PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 17, 19 June 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

THIS DAY, Friday, June 19. The Speaker took the chair at noon. QUESTIONS. Mr Higgins asked—Why the contractor is not proceeding with the work on the Rangiora and Oxford railway, and if there be any truth in the rumor that he is delayed in consequence of a change having been made in the direction of a portion of the line. Mr Maude said that later in the session he would be able to give the hon member the information he required. Mr Turnbull asked the Provincial Secretary if any of the contracts for surveys have been offered to surveyors of the permanent staff. Mr Maude replied that none of the contracts for surveys had been offered to members of the permanent staff. NOTICES POSTPONED. Leave was given to Mr R. Turnbull, to postpone the following notice of motion standing in his name until Wednesday next—“ln the opinion of this Council it is desirable that all contracts for surveys be open to competition, and that tenders be called for the same.” Dr Eayner also obtained leave to postpone his resolution—“ That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to urge upon the General Government the necessity of at once commencing the construction of the Opihi bridge, so as to enable the Timaru and Young’s creek railway to be extended into the town of Temuka at the earliest possible date ” —until next Wednesday. GUST DRAINAGE. Mr Higgins moved —“ That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the supplementary estimates a sum not exceeding £IOO as a grant in aid toward the extension of the Gust drainage works” Mr Maude said the Government had no objection to the resolution. The motion for going into committee was then put and agreed to. In committee the resolution was agreed to, reported to the House, and adopted. GORGE OF THE RAKAIA. Mr Potts moved—“ That Government be requested to take steps for securing, as a reserve for biidging purposes, the small island lying off the the S.E. corner of H.P.R., on run 118 in the Gorge of the Rakaia.” Mr White seconded the motion. Mr Maude said that a license to occupy had been issued in 1806 for a section of land, comprising the island in question referred to by the hon member. As a great public work was to be carried out, the island would have to be purchased. [Hear, hear.] Sir Cracroft Wilson asked the hon. Secretary for Public Works whether the Government would place a tracing of the section sold on the table of the House 1 Mr Maude said that the Government would do so on Tuesday. [Hear, hear.] Mr Harper hoped the Government had taken care to reserve a road over the island. Mr Jollie said that the Government had reserved a road across the island. The land had been sold subject to this right being exercised. Mr Potts said that he hoped when the Government laid the tracing on the table they would also lay a memorandum on the table giving the reasons of the Waste Lands Board selling the island. [Hear, hear.] Mr Maud said that the Government would give all the information in, their possession,

Mr POTTS thereupon withdrew the motion with a view to renewing it on a sub equeut day. EDUCATION RESERVES. On the motion of the SECRETARY FOR Public Works, the House wont into committee to consider the following resolution “ That the Council do recommend his Honor the Superintendent to reserve sections Nos 92 and 93, in the town of Wairaate, for education purposes.” In committee the resolution was agreed to, reported to the House, and adopted, AUDITOR’S REPORT. Mr JOLLIE moved—“ That the comparative statement enclosed in the auditor’s report be printed.” The motion was agreed to. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS REVENUE ORDINANCE, 1874. Mr Montgomery moved for leave to introduce a Bill for an Ordinance intituled the Municipal Corporations Revenue Ordinance, 1874, This Bill was intended to provide for the endowment of the Corporations by handing over to them the dog tax, auctioneers’ licenses, and public-house licenses. On the present occasion, he would simply ask leave to introduce the Bill ; the discussion on the principle could be taken on the second reading, which would be on Tuesday. Leave was given, the Bill read a first time ordered to be printed, and the second reading fixed for Tuesday. CONTRACTS FOR SURVEYS. Mr R. Turnbull, moved —“ That copies of the contracts for surveys in the province be laid on the table on or before Tuesday next. The motion was agreed to. PUBLIC LIBRARY AT DOYLESTON. ‘ Mr Bluett moved spondence between the Government, the Doyleston Mutual Improvement Society, and others, relative to the establishment of a public library at Doyleston, be laid on the table. The motion was agreed to. