PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 295, 22 May 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Friday, May 21st. [The following is the conclusion of our report from the time of going to press yest er<> day.] PETITION OF H. N. NALDEB. Mr Jebson moved that the House go into committee to consider the following motion ~"That this House agrees with the recommendation contained in the report of the com* mittee appointed to consider the petition of Mr H. N. Nalder." After sume discussion the House divided,. Ayes 9 Noes 13 The motion was lost. HIGHER EDUCATION RESERVES. Mr Knight obtained leave to renew the following notice standing in the name of Mr Potts: —" That a return of reserves for higher education, showing the 'acreage respectively —lst, of those reserves Crown granted; 2nd, of those surveyed; 3rd, of those under con« tract for survey; 4th, of those not yet lurveyed, or under contract for survey, be laid on the table." NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY. Mr J. W. White moved—" That a copy ba laid on the table of the Council of any instructions which may have been issued for regulating the rate of speed at which trains travel upon the narrow gauge railways " He was aware that the Government was not to blame for the slow rate of speed on the narrow gauge lines, but he thought the Government might prevent some delay by giving instructions that trains should not unnecessarily be detained at intermediate stations. According to the present time table, the distance between the Rakaia and Ashburton, eighteen miles, was done in fifty-five minutes, but he understood that it was contemplated by the General Government to increase it to seventy minutes. Again, the distance from Rakaia to Dunsandel, eleven miles, was done in forty minutes, but he believed that the General Govejnment intended to increase the time by ten minutes more. The whole result would be that when the line was opened to Timaru, it would take eight or nice hourg to

do the journey between Christchurch and Timaru, or about the same time that the distance could be performed by a good fourhorse coach. The Provincial Government was not to blame for this slow rate of speed, but rather the General Government. Dr BAYNER seconded the motion, and said Cramond's coach used to get from Timaru to Christchurch in an hour under the time proposed for performing the journey on the narrow gauge line. The Secretary for Public Works said that no such instructions had been issued. The trains were run according to the published time table. Respecting the speed at which trains could be run on the narrow gauge, he would read from the report of the Railway Engiueer. " Railway Engineer's office. Christchurch, May 20th, 1875. — Re speed of narrow gauge trainp.—The Secretary for Public Works. Sir,—l have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, as to the speed that, in my opinion, the narrow gauge trains of the province should be run at. As a matter of course, the speed of a train is regulated by the speed that the engine is capable of running safely and economically. Of the two classes of engines running on the narrow gauge lines, one with 10 \ -inch cylinders is constructed to run at a maximum speed of twenty-five miles per hour, and the smaller engines with 8-inch cylinders, are constructed to run at a maximum spoed of sixteen miles per hour. Such being the case, it will not be safe and economical to run them ordinarily at higher speads than from fifteen to sixteen miles per hour in the one case, and from twelve to thirteen miles per hour in the other. There is no doubt that we have been running the narrow gauge trains at too high a speed, judging from the cost of maintenance, and the larger consumption of running shown in comparison to the broad gauge engines. This is not only noticeable in the case of the engines, but also in the rolling stock. I believe I am correct in saying that the narrow guage trains in other parts of the colony, with similar engines to those we have in use, are worked at a running speed of sixteen and twelve miles an hour, and I certainly would not recommend a higher speed than this on the Canterbury narrow guage lines. This speed will conduce to a more economical working, while I am sure if the present rate of speed, from eighteen to twenty miles an hour, is maintained, the cost of working and maintenance will be increased, and be greater in proportion to the work done than it has been on the broad guage lines.—l have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant (signed) J. G. Warner, Railway Engineer." The motion was agreed to. BOARD OP EDUCATION. Mr Andrews moved—" That a return be laid on the table showing—lst. The average attendance of members at all properly called and regular meetings of the Board of Eds cation. 2nd. The total number of properly called and regular meetings that have lapsed for want of a quorum." The motion was agreed to. Mr Maskell said that the average attendance was 4 , 968, and the number of meetings lapsed six, THIRD READINGS. The Public Libraries Ordinance, 1875, Bill was read a third time and passed. Notices of motion having been given, the House adjourned to 3 p.m. on Tuesday.