PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1029, 30 May 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

> MONDAY, MAY fc 1871. poiincil met at 3 p.m; v , TBI minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Te Ante School Trust. The Report of- the committee -appointed to consider tbis subject was brought up and read. It enclosed the draft of a petition to the General Assembly, praying that the-present trustees might be removed, and the funds applied to the educational wants of the Province. Coote Road. 1 Captain Russell, pursuant to notice, moved—'J That his Honor the Superintendent cause the prisoners to be employed in deepening the cutting on the Coote road, and forming and metalling the road from Browning-street thereto " Mr Tanner seconded the motion. His Honor said that the prisoners, for a year or two past, had been employed more than half their time on this road, and there still remained a great deal to be done. During the past year they had been employed to a considerable extent on the main street of-the town, thus supplementing the toll-gate fund; but they were still principally employed on Coote Road. Capt. Russell, by permission, withdrew his motion. Grammar School Act Repeal Bill. Brought in by Mr Lee, read a first time, ordered to be printed, and second reading ordered for Wednesday. Wholesale Dealers in. Spirituous Liquors Licensing Bill. Introduced by Mr Coless.o, read a first time, ordered to be printed, and seconding reading fixed for Tuesday. • Petition of Mohaha Settlers. MrDoLBEL, pursuant to notice, asked his Honor the Superintendent—"To inform the Council if the resolutions passed by this Council last session in reference to the petition of the the Mohaka settle! s, had received the due consideration of the General Assembly." His Honor replied that the petition in question had been referred, with Others, to the Petitions Committee, and had been considered by them. They hud reported that though, in this and other cases, great hardship had been suffered, it would be impolitic in the Assembly to give any relief from the funds of the Colony, as a bad precedent would thereby be introduced. They considered,, too, that settlers who had gone to live in disturbed districts were themselves liable for the results of so doing '' " "*' Railways. Mr Ormond, pursuant to notice, moved— '.' " Whereas by the 12th clause of the 'Railways Ace, 1870,' the Governor is authorised to cause such enquiries, re ports, and surveys to be made, and such Acts and proceedings to be taken as may. be necessary to enable him to submit to the General Assembly during its next session proposals for the construction of a railway from Napier to Wellington, and from Wellington to Wanganui and' New Plymouth. And whereas, by the 17th and 20th clauses of the 'Public Works and Immigration Act, 1870,' it is provided that the Waste Lands of the Crown in any Province may be set aside, sold, or given, in lieu of payment for the construction of railways. And whereas, this Council desire* to express its willingness to make provision for the construction of the railway from Napier to Wellington and the West Coast.. , It is' resolved that this Council undertakes to set aside and appropriate by Act in terms of the 17th and 20th clauses of the ' Public Works and Immigration Act, -1870,' such parts of the Waste Lands of the Crown situate within the Province of Hawke's Bay as may be required for the construction of the railways above referred to, and further undertakes that on the .Qonipletion of the purchase of the lands known as the Seventy-mile Bush such portion, of those lands as may be required shall be included in such' appropriation for the purposes aforesaid." - -7-His first -intension had been .tp introduce a JBiU setting aside of land for the purpose, but be had been advised by the Attorney-General that

such a course would be premature ; that; in the first place it rested with the General Assembly to decide upon the Kile to be adopted, and that the onlystep the iCouiicil could take now would be to express 'by resolution their willingness to set aside their lands for this purpose. There were in this Province two "large blocks available—one of about 25,000 acres between Ruahine and Ruataniwha, and also a-large block in the Seventy-mile But.li. The negociations for the purchase'of this latter block were not vet concluded, but'the question was merely one of price, and an- early settlement might be anticipated. Mr Routledge asked if the proposed railway would its terminus at the Port or in town. He considered.it very necessary that it should extend to the Port. ?:*:.'. Mr Ormond thought there was little doubt but that it would, but it was at present impossible to say. The detailswould be left t o a professional Board, who would exercise their own judgment, independently of local differences. Mr Kinross thought it would be a great mistake if the Port were overlooked. The trade of the place would be materially injured. Mr Tanner thought this question had nothing to do with the resolution before the Council. Mr Sutton thought any expression of the opinion of the Council would be entitled "to consideration by those who laid out the line. Mr Ormond said there was a choice of three lines which might be adopted. Theie was the Middle Road, the Te Aute Road, and the route by Hampden, and Ruataniwha. Mr Kennedy agreed with the resolution, but thoughc questions of detail should not be now considered. If the choice of a line lay with the Council the discussions on the subject would be endless. Mr Colenso said the purchase of the Seventy-mile Bush was obstructed by a few interested Europeans whom he could name. If he could have his will they would be strung up within twentyfour hours. Mr Ormond said the purchase was in a forward state. The only question was regarding certain reserves the natives wished to retain. Agreed to. Bowses to Teachers. Mr Bridge, in the absence of Mr Johnston, moved—- " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to lay on the table a statement in detail of the amounts paid to teachers as bonus during the past financial year." His Honor said the Return would be laid on the table, School Bill. The Council went into committee on this Bill, and a long and desultory discussion ensued, in the course of which the whole subject was reopened. At (> p.m. the committee adjourned to 7, when the question was resumed. The Bill was at length reported as amended,, and the third reading fixed for next sitting-day. Slaughter House Amendment Bill. The House went into committee on this Bill, which, on the morion of Mr Colenso, was referred to a select committee, and the Council adjourned ta next sitting-day.