PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2074, 2 April 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

' Wednesday, March 31. [specially reported fob, the grey river ARGUS.] The Council met at the usual hour, and all the members were present at one time or other of the sitting. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. -.-,.. •,_. ,^» ,-.,.-.^. MEDICAL MAN AT JACKSON'S BAY. ; , Mr Houlahan. moved— "That :J his Honor the Superintendent be resjpectfully ;requested, to communicate with the hon. the Minister for Immigration, io urge upon the Government the immediate necessity of at once appointing a qualified medical man for the Special Settlement at Jackson's Bay." Seconded by; Mr Guinness, and carried. jackson'sbay settlement returns. : Mr Guinness brought forward, the ; folfowing resolution—" That this Council, while appreciating the efforts made to establish a Special Settlement at Jackson's Bay, and the readiness with which, of late, papers and documents on the subject have been laid on the table by the Government, nevertheless regrets that no information has been furnished showing the amount or the particulars of the expenditure in connection with the said . settlement. 1 It is therefore resolved that a respectful address be. presented to his Honor the Superintendent,';' requesting him tq.cause to be laid /upon the, table a: detailed statement showing, the items of : such expediture, the amounts expended, and the names of the persons ta> whom such amounts were paid." The resolution he considered pretty well [expressed what it meant, and it would not be necessaryfor him to make any lengthy remarks to show the necessity there was for agreeing to it at once, Members would recollect,; at least those who' had i#»de themselves 1 acquainted with the Act that empowered the advance of Ll2^oW. for this Special Settlement to be establisheclpnjthe\\7est Coast, that by that Act power was given Xo make, certain advances for this .purpose, and the Superintendent was entrusted with its expenditure. But the , land fund of the. Province was charged with interest, and siking fund to repay that sum : and it was, therefore, only reasonable that the terms of the resolution; which affirmed : that a respectful address should be presented to his Honor, the Superintendent, asking him to -bring down a detailed statement of expenditure in connection with the settlement, should be agreed to. It would be seen that the' resolution merely regretted that the information asked for, which the Council had a perfect right to know, had riot been given before. Members knevr the rfeticence ,of the 1 Executive, as far" aa layuig particulars respecting this .particular, 'settlement before the Council, for it was only after some stir that one or two bundles of papers' in connection with it. had been laid before thenv The resolution further alleged that no account of expenditure for the information of members had been laid on the table, which was certainly correct They had been' in session since February, but up to that time the ' Government had, not proffered any infqrniation relative to expenditure; whether the whole of the LI 2, 000 had been expended either in payment of freight or cargo in establishing settlers, or spent in other ways, and further, as to whether any balance was now remaining or not. The fact was,, that members knew nothing 'about the matter, thought they had a perfect right 'to expect a full and explicit statement as to now the money had been expended. It might be urged that the Council had no right to know anything about 'it. but he would, insist on full particulars being furnished, unless tangible and good reasons were' given for not doing so. As the revenue of the ' Province was charged with the repayment of the advance, its representa-. tives'hada perfect right to s^e how that money was spent. If they fbtrad'that it was. not spent in the most judicious and proper manner, of otherwise, they had a right to approve, or condemn, and recommend also; in reference, to the unexpended balance. He would not detain, them further, but would repeat his regret that his Honor had not thought proper through the hands of his responsible advisers tp send down a financial statement as to how the advance has' so far been spent. ' . Mr,j '^hiite! seconded the l! resolution without remark. "..'...', '.'