Provincial Council.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 583, 4 June 1868, Page 3

Provincial Council.

TUESDAY, 2nd JUNE. Tub Council met at 3 pm. Present, — | The Speaker, Messrs. M'Lean, Rhodes, Kennedy, Sutton, Locko, Ferard, '.vot'd, Buchanan, Weston, Tanner, Carlyon, anti Whitmore. NEIV MEMBER. The session opened with prayers, after which the SPEAKER read a letter from the Superintendent, notifying the return of Bingham Arthur Ferard, Esq., for the Town of Napier, for the scat vacant by the decease of Alexander Irvins, Esq. OPENING ADDRESS. ITis HONOR tha Superintendent then read the following opening address ; Mr Speaker. and Gentlemen or the Provincial Council, — In compliance with a desire generally expressed last session, that the next silting of the Provincial Council should be held at an earlier period, I trust I have called you together on (lie present; occasion in suflieieut time before the meeting of the General Assembly lor the full consideration of all questions affecting the welfare of the Province. I feel that the unfortunate occurrence which has deprived this Colony of a visit from his lloval Highness the Duke of Edinburgh is greatly deplored by you, and before proceeding to the ordinary business of the Council 1 would desire to unite with you in preparing an address to her Majesty the Queen expressive of our sympathy and deep regret for the cause which has prevented an event of such importance from taking- place. The address from the inhabitants of Hawke’s Bay to his Royal Highness has been duly transmitted. I believe that a visit from a member of the Royal Family would have been gladly availed of by some of the New Zealand tribes, as a desirable opportunity for reconciling still existing differences, ami for establishing more friendly relations with the Europeans. The general depression that lias prevailed throughout the Colony lias also been felt in this Province, and you will no doubt be prepared to expect a falling off in those sources of revenue which have hitherto afforded the menus for carrying on various public works and improvements. The. mode of carrying on, and the means for promoting such works in future, and of providing for the necessary departments of the Provincial Service, are subjects which require much careful consideration ; but I conceive, in (he present divided state of public opinion as to the relations to be maintained, financially and otherwise, between the Colonial Government and the Provinces, that it would be premature now to introduce measures which might afterwards lie disturbed by the action of the General Assembly. The Estimates of Receipts and Expenditure for the current year will shortly be laid on the table. Correspondence relating to the amount of interest claimed from the Province of Hawke’s Bay, on account of the permanent debt of the original Province of Wellington, will be laid before you. You will be asked to make a fresh appropriation of the unexpended portion of the Hawke’s Bay loan of £G(U)O0. The internal lines of communication have been considerably improved and extended during the past year. The main line, of road is nearly completed as fir as Maipukuraii, mil of the amount set aside for that purpose by the Loan Appropriation Act, and (he. few unfinished port ions arc at present nearly all in the hands of contractors. Considerable outlay lias also been incurred for tin; aeeommodalhm of the shipping. A, new wharf lias been built at the end of Customs-street, a snh'taatia! quay wall is now in progress, ami secure moorings have been laid at the Western Spit.

Progress has aho been made in carrying out the necessary surveys, ami in defining, iu compliance with an Act of the General Assembly, (he permanent lines of road, A light-house, to be placed on (he reserve set apart for that purpose at the Bluff on Sciude Island, is being ordered from England. The telegraph line which is being constructed by the General Government will soon place this Province in communication with the whole of the southern parts of New Zealand, and will be found of great advantage iu supplying a want much felt in (lie absence of more regular steam communication. Tho census returns lately published iu (lie New Zealand Government Gazette afford a very striking proof of (lie progress of improvement iu this Province. lor instance, it wll be found on reference to these returns (hat 2 !-7, ( 1(G nm-s of iaiul have been fenced, as against fin,o7l in ISOI-, —showing an excess in three years of 181,331- acres. The extent laid down in English grasses is 28,015. as against 10,SGI in ISGI-, —showing an increase at 8,751- acres. The same Gazette gives the return of freehold property at ,700,710 acres, and of leasehold !IS7,2fiS acres, —making (he total of freehold and leasehold 1,(593,987 acres, or more than halt of the whole area of the Province. To return to other portions of the census. It is very encouraging to find that the population and resources of (lie Province have been steadily increasing. In ISfil (lie, population was 3,770, in IStl'/the numbers were 5,175 —being an increase of about 37 per cent. In ISO 1- the number of buildings was 7oS ; in December ISC7, 3,130, show mg an increase of 393. Live stock, notwithstanding (lie large exports to Auckland and other markets, in addition to the number of sheep scut toTaupo and the East Coast, to stock (he numerous runs taken up iu those districts, are returned as SI-1,814 sheep. In ISOthe numbers were 537,091, showing an increase of 301,720. The number of horses in ISGI was] 2,780; and last year they were 4,713 —showing an increase of 1,933. The only apparent decrease is in that of horned cattle, which arc returned as I,l,71o; while in 1564 the number was 1 1,552. Tliis diminution is, however, accounted for by the large number that have been exported. The Maori population, although not represented in these statistics, yet possess no inconsiderable part of the wealth and resources of Hawke’s Bay ; they are rich in land, cattle, horses, sheep, mills, and agricultural implements, mid are applw ing themselves to industrial occupation. They are generally well-disposc-d, amenable to law. and contribute very much to the prosperity- of the Province. The leasing and subsequent purchase from the natives of rich alluvial land on the Ahnriri plains has greatly stimulated agricultural pursuits in the vicinity ot Napier ; and it may- be sag Iv assumed, judging from what has been been accomplished within the last year, (hat the greater portion of those plains will, in the course jif n few years, be converted into well cultivated farms, producing wheat and oilier articles of daily consumption, for the purchase of which large sums of raonev are annually sent out of (he I’rovince ; and also he the means of affording steady employment to mi ncreised ro-'-übtion.

