PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 311, 11 June 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, June 10. The Speaker took the chair at 3 p.m. petitions. Mr Andrews presented a petition from 450 ratepayers and citizens of Christchurch praying that no amendment should be made in the Education Ordinance for one year and that the Council would not proceed further with the Bill that session. The petition was read and received, Mr Jebson presented a petition from certain residents in the Malvern district, praying that increased means of communication should be given to the Selwyn Valley coal pits. The petition was read and received. public buildings. Dr Turnbull asked the Government, without notice, whether they would lay the correspondence relating to Public Buildings in Christchurch on the table. The Provincial Secretary replied that the correspondence would be copied. Dr Turnbull then said he would give notice of motion for the production of all correspondence on the subject. railway time table. Dr Raynbr asked whether the Government would agree to advertise the railway time table in the papers south of the Rangitata. The Provincial Secretary said that the Government had this matter under their consideration, and they thought that perhaps the best way would be to have slips of the time table printed and distributed through the country districts, which they thought would be a better way than the present one of advertising in all the journals. [Hear, hear.] This was a mere matter of expense, and the Government would endeavour to see the matter arranged so as to give the public every information on the subject. WEKA PASS ROAD. Mr Harper said as the hon member for Waipara was not in his place he would ask that the following notice of motion might stand over till next day, viz—“ That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that the tolls on the Weka Pass road be abolished,” Leave was given, and the motion adjourned. OPEN CROSSINGS. Mr Parker, for Mr W. White, moved—- “ That the Government be recommended to adopt the American system of spring bells at open crossings on the Canterbury railways.” Mr Dixon moved that the word “ open” be struck out, with a view of inserting the word “ dangerous.” After some discussion the amendment was withdrawn. The Secretary for Public Works would move as an amendment that the words “ bells on engines or” be inserted after the words “ American system of,” and also that after the words “ Canterbury railways” the words “ subject to the approval of the -railway engineer,” be inserted. The first amendment was agreed to. The second amendment was also agreed to after some discussion, and the resolution as amended agreed to on the voices,

