PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3501, 13 May 1874, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, May 12. On Mr Wood’s motion that it was desirable, in order to encourage traffio on the railways, to reduce the fares, the Provincial BEORETART said it was possible and probable that the passenger charges could hi reduced without reducing the of the line. The whole matter would be considerea with a view to having a uniform rate established throughout the Province. On Mr Lumsden’s motion, four acres of land at Invercargill were set apart as a gasworks site for that town, . On Mr Wilson’s motion that, “ in the opinion of this Council, the main line of railway from Bluff Harbor to Invercargill and Winton should be considered as a part of the Colonial railway system, as provided by tbe Immigration and Public Works Act; that the Province should be credited with the cost of construction or value of said railway; that the amount of the cost of construction, or value thereof, sbouid be handed over by the General Government to the Provincial Government, and appropriated to the construction of branch lines of railway, as feeders to main lines; and that his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to take such steps as may be necessary to give effect to this resolution the Provincial secretary explained that there was no objection to the motion, which was one that would be beneficial to the Province if the General Assembly would agree to it. These lines must be a part of the general railway system of the Colony. In the Province of Auckland, some arrangement of this kind had been made, but this was when the Province was in a depressed state. The Government would he glad to make overtures to the General Government, with a view to the purchase of these lines under the 15th sec tion of, the Act. He could not promise anything for some time with regard to the branch lines dealt with in the motion. Mr De Latour’s motion, “that it is advisable to reduce the gold export' duty sixpence per ounce,” was carried on the voices. Mr Kinross moved for a statement of “the terms and conditions upon which the contracts for the construction of the Orepuki Railway, the Otautau Bailway, the Wallacetownto Biverton Bailway, and the Waiareka railway have been Jet; and also the Provincial Engineer’s report of the cb-t of completing these railways.” Mr Tub bull explained that there was not the slightest objection to do as the motion asked. They had done the best in letting the contracts at an increased price. In his opinion payment in land was the most expensive mode of paying for contracts. In moving the second reading of the Imprest Supply Bill, the Provincial Solicitor explained that it simply provided that the contractors who had undertaken works before the Council met might be paid the sums due to them. No contracts had been entered in|;o without the sanction of the Council. Mr Fish moved the adjournment of the debate, because, he said, he thought if the House were to pass the Bill at the present time they would be establishing a very dangerous precedent. Many experienced members thought with himself that it was most unusual to introduce an Imprest apply Bill before the valance sheet was laid beiete the Council; or at any rate until a statement of the unauthorised expenditure was jfiaced before them. The Provincial Aeciietary complained that the Bill was made a ground ®-.ttack against the Government, thereby inflicting a hardship upon those people who had just claims against the Government, ihose people should not be injured for the sake of any little squabble that might take place in that Council; and the action of those members who opposed this Bill was most unworthy. The Provincial ■ treasurer followed, contending that objection was made to the Bill solely with tue view of raising opposition to the Government. Thereupon Mr Fish said if the motion was going to be looked upon as one 01 want of confidence, he would ask leave to withdraw it, ai}d it was withdrawn accordingly Tho second reading then passed; the Bill was commuted and read a third time and

In moving the second reading of the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Act, the Provincial Solicitor explained that it was introduced for the purpose of giving the Corporation of Dunedin greater powers in the licens.r.g of hackney carriages, and for the purpose of enabling the Corporation to adopt pure of the Municipal Corporations Act. 1807. In committee Messrs v. Uermid and Green opposed the Bill, on the ground that it applied to all places within ti a miles from the principal post-office in Dunedin. Mr Reid said that he was not disposed to extend the of the Corporation outside Dunedin. Mr r tout &aid that the Bill only applied to cabs and carriages plying for hire. On a division, the first clause of the Hill was carried,, the voting being : Ayes, 18 ; noes, 4. It was then decided that progress should be reported, and leave obtained to sit another day. The Speaker announced that he had received from the .Provincial Auditor au account of special oiders obtained since the last sitting of the Council. The total was LlOfi 479 14s Id. The Provincial Secretary moved—- “ That this Couucii concurs in the proposal to erect a suitable building for the Otago University, upon the land known as the old Cemetery Reserve, and approves of an area of not exceeding eight acres, upon such reserve, being appropriated accordingly.” In reply to Mr hiSH, the Provincial Secretary said the laud was not a part of the Town Belt. M otion carried. On Mr Bastings moving, “That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, recommending that 2,500 acres of land nn the run of Mr Glassford bo thrown open for settlement on the deferred payment system, as recommended by the Goldfields Committee in their report (Interim ho. 1) on the petition of twenty-nine residents of Blacks, Tinkers, and Diybread,” the Prov ncial Secretary said it had already been done. The recommendation of the Goldfields Committee, that the N aseby Recreation Reserve, less two chains, required for minin« purposes, should be vested in the Munich pality of haseby, was agreed to.

Wednesday, May 13.