The marked improvement that is taking place j in the neighbouring Province of Auckland, v.itn its rich gold, and not less valuable coal-fields, is gratifying, foreshadowing, as it does, the return of better times to that, part of (lie Island. 1 trust some means will be devised by the General Assembly to further a project which I have always deemed of vital importance to the infer,-sts of the North Island, and that is the formation of a main line of road through the interior, which would connect the different Provinces of the NT.rli Island, and promote European settlement in many valuable districts of the interior, which at present remain mipniduciive. The means by which the education of (he youth of (iie Province is to be provided for will, I lb,-! sure, claim yum oust ,iT;enra,n. The n venae derived from ibe hums sr-i I for tills purpo„is altogether inadequate, and while much lias been voted byayou for the erection of buildings, and tie 1 support of schools. ] fear that sullicient finds will not in future he available without having recourse to an education rate to supply the want. A hill to make provision for this important object will be submitted to you. It affords me much pleasure, notwithstanding many temporary causes of depression, to be able to congratulate you on the change for the brlier \vlucli is taking place in Hu wke’s Bay ; and I trust we may continue confidently to look forward iu the enjoyment of much more prosperous times. I now declare this Council open fur the transaction of public business.

PRINTING OF ADDRESS, Mr RHODES did not know whether he was in order in speaking; but he thought that his Honor’s address should be printed. Mr WESTON thought that the member for Clive was out of order. ADJOURNMENT. Mr RHODES moved that the Council do now adjourn till to-morrow at the usual hour. Agreed to, and the Council accordingly adjourned. WEDNESDAY, 3rd JUNE. The Council met at 3 pm. The minutes the last meeting were read and confirmed. Present —The Speaker, Messrs M'Lean, Rhodes, Kennedy, Locke, Sutton, Ferard, Wood, Buchanan, Weston, Tanner, Whitmore, A’Deane, Carlyon. The SPEAKER read a letter from the Superintendent, sf ating that an error in the endorsement of the writ under which Mr Ferard was elected, had been corrected. PAPERS. His HONOR the Superintendent laid on the tuble the following papers : Report on Roads and Bridges, by the Provincial Engineer Rcpmt on Surveys, by the Chief Provincial Surveyor Report on Harbor Works, by the Harbor Master Report of Inspector of Schools Report of Inspector of Sheep Report on Jail Report of Immigration Officer CONSOLIDATION OF SHEEP AND SCAB ACTS. Mr CARLYON supposed lie would not he out of order in asking a questi m of the Government, without notice. The SPEAKER said it would not be according to precedent. Mr CARLYON said ho believed that a member could ask tho Government any question without notice, though they were not bound to answer it. Tho qu -stion he wished to ask was this, whether the Government intended consolidating the existing Sheep and Scab Acts. They had given something very like a promise to that elf’ect during tho last session, and ho wis'ud to know if it would bo fulfilled. Ho did not believe ono man in ten knew tho law on this subject. If lie was not answered now he would give a notice of motion for tomorrow. His HONOR said that tho subject would require some consideration, and that ho would prefer its being put on the paper in tho usual way. lie would now explain that the Government would not be able to go on with any important business until the estimates were ready, which would be about Tuesday. Lieut.-Col. WHITMORE suggested that the Council should adjourn till Tuesday, at which time the papers would be ready. Tho whole business of (lie session hinged upon the estimates. Mr RHODES had no objection to (!ti< course if it was the wish of the Council ; but as (hey usually had two or three days taik before entering upon the serious business of the session, ho thought that this had better bo gone through before tho Est imalcs were introduced. Mr CARLYON would tell (he true reason of the delay. Yesterday, after the delivery of tho speech, (he Government omi.ted to more that it be printed, and therefore it was not on the table as it should have been (hat morning. Ho had no idea of what was in that address. Mr TANNER: The member for Clive moved that it be printed. Mr WESTON : He made the motion irregularly. Mr CARLYON then moved “ That the address of his Honor, the Superintendent, bo printed forthwith.”—Agreed to. PRIVILEGE. Mr CARLYON then spoke on a subject of privilege, the incorrectness of some of the records of the Council, He complained of a reply to the Superintendent’s address of last session, moved by the late Mr Irvine, and rejected by the Council, being printed in the minute book instead of the reply drawn up by a Select Committee and adopted by the Council. He complained of the Government keeping the Council waiting a week for the estimates, when there was a distinct understanding last session that they should be laid_on the table the day the Council met. He said that the Government had been pres sed :o call the Council together not later i than the Ist of May. They had promised to do so as reported in the blue books, on the 1-lfh, and had not celled them together till the 2nd of Hie next month.

Mr BUCHANAN enndemuod the care-] lessuess which had h-d to the omission of the reply from the Blue Book. lie had diligently searched ihc records, and could find no trace of it. lie spoke of the opening address and reply as an unnecessary formality in a Province where the Super-irift-riderit lind a seat in the Council. Mr CARL YON complained of the Book < f proposed Standing Rules and Orders having DO d ate, and not having the proper imprint. Thu SPEAKER s:dd that tho member must confine himself to the question of iprivilege. j Air CARLYO.V un n )o;w and desultory discussion with the Speaker, and the House ultimately went into the business of the day. GRANTS OF LAND. Mr BUCHANAN moved— For leave to introduce a lull to fix the sums for which ivaiissioii certificates in toe pureli:i>e of laud may be granted to the volunteers ami militiamen. Agreed to. The bill was read a first time, ordered to be printed, and its second reading made uu order for next sittingday. EDUCATION ACT. Air RHODES moved— Fur leave to bring in tut Education Act. —Agreed to. Read a first time, ordered to be printed, and second reading ordered for nest sitting day. The Council then adjourned.