PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1348, 13 June 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

MONDAY, JUNE 10. (Report of this day's proceeding's continued from last evening's Times.) Supply To complete Purchase of Land at Waitangi, £l5O. —Hi.-? Honor explained that the Council had authorised him to purchase 10 acres of land at Waitangi for a recreation ground for the sum of .£2OO. He had succeeded in purchas ina - 20 acres from the natives at <£lso : but though it was a direct purchase there was a difficulty in obtaining possession, a former lessee having, by the terms of his lease, a kind of negative power over the land. The sum proposed, he believed, would be sufficient) to get this claim withdrawn The land uas exceedingly good ; it was already fenced, and his intention was to plant about one half of it with trees, for a recreation ground ; and to lease the remainder, the funds thence arising to be devoted to the Napier botanical garden. Grant in aid of Education Fund, £l,lOO. —Mr Oi'iTioncl explained that this large sum would be required to cairy on the schools as at pro-.'-nt with a small allowance for the increase which would certainly take place.— Mr Buchanan thought, if it was possible, that more education reserves should be made. We were already heavily taxed for this purpose. He thought, too, the Council might express an opinion on the proposed General Government niea sure, in which, in its present shape, he had no confidence. —Mr Ormond said that in the matter of reserves «lie large provinces had an enormous advantage. The difficulty in our case would be to find reserves which would yield a return within a reasonable time. He thought it undesirable to debute the Government measure in Council ; it was for the outside public to urge their sentiment*, by way of petition.— Mr Colenso said theie was already the magnificent endowment at Te which must in time come into the hands of the province. He did not approve of the Government measure, but did not think it a matter for the Council.—Mr Rhodes thought reserves might< be made in the special settlements, and on the proposed line of rail way, as educational endowments.—Col. Lambert trusted the Council would not lose sight of the Te Ante estate, and thai the session would not be allowed to pass without further steps being taken to secure it. Our present system was unfair to outlving settlers, who were as heavily taxed as those who bad every advantage. Something should be done to meet their requirements. He had read in bis home papers, of a certain preacher who addressed congregations in the streets of London from a travelling van. Why not have an educational establishment of this kind? Might not a van be constructed, capa ble of containing twelve or fourteen children with a teacher, and let it travel about the country, staying one

or two days in each place. The proposition seemed to amuse the Council, but he was in sober earnest. Children were growing up in out-of the-way districts without the possibility of school instruction; and some such plan as he had mentioned would be the only way by which education could be brought within their reach. If a plan like this had been adopted in London, where there were places of worship in abundance, it was far more necessary in the circumstances he , had described.—Mi" Buchanan said the member who had last spoken deserved credit for his ingenious suggestion of a scholastic wagon. He should endeavor to obtain the funds accruing from the Te Ante reserve, which would amply support master, wagon, and Learn. They would at any rate be more profitably applied in such a way than to the abortion called a college, which was more like a model lodging-house. Grant in aid of Acclimatisation So cioty, £2oo—-His Honor said chat the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society had promised a supply of English fi>h'at very low rate*, compared with '.lie original cost, and au order for Californian quail was now on its way. The vote would be well expended —Mr Colenso thought the appropriation desirable if the money wa« vml 1 . expended: bat if, as in other parts of the Colony, we tried to introduce mischievous animals, such as hares, partridges, pheasants, or Californian quail, it would be more harm than good. —Col. Lambert said that, the matter being entirely in his Honor's hands, we must hold him responsible for any mischief resulting. Gratuity to Mr Peacock for work and expenses collecting Immigration Promissory Notes, £25. —His Honor said that Mr Peacock, as he travelled a good deal about the Province in his capacity as Sheep Inspector, was requested to assist in collecting this rate Ho consented on the condition that he should receive a small gratuity, and was instrumental in collecting about £3oo.—Col. Lambert asked his Honor to withdraw the item "When this officer's salary was increased the reason assigned to the Council was that he might devote his whole time to his duties. As he could not do more than this, there was no need for this item.— His Honor said that Mr Peacock had been led to expect a bonus for this service, and it would have cost much more if a person had been employed specially to do ihe work. Maintenance of Pumps and Wells, .£3o.—Colonel Lambert said this was leally coming it too strong. Why did not Napier form a town board or corporation to attend to such things? But the item would pass, no doubt.—ltem passed, without further remark. Shifting lights, for entering Harbor at Night. .£SO —His Honor said that masters of vessels complained that this was the only pint where such lights did not exist At this time of year especially great inconvenience was occa sioned when vessels arrived at night; the regular steamers were sometimes delayed 2-1 hours under these circumstances. The pilot had i eported against the proposed lights ; but Captain Fairchild and the other captains were in favor of them.—Mr Col en so doubted whether a vessel could safely enter at night, even with the proposed lights. Recovering and lienewing Moorings, £3OO. —His*"Honor said the Council was aware that the mooring cable parted some time ago, and that it had not yet been picked up. Several fathoms of the chain were found to be so much worn to require renewal. This was a speculative vote, as the moorings might be recovered at a mech less expenditure. Erection, building, and purchase of Light for Napier £3oo.—His Honor said that very great reluctance had been shown by masters of vessels — the large American steamers especially —to approach Napier by night, on account of the absence of a light. A light on the Bluff, as proposed, would cost but little for maintenance, as it would be attended to by the jail officers, who were already on duty through the night. Vessels coining from- Portland Island, before losing the Bluff light, would thus come in sight of the Port light, and be in safety.—Mr Routledge said this had been long required, but he feared that the sum proposed would

