PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1355, 21 June 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15. The Council met at 2 o'clock p.m. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Dolbel's Petition. Mr Colenso brought up the Report of the Committee appointed to consider Mr Dolbel's petition The com mir.tee recommended in the first place that the acreage assessment on Lire run Cor the last two years should be refunded ; and in the second place that a grant ot 1,000 acres of 5s land, adjoining his run, should be made to Mr Dolbel. His Honor was also requested to support these propositions in the General Assembly. Special Settlement at Mohaka. Mr Dolbel asked his Honor the Superintendent —" Whether, in his. opinion with a view to a settlement being formed at Mohaka, it would not be desirable to purchase the land from the natives for speeial settlement, according to the resolutions passed by the Provincial Council last session, and that the money should be placed at interest for the benefit of the native proprietors of the said block of land, the said interest to be paid yearly to them; if such is his Honor's opinion, that he will be good enough to inform the General Government of the same." It would be admitted that it was very desirable to obtain the land ; and under the plan proposed there was no chanee of the natives becoming paupers, as there would be a provision made for their support. They had always been good friends to the Europeans. His Honor said the General Go\ eminent had made full inquiry, and had determined that it u as undesirable to purchase this land. The only reason the natives offered it for sale was that they might pay their debts. Racecourse Reserve. Mr Sutton asked his Honor the Superintendent —" Whether the rent reserved in the 'Racecourse Act, 1866,' has been paid to the Provincial Govern ment: if not, what amount is due up to the present date." His Honor replied that the rent had been paid to the 31st December last, and that the next half-yearly payment would be due on the 30th inst. The reserve was originally let by auction at a good rental, but by some oversight no lease was executed ; and the party in possession after a time threw it up, decliningto pay any rent. Tt had been since leased at a much lower rate, which was probably the reason why there v-ere no funds last year for the annual races. Olive Square Bill. Mr Sutton moved the second reading of this Bill. It was the same as

last year' 6 ; Bill, with the exception that it was not permitted to stop the traffic across from Emerson-street to Carlylestreet except on general holidays, Mr Tanner seconded the motionHe had much pleasure in supporting, the Bill, now that the chief objection urged last year had been removed. Col. Lambert would not oppose the Bill now that the- road was. made open ;; but he would try to have certain parts amended. He would have the Reserve always free aud open to the public; hewould strongly oppose the proposed shilling charge for admission; and he would avoid trustees—the reserve was. much safer in the hands of the Government..

Mr Maney would now support theBill, his principal objection las t yearhaving been removed. But he objected to the -shilling fee. If it was called a public recreation ground, in the name of common sense let it be so. Capt. Russell supported the Bill last year, and would do-so now.. If the trustees were not allowed to charge for admission, the Council would be called* upon for an annual vote of three orfour hundred pounds to- keep theground in order. Mr Kinross would support the BilL. He saw no hardship in the proposed) chaige.. Mr Dolrel. would support the Bill;.; but would endeavor to have the shilling charge struck out m committee. Mr Co.lenso made along speech on the subject. He said he had opposed the measure- last year, and- had moi-o reason to oppose it now. He gavethree reasons for opposing, the Bill. In the first place, he objected altogetherto the charge- for admission;. secondly, to the obstruction of the road; and* third, to. the appointment of the trustees. Jf these objectionable points were removed, he would support the Bill; but. he would rather see Olive Square a, pasturage for goats than see it into- the hands of money-making - trustees. Mr Tiffen supported the Bill last session, on the ground that there no road laid off on the map through Clive Square, and. the stoppage of the traffic would cause but little inconvenience.. It was now evident, however,. that airy stoppage would be extremely prejudicial, as the main line to the Great North. Road must be through, this Reserve. Mr Lee strongly opposed: the Bill. He objected entirely to the shilling; business. Clive Square belonged tothe public of Napier—the children as wellas their elders—andshouldbealways, free and open to all classes. He objected, to the proposed appointment of commissioners, with, provision, for perpetual, succs'-ion; a simple committee of" management, the members of which, might be removed from time to time by the Superintendent, would be all required. If these objections were removed, the Bill would receive his support. Mr A'Deane objected intoto, to. allowing the Reserve to pass from the hands, of the Superintendent and Council. He did not like to see it lying, and hoped the Bill would be modified so as to receive general support. Mr Rhodes was prepared to give a general .support to the Bill; but would like to see it modified to meet the viewsexpressed by Mr Lee. He did not see any hardship in stopping the traffic on fete days, and on occasions making., a small chaige for admission. Mr Sutton haviug replied, chiefly referring to Mr Colenso's remarks, theBill was read a second time on. a division. The Bill was then committed, and the points previously raised were again very freely discussed. The Chairman again reported progress, with leave tosit again on next sitting-day. Air Sutton afterwards said that as this would involve a sitting on Monday,, and it was desirable to finish the business to day, he would, with the leave of members, withdraw the Bill. Leave granted, and Bill withdrawn. Credit BilL Read a third time and passed. Appropriation.