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then went into committee of supply. Class 2—Surveys, £23,494 15s. The hon Mr Buckley said he would not oppose this item on the understanding that the Government would bring over the information promised by them before the Appropriation Act passed. [Hear, hear.] The item was agreed to after some discussion. Class 3—Buildings and works, £2(500. Agreed to. Gaol at Addington, £3500. Agreed to. Christchurch Hospital, £5400. Agreed to. Timaru Hospital, £4OOO. Agreed to. Industrial School, £9OO. Agreed to. Lunatic Asylum, £B3OO. Agreed to. Drunkard’s Asylum, £727. Agreed to. Police Depot, £773 10s. Agreed to. Government Buildings, general repairs, £6OO. Agreed to. Supreme Court, completing buildings, £4200, Agreed to. Orphan Asylum, £2225. Agreed to. School buildings, Public Library, Normal School, public building, Museum, College, do land, £88,606 llsßd. Agreed to, Temuka Domain cottage, £3OO. Agreed to. Police buildings, ice., £1072. Agreed to. Progress was then reported, and leave obtained to sit again on Tuesday. Notices of motion having been given, the House adjourned until five p.m. on Tuesday. Thursday, June 18. The Speaker took the chair at 5 p.m, PETITIONS, Mr Teschemaker presented a petition from several residents in the Levels and Mount Cook districts, praying for the extension of the Washdyke and Point railway for a further distance of eighteen miles. The petition was read and received. CEMETERY for kaiapoi, Mr Isaac Wilson asked the Provincial Secretary what steps have been taken to procure a site for a public cemetery at Kaiapoi 1 Mr Jollie said that while the late Government was in office a piece of land was offered and accepted. It had not, however, been surveyed. The Government would take steps to have the matter settled without delay. SHELTER FOB PASSENGERS AT FLAXTON. Mr Isaac Wilson asked the Secretary for Public Works if it is the intention of the Government to erect a shelter for passengers at the Flaxton platform ? Mr Maude replied that the Government intended to erect a shelter at the station referred to by the hon member. racecourse reserve. Mr Knight asked if it is the intention of the Government to oblige the Canterbury Jockey Club to fulfil the conditions of the lease of the Racecourse reserve ? Mr Jollie replied that successive Governments had condoned the non-payment of the rent of £ls per year; which was a condition under the lease ; but the present Government intended in future to enforce the payment of the rent due. considering that the Club would be probably able to afford to pay the amount. POWDER MAGAZINE. Mr Andrews asked the Government if any petition had been received from the licensed vendors of gunpowder, praying that a small magazine or storehouse should be erected at some convenient place near the city of Christchurch. If so, what steps have been taken towards the prayer of the petition 1 Mr Jollie said that the Government had received a memorial asking the Executive to establish a powder magazine in Christchurch, but a reply bad been forwarded that it was not thought desirable to establish a powder magazine in Christchurch or the suburbs. There was a very good magazine in Lyttelton, and the Government thought, in the interests of the public, that the importers of powder should use that instead of one established in a populous place like Christchurch. Therefore, they thought it would be better to allow of importers getting their powder through by the railway. CONTRACT SURVEYS. Mr R. Turnbull asked the Provincial Secretary the names of those employed on contract surveys, and in what portions of the province they are employed. Mr Maude replied that the names of the surveyors were as follows ; Mcssis H. J, Sealey, Wilkin, E. T. Sealcy, 0. E. Fooks, R. P. Bain, and W. F. Moore. EPWORTH BRIDGE, Dr Raynbr asked leave to postpone the following resolution till Tuesday next “ That hTs Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the supplementary estimates a sum not exceeding

£SOOO for carrying out the construction of the Epworth bridge, Terauka,” IMPROVEMENT OF SUMNER BAR Dr Turnbull moved that the House go into committee to consider the following resolutions;—“That the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place ou the supplementary estimates the sum of £IOOO, to be expended in closing the spaces between the Cave rock and the Beacon, at Sumner, with a view of increasing the scour of the tides and thus lowering the bar. This expenditure not to be incurred unless the Marine Engineer, shortly expected from England, be of opinion that it would materially improve the navigation of the Heathcote river.” The bon member said : The marine survey of the entrance of the Heathcote river, by Captain Byron Drury, of H.M.S. Pandora, shows a depth of 25 feet inside the beacon, and 4 feet (both at low water) on the bar, which is composed of fine dark sand. The same survey shows 29 feet in front of the Shag rock, also at low water. The condition of things that I wish to point out to you is that, at high water, setting aside the backing up of the rivers Heathcote and Avon by the tide, the estuary contains 1100 acres of water. Now, the material point in the argument is this—How arc wc to take advantage of those 1100 acres of water so as materially to lower the bar 1 At the present moment three-fourths of this enormous volume of water rushes with the receding tide through the interstices between Hie beacon and the Cave rock, and so fails to exert one atom of influence upon the height of the bar. My view of the matter is this— If we succeed in filling up the spaces between the beacon and the Cave rock, and thus compelled 1100 acres of water to reach the sea over the bar alone, the force belonging to that volume of water would not only at once, without other assistauco, materially lower the bar, but would permanently overcome the cause of the formation of the bar ; in fact, would prevent the sand from again silting up by the action of the swell in easterly weather. The whole thing is the action of two contending forces; on the one side, we have the nrevailing easterly winds, with their accompanying swell, keeping the sand on the bar at its present height, and ou the other side wc have the force of an enormous estuary dissipated, weakened, and