DRAINAGE OP CHRISTCHURCH AND SUBURBS. Mr PARKER moved that the House go into committee to answer the following resolution ; —“ That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the supplementary estimates a sum not exceeding £3OOO for the purpose of procuring a thoroughly good engineering scheme for the drainage of Christchurch and suburbs. The Secretary for Public Works said that the Government looked upon this as a step in the right direction, and one which seemed to point to the beginning of the end of the difficulties which had beset this question, they were therefore in favor of the principle of the motion, though they thought that it was not necessary that so large a sum as £3OOO should he voted. The Government did not think it would be necessary to go home to England to obtain the necessary report, as they considered that there was sufficient engineering talent in the colony to cope with the difficulty. The Government were very glad that this resolution had been brought down, as it would strengthen the hands of the Government in dealing with this very vexed arid important question. The motion for going into Committee was agreed to on the voices. In committee, Mr Parker moved the resolution.. The Secretary for Public Works moved the reduction of the sum named in the resolution to £ISOO. Mr Parker accepted this amendment, and it was agreed to on the voices. The resolution, as amended, was then agreed to, reported to the House, andadopted. peninsula engineer. Mr Pilliett moved that the report of the Peninsula Engineer be printed. The Secretary for Public Works said that the Government would oppose the printing of this report, but they would have no objection to one or two copies being made for the use of the Peninsular Road Boards. Mr Westenra moved as an amendment that the words “ a copy of” be inserted between the words “ that” and “ the,” also that the word “ printed ” be struck out, and the words “ sent to each of the Peninsula Road Boards” inserted. The amendments were agreed to. and the resolution as amended passed. PENINSULA ROAD BOARDS. Mr Pilliett moved—“ That the services of the Banks’ Peninsula Engineer be placed at the disposal of local Road Boards, solely for the purpose of road diversions.” The Secretary fob Public Works said that the Government could not yield up the control of their own officer to the Road Boards. The best way of getting over the difficulty would be for the Road Boards to engage an engineer of their own. If the Road Boards sent in an application on each occasion when they required a certain work to be done, an officer would be sent, and the work executed under the supervision of the Government. He would suggest the withdrawal of the resolution. Mr PILLIET would withdraw the motion on the understanding given to the Council by the Secretary for Public Works. The motion was withdrawn. SOUTHERN BRIDGES Mr Teschemakbr moved* that the House go into committee to consider the following resolution—“ That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to have placed on the supplementary estimates a sum of money not exceeding £4500 to complete the construction of the Southern bridges. Hon G. Buckley said that the Government had had the matter under consideration. The reason why the Government had not placed the amount of money on the estimates was because the Board of Works had commenced these bridges without consulting the Government in any way. If the. House passed this resolution the moneywould have to be saved from some other vote.. The motion was negatived on the voices. canterbury college. Mr Potts did not move the following resolution standing in his name—“ That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting him to take the necessary steps for carrying on the buildings of the Canterbury College.” ENDOWMENT OP LYTTELTON. Mr Webb moved—“ That the Government be requested to take the necessary steps to have a sufficient area of pastoral land secured as a suitable endowment for the municipality of Lyttelton.” Dr Turnbull seconded the motion. The Provincial Secretary said that it was a pity that the hon member for Lyttelton had put this motion ou the paper, because they had discussed the matter half a dozen times over. The same arguments had been brought up, and no doubt every member in the House representing a municipality would say much in favor of his particular district. The Government had already intimated what they intended to do in the matter. They had already intimated that they were favorable to the endowment of the municipalities, and amongst them Lyttelton. If the hon member wished to have this as a record he (Mr Maskeli) was quite willing to have it recorded, provided a slight amendment was made in it. He would move that the words “ be requested to take the necessary steps to have ” be 'struck out, and the words “ to consider the desirableness of having ” inserted in lieu thereof, The Government intended considering the whole subject during the recess, but they objected, to be driven now to bring down a plan. The amendment was agreed to. Mr Joynt moved, as an amendment, that the words “ a sufficient area of pastoral land secured as a ” be struck out, and the words “ suitable endowments provided for the municipalities of the province,” substituted for the words “ suitable endowment for the municipality of Lyttelton.” The amendment was agreed to, and the resolution as amended proposed as follows—- “ That the Government be requested to consider the desirableness of having suitable endowments provided for the municipalities of the province.” Mr Harper moved, as an amendment, that the words “ and Road Boards ” be inserted after the word “ municipalities.” Mr Knight seconded the amendment. The Speaker said that the amendment was inadmissable, as it raised a new question, and was going beyond the original idea of the resolution. The resolution was then agreed to. RAILWAY TO WHITE ROCK QUARRY. Mr Harper moved—" That it is desirable that a survey be made of the proposed line of railway to the White Rock Quarries; also, a survey of the road through the Okuku Gorge, together with a report in accordance with the report of the select committee.” The Secretary for Public Works said he. thought the report of the select com*

