Provincial Council.
I MONDAY, 24in JUNE, 1867- \ TEi Council met at 3 o’clock, pursuant to I •adjournment. Present, —The Speaker and I all the members, except Messrs. Qoibel and t Irvine. The CLERK read the minutes of the last meeting, which were confirmed by the Speaker. t| RETURN OF NEW MEMBERS. f The SPEAKER read the notification of t the return of Donald M'Lean, Esq., to the ; fig at rendered vacant by his acceptance of the office of Superintendent, and of Alev. Irvine, Esq., in place of T. K. Newton, Esq., resigned.
superisxesdest’s address. His Honor the SUPERINTENDENT then read the following address : Mr Speaker Gentlemen of me Provincial Council, — The present meeting of the Council falls within a very short time of the date fixed for the opening •of the next session of th= General Assembly, at which it is expected questions will be discussed affecting in a most important degree the future of the provinces of the Colony, both as regards their political and financial condition. It would, therefore, seem desirable to postpone the consideration of many questions which the Council n ill have to deal with until after the close of the session of the General Assembly.
In the meantime, there are many matters sf pressing importance which cannot in the interest of the Province be deferred, and which will not probably be affected by the action of the General Assembly.
_ Among the subjects winch now require to be disposed of will he the legalising of the necessary expenditure for carrying on the business of the Province for the next fonr months, including the requisite outlay to repair damages to public works occasioned by the late floods.
It is gratifying to be able to state that we continue to maintain the most friendly relations with the natives in tins Province, who are steadily assuming- a position which identifies them with the colonists, and it is to be hoped, as the latter greatlv increase in numbers, they will always regard the Maori with that generous cousideration D for the weaker race for which our countrymen are distinguished. In order to obtain llie best scientific advice before attempting to carry out such works as you may from time to time deem necessary for the improvement of the harbor, 1 applied to the General Government for the services of Mr Balfour, the Marine Engineer of the Colony, whose experience and attainments in such matters are highly spoken of, and I am happy to state that this gentle mrm is now here, and engaged in furnishing reports and designs as to tire best and most economical means of effecting such improvements. 1 gather from Mr Ballour that an outlay of iiO.UOO on the umer harbor would afford ample accommodation ior the present shipping, including piling round the Spit end, and providing a simple machinal}, to be worked by hand labor, for deepening flic channel.
Sir Balfour’s reports and plans will be laid before you, together with observations as to file best means ot protecting river hanks against the encroachment of heavy floods, a subject intimately connected with the harbor, and which has of late very much engaged his attention. Mr Balfour Mali likewise take the earliest opportunity at his disposal to make a report on the vi airoa river.
ihe roaus and public works authorised by the late Colony have been executed ; all the old lines Juve been considerably improved, and several new districts opened up. . ile -''■f-nuroro Bridge has been completed, and is a substantial structure which lias withstood the severe lest of the late tloods. Some of the smaller bridges have suffered, but I am glad to be able to inform jou (hat nearly all the lines of road arc again open for traflic, and that all necessary repairs will be completed within a very few weeks. . V eber hasdisplayed the most untiring energv m carrying out these works, and has been particularly active in repairing the damages caused by the doods, which I am happy to state have not proved bepicarly so great as was at first an-
ou will perceive by correspondence which will os laid before you, that it is the intention of the General Government, during the next session of the Assembly, to introduce a measure for the consolidation of Provincial loans, the effect of which will be to give them increased value in the English market. There is every reason to expect that, after the passing of that Act, the Hawke’s Bay loan of £OO,OOO, already authorised by former legislation will be disposed of to advantage. Hie correspondence on this subject, which will be laid beiore you, shows that this loan lias been withdrawn from sale pending the legislation referred to.
The actual financial position of the province at the end of this present June quarter of this an excess of liabilities over assets of i-I.OSO. However, as this account includes amounts still unrealised, and questions of account between the General Government and this province, it will ho necessary to enter more into detail when the subject of finance is brought forward. In the meantime a full statement of the accounts will be laid upon the table. The depression "which has been so generally experienced tlirougbout the colony has also to some extent been felt in this Province. It should however be borne in mind that such periods are seldom of long duration, and often lead to the exercise of greater economy and to increased efforts in developing the resources of the country. The estimates of the ensuing year will shortly be laid before you. There is no question that the large territorial income which vve have been receiving during past years cannot be realised for the future; and although other sources of revenue are gradually increasing, the whole amount available for appropriation after providing for the necessary ordinary expenditure will be greatly diminished, and it will become your duty to devise such means as may be considered necessary for providing funds to carry out indispensable public works.