Message No. 6, from the Superintendent, was read as follows :—“The '-inpeririteudont submits to the Provincial Connell the following proposals, with w r bich he ventures to hope the Council will concur (I ) That the police padlock, Tekomairiro, would in the meantime be a suitable site for a farm in connection with tbe Lunatic Asylum ; ana that in order to enhance its future value, immediate steps should be taken to fence said paddock, and to surround it with a belt of forest trees, by means of the labor of the inmates of the Asylum. (2). That it is ex pedient to reserve from sale 500 acres adjacent to the line of railway between Clinton and Mataura (or between Tokomairiro and Lawrence), with a view to the Asylum being ultimately located there. (3 ) That a separate establishment be provided for the cure of inebriates ; and tbe Colonial Legislature be applied to, witli a view to provision being made for the legal committal to such establishment of confirmed drunkards.” Petitions were presented : From 49 residents at Waitahuna, from residents at Manuka Creek (by Mr Beid), and 72 retidents at Blueskin (by Mr Green),, protesting against tbe running of Sunday trains on the Port Chalmers Railway.—From residents at -Mount Ida, praying that a survey might be made of the railway lino irotn Palmerston to lyde, with the view of setting apart suitable blocks of lands as security for the construction of the line, (by Mr DeLatour ) In reply to questions, the Government said—(l.) That they intended to prepare, in accordance with the interim report of the Goldfields Committee, a Bill vest the recreation reserve at Naseby in tbe Municipal Council of that borough. (2.) That the Government did not intend for the present “ to recommend the Council to authorise the employment of an Immigration Agent to proceed to England and Ireland for the purpose of selecting suitable immigrants for the Province.” A gentbman had been appointed very recently to act as emigration Agent in the Home country and the sphere of his operations had not been cmfined to any part of the United Kingdom or Ireland. He was at liberty to go to any part of England or Ireland where he could find suitable immigrants. The Government did not think it desirable, in view of the large number of applications made under the nominated system, and until they found what was the effect of the gentleman going Home on the immigration system, at the present time to make any other appointment. If they could secure a gentleman of Mr Fish’s energy and abilities they might be induced to modify their decision. (3). The Government had no objection to lay on tbe table all papers end correspondence relating to the appointment of Mr James A dam as Immigration Agent for the Province. (4). The Government did not intend to introduce any resolutions this session, having for their object the opening, under certain conditions, of the Dunedin Hospital to the medical profession. They were not aware that the hospital was closed. From all the information he (the Provincial SECRETARY) conld gather, it appeared that a select committee sat upon this matter some time ago, and examined a good many medical men in the Province. Asa matter of courtesy, any medical man wishing to be present when an operation is being performed, asks permission to do so; and it has not in any case been refused. He believed some improvement was necessary in regard to what was termed the domestic arrangements of the institution, Ii the people of Ouuedin would bestir themselves a little, and show a desire to assist in regard t® that, lie believed there would be no objection on the pa t of the gentleman in charge of the hospital—he rather thought Dr Hulme would be glad to be relieved to some extent. A committee, say of the ladies of Dunedin, might be appointed to see to the domestic arrangements of the hospital. But the first step towards management by the people of Dunedin should be their coming forward and showing a desire to contribute towards the support of the hospital. That would really be the iniatorv step. The answer of the Gavernment to tbe question as it stood was in tbe negative. (5) That the Council was-to'blarae in a great degree for the resolution of July 10, 1873, recommending tbe Government to grixnt the prayer of a petition from settlers in the Shag Valley district, not having been given effect to. 1 he object of the petitioners was no doubt that the laud should be withheld from sale with a view to setting it , apart as a reserve, and the Council could have taken that step by resolution, and then the land might have been removed from the operation of the Land .Act, and excluded from sale. But by that not having been done it became open for sale, and application having been made in the oadinary way, at Li an acre, tale cnuld not be refused. There might have been a temporary reserve effected by the Superintendent after the Council rose, but be was not aware that that had been done ; and seejug that the Council bad not taken the pioper steps , the land was sold in the usual way. (6.) The Government intended to have the rails put down on tbe Awamoko railway as soon as the earthworks were completed. (7.) Hie attention of the Government had been drawn to certain action at law having been taken to interfere with tbe pursuance of the orderly working, under the Goldfields Act of 1866 and regulations framed thereunder, of certain gold wines above the Maeiewhenua River $

but the Government did not see their way to taking steps to defend the miners, but would use their best endeavors to get both parties to agree to having a case stated by their solic.tors, and be at once sent to the Court of Appeal, so that there should ba no litigation hei e, and the Government would be prepared to bear the expense that nnght be incurred in preparin'; that case. It was a matier that ought to be definitely settled if possible without encouraging litigation either on the part of the miners or property holders. If the parties agreed to that proposal, the Government would do its best to induce the Court of Appeal to give a final decision as early as practicable. (8 ) The reason why the Volunteers who Have bos mo entitled to land certificates have not received them was that the Council did not comely with the provisions of section 2 of the Volunteer Laud Act, ISGS, by passing a resolution recommending that certain lands should be given. ' he feeling had gained ground in the Council that grants should bo given on condition of residence and improvement, and last session no resolution was passed. The Municipal Corporation Amendment Bill was considered in Commi tee, when the extension of its provisions to Port Chalmers was agreed to on a division. the proposal to make the Bill apply to aU municipalities was negatived by 19 against 8. The Bill was read a third time. [Left sitting ]