PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1349, 14 June 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, JUNE 11. (Report of this day's proceeding's continued from last evening's Times.) Market Reserve Mr Ormond move;!—'-That- it is ad\isable to lot the reseive, known as the Market Reserve, situate in Hastings, JEinerson, and Tenn)son-streets." He put this on the paper chie% with the object of eliciting the opinion of the Council on the subject. Some people were in favor of it remaining an open space; while on the other hand, a very high rental—as much as 50s per foot had been offered for portious of the reserve. Mr Kennedy said we were systematically getting lid of all our reserves; and it would be a great pity if this site —one of the few remaining open spaces was occupied by buildings. Mr Sutton said the site was a good one, and if it was occupied by fine buildings, the town would be greatly improved. Tn a short time we should have a town boaid or corporation, and this site would properly belong to them. He would move as an amendment that the following words be added : "Provided that the re\ euue arising therefrom be vested in a town board or corporation, when such, shall be established in Napier." Mr Tiffen objected to leasing this reserve. The principle was objectionable, as it interfered with the rights of property —-the Government entering into competition with private proprieters. It would seriously affect the value of town land if it was known that the Government might at any time throw open a valuable block of land for lease as a business site. At some future time this reserve would be required for a Supreme Court—it was the only suitable site. This proposition was a mistake, and he would oppose it,, as once before he opposed parting with the reserve on which the Maori Club, now stood.. Mr Colenso would certainly support the motion. Far better lease the land than let it remain as for the last ten years—a receptacle for nuisances. Some years mu'-t yet pass before the time-

would come to think about that subject on whicli his. colleague (Mr Sutton) appeared to have set his heart—a corporation. 4s .regarded the SupremeCourt, the site was utterly His Hoiiqr the Judge had complained of the annoyance, by the traffic past theCouncil Chamber, which had one frontage to a main street— how would it bewith this site, which possessed three? Mr Rhodes considered the Town of* Napier had a fair ri«ht to the proceedsof Town, reserves, and he would not restrict the Council from devoting it tosome of the many expenses of the town. If this lanu would bring in a good revenue, by all means let his ,Honor beinstructed to lea.se it. M r Kinross opposed, both motion an amendment. There were still plenty of business sites available in the town without interfering with; this reserve. Mr Lee said the,next open space to this—Clive Square—was a long way removed; ; and if reserve were occupied by business premises, it would, in our wooden town, give great facility to the spread of tires. The benefit would not be commensurate with the risk. If the land was not used as a market, as originally intended, let it be set apart for the Supreme Court. Mr Kennedy considered that this section being built upon would increase the already high rates of insurance. We should next have a proposition to build a row of small shops along the Government, reserve from the enginehouse to the Post Office. Col Lamhert would support the motion. He objected to the principle of alienating reserves in general ; bub he saw here an opportunity of obtaining a good revenue. The amendment by Mr Sutton; was put and negatived. That gentleman then said he would oppose the motion,, as he objected to the land being dealt with in any other manner than he had proposed. Motion put and carried on a division. Road Boards. Mr Bridge asked his Honor the Superintendent —"To place on the tablea return of the Road Boards that, have availed themselves of the sums allotted to each out of the .£1,200 grant by the General Government, and whether it is the intention of the General Government 10 advance a similar sum for the year ending June, 1873 " Some of the districts had not availed themselves of the grant, and he should like to know whether in «uch cases the grant would lapse to the General Government. His Honor said it was true that a number of districts had failed to avail themselves of the grant. As regarded the second part of the question, it was quite impossible for him to give any information. Mr Bridge thought his Honor might give the Council some idea of the intentions of the present Government. Mr Ormond : It would be very improper in me to do so. Road to Patoka. Capt. Russell moved—" That the assessments of the runs situated in the Paloka district be appro}>riated, for the next year, to the part recovery of the amount of ,£4OO, voted in 1868 by the Council in its resolution on the Loan. Amendment Act, for the purpose of compensating the owners and making the road fiom Puketapu to Patoka by the Taupo road; and that any deficiency afterwards remaining be taken, from the. land fund (if any accrue) from that, district, until it is wholly recovered." The residents in this district were actually without a road. The rates of carriage there were more than double those to other districts. In time of floods a cantankerous resident, by means of a. padlock on his gate, put an entire stop to communication. The principle of the resolution--applying funds raised in the district to this purpose—was, in his opinion, sound Mr Maney cordially seconded, the motion. His Honor hoped the Council would' hesitate to affirm the principle of this, resolution. (Hear, hear.) The precedent once established, every district, would be advancing a claim for-the revenue raised from its lands He hadi another reason tor opposing the motion. The vote of £4OO therein mentioned had, with the exception of <£& bee&

