PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3527, 12 June 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, June 11. Mr Wilson’s motion Ist. That, in the opinion of this Council, the system of free emigration at present in operation from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to this Colony, is liable to 'great abuse, and in some respects very objectionable, and calculated to produce most ’ injurious results, and that immediate action should be taken to remedy this evil. 2nd; That the selection of emigrants suitable to the requirements of this country should be a first consideration ' with the British Emigration Agents, and is of the most vital importance to the present and future interests of the Colony— was agreed to without discussion. In moving that the sessional rail way-pass granted to members of the Provincial Council should bo available during the recess, Mr Brown said he was l only asking that the example of Canterbury and Victoria should be followed. The motion was opposed by the Provincial secretary, who thought it would be putting a very small value on the services of hon. members to grant the proposed privilege. Proviecial Councillors, and especially Mr Speaker, should have the privilege of franking letters and sending telegrams on public business free. The motion was lost, on adivison, by II votes against 10. There was a tie, and the Speaker gave bis casting vote with the Noes. The following is the division list;— Ayes, 10: Messrs J. C. Brown (teller), G. F. C. Browne, H. Clark, Daniel, De Lautour, Hallenstein, M'Dermid (teller),' M'Glashan, Wilson, and Wood. _ Nobs, 10Messrs Driver, Ireland, Lumsden (teller, M'Kellar, M'Lsan, M'Neil, Reid (teUer), Rogers, Turnbull, and Webster.g , Mr Fish’s motion affirming the desirability of the Government taking some steps to establish a sailors’ home, either at Port Chalmers dr unedin, was supported by the Provincial Treasurer (who said the Government would be Willing to subsidise out of the vote for charitable institutions any eff »rt made for the establishment of a Homo hither by the people of Pork Chalmers or Dunedin) and carried. In moving that the Superintendent be requested not to include Caddon Hundred in his recommendation to the Governor to proclaim certain Hundreds, Mr Driver said he was acting from a sense of justice. The proposed Hundred was out of the way, and if the land were sold it would bo forced into the hands of the pastoral tenant. —Dr Webster said Mr Shand had visited the land, and found it quite unsuitable for opening at present, although it might be very desirable to open it in course of time. The motion was agreed to. ♦u A j evenin S sitting Mr Wood resumed the debate on unauthorised expenditure, and moved the previous question. The Provincial Solicitor complained that the Government had been placed in a position such as no other Government had been placed in. Every day a vote of want of confidence was brought against the Government. He was not going to sit there to be insulted day after day ; and if this sort of thing continued, he would resign his seat in the Government. Ihe mot on submitted by the Government was a statutory one, and by tailing on the amendment they were offering ■ an insult to his Honor the Superintendent. Mr M'Glashan would vote for the amendment, simply because of the silly conduct of the Government in treating it as a want of confidence question. Air M'Dermid referred to the change in the sentiments of the Provincial Solicitor the Superintendent, This year he was extremely anxious to protect his Honor, jbutlast session it was all the other way. The Provincial Treasurer accused the member for Port Chalmers of being made a tool of. To repeat a statement made m a former debate : the Opposition, adoptmg the plan of the Eastern kings, had driven their heaviest animals to the front while they remained themselves in the rear! The Provincial Secretary thought the • roverument could not be blamed for ref usmg to proceed with the business unless they received better treatment than to be taken by surpnse in this manner. The Government felt that it was reducing responsible representative Government to a perfect farce to have the business, of the country winterruptod in this way. Althbugh i!n»ny of their supporter* were abseht, the> Gotern-

