BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1764, 15 October 1879, Page 3

BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

The Board of Conservators of the South Waimakariri river met yesterday at noon. Present—Messrs Harman (chairman), A. Duncan, Toaswill, O’Oallaghan, and his Worship the Mayor of Christchurch, The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, The Chairman stated that he had written to Mr J. T. Fisher and Sir George Grey re the Crown grants of the Waimakariri reserve, and had received a reply from Mr Fisher that he had placed the matter before the Minister of Lands, who had promised to look up the matter forthwith. A letter was received from Mr F. Garrick (of the firm of Garrick and Cowlishaw), referring to a letter from the Board as to Chaney’s road, and stating he was of opinion that the purchase of the proposed line of road as a means of affording relief to the ratepayers injured, will not be an appropriation of the funds of the Board authorised by law. In reference to an application from Mr Anson of Courtenay, on behalf of neighbors of No. 1 Bank, Courtenay, the Board resolved ——“ That inquiry had been sufficiently made, and the Board declines to accept any responsibility in the matter, holding that the damage had not been caused by their action.” A letter from Mr Rolleston was road as follows:

To the Chairman of the Board of Conservators. Sir, —At the instance of a considerable number of ratepayers in tho electoral district of Avon, I propose to intradnee into the General Assembly a Bill having for its object tho making of the Board of Conservators of the South Waimakariri district an elective instead of a nominative body. I presume this object would he obtained by dividing the district into a number of sab-districts or wards for electoral purposes, and making provision for the election of a Board by the ratepayers in a manner similar to that adopted in tie case of the Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1875. I shall esteem it a favor if the Board will give me its opinion upon the proposition as to the best means of giving effect to it, especially as to the number of members to be elected, and the electoral districts

into which the district should be divided, so as to give a fair and convenient representation to the ratepayers, having reference to thei proportion in which the rate is contributed in different parts of the district. I have also been requested to introduce a provision repealing section 66 of the Canterbury Rivera Act. 1870. 1 shall be glad to be favored by the Board with any suggestions as to further amendments of the Act which may be considered necessary or advisable. As the approaching session may be a short one, I shall feel much obliged to the Board if it will give to the matter its early attention. . In a later communication Mr Rolieston intimated that he had obtained leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Canterbury Elvers Act, 1870, and now wanted information from the Board. During some discussion that ensued, all the members expressed themselves favorable to the Board being elective. Mr. Duncan moved, and it was carried — “ That the proposal to make the Board elective is concurred in by the Board, but they are of opinion that the members should be elected in such a manner, and for such a period of time, as will secure continuity of action j and they are further of opinion that representation should be on the basis of assessment, and for this purpose the chairman be requested to furnish Mr Eolleston with such information as may be required.” The motion was carried unanimously. Several accounts were passed for payment, and minor matters disposed of, and the Board then ad journed.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Ttbbday, October 14. Mr Whitaker was sworn in, and explained that it was necessary to have an Auckland man in the Ministry, and to have a lawyer and representative on the Council. He gave a brief outline of the Ministerial policy and intentions. A committee was appointed to consider the question of auditing the accounts of public companies. The Council then adjourned to the next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, October 14. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Shbimbki gave notice to move that £500,000 be placed on the estimates for roads and bridges in Otago. Mr Murray gave notice to move that the House sit on Mondays for the disposal of Government business. M!r Hislop gave notice to move that the petition against the return of Dr. Wallis and Mr Hurst be referred to a committee to consider its validity to come before the House. Oolonel Trimble gave notice to ask the Government if they hold, or ever held, any interest in the steamer Hannah Mokau. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Mr Hall, before proceeding to business, wished to make a statement. He wished first to reply to the statements made by the late Native Minister, that he offered to make one of the Maori members Native Minister, with control over all lands not Crown-granted, and also that he had promised to stop all sales and leases of lands. He .could only say that it was not so. Mr Sheehan said if the Hon. Premier told them he never said so he would be satisfied. Mr Hall said that was not altogether satisfactory, because there were others to satisfy. In order that he might be prepared to refute the statement he asked his colleagues who were present at the interview with the Maoris, to write down their recollections of what transpired, in order that he might see what their opinion was. They entirely concurred with his own view of what took place between him and To Wheoro and Tomoana, and completely exonerated him from the charges made against him by MrjSheehan. Mr Hall then read a statement of the interview written by Mr Ormond, to the effect that Tomoana and ToJWheoro said they wished to have the land handed over to a Maori Minister, meaning the land not through the Court, to which Mr Hall did not reply. Tomoana also wanted to know by what name they would be called, as Maoris had hitherto held no power or recognised authority. Mr Hall had said he would have a recognised position, and would think over the name and let him know. He would take an active part in seeing that Native matters were given effect to. Tomoana said that a Native committee should be established in each district, to which Mr Hall did not reply. Mr Hall said his object was to get rid of personal government in Native affairs, and this was what he strove to impress upon the Natives. The statement of the result of the interview was corroborated by Messrs Beetham and Bolleston, present at the time. Mr Hall continued, he would not have troubled the House with this statement of what really transpired if the version of the hon. member had not gone beyond the walls of that House. To any gentleman who had known him long enough this explanation was not necessary. He could only say that if he held out such inducements as were attributed to him, he would be unworthy to bold office. Mr Sheehan said he accepted the denial, but in the statement read it was admitted that something of the kind had been said or written. What was said was that the Maori asked him so and so and he replied yes. He held in his hand the corrected and garbled report in “Hansard,” but even thatconfirmed the opinion that something of the kind had passed. These statements were made in the House by the Maori, and no attempt was made to contradict them at the time, although the hon. gentleman was in his place and heard what was said. GOVERNMENT BILLS. Mr Hall said the Bills of the Government were prepared, and would be found to differ materially from those introduced by the late Government. He asked permission to bring down these Bills to-day, and the rest to-morrow. In regard to the Land Par' chase Bill they would go on with that of the late Government with some slight alteration. When order No. 12 came on for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Public Revenues Act, the Hon. the Treasurer would be prepared with a statement as to the finances of the colony, and would ask the House for permission to deliver it at half-past seven. The Native Minister had been busy looking into matters, but had not completed his investigations. He would not be prepared with a full statement until Thursday or Friday next, and it was not possible to make it before then. He would state briefly the principal features of this question. They believed in the establishment of a Maori Minister, with extended powers. With regard to the Native Lands Courts, the Government believed them cumbrous and unsatisfactory, and would take steps to improve them. The alienation of Native lands was also in an unsatisfactory condition, and would be put on an improved basis as soon as they had had time to make themselves acquainted with matters. It had been proposed that the Government should sell the land on behalf of the Maoris. The Government looked with favor upon the proposal, but did not know whether they would be able to complete tho scheme for giving effect to the proposal. They wished to give effect to the suggestion for redistribution of advertisements, without any reference to the political opinions of newspapers. They would give effect to this at once. In connection with the Hinemoa, tho Government would, as soon as the West Coast difficulty was over, take steps to adopt a more economical means of carrying on such work as she had been hitherto employed upon. Mr Hall then asked leave to introduce a Bill to amend the law relating to electors qualified to vote at elections of members of the House of Representatives, and make provision for the regulation and conduct of such elections. The Government preferred to divide tho matter into five Bills, in order to avoid complications arising through objections to various portions of one large Bill. Provision would bo made for lodgers’, miners’, and ratepayers’ franchise. As large a percentage of electors were found on the rolls as on any rolls in the Australian colonies. They proposed to introduce a Bill defining the duties of the Native Member of the Cabinet. In connection with the West Coast a large expenditure was going on necessary to preserve the safety of that district, and the settlers wore suffering great loss through the paralysis of settlement in that district. The Government’s duty to the colony was to put a atop to this, and he gave the settlers credit for their forbearance. It was said the state of affairs arose from unfulfilled promises, and the late Government proposed that a Royal Commission should be appointed to enquire into the matter. The Government hoped I that they would be able to put an end to this state of affairs at an early date.