/"" The Provincial Treasurer was not aware that there was any reason, why the information asked for should not be given, and he had no doubt the Superintendent would give it. 1 At the "'same time there was no. arbitrary rule that; such, information should be given. It was not at; all necessary that a satirical' motion should be placed on the notice-paper on the^subject. At the commencement of the session certain correspondence on the subject and other information'; was asked 1 for < and at- once given. As; to the present motion being considered, ds alleged by an hon. member, a votedf want of- confidence in the . present Government^ was. absurd, fdr the Superintendent 7?ds ! specially. $he agent of the General Government, and it was only ( by . courijesy ; that he , r took, the Executive into j his -, confidences or , con.flulted them on .anything; he .Blight do in. the Special Settlement,;.,,, * „. ,- ( ■. Mr O'Donovan di 4 altogether approve of the motion as.it stood^ though no doubt the intention of the: .moveruwas good. As it stood it applied to the Superintendent rather than to -the Executive, and they were not.warranted in considering it as a censure ori ttie Superintendent. The information referzed to by the mover had never been asked for ; if it had been, and had been withheld, the Council could take stops to ensure its production. His, Honor the Superintendent had been appointed by the. General Government asi the agent to' carry out the scheme, and the Council had no real authority in the matter. He admitted that a return should be. made., but did not consider^ it ,pf great importance, as the expenditure so far could, n ot have been very large. He moved as an amendment that all the words before the word " that" in the< eleventh line be struck out, so that .the resolution should read thus— .^ That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Snperintendenf; requesting him to cause to be laid upon the. table- a detailed statement of expenditure, 1 in, 5 with, .Jackson's, , Bay Bettlement, . j;he amounts, j expended, and the persons tp whom such amounts i were paid." ■ Mr Seddon seconded the. amendment with great pleasure, and thought that the 1 Council-would agree 'with him- in passing it. All the words proposed to be isttuck out were unnecessary and unoalled for. The resolution as it stood was inconsia* 1

'itent; for it first expressed satisfaction at having/ all questions answered by the Go- , vernme^nt, and then regretted that no detailed information had been furnished, thus in some degree casting censure on the Superintendent for not giving details that had not been asked for. The fault, if anyv lay^with the Conncil i^>lf, w f or if any member felt dissatisfied, or thought for one moment that anything was wrong, 4hey*BhouJdvhave brought it forward^ and then if not satisfied the Council could have expressed, regret .when necessary. He was certain that if an address was presented they would have; v,a detailed statement that woHld satisfjr every member of the CouncU. - : '■•- '--'^ii n The Provincial Secretary, pfl behalf of the Government supported amendment. He denied that the Executive thad ever attempted to hide matters of a public character from the Council,, and anything like regret at, the non-production of any. thing asked was : not : caUed ! for. All information :>■! required-' haidl. alwayii 1 been promptly furnished, and he'was"sbre f that on being asked bis Honor would equally promptly supply aU that, was. asked for nOW.j^ ; ;.,. ; „ >., i>r r,, .. [„. '",' . |<r '] ,/.,'., Mtr White, "wjEtiUt admittihg"tnat the ; infpMnation, asked fpr . was , ,now;likely to be supplied,j blapijeii the, .Government for j waiting .till this motion was brought' down before giving it, . and on this: ground*, the first* part of- the resolution expressing 1 regret was justified; i; ■ > .; i r rv , ■.••■ii> " Mr Dungan was surprised 'to viesir that the hbni ifieniber vnjkiiot betye^informed ! as' to'th^'reiatidn^in'ifMci the7 r Pr'^nce stood to 'the Special SetUemeift^fpr wnich the Assemblyhad grantea'mouey. 1 ItVaa quite' frue that -his Hondr^was the'medium of J 18s oh behalf of the ProviDce;- I but[;the>!CQuncUowere' entitled to know full details respecting' it. Lißeturns -Jai<^ <Ml t^ ta^^OKed^vr dgaekthe P.r9v^ntJe./jyas;bqmJd ,up withr 1 Jaoks6fl!a Bay Settlement. First of all, was pMvided that half pf the returns from kod saksfin^.theidißtrict should; bfl pßteined by the General Government, and any portion tof i the; advances lnadeiremauiing[fi|paid at the expiratibn of five yeartfiwas toibear interest at thecrtrte i'bf 5 per cent, per ceift^perikimum^ -Secoridly 1 :' tfitiy/unpaid balance exist^d^at^the expiration of ten years^^iie l 6ame^was''iKpbe deducted from the Land Fur^d f of the Province; and if 'this was riot suMicient. ftKe deficiency was to Joe charged against the Province, as pr9\ide.drin;-^ie ;j?;tih, !) Mction of the Act. vThtee" ,conditioga f showed that the province ' was' specially