In reference to education, I c.m glad to be able to state that considerable progress hcs been made, during the past year. Three additional schools have been opened, with an increase of 57 pupils, making in all 14 schools. affording education to 314 children. The Inspector's report will be laid before you.
The support of schools will. 1 feel assured, always claim your favorable consideration, and while you will no doubt make liberal provision to further education, I think if will still he found necessary, in order to render Government assistance more efficient, to adopt a system that has been found suceesful in other Provinces—of imposing an education rate,
The number of Immigrants who have arrived from Great Britain during the la«t Id months amount to 227. involving an outlay, to be hereafter refunded to the Provincial Treasury, of £3,-102. The immigrants have met with ready
employment. I have agreed, subject to your approval, to' transfer to the General Government about 19,000 acres of the provincial estate at the Mania peninsula, for £5,700. This land is required on political grounds for some of the UTiiroa natives for whom the Government is bound to make provision. These natives are at prcM-nt living m too
close prosunitv to the inland Lnweru tr dies, and! will be glad to have land placed at their disposal, as thev may require it, in a more setted district. As this arrangement entails no loss to the province, I trust it will be adirmed by you. I take the opportunity of expressing my thanks to the inhabitants for {he confidence reposed in me, and to the members of this Council for the unanimity w**ii wmcii l nave cecn re-elected to the important office which you have been pleaseJ to confer upon me. Mr BUCHANAN moved— That His Honor’s address be printed. Air WESTON seconded the motion, which was agreed to. PAPERS. His HONOR laid on the table the following papers ;
A Statement of the Assets and Liabilities of the Province to the 30th June.
A Statement of Interest and Sinking Fund, the share of General Government on Loans allocated to Hawke’s Bay. A letter from Mr Peters, of the firm of Cobb & Co., offering to run coaches between Napier and Wellington. A report, with plan, upon the harbor, See., by Mr Balfour, Colonial Marine Engineer. ADJOUF.-NMENT. After several notices of motion had been given, Air M‘LEAN moved— That the Council adjourn to the usual sitting hour to-morrow. Agreed to, and the Council adjourned accordingly.
TUESDAY, 25m JUNE. The Council met at 3 p.m. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. WITHDRAWAL OF PAPERS. His HONOR requested the permission of the Council to withdraw the Statement of Assets and Liabilities laid on the table yesterday, as the document had been got up in rather a hurried manner, and the Government wished to place it before members in a clearer form. Mr WESTON could not help thinking that it was rather humiliating for the Government to withdraw, for the pui-pose of alteration, a paper laid on the table. It appeared as if it would not bear investigation.
Mr BUCHANAN said the Government should have stated the precise error in the document before they asked leave to withdraw it. Was the error a serious one or not P Was the document on the whole a fair statement of the condition of the Province P He did not wish to quibble about a few pounds, but possibly the mistake wa:a serious one, and the usual fiourish about the “ sound financial condition of the Province ” was not true. If this was the case, it was, as the member for Waimarama bad said, a most humiliating state of affairs. He hud no objection to the withdrawal of the document provided it was not wholly withdrawn, but was to be re-submitted in an amended form.
His HOIS OR would again ask tlio permission of the Council for the withdrawal of the document. The items were correct, but there were some errors in the figures. Leave was then granted, and the document withdrawn. consideration or superintendent's speech. Major LAMBERT, pursuant to notice, moved— That His Honor’s address ho considered. —He had put the notice on the paper yesterday in the absence of the junior member, to whose lot it should hare fallen in the regular order of proceedings. Mr IRVINE said that he had intended to give notice of such a motion yesterday, but had been unavoidably absent. Mr WESTON suggested that the address should be withdrawn as well as the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as the error in the latter would affect the speech. Mr M'LEAN said that the proper time to discuss the error would bo when the document came under the consideration of the Council.
Mr BUCHANAN considered the Government should have arranged beforehand with the junior member about the reply to tlie address. They seemed oblivious o! their duty, and of the respect due to a new member.
