of union between the provinces of Southland and Otago, viz :—‘ Ist. The Commissioners are agreed that in any postal scheme entertained by the General Government, in which the mail service is conducted by Foveaux Straits, the united Provincial Government should use their best endeavors to secure that the Bluff should be the first and last port of call; and in entertaining any contract for a coastal service, the Provincial'* Council should insert the provision that the Bluff should be one of the ports of calL ‘2nd. |Tho Commissioners are of opinion* that a stipulation should be entered into that immigrants for the Bluff should be landed there free of additional cost of passage ; and that at least every third vessel should make the Bluff an advertised port of call, or oftener if found necessary.’ ” The hon. member stated that he had brought forward his motion mainly because be saw from the postal programme of the General Government, just published, that mails for the Bluff had been altogether overlooked ; so that he presumed, uuless steps were taken to prevent it, that thp people of the South would rarely, if ever, be able to get their letters up in time to be despatched by the outgoing mail. He hoped the Provincial Government would use their influence to get some improvement, as he thought they were bound to do by the terms of union. Then again, as to the question of immigration, it would be a great injustice if steps were not taken to carry out this part of the compact, and he hoped the Government would use its influence to the uttermost. The Hon. Mr Holmes supported the motion. The Provincial Secretary stated that the Government had always done as much as they possibly could to protect the interests of the southern part of the Province.. Sometimes they had incurred the cost of getting the mails specially conveyed overland or by sea. They would still continue to do what they could ; but as the matter imruader

he control of tke General Government, they ,ad no power to act. The motion was put and affirmed. TRAMWAY AT OAMAHA. On the motion of the Hon. Mr M‘Lcan, it ras ordered “That the Provincial Goyernnent he recommended to apply to the Geue■al Government to take over, under the prorisions of ‘The Immigration and Public Vorks Act 1871,’ the tramway now being lonstructed by the Oamaru Dock Trust, from ;he breakwater to the town, and, on its jeing so taken over, that the sum expended ipon the work will be refunded to the Trust. ” WESTERN DISTRICT FARMER’S CLUB, &C Mr Daniel’s motion for a grant of one acre and one rood of land for the endowment of the Western Farmer’s Club and Agricultural Association, at Jacob’s River, was approved by the Provincial Secretary, who advocated a general principle that should apply to all districts alike. Several suggestions were made with the view of establishing such a principle, and it was finally resolved to recommend “ That an area not exceeding four acres, be set apart for each Agricultural, or Agricultural and Pastoral Society in the Pi’ovince. This Day. The Speaker took the chair at 2 o’clock. NEW BILLS, The Impounding Ordinance, 1872, and the Invercargill Education Exchange Ordinance were read a first time. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, In reply to Mr Macassey, the Provincial Solicitor said that, in his opinion, the words in the 40th clause of the Education Ordinance, 1864, “the Holy Scriptures shall be read daily ” mean that the Bible shall be read daily without note or comment; and the words “such instruction” referred to such reading only. In order to arrive at the meaning of the words “such instruction,” it was necessary to refer hack to an explanation of the word ‘‘ such.” An answer was found in ' the beginning of the section in the phrase “such reading,” which again referred to the antecedent requirement that the Holy Scriptures should be read. Where words were not technical, the presumption was that they were used by the Legislature in their ordinary, popular or general signification. The ordinary meaning of the term “instruction” was the act of teaching or imparting information, and the act of “reading” was sufficiently within such a definition as to warrant him in saying that, in his opinion, the words “such instruction,” taken with the context, referred to the act of reading only. This censlusion, to which he had come, was strengthened by the consideration of the Education Ordinance, 1862, which was repealed by the existing Ordinance. In the Ordinance, which was repealed, not only was the reading ofjthe Scriptures daily prescribed, but also “ such religious instruction” as the School Committee should appoint, not at variance “ with what are commonly known as Evangelic.il doctrines. ” The omission of such a specific provision in the existing Ordinance must have been intentional, and it sietned to him to be clear that the 11411 and purpose of the Legislature were to limit the religious instruction to the simple reading of the Bible as commanded. He might state that the interpretation which he had given was that which was put on the Ordinance by jibe Education Board. In reply to the Hon. Pr Menzies the Provincial Secretary ssid the proceedings of the last Council of Southland had been printed, and that a vote of the Council alone was required in order to print the proceedings of former Councils, as they were in manuscript already. In reply to Mr M ‘Dermid, The Provincial Secretary said, although there was no specific agreement between the Dock Trust and the Government as to the erection of a crane capable of raising 40 tons at the Graving Dock, as soon as the power to raise a loan was granted, the Government would endeavor to make arrangements with the trustees. •

In reply to Mr Basstian, The Provincial Secretary said that the Government had no control nor information respecting the Telegraph posts. MOTIONS. Op the motion of Mr M acasscy, to refer the petition of 827 Ohinamen to a Select Committee, Mr fnnes said it was strange he heard nothing of the petition ; he had, therefore, telegraphed to hear something of the subject, but found that few knew anything about it, and the people were highly indignant. The Speaker said the petition was informal, and should be withdrawn. Mr Mervyn, on those grounds, moyed that it should be withdrawn. The Hon. Mr Holmes objected to its withdrawal, as enquiry should be made into the complaint against Mr Beetham, and that any complaint by the Chinese should be inquired into. Mr G. F. C. Browne moved that the matter should be referred to the Goldfields Committee. The Hon. Mr M'Lean advocated the appointment of a committee, on account of the prejudice on the goldfields against the Chinese. Mr Bastings denied there was any such prejudice. Mr Reynolds thought it beyond the prerogative of the Council to inquire into the conduct of an officer of the General Government, and the petition should be withdrawn. The Provincial Secretary thought it would not be right on the part of the Council to ignore the memorial, especially as bethought Warden Beetbam'would come out from such an inquiry with credit, and that the committee should be appointed. It having been decided to appoint a committee, Messrs Bradshaw, Innes, Bastings, Browne, M’Lean, Tolmie, and Macassey were elected. [Left sitting.]