A Bill would bo proposed specially directed to the means of enrolling electors and improving the facilities for doing so. They proposed to give persons resident in a district six months a vote, as if they had been twelve months in the country. They would appoint officers to see that all who had a right to bo put on were so enrolled, and to keep the roll_ corrected ; would give the public opportunity to see who were on the roll, and it any were improperly on, steps would bo taken in the E.M. Courts to sweep them off. The boundaries of road districts were uot with electoral districts, and difficulty was experienced in arranging matters ; but a large sum of money was now spent in advertising, which would bo greatly reduced. The amount so saved would go far towards improving and extending the means of enrolment of electors, and keeping the rolls pure. Mr Macandrbw said, before putting the question he had to ask the ruling of the Speaker as to whether he would be in order in giving notice to move on the question an amendment, the nature of which he would lay before the House. It was to the effect that this House, while determined to pass a measure for amending of the law relating to electors, declines to allow leave to do so until Ministers possess the confidence of the House.

The Speaker ruled that a similar question being already before the House, it was not competent for him to receive such a resolution until the one already before them was disposed of. Mr Macandeew said in that case he had no alternative but to negative every motion introduced until the question was disposed of. There was no intention to stonewall, but they would have this matter decided without losing more time. They would make an exception in the matter of the Public Eevenues Act, because they thought it was important j but they would make no other exception. The Speaker said the question now was whether leave should be given to introduce a certain Bill. Mr Hale said the question was whether, if this Bill was negatived, it could be introduced again this session. The Speaker said he ruled that a resolution similar to the one already on the Order Paper could not be entertained. Sir G. Grey said they were competent to make forms of their own, and proceeded to argue in that direction when he was called to order. The Speaker quoted from May to show that matters of the kind were left in the Speaker’s hands to be dealt with according to order and precedent. Sir G. Grey continued to refer to the matter, when ha was again called to order. Sir G. Grey then proposed to move the adjournment of the House in order to discuss the matter, but was told by the Speaker he could then only speak to the question before the House at the time of moving. Mr Sheehan proposed the adjournment of the debate until 7.30, on the understanding that the financial statement should then come on, taking precedence of the matter now before the House. Mr Hall said he was quite willing to adjourn if allowed to bring up the financial statement at 7.30. Mr Sheehan said he would only consent on the understanding that this motion was taken after the statement.

The debate on the Bill was then adjourned till 7.30.