Mr IRVIRE gave notice that lie would move the reply to the address on Wednesday. Mr ORMOND thought that the motion before the House should be proceeded with. The Government knew what was and what was not their duty, and did not think it was any part of it to move the reply to the address. If there were any points in it to which the Council had an objection they should be discussed. If the Council wished to reply to the address the Government had no objection, but there was no Responsible Government, and he could not see what object would be gained by it. It was different in the Assembly.l where there was responsible Government, but he thought the Council would only waste its time in such folly. As to the error in the document which had been withdrawn, when it came under discussion it could be explained in a few words. Major LAMBERT had beard the re» marks of the member for Porangahau, but still believed in doing things in a proper manner.
MrTANNER said that the consideration of the speech should b» deferred til! tlie members had the financial statement before them.
Sir BUCHANAN said that it was of no moment what the Government thought. The iirst Standing Order stated the rules by bich the Council was to be governed,
and tile uouncii must abiae oj i nern. Mr ORMOND said the member for the. Town bad misconstrued bis words. The Government bad not attempted to lay down tbe law to the Council, but bad said tbat their present action was a waste ol time. This province bad not an Executive like that of Wellington, which was all composed of Government ofucsrs, —j_oir Bfcha'xax ; No.] —well, nearly all.—[Mr Buchanak : No.] If it was there would be changes of Government every half dozen votes. lie did not believe in this playing at responsible Governments in the parochial boards called Provincial Councils. “ Mr WESTON said that, tbe Govern-
meat finances was the subject on whufii the whole discussion on the Superintendent’s speech would lunge. Mr ORMOND thought that the best course would be for the member for Waipukurau to withdraw his motion. Major LAMBERT said that the question seemed to be whether the Standing Orders should be abided by or not. He did not see why the Government wished to get through the business hurriedly. The Council should show that it was the principal part of the Government of the province, and should abide exactly by the Standing Rules and Orders, lie should bo glad to withdraw his motion if such a course met the views of the house.
Mr TANNER was surprised at the action of Government in inviting the discussion of the speech when the statement of the finances of the province contained in it was incorrect; and throwing obstacles in the way of the business of the Council. Major LAMBERT moved for leave to withdraw his motion.
Leave granted, Mr TANNER hoped that the corrected financial statement would be laid on the table to-morrow in time for the debate on the Address. Mr ORMOND said it would bo laid on the table as soon as it was ready. He had never heard of a financial statement being laid on the table before the consideration of the Address. Mr TANNER would ask why it had been done in this instance. Mr ORMOND said it was not the financial statement, but a statement of assets and liabilities, and it was placed before the Council as early as possible. It had been prepared rather too hurriedly, hence the error. He hoped that when the Council entered into the consideration of figures, it would be as figures, and that they would not mix them them up with his Honor’s address. Mr BUCHANAN said it was evident that the whole speech hinged upon the correctness of the statement made as to the finances of the province. All else in it referred to matters of minor importance. If the Government could not get the document ready to-morrow they had belter say so, and let the reply be postponed to another day. L.VXD REVENUE AND I’UULIC WORKS. Mr TIFFEN moved— For a return of the total amount of land revenue in the dilfemit electoral districts of the Province since Ist November. ISbS. Also for a return of the total amount of moneys expended in public works in such electoral districts.
—The return was ono which his constituents had requested him to obtain, and it was for their satisfaction ho brought forward this motion.
His HONOR said that the return was in course of preparation, and. would be ready in about four days. It was being proceeded with with all due expedition. Mr BUCHANAN said the subject was one which demanded a few observations. A cursory glance at the motion would show what a complicated affair the return would be, and one which would be very apt to delude. It would be nothing less than a review of everything done in the province since it was a province. They all had their views as to the manner in which the money had been spent, but they could not recall any of it. The return, when it was furnished would possibly be a very interesting study for an antiquarian. The return would bo very liable to lead to false views. For instance, he would take the district of Napier, which would of course be included in the return. He did not suppose that the treasury received much from the original sales of land in Napier: but in Napier there had been a very largo expenditure. It would not be fair to say that that expenditure was enItircly for the benefit, of the Napier district. JL'hei-o was the building they were now m; there was the jail; the hospital; and many other things of the kind he could name. Again, in the Clive district, there was the Ngaruroro Bridge ; through me Te Auto district there was the Te Auto
road, oa which largo sums of money had been spent. These works benefited the whole of the inland districts in the i J roTince lying in that direction. The return should* distinguish all works of general utility from works of only special benefit. Lieut.-Col. WHITMORE cordially supported the resolution. He should much ako the Council to fix principles for future guidance with lel’erence to the expenditure of the land revenue. 'The provincial treasury bad received large sums of money from the Wairoa district, but not a sldlling had found its way back to the district. There was no encouragement to settlers to
extend their property when they knew the money would all be spent in more favored district?. Major LAMBERT could not agree with the motion at all. Its object appeared to be more to set district against district, than to do good to the wnoie province.
