PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 188, 19 August 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, July 21. £ Continued.'] Inspector of Police. Mr. Coeenso moved—- “ That, in the opinion of this Council, it is necessary there should be an Inspector of Police for the Province of Hawke’s Bay, and that his honor the Superintendent be requested to consider the fitness and claim of the present energetic Sergeant Major of police to hold that office.” Mr. Tiffen seconded the motion. Messrs. Tiffen, M’Lean, Tuke, Fitzgerald and Major Lambert bore testimony to the valuable services of Sergt.-Major Scully. Mr. M’Lean said there was not the slightest intention on the part of the Government to place any one over Sergeant Scully in any appointment of the kind. Mr. Coeenso, on that understanding, withdrew his motion. Sheep and Scab Amendment Bill. Mr. Curling moved the second reading of this bill. Mr. M’Lean seconded the motion. After some discussion, the motion was agreed to, and the Bill read a second time. The House then wont into committee to consider the clauses. Mr. Colekso moved that clause 1 be struck out, when the committee divided as follows :—Ayes, 2 —Messrs. Colenso and Edwards ; —Noes, 11— Messrs. M’Lean, Ormona, Smith, Tuke, Kennedy, Tiffen, Dolbel, Richardson, Lambert, Wilkinson, Rhodes. The other clauses were then amended, and the chairman reported the bill as amended. The Council then adjourned. Friday, July 22. The Council met at 3 p.m. Present— All the members but Mr. Tuke. Kereru Bush. Mr. Coeenso moved—- “ For a return of all lands sold in the Kereru Bush, showing the acreage and the amount received.” Mr. M’Lean laid the return on the table. Executive. Mr. Coeenso moved—- “ For an explanation by his honor the Superintendent -why his Honor has not fulfilled the Executive Act, in his not having three members in his Executive Council.” The Superintendent, in reply, said he thought it unnecessary whilst the Council was sitting, but that the appointment would be made close of the session. Provincial Account. Mr. Coeenso moved—- “ For an explanation from the Government why, since the Provincial Account has been removed bv them from the Bank of New Zealand to the Union Bank of Australia (on the Ist January, ISG4) no interest on the public money appears to the credit of the Province, cither in March or June quarters past, or in the estimate of revenue for the present financial year, seeing that the Bank of Now Zealand had punctually paid over all interest due on the public money in their hands every quarter.” Mr. Edwards seconded the motion. The Superintendent stated in reply, that the system of making up interest accounts was different at the two banks—at the Bank of New Zealand it being three months, whilst at the Union Bank it was six months. If it was found neccssarv to change to three months, the Government could enter into a fresh arrangement with the Bank for that purpose. Wellington Acts. Mr. M’Lean brought up the report of the Select Committee on the above Acts. Report rend. Drainage Act. Mr. Coeenso resumed the debate on the second reading of the Bill, and opposed it on the ground of its being cumbrous and unworkable, Mr. Ormond then explained the principle of the Bill, and it was read a second time. The Council then went into Committee, and after several alterations the bill was reported as amended. The Council then adjourned. Tuesday, July 26. The Council met at 3 p.m. Present—All but Mr. Tuke. Road via Redcliffe. Mr. Tiffen moved—- “ For a return of the total expense that has been incurred in making the road via Redcliffe, 10 chains in length, and the sums paid towards the same by private individuals.” Mr. Coeenso seconded the motion. Mr. M’Lean said the return called for would be laid on the table. Clearing Mangaone River. Mr. Tiffen moved — “For a return of all sums of money expended in cleaning the Mangaone river and its tributaries.” Mr. Coeenso seconded the motion. Mr. M’Lean said the return was in course of preparation. Kereru Bush Road,. Mr. Tiffen moved—- “ For a return of the total sums expended on the Kereru Bush road.” Mr. Coeenso seconded the motion. Mr. M’Lean said the return would be laid on the table. Sheep and Scab Amendment Bill. The Council went into committee on this bill for the purpose of some slight alteration. Report on Wellington Acts. Mr. M’Lean moved the adoption of the report of the Select Committee on the Wellington Acts. Mr. Ormond seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Select Committee Reports. Mr. Ormond brought up the report-referring to timber in bush lands, and Mr. Smith that one affecting pilot charges &c., both of which wore read.