bound up in the matter and in the way in which the scheme;:. was^carri^d /out, ;an^Tftri7t|iese grounds, thej Ooi|ricil was ) enticed jfcgjthe . fullest monetary information respecting ,it., , He denied that 'the first part f .oi4he resolufton wasjcataatecl 5 Wfi&ow' any censure on the' Superintendent, and intimated his mtention of supper, tiog it as it stood) r, , r . r ... . / -, ';;;' jai-: S'i.fe Mr Wiokes would support the amendment, which, if faithfully carried out, would) ;gjiyjß j all/the* infprnaationi needed. No member objecte^^o the latter part of the resolution, but 'the first cast an undeserved slur on the Mr Cuming toppdrted the original resolution;; which) merely asked r. for iffffEher information.. Oil a former occasionLthe Government complied* with the 'terms of a motion" by Mr W^ite^ri tlfeSame subject, though it wris couched* in by no means complimentary terms. HHre r thpught it was n^ce^sary? „tha|t! "'coiisMe'rabie light shofllclj^, thrown on the Jackson's Bay Settlement affairs so as to enable ihe Council, if necessary, ( to -express an opinion >*pri anything u^derfcakeii ; i^ con' riection with ,|it ; by ,■ the, ProvinqialgaTid General, governments, sugges- . tipns : if needed, Security'had r heen jtaken on!, the 'lands of Westland fdyr^'.reEayment' of JAi,(Mi^■.and o nbt \*lA%,oW),* as had; been ,- ; said, the other L2OOO having been • appropriated for > immigration buildings. -His Honor, as agent f or*the General Government,! had a perfect light to give all that was asked for. It had beeriiurgM that he odrild riot - do' so without special permission from Wellington, as the regulations "of 'the Civil Service prohibited any agents or others receiving emolument, from the General Government to give information without ttfe consent of the responsible Ministers of the Crown. , A small could soon beßen<s_Snd the required permissioniobtained, ifs.mtch were the case. A great deal had been said outside ,oni this subject, especially as his Honor was himself a shareholder in the JM§,jteamOTltea^ng.ioJh^e.settiem^ It was necessary .tp-, £ know whether a subsidy watf^rliceiveW 1 by her every trip, and other .particularsjrespecting thef fmployment. He knew that on thrf'fast pecasioxu ithe \ steamer-, went:; goods i ' twere sett down, but nptj, delivered, and she was filled up with other cargo. He wanted to know whether the Superintendent was master cir'servant. ' r ;i-^'; Ji "-.{" ■' — .'1..-j- '_ The Speaker hereiriteipraptea flie c;^Bn. *member,«»aa he^did-'not^ongiderhis^te-marka relevant. f . - Mr Cuming-(6oHßideVed they were-^uite in orde?, for no one cpuld ( ,deny that^he steamer was doing all the workin^pnnection with the settlement. Mr Todd would support, the amendment. Mr Guinness was surprised at the •ignorance of the honifmefiibet foriOkafito on a subject that he should be specially interested in. With respect to the first part of the resolutionicastin'g ariy^censure on the Superintendent, he thought if there was any^ censure contained at all it was rather directed ;to the Executive memoirs opposite. They, ought to have . knownji^ ,was' 'their duty toj «fctte nteridehV/forV^ormatißn, f L ana,have K the same,.on>;theitable, lixitthey did not do so, and allowed, sixpr^eyen.weeks to elapse and up ,to; the present time, had presented perfect reticence on the (Subject. It had been-Baid'lthat the wholeJßcheme rested with the Superintendent, but such -was not the case, and any agreement entered into^bythEJ Geiieral'CteVerrimerittwith his Horior ' WaV -with 1 'Inm^as^'Strperln^ndent, and-not -mtfr-Jr- Ar Bpnar '"aTsn^ppnig agent. As Superintendent he had been entrusted with the expenditure of the advances^ and he was only agent as lon^as he retained that position. Such •being the case, the Council had a perfect right to the fullest information, which should have been furnished without asking. Was it,npt, an^vji^pJeMant dutgrjto^hjaye^ija Ask for it, and would it 'not have come with a ' better, gracf ( if, his ,HQnpE)had^unfloiioited sent down the fullest particulars ? It was therefore,^; ! mattex £ Qf regret that he had not done so, and the first part of the resolution was justifiable. He concluded by remarking that if any red tape for. malities had tojbeig6ne^thxioughiini«&inff permission to give the required informa. tion, the sooner they were gone through