The outlying districts could never fairly have as much money spent upon them as the more central ones, aud there would be an end to all good government if members thought only of their own districts. Mr TIFFEN, with the consent of the Council, altered his motion to include the nature of works, locality where constructed, and if out of the provincial funde. Mr TANNER could not see that the return would du any good. Tie did not think it would be worth the time aud trouble expended in its preparation. Mr RHODES thought the discussion was without point, when the Government had readily promised to prepare the return. If it was intended for the benefit, of outlying districts it was rather late in the day. The benefit the Government could ttubi-u the outlying districts in future would be small indeed. If the return would afford any pleasure to an antique* rian, which he doubted, that would be its only use. Motion put aud agreed to.
PASTORAL LANDS AT WAIROA. Lieut.-Colouel WHITMORE asked the Government— Whether the Government has any intention to lease the pastoral lands at Wairoa. and, if so, when. —Ha put this question at the request of his constituents. His HONOR said that the leasing had been delayed, but he had no doubt they would be ready for lease iu five or six weeks.
I.AN'D OCCUPIED 13Y TOHA. Lieut.-Col. WHITMORE asked the Government — lender what tenure the native chief Toha holds the laud occupied by him at AVairoa. —The Maori Toha held an extensive block of the best land in the Wairoa district, and the inhabitants wished to know under what tenure it was held. His HONOR said that the land—a block of 900 acres —had been made over to Toha in consideration of his relinquishing his claim to a sheep-run in the laud purchased by the Government. THE WAIP.OA PILOT. Lieut.-Col, WHITMORE asked the Government — Whether the Government has any intention to provide a European pilot fur AVairoa. —The people were very much discontented with Toha, the present pilot, and captains of vessels had frequently said that they would prefer to have no pilot at ail. He was an excellent boatman, but too irregular in Ilia attendance, and too careless to be of any use. The inhabitants were very anxious that lie should be removed.
His HONOR said that he was aware that slight inconvenience was sometimes occasioned by the irregularities of the pilot, but the Troviuce was not now in a position to pay a European pilot and boats’ crew. The inhabitants of Wairoa had also stated that they should be very sorry to see him removed. napief. i.irr.tto.vr. Major LAMBERT moved— For a return tu he laid ou the table showing the original co.-d of the lifeboat ; from whom purchased ; ami all expenses incurred on account of tins boat. Also, to ask IJis Honor what steps fif I any) have been taken to man the boat in case of a | vessel requiring aid.
—Ho had read in the Herald of two men being drowned in the roadstead in March last, and that when the life-boat was taken it was found unfit for sea. Some great blame attached somewhere. He read in the same paper that both the present and late pilot, and the late Mr Morrison, who was certainly qualified to judge, had declared the boat unfit for the harbor. When such was the case, how was it that it was not reported to the Government P It was painful to think of two fellow-creatures being swept into eternity without an effort being made to save them. Mr E.UNNEDY said that the boat was an excellent one in its class, but was neither self-emptying or self-righting. A boat of the latter description would cost from £3OO to £SOO.
Mr BUCHANAN said it was notorious] that the Governmentcould only afford£loo for their specially-imported boat. They thought the expense of a boat such as the National Lifeboat Association use too great He did not think blame attached to any one in the matter of the wreck. No doubt the boat was as good as the money could purchase.
His HONOR said the Government had communicated with the Government at Wellington in reference to a self-righting boat which they wore importing. When this boat arrived it was found to be of the same kind as tlao one at present at the harbor. Major LAMBERT said that the Government should get a life boat in which men would not fear to go to sea. It was never child’s play with the best boat in a rough Motion agreed to. -UMOCr.XJIEXT. On the motion of Mr At‘Lean the Council adjourned.
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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XI, Issue 488, 27 June 1867, Page 3
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3,767Provincial Council. Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XI, Issue 488, 27 June 1867, Page 3
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