Tin's Bill was passed throagh committee, and reported to the Council. Meanee. Toll-gate. Read a third time and passed.

Police Act Amendment. Head a third time and passed. Port Ahuriri Bridge. Read a third time and passed. Northern Road. Mr Tippen brought up the Report of the Committee on this subject, which was read and ordered to be printed. He gave notice that he would move its adoption on Monday. The consideration of Mr Dolbel's Petition having been postponed to the same date, the Council adjourned to next sitting day. MONDAY, JUNE 17. The Council met at 2 o'clock p.m. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Right of Road to Freeholds. Mr Colenso gave the following notice of motion for the fourth sitting day of next session—- " That, touching the answer of His Honor the Superintendent to Mr Colenso's question put on the last sit ting day of this Council (viz. on the 15th inst.,) relating to the sad and anomalous position of uiar.y freeholders in this Province, who have at present no road whatever to their respective Lands, nor any present legal means of getting any road thereto—although the owners of the sheep-runs surrounding those said freeholds received from the Crown a 5 per cent, acreage on ail their purchases in trust to allow of Public Roads being subsequently laid off wherever required, " It is resolved by this Council : l< 1. That a leturn be laid on the table of all such 5 per cent,, acreages so granted to all owners of runs, showing the individual and total amount of land so granted in trust, and the amount (if any) used or laid ofl for roads in the respective blocks. " 2. That in those cases where extensive grants have been made in trust for roads, such land not being used or set aside for any such purpose, so leaving a large acreage of Crown Lands in the po-sessaon of the runholder, (as where two or three, or more runs adjoin,) it be made a resolution of this Council to place, as to total amount of acreage, all such unpurchased and trust laDds in one or more blocks in suitable localities for the purpose of special settlement. " 3. That permission be given to the mover of these resolutions to bring in a bill the better to facilitate and cany out the foregoing resolution." Mr Dolbel's Petition. Mr Colenso, in moving the adoption of the Report of the Committee, said that it had been unanimously adopted by the members of the committee. Mr Bridge, while admitting the losses sustained by the petitioner, could not support the recommendation of the committee. Mr Sutton agreed with the last speaker. It would be a dangerous precedent for the Council to eutertain a petition from a member of its own body. He would support it it the Council was in a position to treat every person similarly circumstanced m the same manner; but they were not. He remembered a petition last session from some military settlers, to which the Council positively refused to accede. Mr Ormond sympathised with the petitioner, and knew the heavy losses which had befallen him ; but to earn* out either of the propositions of the committee would requiie a special Act of the General Assembly, which would not have a shadow of a chance in the House—the Assembly having consist ently refused to recognise any claims of this nature. Mr Rhodes thought that though no immediate result might accrue, a time might come when all such cases would be taken in hand, and the recommraendation of the Council would then be of value. MrMANEY would support the motion. Mr Dolbel, as a frontier settler, had borne the brunt of the Maori invasions. Mr Kinross could not support the motion. He remembered the ungracious reception of the petition of the military settlers, who sought a \ery small boon.

Mr Tanner thought it very proper to place this recommendation on record ; it might do good, and would do no barm. Col. Lambert enumerated a number of people who, having lost their all under similar circumstances, were equally entitled to assistance. Mr Routledge thought Mr Dolbel, having twice lost his all, was specially entitled to compensation. Mr Colenso said there was no re semblance between the petition before the Council, and the one from the military settlers, with which it had been compared. It was an absurd argument that a person, by becoming a member of the Council, deprived himself of the right of petition. He then alluded feelingly to the petitionees losses, and to the long and noble and truly British endurance ho had displayed through them all. The report was adopted. Northern Road. Mr Tifpen brought up the Report of the Select Committee appointed to consider this subject. The Council went into committee on this Report, which, after a few amendments, was adopted. Appropriation Act. Read a third time and passed. Prorogation. His Honor said that business Of the session being now at an end, nothing remained for him but to formally pro rogue the Council. He thanked the members for the great consideration they had shown him, as on all previous occasions since he had held the office of Superintendent, and declared the Council duly prorogued.