Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1863. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 103, 3 April 1863, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1863. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, March 31. Present—The Speaker, Messrs Tiffen, Rhodes, Curling, Colenso, Smith, Ormond, M’Lean, Tuke, Kennedy, and Russell. The Speaker read a letter from the Superintendent, intimating that Messrs. • Ormond, Smith, and Russell had been re-elect-ed. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Chairman of Committees. Mr. Kennedy moved that Mr. J. A. Smith be appointed Chairman of Committees, which was seconded by Mr. Rhodes, and agreed to. Middle Road. Mr. Curling rose to propose the motion standing in his name. He did so at the request of his constituents. He named certain portions of the x’oad as being very bad, and said it would be quite impassable if there was not something done. Of course the amount required would be left for the engineer to decide. The motion was to the following effect:— “That the Provincial Engineer be requested to report upon the present condition of the Middle road, and to state what amount would be required to place the road in a safe and passable condition for the coming winter.” Mr. Tiffen would second the motion pro formd, but would not pledge himself to support a vote for it at a future time. The motion asked simply for a report by the engineer. Standing Rides and Orders. Mr. Fitzgerald brought up the report of the Committee appointed to revise these Rules and Orders, which was read and received, and ordered to be printed. His Honor’s Address. Mr. Rhodes thought that, as there w:as nothing further on the notice paper, it would be advisable to go into Committee for the consideration of the Superintendent’s address, and he would make a motion to that effect. Mr. Tuke seconded the motion, which was carried, and the Council went into Committee. Mr. Colenso said he scarcely knew the position in which they were placed. He looked upon it as out of order, and would venture to say it was without a precedent. He confessed he was totally unprepared to go into the matter. They were called upon to discuss without notice, this very important document, and even to consider it clause by clause, but he doubted whether the Government were prepared to do so. The present mode of proceeding might be termed an attempt at smuggling. Notice should have been given, but if the Council approved of this course, he must give way. Mr. Ormond, on the part of the Government, deprecated any desire to push the matter, but, on the other hand, nothing could be done in the way of business, until the address had been considered, and things would be at a standstill. The Estimates hinged, in a great measure, upon the way in which the address might be received. With respect to the remark that members had not had time to make up their minds on the matters contained in the address, he might say that he, although he lived the furthest away of any, had had ample time to make up his mind. Every subject touched upon' in the address was laid down as plainly as need be; and he could assure the Council the Government had no desire to smuggle it through. The Council might be better able to discuss it in Committee, and it might save much time hereafter. But if members thought they should be better prepared to discuss” it

to-morrow, the Government, who had no desire to push the matter, would not object, although it might be delaying the business.

Mr. Colenso said it was not so much that members had not made up their minds, as that some of them, who had reason to believe there would be nothing of importance for discussion, were absent. He might name Dr. Hitchings and Captain Carter as being away on that account. Notice should have been given last sitting, if the Government desired to have it considered that day. Mr. M’Lean thought they were discussing a mere form, which should not be allowed to interfere when principles were concerned. There was no desire for smuggling, for the speech had been before the public for some time, and members could not be taken by surprise. It was in order to save the time of the members and facilitate business that it should be proceeded with, but if the Council desired it, the Government were quite willing to adjourn the matter.

Mr. Wilkinson said he thought further time should be given, if only for the reason assigned by Mr. Colenso, the fact of two or three of their number being absent. There was great force in what Mr, Colenso had said, and he should be inclined to support his view of the case.

Mr. Rhodes said that some of the members might know the ideas of those who were absent on the matters contained in the address, and that if such were not the case, that would have an opportunity of expressing their views when these matters were discussed in detail. He himself had great objections to the borrowing of money for the maintenance of roads, harbor improvements, police, &c., but he would support the borrowing of even a larger sum for the purchase of land, and for opening up that land, and for introducing people to occupy it. Mr. M’Lean said in reply to what had been said by Mr. Rhodes, he should have no objection to substituting the words “ opening up” for “ maintenance” of Roads, but that a sura would be required for the maintenance of those already made was very certain. But as this was a matter of detail, he would not take up the time of the Council in discussing it.

Mr. Fitzgeeaxd thought it w'ould be better to substitute the words “ opening up.” Should the revenue prove insufficient, a tax should be levied for tho maintenance of roads.