mittee was not of such a character as to warrant the Government in undertaking this survey. It did not appear to the Government that any cause had been shown why the Government should undertake the survey of this line, nor did they consider that any public mocey should be spent in this direction. .... After some discussion, the motion was put, and negatived on the voices. Mr Harper demanded a division, which took place as follows ; Ayes ] 7 o Noes Majority for the motion ... 4 The resolution was therefore agreed to. .RAKAIA BRIDGE COMMISSION. The Secretary for Public Works laid the report of the Rakaia Bridge Commission on the table. RAILWAY SIDINGS, The following motion, standing in the name of Dr Turnbull, lapsed—“Wilh a view of affording every facility for the erection of stores and manufactories, &c, adjacent to the stations upon the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway, sidings leading from the station yards be granted to the owners of adjoining property upon payment of an annual sum.” GERMAN BAY BRIDGE. Mr Buchanan moved that the House go into committee to consider the following : “ That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the supplementary estimates a sum not exceeding £350, for the purpose of renewing German Bay Bridge, near Akaroa.” Mr Pilliett seconded the motion. The motion was agreed to. In committee the resolution was agreed to, reported, and the report adopted. WILLIAM BAGLEY’B WIDOW. Mr JOYNT moved that the House go into committee to consider the following :—“That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the supplementary estimates a sum not exceeding £l3O as a grant to the widow of William Bagley, lately an on the Canterbury Railways, who died in the service of the Government ” The Provincial Secretary said it was always an ungracious matter to refuse applications of this nature. He thought it a great pity that the Government had not been applied to in the first place, because if they refused, they would do so without knowing anything of the case, and if they acceded to it, they might perhaps lead the Council into a course which was not desirable; In this case the Government would be guided by the former practice of the Council, which had been to grant something in cases of this kind. He thought it a pity that former Governments had not brought down a scheme for civil service pensions. The Government would be happy to give such a scheme consideration, but whilst not thinking that the principle formerly laid down by the Council was quite correct, would not oppose the vote, but leave the Council to deal with it. Dr BAYNBRcordially supported the motion. Sir Cracroft Wilson asked when Bagley died, and how was it that the claim was not satisfied by the late Government; and further, did he die from injuries received whilst in the service of the Government ? Mr Gray advocated the money being invested in the purchase of an annuity for the widow and children. Mr Dixon suggested that the motion should be withdrawn, as the matter had not been before the Government. Mr Westenra also suggested its withdrawal, and that the case should be left to the Government to deal with. Mr Jebson thought that the case had better be dealt with at once, as he believed that the family of deceased had a claim. He advocated the establishment of a system of life and accident assurance for Government servants. He should support the motion. Mr Knight said that the case showed clearly the necessity of establishing a superannuation fund. In order to relieve hon members from the painful position of having to vote on a case of which they knew nothing, he begged to move the previous question. Mr Joynt said he hoped that the Council would not affirm the previous question. He bad not the slightest wish to take either the Government or the Council by surprise. From inquiries he had made he found that he could not honestly tell' the House that the man died from injuries received. The information he had received was that the man was an exceptionally hard working man, and was in the habit of lifting heavy weights, but‘.whether this induced the disease of which he died—-caucer in the stomach—he was not prepared to Ba y- What the House sought to consider was—were the family of (the deceased worthy of receiving the aid tasked? He believed that the man died ;about the middle of last year, and he did not tthink that the case had been brougt t under the notice of the late Government, He would ask that the motion for the previous question should be withdrawn, and he was willing to consent either to the adjournment of the debate until first sitting of next week, so that inquiry might be made, or he would leave the Government to deal with the appropriation of the money as they might ■deem fit. Mr Knight, by leave, withdrew the motion for the previous question. The debate was adjourned to the first day of next week.

KAIAPOI REGATTA. Mr Joynt moved that the House go into 'committee to consider the following:— <* That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the Supplementary Estimates a sum not exceeding £25, as a contribution to the Kaiapoi Annual Regatta.” The motion was agreed to. In committee, the resolution was agreed to, reported, and the report adopted. KAIAPOI DOMAIN. Mr JOYNT moved that the House go into committee to consider the following:— “ That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the Supplementary Estimates a sum not exceeding £250, for the • purpose of improving the Kaiapoi Domain.” The Secretary for Public Works said the Government could not see their way to agree to this motion, Mr Webb said he had hoped that the hon mover would have included in his motion the Botanical Gardens at Lyttelton. The House divided on the motion. Ayes 12 Noes ... 16 • ~ Majority against 4 , The motion was consequently negatived,

ORDER OP BUSINESS. Mr Jebson moved —“ That the Council proceed with the notices of motion before the orders of the day.” The motion was negatived on the voices. EDUCATION ORDINANCE,' 1875. . This Bill was further considered in committee. It was resolved that the Bill should come into operation on Ist July, 1875, The postponed clauses were reconsidered, and some amendments, of a technical character made. Two new clauses w< re agreed to, one providing for filling up vacancies in the district committees by the householders of the district, and the other providing for the exclusion of children under five years of age from attending schools without the consent of the committee.

