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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, 29th SEPTEMBER, 1865. The Council met at three o’clock, pursuant to adjournment. Present, —The Speaker, Messrs Buchanan, Dolbel, Tiffen, Richardson, M’Lean, Ormond, Kennedy, Wilkinson, Rhodes, and Edwards. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. GOVERNMENT MAP. Mr Buchanan directed the attention of the Government to the necessity of having an authorised map of the Province, showing the various lines of road. Such a map was very necessary, as the present maps of thecountry were in a state of great confusion. DEVIATION OP ROADS. Mr M’Lean moved for leave to bring in a Bill intituled the “ Deviation of Rnads Bill.”—Leave having been granted, he moved that it be read a first time, which was agreed to, and Bill read a first time accordingly. DRAINAGE DIED. Mr Ormond moved for leave to bring in a Bill intituled the “Drainage Bill.”—Leave granted, and Bill read a first time. He said that this Bill was the same as one they had previously passed, which had been returned for some technical reasons. The defective parts were now corrected. SHEEP AND SCAB AMENDMENT BIDE. Mr Ormond moved and obtained leave to bring in a Bill intituled the “ Sheep and Scab Amendment Bill.” He said that this Bill was much the same as one previously passed, but in the working of which there seemed to be serious difficulties. There was a clause therein which provided that no penalties in the Act should be applicable to any person within fenced lands. It had followed that runholders who had cut off sheep’s ears, &c., in fenced lands, were, therefore, out of the reach of punishment. This had now been altered. REPRESENTATION AMENDMENT. Mr M'Lban laid on the table a map illustrating the boundaries of the new electoral districts, as described in the schedule annexed to the Act. He moved the Bill be read a second time. Mr Buchanan was very sorry that a gentleman much better acquainted with the Province than he was, was absent. He would have been a far abler person to expose the faults contained in it than himself. This Act was not in accordance with the Act by which they all held their seats in that Council; —the Act which he might term the “Charterof their liberties,”—the “Constitution Act.” That Act provided that the number of representatives in each district should be in proportion to the population. He would read the sth clause to them:— Governor may appoint Electoral Districts. s.—lt shall be lawful for the Governor, by Proclamation, to constitute within each of the said Provinces hereby established convenient-electoral districts for the election of member* of the Provincial Council, and of the Superintendent, and to appoint and declare the number of members to be elected for each such district lor the Provincial Council, and to make provision for the registration and revision of lists of all persons qualified to vote at the elections lo be holden within such districts, and for the appointing of returning officers, and for issuing, executing and returning the necessary writs for such elections, and for taking the poll thereat, and for determining the validity of all disputed returns, mid otherwise for insuring the orderiy, effective, and impartial conduct of such electionsand In determining the number and extent of such electoral districts, and the number of members to be elected for each district, regard shall be had to the number of electors within the same, so that the number of members to be assigned to any one district may bear to the whole number of the members or the said Council, as nearly as may be, the same proportion as the whole number of - electon within the limits of the Province.

—The following was the population and number of electors in this Province:—

—The number of members to be alloted to Napier out of 18, on the basis of population, was 6, and nearly a half. (Mr Osmond : “ Question.”) The member for Porangahau had questioned his statement, but it was a simple rule of three problem, such as could be solved by any of the members. On the basis of the electoral roll (the only one allowed by the Constitution Act), Napier was entitled to 8 members out of 18. (Mr Osmond j “ Question.”) The hon. member again questioned the correctness of his figures. All he could do was to refer them to the members. Several members had worked it out, and found his figures were correct. He knew that his opposition was useless in that House; that he was weak in the minority, that the Government, if so inclined, could, without a word, conduct any measure they pleased through that Council; —but he also knew that, if weak inside that House, he was strong outside ; he had a majority there. Wairoa and Mohaka, with their scanty population, were to hare two members. That, he supposed, was to provide for an anticipated population in those districts. It was convenient, for whether the population came or not, there were the members. There was to be an extra member for the Napier Country District. He had heard, in Australia, of “ gum-tree” representatives; but in Hawke’s Bay he supposed they were representatives of sheep. What else was there to represent ? (Mr Wilkinson : Property.) He thought that most of the sheep-far-mers would be found to have very little property if their debts were paid. (Hgar, hear, and “ Question.”) It was a fact beyond question. Their property was mostly owned in the town. He considered that the townspeople were as wealthy, and possessed quite as much property as the country people; and that if a hundred of either were taken at random, their wealth would be much the same. This Bill had been constructed with a marked disregard to the rights of his constituents, for the defence of which he was there ; and if Ibis Bill was not amended, he should certainly more that it be read that day three months. His absent colleague (Mr Colenso,) had asked for an Act to amend the representation. One bad been brought before them ; but what was it ? His colleague had asked for bread, and had received a stone. He (Mr B.) did not object to an increase of representation ; but he maintained that Napier should hare its full share. It was not as if the Hill had not been duly weighed before being brought forward. Every line of it had been carefully studied, digested, and considered befora being brought before them. The new little pocketborough of Hampden was a specimen of this. The Country District was also intended to be divided, and an additional member added. One of the present members for that district (Mr Richardson) was still undecided as to which of the opposite claims of Meauee and Petane he should support; iu fact, ready to exclaim—

“ How happy might I he with either. Were t’other dear charmer away.” (Laughter.) This addition of another member to the Napier Country Distriot was a most iniquitous job. He would now move:—“ That this Hill be read this day three mouths.” Mr Edwaeds seconded the motion. Mr Wilkinson would make a few remarks. The member for the town (Mr Buchanan) had made some sneering observations about representing sheep, for his own part, ho considered the sheep-farmer a benefactor to his country (hear, hear.) Sheep produced wool, and wool money, and money property. As for the jobbery and corruption referred to, he believed it took place mostly in Napier (hear, hear.) Napier might be said to be in a rotten state (hear, hear.) He thought it would have been better if Mohaka and Wairoa bad been divided. As to the absence of one of the town members (Mr Colenso) he did not think it much to be regretted, except that t hat gentleman was useful on committee work. [Want of space reluctantly compels us to withhold, from this issue, the remainder of the proceedings,—the whole of which, however, wa will endeavour to give on Monday.}

Electors. Population. Napier Town ..... Napier Country Te Ante 626 Porangahau 193 Walpdkurau Waimaraiaa 201 Clive 299 171 Total, exclusive of Napier . Napier Total for the Province......

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBT18651005.2.9

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 312, 5 October 1865, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,356

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 312, 5 October 1865, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 312, 5 October 1865, Page 2

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