the better, for it was not wanted after, the Council was prorogued, but now during the sitting. The motion was then put and lost — " That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the question," the division list being as follows : — Ayes (4): Messrs Guinness, Cuming, Dungan, and Houlahan. Noes (8) : Provincial Secretary, Treasurer, Messrs Mitchell, Todd, O'Donovan, Tabart, Seddon, and Wickes. The motion as amended was then put and carried. TOLL GATEtf ORDINANCE. The Toll Gates Ordinance was introduced by message from his Honor, and read a first time. ' TAAMWAY IAW COSTS. Mr Cuming moved — "That the report of the Tramway Law Costs Committeee be adopted, recommending that the Government get the said accounts taxed previous to a settlement, and that sieps be taken to recover expenses incurred in the late appeal case." Agreed to. REPORT OF PROSPECTING COMMITTEE. Mr Cuming move — " That the report of the Prospecting Committee be adopted, recommending that the Provincial Government renew the reward of LSOO for a payable quartz reef, and to renew the reward of LSOO for new alluvial gold-fields. Also, to urge strongly on the Colonial Government the necessity of renewing the reward of LSOOO for new gold-fields in the Middle Island, up the 31st December, r 1877, and desiring the Provincial Government, to take steps during the recess to procure a geological survey for quartz reefs and other minerals, and to report the result next session of this Council." • < An annimated discussion took place on this resolution. It was at last passed in f an amended form all the words after 1877 being struck out. OOptrPATION. OF GOVERNMENT HOUSES. Mr Seddon moved— "That notice be given to all officers occupying houses, the property of the Province," or receiving allowance for house rent, that from the lirtday;of June next, no f such allowance will be coiitinued, and that those officers occupying houses, the, property of the Province, will be required to pay such rent as this Council may determine, or in -the, event of this Council determining to sell such houses, the; said officers may have the option vof .purchasing them at a valuation."^ Mr Seddon, , in ; bringing forward the above resolution, pointed out .that at present a large number of buildings were occupied' by Provincial officers in' Westland, and by a strange inconsistency; some of these gentlemen were provided ' with . houses, rent free, whilst others were These buildings were valuable, and would realise a large sum if disposed of. In his' district : some iof them actually . shut up auriferous lands, whilst year after year the Council was asked for, money to keep them in repair, this year no less a sum than LIOOO being set down for this purpose. With these facts, staring them.; in the face, with a deficient revenue, he would ask if it was wise to retain these houses, especially as the, salaries 1 of the officers were quite sufficient .to enable them to get .thJßir^'^^''/."^^©^'^ or pay rent. . It+waS;-!n'6i of the Government to provide; houses for them , to livexn. .AtGreymouith inspector Hickson had a free house, and Warden Retell : also. The reserve on which the latter was situated tad :beeuvrecently taken, by the General ""Government from the Provincial Government, and as yet the latter had 'received no quid pro quo whatever, and he thought it ' should get at least Lsofr .'Sergeant' Moller and the Collector of Customs at Greymouth were also pro-' vided with houses belonging to the Proyinciai Council, Other officers occupied Government buildings at Maori Gully, V, Maori Creek, and at Ponamu. At Goldsborough rthe Clerk of the Bench was provided vwith quite an extensive establishment, including an acre of ground known to be aoriferouß, but could not be worked through this house being erected on; it. The: police officers incharge at Stafford, Kanieri, f and Hokitika occupied Government houses, as also the assistant Pro- . vindal Secretaiy, ' the Odniinissionerj of Police; and the signalman at Hokitika, laid Wardeii Price and the police officer m charge at Okarito, and' also at R6ss. There were quite sufficient grounds! to justify; the Council; ifa disposing ; pf these tenements, though, he'wonld, if necessary, let .the. "occupiers either purchase at a valuation qc pay .rent for them. >.. If the salaries of these officers were .not sufficient to enable them to pay rent he would suggest that allowances should be made them, and save the everlasting repair of buildings at J all events. He estimated that by these sales a sum of at least L3OOO wOlild. be brought' into the Provincial- ' exchequer, instead of having, as for years . past, to^oay, an annual charge for repairs. Ki \',//]^'.wldl»)se^ond^d^the > resolution pro />;7jf^w^:fiutVthe;.debaW'w^'i^jpurne : d : on' the motion of the ; Provincial Secretary. y.'i'M^: Wickes: -asked leave to submit a motion without notice relative to the Greymouth and Brunnerton Railway, but leave was not given. ; . ■ ■ ; . ( The Council then adjourned.