The motion of Mr. Rhodes that the address be considered seriatim in Committee was then put and carried. Mr. Colenso asked if there had ever been such a precedent in the whole of the Colonial legislation. The proper course was to consider the address as a whole, by moving a reply, which would form the basis of a dis(ussion. He protested against the present mode of procedure, as there were members absent who were unaware of what they were about to discuss. Mr. M’Lean said the present proceeding would not materially affect the principles contained in his address, and he did not see why they should be guided by what had taken place before in a formal matter of this kind. He had no desire to hasten it, but thought it desirable to go on with it, with a view to the saving of time. Mr. Ormond said, if members were not prepared to go into the subject, they had better agree to defer it till to-morrow. By going into the matter seriatim, there would be a better opportunity of ventilating the questions touched upon. Mr. Colenso said that to put the clauses contained in the address seriatim would be to bind themselves hereafter, when they came to vote the estimates, which wouln not be right. Mr. Rhodes said he thought that the address might be considered generally, and the Loan question ventilated, so that the Government might be able to prepare the Estimates. Mr. Tiffen moved that the Chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit aga in on the following day, which was agreed to. The Council then adjourned. Wednesday, April 1. Present—The Speaker, and all the members. The minutes of the previous sitting were read and confirmed. The Speaker read a letter from the Provincial Auditor covering a return of the unauthorised expenditure during the past year. Scab and Sheep Bill. Mr. Tiffen moved the second reading of the Scab and Sheep Bill. He said that in moving the second reading of a bill it was usual to make some remarks concerning the objects of it, but as this bill had been before

them previously, he thought it unnecessary for him to say anything. Mr. Oajlcnd seconded the motion carried, and the bill ordered to be committed presently. Financial Position of the Province. Mr. Smith moved— That a select committee be appointed to report upon the financial position of the province. Committee to consist of Messrs. Colenso, Carter, M. Fitzgerald, and the mover—Report to be brought up on Saturday next. Mr. Fitzgerald asked to have his name taken from the Committee, as there were three Town membefs upon it.' Mr. Smith obtained leave to substitute Mr. Dolbel’s name, and the motion was then agreed to. Reply to Superintendents Address. Standing Order 27 having been suspended, Mr. Tuke moved the following reply to his Honor’s Address ; We, the Provincial Council of Hawke’s Bay tender our thanks to your Honor for the speech with which you have opened this the Sixth Session of our Provincial Council. In reply, we beg to thank your Honor for the attention you have given to the condition and interests of our Province. We also beg to state to you our approval of the general principles contained in that address, which we will be prepared to assist your Honor’s Government in carrying out. We earnestly hope that your Honor’s desire for uniformity of action on our part, for the common good, may be the course we shall pursue. He did not agree with the address in toto. The amicable relations said to be existing between the two races would be gratifying to all the Province. He fully concurred in the establishment of a Constabulary force, and also in the Loan for the purchase of land, and should be prepared to vote for double the amount asked for that purpose. With regard to emigration, he thought they should first endeavour to get them from England, although no doubt the German colonists were a thriving class of people. Instead of the maintenance of roads he would substitute the making of roads. He thought as the wharfage acccommodation required would be entirely on private property, it was for those who owned the property to make the wharves themselves. With respect to the granting of leases and the right of purchase, if the system answered better than that of granting licenses, he thought it would be better so do away with them, and substitute the former.

[We are compelled to defer our report of the proceedings from this point. Yesterday the Loan Bill was introduced by Mr. Me. Lean, read a first and second time, and the following items passed in Committee:— Purchase of Land from the Natives <£30,000 ; Immigration ,£12,000 ; Roads to open up dis* tricts for Special Settlements £10,000; Barracks and Stabling for Police £4,000; Wharfage accommodation, moorings, &c., for harbour of Napier £4,000. Total £60,000.] Notices of Motion. Mr. Fitzgerald : For a return shewing the estimated number of acres comprised within each run in the Province, (10s.) land unsold. Mr. Mc.Lean ; For leave to bring in a Bill for the purpose of raising a loan, for purposes to be specified therein. Mr. Tiffen to move— That his Honor the Superintendent be authorised to continue the present rate of ordinary expenditure, pending the passing of the estimates.