PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1034, 5 June 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1871. The Council met at 11 a m. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Special Settlements. Mr Ormond move/1 a resolution that the Superintendent be requested to move the Government to take the necessary steps to give effect to the re commendations in die report of the committee on Special Settlements—ln speaking of the immigration scheme, he had led the Council to believe that the General Government would introduce immigrants free of charge for passage money. This, he had since found, was not the case, the Government requiring those who wished to inltoduce their friends o pay a certain sum for each immigiant. Under these circumstances, other Provinces had indicated the terms <n which they wished to see iuimigiiu.t, introduced, and this Province would do well to do the same During the day he intended to bring up a resolution suggesting terms, to be considered by ihe Council. Agreed to.

1 Road Repairs, e Mr "Rhodes moved that the Super--3 intendent be*'indemnified for the exx penditure of £I O.O in forming a part of 3 the Middle road, and .£SO to replace a fc bridge on the old Clive road, destroyed 3 in 1869 by floods.—An Act before the " Council would add somewhat to the 3 -year's- estimated revenue, and this 1 motion did not come with a bad grace after the \otes of yesterday. 1 Mr Sutton thought the mone}' likely 3 to ; be derived from the licences had been 3 appropriated. One hundred pounds 1 had been given away. The Middle - road surely might be provided for out 1 of the ..£I,BOO for main lines. 1 Some other members having spoken, the Speaker said the resolution even if • passed, v as a mere expression of opinion, and would be inoperative. The Superintendent could not be indemnified by ' resolution. Negatived. Hyderabad Road. Mr DOLBEL asked his Honor the Superintendent whether he had received a report -from the Provincial Engineer - as to the probable cost of making the road round the west end of Scinde i Island from Hyderabad road to the part of Battery road already made, together with the number of acres that can be reclaimed, and the value of the land so reclaimed, the same being a lesolution of the Provincial Council. His Honor replied that the matter had escaped the notice of the officer in question, and the report had not been prepared. Port Ferry. Mr Sutton asked his Honor if the report was correct that the Perry at the Port had been stopped through the boat being seized to pay a debt of the ferryman's. His Honor replied that the report was correct. The boat *vas the ferry man's property, and was therefore liable to be seized. No such inconvenience had occurred before, and if the service was not speedily resumed, the remedy would be to appoint some person to whom a contingency like this was not likely to happen. Highways Bill. Committed, and reported as amended to the Speaker, Wholesale. Dealers in Spirituous Liquors Bill. Recommitted, and further considered. The Council adjourned to 2.30 p.m. Payment of Members. On the Council resuming, Mr Ormond moved—- " That this Council undertakes to indemnify the Superintendent for the payment to country members for the present session, of an allowance of.£l per diem for days in which they have attended the Council, and for the payment to the Speaker of an honorarium of £2 per diem." Seconded by Mr Kinross, and carried. Sheep Bill. Mr A'Deane proposed the re-com-mittal of this Bill, for the re-insertion of the clause providing that all sheep should be marked on being shorn. He would have opposed the striking out of this clause, but was absent when it was done. Mr Tiffen opposed the re committal. The best thing the Council had done this session was to strike out the clause in question. ; borne further discussion ensued, and the proposal was negatived, i Bill read a third time and passed. i Highways Bill. ! Bead a thiid time and passed. Wellington Debt. \ On the motion of Mr Sutton, the \ Report of the select committee on this subject was adopted. Cai lylc-slreet Swamps. \ In reference to the Petition on this < subject, Mr Kinross moved that the '<■ Superintendent might be authorized to <• take such steps towards the abatement * of this nuisance as to him might seem I lit. c Mi'Colenso pointed out that previous 8 sessions had gone much further than < this, in authorizing and diiecting the 1 member lor Porangahau to introduce a * private Bill into the Assembly on this u subject - yet nothing had been done. \

Mr Ormond explained that the sub ject was attended with many difficulties. The land was private property, and the expense of a private Bill in the Assembly was very great. The authority given by the present resolution was apparently very wide, but in reality it was vague, and amounted to nothing. Agreed to. Council Chamber. t -, ; ,- The Speaker said that the members * occupying the* cross " bericKes"had "complaine'l of the draught from the sidedpot. He would take such measures as would rectify this defect beiore next session. Mr Rhodes said the next session was to be held at Waipawa. The Speaker said whether this was the case or not, the member who had brought forward the resolution relating to Waipawa was one who complained of the draught. Mr Rhodes said the Council had distinctly resolved to hold its next session at Waipawa, and unless the resolution was formally rescinded they wei*e bound to abide by it. Prorogation. The Slaughter House Act Amendment Bill, and the Wholesale Dealers in Spirituous Liquors Licensing bill, having been read a third time and passed, 1-1 is Honor said that, the business of the session being now at an end, he had only to thank members for their attendance and their diligence. During this last session diey had gone through a greater amount of important work than on any previous occasion. He now declared the Council duly prorogued.