Mr Wynn Williams intimated his intention when the Bill was re-committed of replying to the statements made by the Provincial Secretary on Friday, with regard to the action he (Mr Williarts) had taken in leaving the Ministry, and he would then also bring under the notice of the Council the motion of which he had given notice. The Chaii man reported the Bill with amendments, FENCING ORDINANCE, 1876. This Bill was further considered in committee. After the first four classes had been passed, Dr Rayner then moved that the chairman report progress. The motion was declared to be carried on the voices. Mr Harper called for a division. The committee divided on the motion for reporting progress, as follows : Ayes 9 Noes 16 The motion was therefore lost. Clause 5 having been passed with amendments, progress was reported, with leave to sit again next day. committee of supply. The House then went into committee of supply, to further consider the Supplementary Estimates. The following votes were taken. Class 28.—Education—Secretary for Education, £6QO. After some discussion on this item, The Provincial Secretary said that, as matters had taken a different turn as regarded the Minister of Education since the Supplementary Estimates had been printed, the Government would withdraw the item and bring it down in another shape. The Chairman of Committee ruled that, as discussion had taken place, the item could not be withdrawn. The Provincial Secretary said that under the circumstances the Government would strike out the item Secretary for Education, £SOO, taking the vote for the travelling allowance, £IOO, which would have to be voted in any case. This would leave the question of the salary of the Secretary of Education an open one. The vote was reduced by £SOO and passed. Class 26 —Harbor works, £3900. Agreed to. Railways and wharves, sub-division 13— Lyttelton regatta, £SO. Agreed to. Railway works, £19,203 15s lid. After a very lengthy discussion, the item was agreed to. Progress was then reported, with leave to sit again next day. Notices of motion having been given, the House adjourned at 12 o’clock to noon this day.

Friday, June 11. The Speaker took the chair at noon. DETENTION OF GOODS ON THE RAILWAY.

The Secretary op Public Wors said that as many complaints having been made respecting the scarcity of railway trucks and the consequent detention of goods, he had written to the traffic manager on the subject and he would now read that gentleman’s reply “Your’s of to-day received, I regret this very much, and assure you the matter has my earnest attention. The cause is chiefly imperfect transhipping accommodation at Rolleston. Steps are being taken to remedy, and trust complaints will shortly cease,” It would seem that a great deal 'of delay was unavoidable in- consequence of break of gauge. Every exertion was being made to remedy delay. He had that day recommended that an active and energetic person should be sent along the lines to expedite the transmission of any trucks full or empty, and even to run special engines if necessary, to prevent delay. AKAROA WHARF. Mr Westenra asked, without notice, whether the Government had received any communication respecting the Akaroa wharf. He might say that his reasons for asking this question were that he had heard the alterations made in the wharf had not been satisfactory. The Secretary for Public Works said that the Government had not received any communication. He had, however, heard that the position of the wharf was unsatisfactory, and as a considerable amount of money had been spent, he had determined, so soon as the Council was over, to make himself acquainted with as many of the works as he could, and for that purpose he would go to Akaroa and see ff any remedy could be devised. THE PROVINCIAL ENGINEER. Mr Pilliet, without notice, asked whether the Government had taken into conconsideration the propriety of relieving the Provincial Engineer from the duties of hie office. The Provincial Secretary said the question was one which it was the duty of the Government not to answer. The matter had better be left to the Government to deal with, as it was purely a matter of Executive detail. LYTTELTON BOAT WHARF. Mr Webb drew attention to the dangerous state of the watermen’s steps at Lyttelton. He trusted that the Government would take this matter into consideration, because it concerned not only the province but the whole colony. Monday’s sitting. Sir Cracroft Wilson moved —“ That the Council sit on Monday next, the 14th inst, at five o’clock p.m.” The motion wasjagreed to, THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE, 1875. Hon G. Buckley moved the recommittal of the Education Ordinance, 1875, for the purpose of amending clauses 20, 21, 40, 44, 45, and 46. Mr Wynn Williams made an explana tion of the reasons which had induced him to leave the Government. The Provincial Secretary replied to the statement of Mr Wynn Williams, and Sir Cracroft Wilson followed him. [Left Sitting.]