spent. on the road in question, and a farther sum of £,500 had been placed on this year's estimates. Col. Lambert thoaght his Honoi's explanation .satisfactory. Mr Kinross said something should be done to the road. It vas exceedingly bad. Mr Colenso could not support the resolution, on account of the faulty principle involved. Capt. Russell was quite aware, when he moved the resolution, of the difficult task before him, and was glad he had received so much support as had been given If the .£4OO had been spent, there was little to show for it, for nothing had been done beyond marking off the road. He would not press the subject to a division. Motion negatived. Redclyffe Eoad. Capt. Russell moved—" That this Council authorise his Honor the Superintendent to appropriate a sum of money out of the Toll-gate funds to metal about 70 chains of the road fiom Taradale towards Puketapu by Redclyffe." A good deal of discussion ensued as to whether this was a main road to Puketapu within ths meaning of the Toll-gate Act. On this question the success of the motion depended, and (he result was a decision in the aflirma tive. Motion agread to on a division. Wholesale Dealers Licensing Act Amendment. This bill having been read a second time, the Council adjourned to 7.30 p m. On the Council resuming, the Bill was passed through committee, and reported as amended. Third reading appointed for Thursday. Supply The Council went into committee of supply. Main road, Havelock to Southern Boundary, £2,500. —Great discussion ensued on this item, not so much on the advisability of the vote, as on an oljection raised by Mr Tiffen, that beyond Waipukurau tliL-re was no main road. The result of the discussion was that the item was divided as follows : Main road, Havelock to Waipukurau, £2,200; Waipukurau to Southern Boundary, £3OO. Louisa Creek to Hampden, £3OO. — Mr Tiffen opposed this item. It was a purely private affair. Major Carlyon had leased a valuable totara bush, which had cost him 10s per acre, to Mr Cash more, who had established a saw mill there, and this grant was merely to afford facilities for the timber to be brought to market' —His Honor said that in view of the proposed raily?av works it was essential that every facility should be given for the supply of timber, or the province would be undersold in its own market. The road estimates had been framed throughout with this view. He could not look upon this as a private matte*, —Mr Colenso would suppott the item. He could could not agree that it was a private matter. —Col. Lambert considered that it was. The vote was in reality for the benefit of the saw mill proprietor. The item was passed. Wallingford Bridge, £6oo.—Mr Tiffen objected to this item. The old bridge, which cost the Provinces £I2OO, had tumbled down, —almost, he might say, from disuse. He would support a vote of a reasonable sum for a selfacting ferry punt. Mr Ormond said that the bridge could not be built under £BOO, and it was intended to raise the balance by subscription among the settlers* The river was bad, and unfit for a ferry punt, as approaches Mould have to be made, which would require renewal after every flood. —Mr Tiffen would withdraw his objection if the words "Grant-in-aid" weie added.— Item amended accordingly, and passed. Inland Track, Wairoa to Waihna, £loo—-.His Honoi explained that this item was very necessary. There was a very dangerous crossing on the route, at which, during the year, two lives had been lost. Mr Buchanan having temporarily taken the chair, Mr Maney moved—- " That the Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates the .sum of iilOO as a grant-in-aid for the purpose

of making a road from the end of the Papakura Block to Ohiti." The road was quite impassable, and if this item was passed, lie would himself guarantee «£75 in addition'.;—Agreed to. On the motion of Mr Kinross, the following item was placed on the estimates— u Ferry Punt at Wairoa. .£190." The chairman then (10 p.m.) reported progress, and the Council adjourned to Wednesday.