merit preferred to have the..question decided at once ; and if hou.. members were determined to allow such a motion to appear on the records of the Council, the. Government’ would make-way for, their Opponents. He could assure those who might succeed them, that they would not meet with the same factious opposition that had been offered to the present 1-ovemment —opposition which was not based on political principle, but upon personal motives Af'er some'observations by Messrs De Lautouk and M‘Lean, a division was taken on “ that the question be now put,” with the following result;— Ayes, 11: Messrs Bastings, J. 0. Brown, H. Clark, R. Clarke, De Lautour, Fish, Green, Hazlett, M‘Dermid (teller), M'Kenzie, and Sumpter (teller). Noes, 22 : Messrs Gumming, Daniel, Davie, Driver, Haggitt, Hallenstein, Henderjon, Ireland, Kinross, Luinsclen, M'Kellar, M‘Lean, M’Neil, Reid (teller), Rogers, Stout, Tesohe. maker, Tolmie, Turnbull (teller), Webster, Wilson, and Wood., The suspension of the Standing p rders was then moved by the Provincial Secretary, to enable him to at once move the moti n as originally proposed by the Government Several members of the Opposition walked out of the Council Chamber, and as there was less than two thirds of the members of ♦he House present, the standing Order? could not be suspended. The Provincial Treasurer gave notice that he would bring forward the motion next day. In moving the second reading of the Harbor Board Bill, the 1 roving! al Solicitor explained with regard to the constitution of the Board that it was proposed there should be ex officio members - the Superintendent, the Speaker of the Provincial Council, the Mayors of Dunedin and Port Chalmers, and the Chairman of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. In addition to those ex officio members, it was proposed that there should 1 beeight elective members—two to be elected by the Provincial Council, two by the City eGouncil-of iDunedin, two by the Town Council of Port Chalmers, , and two by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. Thus full weight was given to every interest that could be possibly affect* d by the improvement and management of the Harbor, and that Port Ghalmers had as large a share in the constitution of the Board as Dunedin. The elected members would hold office for two years, and if any failure took place in the election, the Superintendent was empowered to appoint members. The howers. given to the Board would be for ..dredging, constructing training walls, 4uays, and so 'forth ; and it would also be empowered to raise the sum of 1 money mentioned in the resolutions—namely, Themoney was to be borrowed security of lands vesTed in the Trust, and also on the - security of -any tolls, dues, or rents that might be obtained. Full power was given to the Municipal Countils of Dunedin a* d Port. Charmers to have sewers constructed through the land givehto the Harbor Board. That section would be amended' to the effect . that should-any dispute or.difference 7 arise between the Board and the Town Councils, such disputes should be referred to the Supermte'hdenf and Executive, whose dec sion'shall be bindin'7. After a few ~dtisefrations by Mr De LAOTDur who maintained that a charge against Provincial revenues was contained in the Bill, the second ■reading was passed Y The following Bills paased their third readings Riverton Harbor Board Bill, l oads Diversion Bill (No. 2), Palmerston School ‘ Glebe Exchange Bill, Port Chalmers School Reserve Sale BUI, Oamaru Harbor Board Bill. • * On the House going into Coflimittee of supply. Mr vSxjbipter moving that L 4 000. should be placed on the Estimates in addition to the L 2,000 already agreed to, to provide payment in cash to Volunteers.who may be entitled t«i a remission certificate for land., ’ Mr C|,ARK moved as an amendment that the :snm be-reduced by L 3.000, which would 'give each-.Volunteer Lls. The amendment, which the Provincial Secretary said was » fair compromise, was carried by 17 to 10.

Friday, June 12,

The Private Petitions Committee reported follows :—(1 )On the petition of Henry rHoworth, which set forth that Henry Orbell and Thoa. Cotton; claim to -be'entitled to a certificate ef title for certain land# alleged to have been purchased from the ew Zealand Company—that the petition was one which should be dealt with by the General Government, it being, in the opinion of the committee, a matter beyond the functions of the ; ‘ProvincialCouncil to interfere in (2.) On ’ the petition of J. C. Maegregor, who prayed “'for inquiry into the circumstances of his dis“missal from the Provincial Government ser- / Vice, with a view to redress being granted—that from the evidence submitted to them, • fhe were of opinion that the ' racipliue ; necessary to .maintain the effi■hi&ncjr of the Government service justified the action taken, and therefore the petitioner had no claim for consideration. The committee finally reported having reported on twenty-seven peftions, and expressed “considerable satisfaction to find that the Government so fully concur with the finding- and recommendations of your committee as to obviate the necessity of making any special mo cions in regard to their recommenc ations. ’ ’ Message >o, 21 covered the Supplementary Estimates, the principal items in which were :—bpeakir of Provincial Council, LSO; Chairman of Committees and Clerk of Council, L 25 each; Commissioner of Police, LSO ; three sub-inspeotprs, L3O each ; two subinspectors, L 25 each ; Commi sioner’s clerk ; and accountant, L 25 ; piermaster, Port Chalmers, L 265; harbormasters at Kakanu’i and Molyneux, L 25 each ; geological survey, L 250; Oamaru Rocket Brigade, L 150; Port Chalmers athenaeum, LSO y assistant engineer, L 350; two cadets in Provincial Engineer’sdepartment, LSOeach; Government auctioneers, L 750; roads L 16,100; bridges L 5.570; Provincial Gouacil alterations, i 400 ; Otago - Dock (working expenses and liabilities), 1)2,500; alteration of gauge Invercargill railways, L3.OO0; Immigration Agent, L7OO ; Oamaru Dock, L 2.000. The House wehk into Committee of Supply. On the main estimates a discussion took place:: on the item, “Kakanui harbor, LlOjOOO,” Mr . Gillies opposing the work feeivg constructed out of revenue. The Provincial secretary explained that it was only intended to go on with the work if the .loan were granted, but if the Assembly struck it out.of the loan schedule, the Government would still feel at liberty to devote a portion Qf the :loin to the work. During the discussion there was an amusing passage of arms between' Mr Fish and Mr Teschemaker, the |latter stating that the former bad promised to support the vote, which Mr Fish now denied, Mr Tesche Maker ; Upon my word and honor the hon. member said so, and voluntarily. Mr Fish : The hon member for Mberaki is more to be pitied than blamed, Mr, Teschemaker : The non membei 1 for jDjixnediu has more need to pity himself. The vote was negatived by 18 Against I2« [Left sitting.]