Police Act. The Council went into committee on this Bill, which was ultimately reported with amendments. Committee of Supply. The Council wont into Committee of Supply, when a long discussion took place as when certain notices for sums to be placed on the estimates, should be taken into consideration. After two divisions, by which it was carried that the first two items should be considered under their proper headings in the Estimates, Mr. Rhodes gave notice of the following motion for the next day:— “ That the series of resolutions which should have come on for discussion on first sitting day of committee of supply, be considered in open Council, as was the former practice in this place.” The Council then adjourned. Wednesday, July 27. The Council met at the usual hour. Present—all but Mr. Tuke. Sums to be pi deed on Estimates. Mr. Rhodes moved the resolution, notice of which he had given the previous evening, which was seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald and agreed to. Sheep and Scab Amendment Bill. Mr. Curling moved the third reading of this Bill. Mr. M Lean seconded the motion, which was agreed to, and the bill was read a third time and passed. Sums to he placed on the Estimates. Several motions were made by members for sums to be placed on the Estimates for various purposes, which were agreed to without discussion. Supply. The Council went into Committee of Supply, when Mr. Coeenso sought for information as to the discrepancy between the estimated revenue and expenditure. Mr. Ormond explained. Several items were then passed with alterations but as some of them were afterwards recommitted and altered, we purpose furnishing them as already passed. The Council then adjourned. Thursday, July 28. The Council met at 3 p.m. Present—All the members except Mr. Richardson. Revision of Roll for Clive District. Major Lambert moved—- “ That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to move the General Government to direct that, in future, the court of the officer appointed to revise the electoral Roll of the Clive district, be held at Clive, Waipawa, Porangahau, and at such other places as his Honor the Superintendent may deem necessary, and in the Town of Napier for the Napier district.” Mr. Tiffen seconded the motion, which was agreed to after some discussion. Report of Committee on Bush Licenses. Mr. Ormond moved the adoption of this report, which was seconded by Mr. Curling, and, alter some irrelevant discussion, agreed to. Report of Comm-ttee on Pilotage. Mr. Smith moved the adoption of this report. Mr. Coeenso moved that the report be recommitted, which was agreed to. Loan Appropriation Act. The Council went into Committee on this Bill The item £30,000 for the purchase of land from the natives was agreed to. The second item—£lo,ooo for Immigration, —was also passed, after some discussion as to how the money was to be expended. The third item was that of £I,OOO for a Lighthouse, which was also passed after some discussion. The next item—£4,ooo for a bridge over the Ngaruroro, evoked considerable discussion. An amendment that £3,000 be substituted for £4,000 was proposed by Mr. Tiffen, but was lost on division as follows : —Ayes, 2—Messrs. Colenso and Tiffen; Noes, 10—Messrs. M’Lean, Ormond, Wilkinson, Lambert, Tuke, Kennedy, Rhodes, Dolbel, Edwards, Smith. The item was then agreed to. “£7,500 for completing the main trunk lino” was the next item, and was amended by adding the words “ of road known as the To Auto road,” and by being reduced to £7,000. The next item “ £7,500 for Harbor purposes” —was also reduced to £7,000. Mr. Fitzgerald moved as an amendment that £7,000 be reduced to £2,000, and that the remaining £5,000 be devoted to educational purposes. M ajor Lambert moved as a further amendment, that £2,000 be substituted and that the remainder bo applied to making and repairing of the roads of the Province. Both amendments wore negatived, and the item was agreed to. The Bill was reported as amended. The Council then adjourned.