PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 2886, 20 May 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Friday. TELEGRAPH TO WISTON. On tlie motion of Mr M ‘Arthur it was agreed to address his Honor the Superintendent praying for the extension of the telegrapn to Winton as soon as possible. ENDOWMENT FOB GOLDFIELD HOSPITAL. Mr Shepherd moved—“ That an address

":- B |«gP.;«r be his Honor the Superin ten* dent, recommending that 20,000 acres of Crown lands, in the Dunstan district, be granted as an endowment for the Dunstan Hospital; that 20 000 acres of Crown lands, situated in the Tuapeka district, be granted as an endowment for the Tuapeka Hospital; that 20.000 acres of Crown lands, situated in the Wakatipu district, be granted as an endowment to the Wakatip Hospital; that 20,000 acres of Crown lands ,situated in the Mount Ida district, be granted as an en* dowment for the Mount Ida Hospital.” The hon. member pointed out that the proposed reserves were taken from the respective districts in which the proceeds of them were to be expended, which he conceived tobe a right principle Mr Bastings, in seconding the motion, referred to the number and variety of accidents that were constantly occurring in the goldfields districts, and the difficulty of supporting the various hospitals. He thought if the motion were passed, it would enable the managers of these hospitals to meet all their engagements, with the voluntary subscriptions that were annually raised. Mr Hathgate would agree to the endowment of hospitals if carried into effect by the adoption of some general principle; but he daresay, if he were to propose an endowment for the Dunedin Hospital in proportion to those asked for for the up-country hospitals, he should be called “grasping” for the advantage of Dunedin, &c. He would not do so, but would content himself with moving the following amendment:—“ In the opinion of this Council, it is expedient that all the reserves made for hospitals specially should be applied for the maintenance of hospitals generally, and so managed that the reserves arising therefrom should be entered in a special account, to be called * The Hospitals’ account and the amount at the credit of such account should be distributed annually towards the support ef the various hospitals in proportion to the number of patients and the amount of the voluntary conti ibntiopsof the hospitals respectively.” : , T The Provincial Secretary, in opposing the original motion, pointed out that the Council had already set apart half a million of acres of laud for hospital purposes; and expressed his opinion that the amendment would be more advantageous even to the special districts named than by the plan proposed in the original motion. Besides provision would thereby be made for the establishment and support of hospitals that may be required in other districts, even after we might have no more land to endow them with. The question being put, “ That the words proposed to bo omitted [from Mr Shepherd’s motion] stand part of the question,” a division was called for, when there voted — ayes 6, noes 21. The were accordingly struck out.

The question was then put fur the insertion of the words as proposed by Mr Bathgate ; whereupon Mr Bastings moved an ment similar in substance to the original proposition, excepting as to the number of acres proposed to be set apart—viz., 5000, in lieq of 50,000 in each case—and substituting “ pastoral lands ” for “ Crown lands.” The amendment was negatived, as were two others of minor importance; and Mr Bathgate’s amendment was affirmed on the voices. This Day. The Speaker took the chair at two o’clock. (QUESTIONS.) In reply to questions, The Provincial Secretary stated that the Government intended to hand over to municipalities any revenue accruing within municipalities since the new arrangements have been entered into; less the actual amount expended on the main roads through each during the interval. Also that the Government had not been able to effect any reduction in the amount charged by the Rector of the High School for boarding at that institution Also that the resolution of last session respecting the running of Sunday trains on the Otago Railways, has been forwarded to the Traffic Manager of the Bluff and Invercargill Railway, with instruction to carry it into effect upon the arrival of the English Mails. Also in reply to a question, the Provincial Treasurer stated that it was the intention of the Government to repair the road near “Look-out Point, known as the ‘old road.”' EDUCATION. Mr G. F. C. Browne, moved : “ That this Counc 1 is of opinion that it is expedient to repeal the 40th clause of the “Education Ordinance, 1864. ” The motion was seconded by Mr Lumsden; opposed by Mr Allan the Hon Mr M‘Lean, Mr Tolmie, Mr Armstrong, and Mr Henderson. It was supported by Mr Mervyn and Dr Webster: and being put from the chair was lost on a division, the numbers being—Ayes, 11; Noes, 16. The ayes were—Bastings (teller), Brown, J. C. (teller), Browne, G. P, C.; Daniel, Hickey, Innes, Lumsden, Macassey, Mervyn, Shepherd, and Webster. The noes were—Allan, Barr, Basstian, Bradshaw, Clark, Cutten, Henderson, Menzies (teller), Mollison, M‘Arthnr, M'Lean, Reynolds (teller), Smith, Thomson, and Tolmie, [Left sitting.)