PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 313, 9 October 1865, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, 29th SEPTEMBER, 1865. EEPEESENTATION AMENDMENT —CONTINUED. Mr Okmond said that the member for the town had talked a great deal about the law of the case, as laid down in the Constitution Act. He (Mr Ormond) had heard before in that Council about the law and the Constitution Act; but when he had used those arguments himself out of the Province he had been told that if the Constitution Act had been adhered to, the Colony would have been now where it was at its commencement 25 years ago. He would therefore pay no attention to what was laid down in the Constitution Act. It was practically a dead letter. The Act before the Council was on the same plan as one at present passing through the House of Representatives. That Act wars equally opposed to the Constitution Act. He would read some statistics from a paper which had come to him in his place in the House of Representatives. In the Province of Taranaki, the town of New Plymouth, with a population of 2,916, and 214 electors, returned 1 member, and Omata, with a population of only 54, and 100 electors, returned 1 member also. Again, in the Province of Canterbury, the town of Christchurch, with a population of 6,423, and 1,292 electors, returned 1 member, and so did Ellesmere, with a population of 729, and 123 electors. The Government had promised last session to bring in this Bill, and this promise they now performed. He saw no reason to lament the absence of the member for Napier. lie would only have taken up valuable time that would have been ill spared, and he was engaged on important work at the House of Representatives. Mr Edwaeds rose to support the amendment. The member for Porangahau had said that the Constitution Act was a dead letter. It was anything but that. Every act performed by the Government of New Zealand, every proclamation issued by the Governor, are under some clause of the constitution Act. It was no use passing an Act in that Council in opposition to it, for it would certainly be disallowed by the Governor. It was like the mountain quaking in fierce convulsions, and bringing forth a mouse. Would the member for Porangahau say that the Constitution Act was a dead letter before Mr Justice Johnson? (Mr Oemond : O, no.) That gentleman would make him cautious as to the manner in which he spoke of such Acts. The population of the country was not now what it was when the census was taken—in the middle of the shearing season. Not that he had anything to say against sheep-shear-ing or sheep-holding, but against class legislation. If this should come to pass he would warn them that the day of retribution would come. Two members for Wairoa with only 16 electors was preposterous. It was an act of gross injustice, for which he did not know how to express his indignation. He would warn the Government that their subterfuges could be seen through by the electors, and that a general election was coming oh, where they would show their opinions in a decisive manner.

Mr Rhodes said that the country electors were mostly small holders. Mr Dolbel said the population of Mohaka and Wairoa included a great many qualified persons /whose names were not on the electoral roll. The amendment was then put, and the Council dmaed as follows : Ayes—Messrs Buchanan and Edwards. Noes—Messrs Kennedy, M’Lean, Ormond, Tiffen, Rhodes, Wilkinson, Dolbel. The original motion was then put and carried. Mr Oemond moved—tie HOUS6 resolve itself » Committee oa tha Agreed to. Mr Oemond moved — That the member for Walpukuraa take the chair for tha flay* Agreed to. Tne Bill was then passed through Committee, and the house afterwards went into Committee of Supply, and adjourned at 10T0. SATURDAY, 30th SEPTEMBER. The Council met at 3 o,clock, pursuant to adjournment. Present, —The Speaker, and Messrs. Buchanan, Wilkinson, M'Lean, Dolbel, Kennedy, Ormond, Rhodes, and Richardson. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. On the motion of Mr Wileenson the Council adjourned till 3 o'clock. On re-assembling at that hour, it was, on the motion of Mr M‘Lean, further adjourned till 7 the same evening. When the Council met again at that hour, a discussion ensued on the subject of the Council Chamber having been used for a public meeting in which Mr Ormond charged the member for Napier, Mr Buchanan, of disgraceful conduct. Mr Buchanan moved that his words be taken down, Mr Wilkinson said lhat the member for the town often used worse language than that, —language which he might call scurrilous. Mr Buchanan moved that those words be taken down also. The Speaker ruled that they were not out of order, and should not, therefore, be taken down. Mr Buchan then retaliated by calling Mr Ormond a loafer, &c., and a scene of considerable confusion ensued. LAND PECULATIONS. Mr Wilkinson asked the Superintendent if thenew Land Regulations included all lands in thn Province, or merely the newly acquired land at the Wairoa P Mr M‘Lean replied that they included all lauds within the Province. SCHOOLMA3TEE AT WAIEOA. Mr Dolbel asked the Superintendent why, forsome time past, there had been no schoolmaster at the Wairoa? Mr M‘Lean replied that the Government had some time ago sent for trained teachers, and that several of them had arrived. The reason that there had been none at Wairoa for some timewasthat there should not be an incompetent person appointed while competent ones- were expected. There was no doubt that ultimately Mr Thompson, would be appointed to that situation. MAIL CAEEIEE. Mr Dolbel asked the Superintendent how it was was that the Wairoa mails were so irregularly delivered, and why their conveyance bad been entrusted to a native of known bad character. Mr M'Lean said that the Postmaster at Wairoawould be the person to complain to, and who, hehad no doubt, would endeavor to- remedy the evilif pointed out to him. DITEESION OF EOADS BILL. On the motion of Mr M'Lkan, this Bill was read, a first time. At a subsequent period, on the motion of Mr Oemond, the Council went into committee on it, and through which it passed with merely a few grammatical alterations. deainage bill. Mr Oemond obtained leave to postpone his motion on this subject. sheep and scab bill, On the motion of Mr Oemond, was read & second time. • EEPEESENTATION BILL. The Council then went into Committee proforma on this Bill SUPPLY. The Council went into Committee of Supply on the Estimates. The Chairman ultimately reported progress, and •the Council adjourned. The three remaining days of the session were chiefly employed in reading of Bills, and in Committee work. On Wednesday, the 4th inst., His Honor thanked the members for their attendance; and for the zeal with which they had entered into the prosecution of the public business; and declared that Council to stand prorogued.