almost lost by being permitted to escape otherwise than across the bar. Let us at once prevent this escape, and concentrate the scour of not simply the ebbing tide but the action of the flowing tide as well upon the mound of sand which we call the bar. Now, sir, you will mark the result of the rider to my motion. I do not ask this House to vote this small sum on my view of the question ; but I ask you to make the expenditure conditional upon the opinion of a Marine Engineer, who doubtless deserves our confidence. I simply place before you the unquestionable facts, that there exists a depth of water immediately inside the beacon of 25 feet at low water, whilst at the same time there is only a depth of 4 feet on the bar ; but whilst wc have only this 4 feet ou the bar, we have at the same moment a depth of 17 feet in one of the spaces proposed to be filled up. Now, what is it we hope to accomplish ? I am not at the present moment about to hamper this motion with any opinion of mine as to the size of vessels which will, in course of time, be able to pass the bar, but I confine myself to what appears to be immediately practicable, Say that we have accomplished the exceedingly easy task of filling up the spaces through which the water now rushes uselessly ; what depth of water on the bar may we hope practically to secure? Taking the comparatively feeble resistance outside and the power concentrated inside the bar, it is not too sanguine a hope that we may lower the bar at least 10 feet. Now, what would be the result of 14 feet on the bar at low water ? We should have every vessel of at at least 200 tons, at high water, capable of coming up the Christchurch quay. But I by no means limit myself to an improvement of only 10 feet on the bar. I say this would inevitably occur if wc confined ourselves simply to the action of the tides after the spaces had been filled up ; but members must not forget that this has been a bar for ages, and doubtless if we took artificial means of breaking up this ancient obstruction, the expense of which this £IOOO would cover, we should find this obnoxious bar lowered at least another ten feet. I need not point out to members that this condition of things would give us at high water at the very least some twenty feet on the bar—a depth of water amply sufficient to meet any purpose for which the navigation of the River Heathcote is required at the present time. My objects in thus earnestly urging this House to sanction this expenditure are, I may say, twofold. I may say, since I first took a very active part in the formation of the harbor at Lyttelton, I have felt that I took an exceedingly narrow view of what would ultimately be the requirements of Canterbury in its chief harbor. I am distinctly of opinion that when the moles now in formation between Officers’ Point and Naval Point are completed, the area so inclosed will be much too small to accommodate our mercantile fleet, even should the space so inclosed afford them shelter. The object of a government, in addition to the shelter, must always be to expedite the loading and discharge of vessels, and if our wharves and berths are to be occupied by our small coasting craft, delay and expense must necessarily occur. I propose the improvement of the navigation of the Heathcote in order to relieve the Port of Lyttelton from crowding, which must inevitably occur if all classes of vessels are to find accommodation in so limited an area. Mr Maude asked the hon member not to press his motion, on the assurance that the Government would instruct the Marine Engineer, now ©n his way from England to report upon the Timaru harbor works, to report upon fhe feasibility of improving the navigation of the River Heathcote. A report would be ready, no doubt, by next session of the Council, when the House could take what steps it thought proper. After some discussion, Dr Turnbull withdrew the motion on the assurance of the Government that the matter would be taken in hand so far as a report was concerned. RAILWAY CHARGES, Dr Turnbull obtained leave to postpone the following motion until Tuesday “ 1, That in determining the rate of charges for goods and passengers on the Christchurch and Lyttelton line, the interest upon the cost of the tunnel should not be carried to account. 2. That in view of Christchurch being the only inland capital of a Province in New Zealand, Lire Christchurch and Lyttelton line should, in a large degree, bo considered simply as an extension of the wharfage accommodation of the port, and ; the charges reduced accordingly, 3, That

in determining the rate of charges for goods and passengers on the other lines, the Province ought to be divided into three circles, with Christchurch as a ccutre. Within the first circle of say 30 miles from Christchurch the rate ought to be such as will enable the line to compete successfully with oilier means of transit. Within the second circle, of say (50 miles, the rate of ciiargc'onght to be reduced onc-third. And within the third circle a still further reduction ought to bo made of say one-half the rale charged within the first circle.” EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES. Mr Andrews moved —“That the Council resolve itself into committee to consider the following resolutions”: —“That in the opinion of this Council his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the supplementary estimates the sum of £ to enable Resident Magistrates to practically bring the Act of 1873, Employment of Females, into operation iu this