PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1025, 25 May 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1871. Control of Main Roads. —Continued. Mr Ohmond did not hear the notice given of this motion, or he would have been prepared with data, which, as it was, he had not lime to gather. The present resolution was a very sweeping one, and meant, probably, much more than was imagined by the member who introduced it. In the first place, a Highways Act framed upon this principle would never receive the sanction of the General Government. They would look upon suth a measure as a voluntary relinquishment of the main function of the Council; and would act accordingly. This struck him at once, on a general view of the question. The result would, in some respects be quite opposite to the intention of the member for the town. The General Assembly had granted this mon. j y for the more especial benefit of far outlying districts, but in the peculiar circumstances of this Province he (Mr 0 ) had framed a scheme, which, while adhering as closely as possible to the original design of the General Government, yet differed from it in this particular, that a portion of the fund was applied to more central districts than had been originally intended. If, however, the Council made such a change as the one now proposed, the Government would no doubt insist upon the money being applied in more remote districts than at present. He would point out another result—many of the main feeders of the Province would be cut off' How far, for instance, could the residents between the toll bar and Olive contribute to the support of the trunk line in their distiict 1 and what v oulcj be the effect on the Pio\ince if supplies could no loner be conveyed along that part of the road 1 Another instance the road between Havelock and Te Ante. Tt was essential that this road should be kept in repair ; but by what process of taxation could the three or four owners of property there support it ? Nothing short of absolute confiscation of their property could keep it open, He was in favor of t>he feeders oi' the main lines being taken in charge by High way Boards, but not the main roads The argument about unfair ment of the toll gate fund would not bear examination. It had been stated that £903 had been spent between Napier and Havelock, and only MASO on the Pukelapu road. Now of this j£9G3 about one-h'.df Ijad been spent between the Spit and the toll-gate, by which Puketapu was benefited equally with Havelock. It would thus be seen that the Puketapu district had its fair share of the toll gate fund. No funds hail been applied to this road from the general revenue, just because the special fund was found sufficient. If it had not been enough, the Province would have been bound to eontribu e to the line from the general revenue. The Meanee Highway district, containing 3,000 acres, as densely populated as any district in the Province, did not, by their action, seem to be in greas need of assistance with their roads. ,£BO had been set aside as their share of the General Government fund, and their district was one of the few which had failed to raise the £2O necessary to entitle them to the grant. He con Id only repeat that the proposal could not bo carried out, that the Assembly would disallow it, and would conclude that the Council which would thus abandon its main function would have little left to do. He deprecated the resolution, as being likely to bring the Province and its legislature into disrepute.

Lieut-Col. Lambert said that after the clear explanation just given by his Honor, he did not think the Council would sanction the resolution. As for the toll-gate fund, he remembered that when the Country District members succeeded in having it applied within a limited district, they thought they had

done a great stroke for their constituents. (Hear, hear.) It was thought then that the gate would yield more than had proved to be the case. There was great gbrce in hi* Honor's remarks about such portions of road as between Pakipaki and Te Ante. The Council must not crush the settlers with taxation. The member who introdueed these resolutions had evidently not; given due thought to the subject. Mr Dolbel would support solutions, and thought tfyem worthy of the consideration of, th,e Council. Road* such as that at Redelyffe, leading to large tracts of country, had been neglected by the Council, and would ho better dealt with by Highway Boards. Mr Sutton said that the road to Clive, alluded to by his Honor, was not an instance in point, being proviJed for by a special fund. He would not admit that it was understood that the toll gate fund only was to be applied to the portion of the road specified in the Act, It was very well for the country members to oppose him—the representatives ofTe Aute, Porangahau, Waipawa, and Waipukurau had yet to learn what it was to be taxed to keep the roads in repair. Motion negatived. Sheep Jet. Mr Tanner, pursuant to notice, moved To ask his Honor the Superintendent to ascertain from the Provincial Solicitor what clauses in the "Hawke's Bay Sheep Act, 1870," are ultra vires, and to what extent. —His object was to obtain information. for the committee now sitting. His Honor said the required information would be laid on the table. Chairman of Committees. The Council proceeded to the orders of the day, the first of which was the Committee on the Volunteer Shed Bill. In the first place it became necessary to elect a Chairman of Committees. Mr Sutton was proposed, but declined, and proposed Lieut Col Lambert, who also declined, saying that after occupying the position of Speaker, he could pot descend to the office of Chairman. (Laughter.) He proposed Mr Routledge, who also declined. The Speaker said that he did not agree that there was any loss of dignity in a Speaker acting as Chairman of Committees. The Council seemed in a difficulty ; if he could help them out by acting in a double capacity he would be willing to do so. It might be slightly irregular, but it would accord with his; own views as to the simplification of the business of the Council Mr Colenso could not allow so irregular a proceeding. How could the Chairman report to the Speaker if ho occupied both offices | In case of a dispute in Committee, and appeal totjie Speaker, what could rhe House do 1 There were twenty reasons against the proposal. Mr Rijodes was about to have made the same suggestion thai the Speaker had done. He intended, however, as this would add greatly to the onerous dudes so efficiently performed by that gentleman, that the office should be a paid one. Some further discussion ensued. Mr Colenso denounced the proposal as impossible and illegal. The Speaker would give an illustration. Did not Mr Justice Johnston, in banoo, sit in judgment on his own decisions in nisi prkis ? Mr Colenso ; True; but he always sits as Judge. The Council adjourned to 7 p.m., leaviug the question open,. On the Council resuming, Mr Maney was elected Chairinan, Volunteer Shed Bill. The House went into committee on the above Bill; the blanks in the schedule were tilled, progress was reported, and leave granted to sit again, next sitting-day. Toll gate Amendment Bill. The debate on the second reading of this Bill was resumed. Mr Maney opposed the Bill. Mr Colenso considered that this Bill would inflict an additional hardship on the people of Meauee, who already paid more than their share of this tax. The market gardeners often came to Napier with no more than 10s worth of pro-; duce in their carts, out of which they

-were-taxed Is. A fairer plan would be to "reduce the toll 6ne : half, and have a gate with a similar toll at the Ngaru;roro Bridge. This - would be more equitable than the present system. Mr Rhodes said that this would be •unjust'to the Clive people, who would not only have to" travel a greater distance, but would have to pay twice as much as the Meanee settlers. Lieut.-Col. Lambert could not support .the Bill. He thought whatever toll the market gardeners paid would be added to the price of their wares. He moved as an amendment that the Bill be read chat day six months Mr Tanner seconded the amendment.. Mr Colenso thought the Clive settlers, after riding several miles over a good road, should not object to paying a higher toll than their Meanee neighbors. As it was, the toll was the same to the Shamrock Hotel as to Porangahau. Mr A'Deane thought there was a /degree of fairness in the proposal to place a toll on the JSfgaruroro bridge. He would not support the amendment. Capt. Russell could understand a proposal to do away with a toll-bar altogether, but could not understand the object of the proposed measure. The present position was in his opinion the best. A second bar at Tareha's Bridge would be unfair to Meanee, and would result in diverting the traffic by way of Pakowhai. After some further discussion the iimendment (that the Bill be read this day six months) was carried on a divi *ion. Slaugh'er-house Repeal Bill. The House went into committee on this Bill. The clauses were passed, but the preamble was negatived on a divi--s:on. The Chairman reported progress, ; and the Council, en a division, refused leave to sit again. The Bill was thus thrown out. Oddfellows' Hall Bill Read -a third time and passed. Supply. The House then went into Committee <of Supply, and the lemaining portion ,of the estimates were parsed without .alteration, though not without discussion. '1 he Council then adjourned to next .sitting day.