PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3257, 29 July 1873, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Monday, July 28. PETITIONS. Petitions were presented from certain residents in the Wangaloa sub-division of the Kaitangata road district, asking for a division or the Road Board.—(Mr Clark.) Irom Mr Larnarch, with reference to the taking of certain private property for road purposes in the Benin sula district. —(Mr Oliver.) QUESTIONS. In answers to questions, the Government said that the fact of the main road through Palmerston having been closed by a private individual, had been brought under the notice of the Government, and instructions had been given tothe Provincial Solicitor to take legal steps to compel the individual referred to .to remove the fence across the road. —Government were not prepared to say whether they would open for sale land on Henderson’s run, No. 200, in the neighborhood of Ettrick. There was a block in the neighborhood somewhere, of which 1,500 acres still remained unsold ; and from nil the information they could obtain from their officers, the Government did not think it would be advisable to open up the block in the neighborhood of Ettrick. During the course of the year some member of the Government would look into the matter, and if it were desirable or suitable they would be inclined to carry out the views of the member for Mount Benger.—There was a sum of money on the Estimates for repairing the Port Molyneux jetty ; and it was the intention of the Government to see after the matter immediately. MISCELLANEOUS. The following were agreed to with little or no debate : That an address be presented to the Superintendent, recommending that, under part 3 of the Public Works and Immigration Act, a drainage channel at Waipori Flat, Puapeka, be initiated without delay. That sections 4, 5, and 6, block 44, 1, 2, and 3, block 57, and 1 acre 14 poles of unsurveyed land at Lawrence, be set apart for municipal purposes. That the petition of residents at Mount Benger (presented on May 16) be referred to the favorable consideration of Government. That effect be given to the recommendation of the Private Petitions Committee re John Bruce’s petition, and the Port Chalmers Railway Committee’s report. That sections 31, 32, 34, and 35, block 9, Wyndham, bo set apart as an endowment for the Oamavu Hospital. That the petition of forty-six settlers on Ahuriri Flat be referred to the ’ Government for favorable consideration. That all country land intended to be sold by auction by Government be advertised at least two months before sale. That 8 acres 3 roods and 20 poles of land at Outram be set aside for a pound and market reserve for the settlers on the Taieri district. Resolutions were also adopted that effect should be given to the reports of the Private Petitions Committee re P. Welsh, John Anderson, Robert Dodds, Isaac Wyber, and J. Richardson. ABOLITION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL. Mr Fish resumed his speech on the motion introduced by him on Thursday last. He said the amendment of the Government was only tabled for the puipose of shelving the question. He was quite cognisant of the fact that the session was near its close, and he therefore thought he would be consulting the wishes of the House if he asked leave to withdraw Ids resolutions for the present session. He did not wish to force so important a question upon the House; but it was his intention, if the Government did not themselves take action, to bring down similar resolutions next session. The Provincial Secretary said the amendment was drawn up by himself, without consulting his colleagues, after a perusal of the report furnished by the Commissioners, and was not submitted as representing the views of the Government. As had been stated, the amendment had been tabled with the view of staving off the question, because he felt that it was too important a question to be decided hurriedly. He was sure that a few months’ consideration of the long and able report of the Commission would lie with the hon. members to decide upon something next session that would be for the permanent prosperity of the interests of education in the Province. The resolutions were then withdrawn, and the amendment allowed to lapse. w. k. Douglas’s petition. On Mr Clarke’s motion that effect should be given to the recommendation of the Private Petitions Committee re W. R. Douglas’s petition, the Provincial Secretary said the Government were in a position to state that Mr Douglas left the management of the dredge on his own account; and the circumstances were such that not only was he not entitled to such compensation, but that it was rather the other way. The Government had a large quantity of evidence to offer, which the Committee apparently had never asked for. T his latter assertion brought to his feet Mr Gillies, who, as Chairman of the Committee, said the Government, in reply to the Committee s communication, had forwarded a series of documents, which were fully considered by the Committee before bringing up their report. Ultimately the report was referred back to the Committee for additional evidence. PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. Mr Stout mo ml—“ That the Government be requested, during the recess, to select a block of land to be set aside as an endowment for all athenreums, public libraries, and mechanics’ institutes in the Province, so as to place all these institutions, so far as endowments are concerned, in the same position.” Mr IIEM moved as an amendment that the following words be added to the motion : “and that the land endowments already set apart shall form part of the general estate.” On a division, the amendment was carried by 19 to 9. Mr Hagoitt then moved as a further addition to the motion, “ and that the rents, issues, and profits of the lands so set apart shall be distributed ratcably amongst all such institutions, in proportion to the amount received annually from the subscribers thereto respectively.” The debate was interrupted by tho hour of adjournment. ROADS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BILL. The Provincial Solicitor proposed that this Bill should be read a second time. An amendment, that it be read that day six months, was carried. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. In Committee, LI,OOO was voted for a bridge across the Molyneux at Roxburgh, and LSOO as a "rant in aid of tho funds of the Dunedin Athenaeum. The Supplementary Estimates were passed as printed.