province; and to provide for the printing of sufficient copies of the Act to be posted in some conspicuous place in each workroom in which female labor shall be employed at other work than contract work or piece work.” The hon member said that the Act was one brought into operation in 1873, and had been found necessary from the increase in the number of females employed. In Christchurch he believed there was now about 200 females employed in the various factories, millinery depots, &c, and be thought it was time that the Act was brought into force in Christchurch, as a number of young persons were being kept at work very long hours, and in ill-ventilated rooms. The following were the three principal clauses of the Act — 3. “ No person shall employ any female at any time between the hours of six in the afternoon and nine in the morning, or for more than eight hours in any one day. 4. “ Every female shall have holiday on every Saturday afternoon from two o'clock, and on Sunday, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, and any other day set apart as a public holiday without loss of wages. 5. “ Every workroom shall be properly ventilated. (5, “If any employer of females commit a breach of this Act, such employer shall be liable for such offence to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds. The penalty may bo recovered before any two Justices of the Peace in a summary way. 7. “ For the purposes of carrying out the provisions hereof, any person authorised in writing by a Resident Magistrate may enter and inspect any workroom at any time during working hours.” Mr Westenra seconded the motion. Mr Jollie said he was very glad that the hon. member had brought this matter forward. Ho was not aware that there were so many females employed in Christchurch, but he might say that he had that day seen Mr Bowen, the Resident Magistrate, who had, under one of the clauses of the Act. power to appoint a person to inspect the workshops, and that gentleman had stated that he would delegate this power to the Inspector of Police, with a view of having the provisions of the Act carried out. The Executive of his Honor the Superintendent would, so far as was possible, see that this Act was carried out, and the necessary expenditure connected therewith could be paid out of contingencies. He would therefore suggest to the hon. member that it would be as well to withdraw the resolution, as the police, acting under the instructions of the Resident Magistrate, would see that the law was complied with. ["Hear, hear.] Mr Andrews obtained leave to withdraw the resolution. timber cutting at little river. Mr Potts moved —“ That the Government be requested to determine Mr W. White’s right to cut, carry away, and sell limber from the railway reserve in the Little River district.” Mr Maude said that the Government were very glad the bon member bad brought this matter forward. This was one of the legacies which had descended through a long line of ancestors to the present Government, and they intended at once to determine any right Mr White might have, [Hear, hear.] RAILWAY TICKETS. Mr Maskell obtained leave to postpone the following motion to Tuesday—“ That passengers by the railways be allowed to purchase their tickets at any hour of the day on which they intend to travel, cither at the railway stations or at certain specified places in the various towns, such tickets to be available for any train on such day.” RAILWAY STORES. Mr Bluett moved—“ That Jail correspondence between the Government, Messrs Miles and Co, and the New Zealand and Mercantile Agency Company relative to the stores held by each company in Lyttelton be laid on the table.” Mr Maude said the Government would have great pleasure in complying with the request. The motion was agreed to. FENCING ORDINANCE, 1872. Sir Cracroft Wilson moved —“ For leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Fencing Ordinance of 1872, by re-enacting clauses 9 and 10 of the Fencing Ordinance, 1869.” The motion was agreed to, the Bill read a first time, ordered to be printed, and the second reading fixed for Tuesday. PROVINCIAL ELECTORAL DISTRICT. The debate on the following motion by Mr Kennaway was resumed : “ That in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that the boundaries of the Provincial Electoral districts should be made cotcrminus with the boundaries of the road districts.” After some remarks from Mr Montgomery, Mr Joynt moved as an amendment that the resolution read as follows : —“ That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that after the dissolution of the present Council, the boundaries of the provincial electoral districts and the boundaries of the road districts should be made coterminus.” The House at this stage adjourned for half an hour. On resuming, after a short discussion, the Orders of the Day were called on at 8 o’clock. RACECOURSE RESERVE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ORDINANSE, 1874. This Bill was read a third time and passed. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then resolved itself into Committee of Supply. Schedule B.—Class 1. Waste Lands Board, £694. Mr Jebson said that it appeared to him that there was a very great defect either in the Waste Lauds Department or the Survey Department. He objected to the practise of soiling waste lands without any defined boundaries, or any roads before the sale took place. He thought that officers should be appointed logo into all the districts before i the sale and lay out the main roads.