be found insufficient. As the light was to be near the Jail, let the present lighthouse reserve be,sold and the proceeds devoted to this purpose.—Mr Colenso doubted the utility of the proposed light; and believed that the fact of there -being no lighthouse on the Bluff had saved many a .'vessel from comingto grief. Why did -not steamers unitsthemselves to arrive by daylight t. They knew approximately how many hour* the passage would occupy.—Mr Suttonsupported the vote.—Air Kinross said. the absence of sueh a light had long, been a matter of complaint. The Star of the South was wrecked solely;' through the want of some such indication.—Mr Kennedy said steamers could not time themselves with any degree of accuracy. The passage from Wellington should take from 17 to 18 hours. To-day it had taken the mail steamer nearly 24 hours. A light"would enable vessels to find a safe anchorage at any time, and prevent them knocking about in the Bay till daylight—Mr Route ledge said that sailing vessels could not possibly calculate their trips beforehand. When they arrived at night, the pilou often had a long pull in the morning before he could bring them in.—Mr Rhodes thought the best position was. the original reserve—the most prominent pan af the Bluff. He feared that., alight at the Jail would be shut out by the Bluff from vessels far in the Wairoa bight. Maintenance of Light for year, «£10(L —His Honor explained that this item was to supply the necessary oil and burners. Clearing and Improving Mangaone River, £l2O. His Honor said a gteat portion of the timber for the proposed railway must come down this river, and the snags required to be removed,, and the channel depeaed in parts, for this purpose. —Mr Dolbel said some restraint should be pui on the floaters, who used this river. A portion of his land had been washed away by a flood, and he had gone to great expense in* protecting the remainder. When theriver next, rose, a float of three or fourthousand posts came down and w.eiepiled by the current opposite his property, diverting the river on to his ground, ami destroying all his labor. The Committee then reported progress, and the Council adjourned tonext sitting day. TUESDAY, JUNE 11. The Council met at 3 p in. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Petition. Mr Colenso presented a petition from Philip .Dolbel, complaining of looses sustained by rebel natives, hehaving had for a considerable time to abandon his run, dining which time a great part of his property was destroyed, and under these circumstances he found it a great hardship to have to pay the usual acreage assessment. —Petition read, received, and ordered to be printed. Wholesale Dealers Licensing Act Amendment. Mr Sutton moved—" That whereas it is expedient that licenses issued under the authority of the " Wholesale Spirits License Act, 1871," should terminate on 31st December in each year, the Provincial Treasurer is authorised to issue licenses to persons already licensed, upon payment 10 him of such fractional part of <£lo as may be clue from the expiring of the present licenses,, to December 31, 1872." He had brought forward a bill to amend the Act, but it had since occuned to him that it would be a more simple process to make the alteration by way of resolution. Mr Colenso said the principle of the thing was quite new. In the ease of the dog tax, Auctioneers licenses, &c. r no allowance was made when a license was taken out during the course of the year, The full rate was always charged. Mr 1/EE would support the resolution, as it did not interfere with the principles of the Bill. Agreed to. Police Act Amendment. This Bill, introduced by Mr OkmonPv was read a first time, ordered to be printed, and the second reading fixed for Thursday. (To be continued in our uc^.-.)