PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3841, 16 June 1875, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, June 15. The various committees reported—the Goldfields Committee on the petition of 255 residents in the Cromwell district, who prayed for the establishment of a court-house and gaol there, that the Government should make arrangements for having periodical sittings of the District Court at Cromwell, but there was no necessity at present te erect a gaol there; and on the petition of William Rigney, who prayed for redress of alleged grievances arising out of a case heard before Mr Warden Simpson, re dissolution of partnership on certain mining property—that they were unable to recommend the Government to grant the prayer of the petition. The Private Petitions Committee recommended that the Government should deal with Mr M'Glashan’s petition, which alleged the non-fnlfilment by the Government of an agreement for the transfer and conveyanee of certain lands for a road line up the Water of Leith Valley. There was much opposition to the motion to go into Committee of Supply to consider the Supplementary Estimates. Mr Bastings urged that there had not been decent time allowed to consider them; Mr Torton commented upon the absence from the Government Benches of the Provincial Solicitor; while Mr M;Glashan assumed the r6l& of a prophet of evil, predicting that the rashness of the Council m the matter of railway construction would land the Province in a crisis. To these and other objections the Provincial Secretary made answei that the Supplementary Estimates merely contained items already voted by the Councilor were included in the Estimates prepared by Mr Bastings’s Government; and that the Government had obtained a legal opinion that it was unnecessary to amend the Executive Ordinance to provide for the Provincial Solicitor. A motion to report progress was negatived by 22 against 11. The item “ non-official members ” of the Executive, Ll5O, to raise their salaries to L2OO each, was negatived on a division by 16 against 15; and the item 44 Goldfields Secretary exi^aa 33 ’ fr* raise that official’s salary to L6OO, and allow of his residing in Dunedin, lost on a division by 13 against 10. Among other items that passed was LIOO to the Clerk of the Provincial Council for special services. There was considerable debate on the item General Manager of Railway, 10 months (at L 900), L 750.” Mr Stout thought the amount ndiculously high, it being double that of the Harbor-Master, L3OO per year more than that of Chief Surveyor, nearly double that of the Commissioner of Police, and only LIOO less than that of the Superintendent. The vote was strongly supported by the Provincial Secretary and by Mr Bastings, who mentioned that Mr Conyers had refused an offer of LBOO a year, and remained in the service of the Provincial Government. Referring to the comparison between the salary proposed to be given to the railway manager, and that paid to the Commissioner of Ponce, Mr Tueton asked the Council to recollect the present condition of the force and what it was twelve years ago, and to say if the L 550 voted to the commissioner was not too much. The item passed as printed.—On the item “Introduction of 'Salmon, L 500,” Mr Brown moved the insertion of the word “bonus” before ‘ introduction,” but this was negatived, the vote being agreed to by 22 against 9. On the item “Instruction in mineralogy, L 500,” the Goldfields Secretary explained that it was frr the School of Mines referred to in his Honor the Superintendent’s Address. It was intended to make use of the present organisv rion which they had already under Captain Hutton. If, after further investigation, it was thought desirable to establish this school permanently, it would be done. Among the increases voted under the head “departmental ” were—L3o to the cashier in the Treasury at j Dunedin ; L 25 to the assistant harbor-master I atKakanm; L2O to the clerk in the Education Office: L 25 to the lady principal of the Girls’ High School j L 25 to each of the bailiffs on goldfields; LSO to the Inspector of the Lunatic Asylum ; L 25 to the master, Lls to the matron, and L 56 to the_ surgeon of the Industrial School. All the items under the headings misctllaneons, roads, bridges, and works passed as printed. On the second reading of the Outram and Greytown Railway Bill being moved, the Provincial Secretary stated that he did not intend to offer any opposition to the Bill, since the Council had agreed to what he believed should be considered the public line of the district—the line from Moegiel to Outram. It the promoters of this line thought fit to construct it after the other hue was agreed to he would not put any obstacle in their way. ’ Wednesday, June 16. Petitions were presented from residents near Anderson’s Bay road praying that a footpath might be formed along that road, and from residents in the Ocean Beach and Peninsula districts praying for favorable consideration of the Peninsula and Ocean Beach Railway. The Home Agency Bill, No. 2, which associates Mr Anld, jun-, with Mr Andrew as Home agent, and the Gold Duty Repayment Bill were read a second time. In moving the latter, the Provincial Solicitor remarked that in his opinion the Bill was ultra vires. It provides a penalty of LIOO for making a false declaration.

In answer to a question the Goldfields Seobetabt said careful inquiry would have to be made before a School of Mines could be established. It was just possible that the Government might see its way to wholly support the school*; or'it might adopt the course followed in some parts of Victoria—notably at Ballarat, where the School of Mines was supported partly by Government and partly by subscriptions, donations, and fees. If such a school was established, whether supported in the way last mentioned, or wholly by the Government, it would be placed under the ablest man that could be possibly got. Classes would be formed for instruction in mathematics, mining surveying, mechanical engineering, &c.; and the school would be in a position to give certificates such as were usually given by these schools. If the boon was appreciated by the miners these certificates would, no doubt, be- , come valuable to thosejwho were possessed of tbem. In moving the second reading of the Peninsula and Ocean Beach Bailway Bill, Mr xLaooitt explained that he introduced it as representing the Provincial Solicitor, that his .« 6Slro j T, as have the general *?J at any private companj v 1 ® J? nv jlcgo of constructing a line t »M he Bh °r* 011 the plans faid on the table, and that there were, he believed, some objections to the schedule J* rC3tified fc committee! The second reading was seconded, with verv gr f at ,pl«“) lr a. by Mr Fish, a point of raisod by Mr Dm Lautodb* to the effect that the

previous decision of the Council must- be rescinded before this Bill could be considered, having been over-ruled, the Provincial Secretary twitted bon. members who opposed thelast Bill with being actuated with something beside the public interest; and went on to say that the onginal Bill was a far better one in many respects, inasmuch as this one did not give the powers necessary to eonstiuct the fine. Without a terminus in Dunedin, the company could not fully carry out their undertaking. The company must even now negotiate with the Executive, which was placing the latter in an unsatisfactory position. Mr Turton, with the knowledge that his opposition would give offence to the crowd of directors or shareholders who are starting the line, “ openly and plainly” denounced the Bill as “a scandalous proposal.” More that he could say on the subject the member for Dunedin intimated would be reserved till “ the silent member meets his constituents and addresses them for the first time.” The Bill was strongly opposed by Mr De Lautouh, and by Mr Moody, who moved that it be read that day six months. The Provincial Solicitor urged that no lands vested in the Superintendent couli be given, or be agreed to be given, without a special Ordinance for that purpose. The second reading was agreed to on the voices.