Hitherto, in many cases the roads had been accommodated to suit particular purchasers. He thought that the Government should take the matter into very serious consideration, in order that roads might be, laid out which would prove of utility lotbe public, who \V; re in many cases absolutely without roads. Me might also mention that when representations had been made to the authorities the parties making them had been told, “ Oh ! what do you know about roads?” He hoped that the Government would appoint one or more competent persons to carry out the work he had indie Hod. The. item was agreed to. Cless li—Surveys, £152,41)4: 15s Od. Some, discussion took place on this item, and ultimately Dr Turnbull moved that the chairman report progress. The House divided. A yes 14 Noes 20 Dr Turnbull inquired whether it was the intention of the Government to postpone the further consideration of the item for a few days. Mr Montgomery said the Government intended to augment the survey staff so soon as they could obtain the services of thoroughly competent men, so that the increasing demands on the department might be met. As soon as the Government obtained the services of really competent surveyors, the system of contract surveys would be done away. He would state that the Government would take the matter iu hand with a determination to remedy the existing state of things. There was another point which the Government would insist on, viz, that the contract surveyors must understand that the privilege of buying land for parties must be given up. Mr Maude said that the Government had no objection to postpone the consideration of this item. The Chairman then reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again to-morrow. PROVINCIAL ELECTORAL DISTRICTS. The discussion was resumed on Mr Kcnuaway’s motion, when Mr Joynt’s amendment was agreed to. OXFORD DISTRICT. Mr Higgins moved —“That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to proclaim the Oxford district an agricultural district.” The motion was agreed to. RAILWAYS. Dr Turnbull moved —“ That papers be laid on the table showing : 1. The average cost of conveying first and second class passengers per train mile, say on the Lyttelton and Christchurch lino, the South line, and the North line. 2. Cost of haulage only per train mile, per ton, on goods on same three lines ; both returns exclusive of interest on construction. i 5. Cost of railway, estimating the line through the tunnel at the same rate as the other portions of the Christchurch and Lyttelton line.” The hou member said that his object was to enable the public to judge as to what was just and fair in the matter, and he had moved for the returns in order to give them information on the subject. Mr Montgomery said that the Government would be very glad to furnish all the information they could in this matter, taut at the same time be would point out that there would be much difficulty in furnishing the returns, iu fact he believed that only an approximation could be arrived at. The motion was agreed to. public libraries. Mr J. N. Tosswill moved—“ That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable, before grants are made for the erection of public libraries in country districts, that a quarter of the estimated cost be paid into the Provincial Treasury.” The bon member said that hitherto the country districts had been called upon to contribute one-half of the cost of the buildings before obtaining the grant. This, ho contended, was too much, and seeing that the public libraries were very useful institutions, and one means of educating the people, he thought the Council might very fairly reconsider the matter. Mr Jebson seconded the motion. After some discussion, the motion was negatived on division : Ayes 12 Noes 16 prison management. Mr Walker did not move the following standing in his name :—“ That this Council is of opinion that our system of prison management should be as nearly self-support-ing as possible, as well for economical as for reformative reasons ; and that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to take into consideration the expansion of the present system in this direction as far as possible.” FREE PASSES TO MEMBERS ON RAILWAYS. Mr Knight moved —“ That iu the opinion of this Council free, passes over the Canterbury railways should be granted to members of the Provincial Council.” He said that he had been induced to bring forward this because he thought it right that hon members should be encouraged to use the lines of railway in order to sec how the public works wore getting on. Mr Fisher seconded the motion, and said that if the proposition were carried into effect it would cost the country nothing more, as the trains would run whether the members travelled by them or not. Mr Maude said that the Government had no objection to the resolution. The motion was agreed to. width of tires act 1873. Mr Knight did not move the following—- “ That a copy of the Bill brought into the General Assemb,y, cntitulcd The Width of Tires Act 1873, be laid on the table.” banks’ peninsula. Mr ITluett did not move the following standing in his name—“ That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the supplementary estimates a sum of £3OO to secure the services of an engineer, for the purpose of assisting the Road Boards of Banks’ Peninsula iu laying out permanent main lines of road where needed.”