PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3833, 7 June 1875, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Monoat, June 7. .Mr De liAUTOTjr’s motion having been divided into two parts, the first—“ That a respectful Address he presented te his Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will tab# such steps as may seem to him necessary to obtain the introduction of a Bill during the ensuing session of the Assembly, dealing with the pollution of rivets by gold miners and others, and providing (inter alia) for mining on Crown lands, though such mining may foul streams and rivers”—was carried without discussion ; but in reference to the second division —“ that in all future sales of land the banks of rivers and streams be reserved from sale, or if sold, that the purchasers have only limits privileges, and no right to object to the streams or rivers being forded by necessary mining operations ”—it was pointed out by Messrs M'Lean, Menziks, and Reid that too much •was being attempted; while Mr M‘Kbllab thought the object sought to be obtained by the member for Meunt Ida would be fully gained by the first part of his motion. The second clause was struck out, Mr Reeves moved bis motion, affirming that the time had arrived when the toll bars at present erected immediately adjoining the City boundaries should be moved to a distance of two miles from the Town Belt ef Dunedin, in a short speech, ( in which he demonstrated the hardships the citizens suffered under in having theltoll bars right against their very doors. Mr Ireland having moved, as an amendment, the omission of all the words after “has arrived,” with the view of inserting words to the effect that the whole of the tolls in the Province should be abolished, brought up Mr Fish, who said it would have been better had the member for Mount Benger boldly declared his opposition to the motion instead of endeavoring to draw a herring across the path, as so impolitic an amendment would be. Then followed some clap-trap allusions to the selfishness of country members who came to Dnnedin once a year and “saw something whereon to feast their eyes and imaginations, and had no consideration for the unfortunate denizens of Dunedin.” Mr Bastings, who next spoke and opposed both motion and amendment, insinuated that the first was a bid for the Mayoralty of Dunedin. The senior member for Tnapeka was twitted by Mr Haogitt with having at one time held a different opinion; and he put to the Council more plainly than his colleague for the City, the grievance of the citizens that the tolls were placed at their doors, as it were, the consequence being that it was impossible to move outside the city boundaries without having to pay toll; there wag not a single outlet from the city but was barred by a gate. “ This is oppressive in the extreme, 6 continued Mr Haogitt, with a heavy side-drive at the City Council, “more especially when the fact is we cannot get the streets we want, because large sums are being spent in raining properties.” The Provincial Secretary, while calling upon the Council to reject the motion and amendment, argued very much in favor of both, though with him the abolition of tolls wasa question of time. He pointed out that the time was fast approaching when the tollgates would soon be in the centre of the city; and that port of the evil was becoming more apparent every day. At the nar«a time there _ was an agency at work — the ( extension of our railway system —which would largely help to solve the question. At present the earlier settled districts really paid the tolls, for no toll-bar had been erected in any part of the Province for the last eight or nine years. He urged that the present time was inopportune for the removal of the bars ; but he thought the time would soong come when their abolition would be agreed to, and there wonld have to be .taken into consideration a horse or vehicle tax as the means of maintaining roads, as it was quite clear that that burden could no longer be borne by the Government. Mr M'Lean gave notice, amid n^u ®h laughter, of his intention to move as an addition to tha amendment, in the event of its being carried, the words—“ And that no more money be spent on making or the maintenance of roa<ls.”| While Mr Reeves was conversing with, another hon. member the amendment voices. This surprise fairly onset the gravity of the member for Dunedin, who at once delivered himself of a very savage speech, in which he said the country members whe supported tolls deserved to be put in the stocks, to which he compared the gates. “If I had accepted the position of Treasurer in his Government the hon. member for Tuapeka would not have insinuated as he has done. And the hon, gentleman at the head of tl\e Government has grossly deceived me in this matter. I begin to ask to myself: is there anyjhonesty in politics?” How far this outburst of outraged feelings might have carried the member for Dunedin it ig impossible to say, but Mr Wilson having ventured an interjection found himself generally laughed at as the “member for Makaroonah,” Mr 3 Ireland’s amendment having been negatived bj - 26 against 8, Mr Fish moved as a farther amendment that the tollbars should be rer coved If miles outside the town boundary, v /hich enabled Mr Bastings and Mr £|Q) to m ake explanations as to what had fallen from I dr Reeves. The first-men-tioned obaged him with a breaeh of manliness and honesty hi repeating a strictly con-

fidential conversation; and Mr Reid denied that he had made any promises of support, but admitted, as it was bis present opinion, that thelHillsidebar should be removed to Cavorsham. Mr Reives followed with a further personal explanation, and hurled back “with the disgust and disdain it deserved” the breach of honor levelled at him by Mr Bastings. The amendment of Mr Pish was negatived by 18 to 13.