PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1028, 29 May 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1871. The Council met at 3 p.m. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Appropriation Act Introduced by Mr Ormokd, read a first time, and second reading fixed for Tuesday. Licensing Amendment. The House went for a short time into committee on this Bill, after which progress was reported, with leave to sit again presently. Napier School Bill. The House went into committee on this Bill. Mr Colenso expressed himself as highly gratified with sie report of the Select Commiitee, with which he agreed in every particular. He would suggest that the trustees appointed should be all laymen, unless ministers of each denomination were appointed. 4-bove all things it was necessary to prevent sectarian influence in the matter. After some further discussion, the chairman reported progress, with leave to sit again. Licensing Amendment. The Council again went into com mittee on this Bill, which was reported with amendments, and the third reading fixed for next sitting day. Supply. The Council then went into Committee of Supply, to consider the special estimates, which weie passed. His Honor then informed the committee that the estimated revenue had all been Ypteij, and that no fund was available

for the various notices on the paper. It would therefore be useless for the Council to take them into consideration without first, in Committee of Ways and Means, devising some means by which additional revenue might be raided, Progress was then reported, and the -Committee-adjourned. . .-. Volunteer Shed "Bill. Bead a third time and passed. The Council then adjourned to Friday. FRIDAY, MAI 26, 1871, The Council met at 3 p.m. The minutes* of the last meeting wera read and confirmed. Unauthorised Expenditure. Mr Ormjond, pursuant to notice,, moved—- " Whereas the "Provincial Audit Act, 1806," provides that unless anaddress to the Superintendent to send to the Council a recommendation to grant a sum of money to meet (he unauthorised expenditure, shall be passed by an absolute majority of the entire, number of the members of the Provincial Council, the. Provincial Auditor shall commence suits in the Supreme; Court to recover the penalties recoverable under the said Act, for signing and issuing special orders for the issue of money without appropriation. And whereas it is necessary to release the Superintendent from the penalties to» which he is liable for such unauthorised expenditure the Council requests theSuperintendent to submit to the Council a recommendation to grant a sum of money sufficient to meet the said unauthorised expenditure." —He explained the various items, seriatim, as they appear in the next following resolution. He said that in looking over some old Council debates, he found the unauthorised expenditure during one year amounted to ,£9.000. With this sum, <£2l4 this year, and £230 last year, he thought, did not contrast unfavorably. There would always be many contingencies arising, calling for the expenditure of public money, wbicli could not possibly be foreseen during the session of Council. Mr Colenso pointed out that the largest item—.£62 10s was described as " Miscellaneous," and asked how it was made up. Mr Ormond replied that it was principally election expenses, and partly excess over the amount voted for printing and advertizing, there beipg an unusual amount of Council printing last session, Agreed to. Mr Ormond then, pursuant to notice,, moved—"The Superintendent requests the Provincial Council to grant the sum of Two hundred and fourteen pounds five shillings and eightpence, to meet the unauthorized expenditure from the Ist May, 1870, to the 30th April, 1871, the same unauthorized expenditure having been incurred on account of the services hereinafter mentioned— Gaol Department. ... ~.£54: 1. 10 Police Department ... ... 13 5 0 Harbor Department 35 16 6 Survey Department 25 0 0Legislative ... ... ... 1 6 4 Miscellaneous 62 10 0 Inspector of Sheep Department ... 23 6 0 £214 5 8 Agreed to. Mr Ormond then introduced a Credit Act to give effect to the above resolutions.—Read a first time, and second reading fixed for next sitting-day. Captain Carter's Claim. Lieut -Col. Lambert brought up the Report of the Committee appointed to consider the claim of Captain Carter upon the consideration of the Council, and moved that it be read. —The Report strongly recommended that a sum of SIOO should be given to Captain Carter, in consideration of his services. Land for Special Settlement. Mr pursuant to notice, moved—- " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to negociate with the Mohaka Natives for the acquirement of a block of land on the north bank of j the Mohaka rive*', containing 4,000 ' acres more or less, and. that t&e sai<l

land if purchased be sat aside for a special settlement under the 34th and 35th clauses of the Immigration and Public Works Act of 1870." —The land in question had gone through the court, was of good quality, there was a good bush in the block, and a harbor —in fact, the only thing wanted was population. Mr Ormond said that if the Superintendent negotiated for this land on behalf of the Proyince, the Province must bear the expense, which it was not in a position to do, The General Government, however, had a fund for this purpose, and if the Council.agreed as to the desirability of a special settlement being formed on ibis block, they might request the General Government to set apart a portion of this fund for its purchase. Mr Colensg eould bear out the member for Mohaka as to the desirability of this land being taken in hand by the Government before it should fall into the hands of private speculator. The position was good for a settlement, as a main road passed through it. Mr Dolbel, by permission, withdrew his mo I ion, with the intention of brinjnng it forward in a different form. Licensing Amendment Bill. Read a third time and passed. Petition. Mr Kinross presented a petition, signed by 230 inhabitants of the town of Napier, praying that the Government should take measures to have the swamp west of Hastings street and : south of Carlyle street filled up. Read and received. Orders of the Day. Mr Sutton having been appointed Chairman of Committees for the day, the House went into committee on the Napier School Bill. Some advance having been made, the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again next sitting-day. Mr Dolbej, moved the second reading of the Slaughter-house Amendment Bsl.—The present- law was unfair to the town butchers, who were placed at a disadvantage as compared with those in the country. The Bill was read a second time,-and After some discussion on the clauses, the committee decided to defer the matter until further information was obtained, and accordingly reported progress, with leave to sit again on Monday. The Council then adjourned till 3 p.m. to-day.