PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1024, 23 May 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, M\Y 19, 1871. Highways Act. Mr Ormond moved that Messrs. Buchanan and Lambert's name* be added to the Committee mi the Highways Act, 1871. Agreed to. Education Rate Amendments. Mr Colenso, pursuant to notice, moved— That inasmuch as His Honor the Superintendent has informed this Council that in all likelihood the General Assembly will pass a general Education Act during this approaching session, and that therefore it would scarcely be advisable for the Provincial Council, during this present session, to proceed to amend by Bill the present Hawke's Bay Education Act, it is therefore ad interim resolved. That for the future no separate education rate shall be collected or demanded from any resident for or on account of any detached shop or workshop, the same not being used as a dwelling house. That very small dwelling houses, occupied by very poor people, be also exempt from the education rate, such to be individually agreed to by His Honor the Superintendent. That poor people having large families, of each of which three children or more are sent to a school, and their school fees paid, be also exempt from paying the education rate, on the certificate of the Inspector of Schools. That it is expedient that an efficient Inspector of Schools be appointed forthwith for the Province. After giving precedents for the amendment of Acts by a resolution of the Council, he Maid that as lor the amendments now proposed, their justice had always been admitted, and but for the disinclination of the Council to re-open the subject, some of them would have been made before now. The injustice of levying the rate on account of detached workshops, as well as from the very poor, was evident; and the justice of iemitting it in cases where two or three children in one family weie sent to school, would bo conceded by the Council. With the leave of the Council he would in this part of the motion insert the words, " or one being taught reading, writing, and arithmetic at home.'' As for the present Inspector of Schools, that officer had so many other public duties, and performed them so well, that he had not the time nor opportunity to devote niueli attention to the schools. The efficiency of the system depended to a great extent upon the Inspector, and he thought a gentleman with more time at his disposal should be appointed to the office. Mr Sutton had much pleasure in supporting the motion, which thoroughly coincided with the opinions he had maintained during several sessions. Tf necessary, he would divide the Council upon it Mr A'Deane would support the motion. It did not go quite far enough. In his own neighborhood there were n.any settlers far beyond the reach of any educational establishment, who naturally complained at having to pay a tax from which they could deiive no benefit. He would move as an amend ment that small dwelling houses more than three miles fiom a school should be exempted. Lieut.-Col. Lambert seconded the amendment, Mr Tanner opposed both resolution and amendment. The rate had to be supplemented last year to the extent of i:300, and this would only have tlie effect of diverting a larger sum from general purposes next year. The local Justices of the Peace, he thought, might perform the duties of school inspectors. Mr Kennedy opposed both the amendment and lesolution. Mr Khodes could not tupport the resolution or the amendment. They would, if carried, reduce the revenue from this soui'ce one half. Mr Johnston fully agreed with the member for Hampden as to the hardship experienced by country settlers at a distance from schools, He would support the resolution with the proposed amendment. Mr Kinross opposed the motion as being inquisitorial. Mr KouTLEDGE would oppose the motion as a whole, though he could have supported it in part. Mr Ormono said that if the Council made any radical change in the Act they must look to some other yource

for the deficiency. The best course would be to allow things to remain as at present till the meeting of the Assembly, for the Government were pledged to introduce some general scheme. Mr Tiffin opposed the resolution. He did not think it would be any improvement upon the present scheme. Amendment, negatived on a division. Mr Ormond, in repiy-io Mr A'Deane, said...the rate now raised was for the current year. Should, the Assembly take the matter in hand, no rate would be collected for the vear ending June, 1872. Mr A'Deane said it would be a less hardship for those benefiting by the tax to pay a double or treble rate than for those at a distance from schools topa# r the Ml tax. Mr Colenso was grieved at the unexpected opposition which his proposals had met with. Their justice was unquestioned, and only the most paltry reasons were urged against them. The Province, it appeared, was to lie under the stigma of having an Inspector of Sheep and no Inspector of Schools. The Council seemed content to still repeat the old story, "Something must be done," and do nothing. [He then referred in detail to the objections raised.} The motion was negaLived on the following division : Ayes, 5. —Messrs. Colenso, Sutton, Dolbel, A'Deane,, and Johnston. Noes, 10.—Messrs Routledge, Kennedy, Kinross, Lee, Tiffen, Urraond, Lambert, Bridge, Tanner, and Russell. The Council then proceeded with the orders of the day. The House went pro f&rmd into committee on the Licensing Act; reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on Tuesday. The Volunteer Shed Bill was then considered in committee ; progress was reported, and leave given to sit again on Monday. Mr Sutton moved the second reading of the Toll-gate Bill, the object of which was to remove the toll-gate to the Ngarutoro Bridge, and erect a sidesate, so as to catch the traffic from the country to Meanee After some little discussion, the debate was adjourned, to allow Mr Maney, the absent' member for the Country Districts, taking part in the discussion. Mr Lee resigned his office ah Chairman of Committees, and the Council adjourned to Monday. MONDAY, MAY 22, 1871. The Council met at 3 p.m. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, Clive Square. Mr Colenso, pursuant to notice, moved — For a copy of the Crown Grant or Grants conveying to his Honor the Superintendent the two blocks of land in Clive Square mentioned in the Clive Square Bill. --The Bill before the Council spoke of certain restrictions and limitations, of which no further mention was made. The object of this motion was that the Council might see whether they pea red in the original grant. Mr Qrmond laid the Crown Grant on the table, explaining that it would have to be returned when the day's sitting was over. Petition of Mr Stark. Mr DoLBEii, pursuant to notice, moved — That the petition of Mr Stark he considered in a Select Committee with power to call for persons and papers Such Committee to consist of Messrs. Lamb-rt, Colenso, Kennedy, Sutton, Maney, Lee, and the mover. His Honor said that this was a in which the Government had refused to pay a contractor the full amount of his tender, because he had failed to complete the work. There were a number of similar cases, native troubles have prevented certain works from being fulfilled according to contract. The name of Mr Rhodes having been added to the committee, at the desire of the er, the motion was carried. Sheep Act Committee. Lieut-Col. Lambert, pursuant to notice, moved — That the member for Porangahau'a name ha placed on the Snoop Act Committee, Agreed to.