PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 42, 14 October 1867, Page 254

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The Provincial Council met on Wednesday at the usual hour. A resolution by Mr Tanner, recommending a semiweekly mail to Waipawa, was affirmed. Three resolutions by Mr Buchanan, to place a toll on the Ngaruroro Bridge, were negatived after a long discussion on a division, the numbers being—ayes, 5 ; noes, 10. On this result, Mr Buchanan withdrew his other motion, for a return of the cost of the Waitangi and Ngaruroro Bridges. In reply to a question by Mr Buchanan about the works being carried on at the Spit, Mr Ormond said that they were the construction of a new wharf, the old one having long been in a very dilapidated condition, and that the expenditure was under a vote of the Council, passed last session. Mr Ormond, ia accordance with a motion by Major Lambert, supplied the Council with some particulars respecting the school property at Te Aute. Ou the motion of Major Lambert a select committee, with power to call for persons and papers, was appointed to enquire into the expenditure, &c., on the road through the Seventy-mile Bush. The committee ou the Sheep and Scab Amendment Bill was postponed till Friday. The report.of the select committee on the Highways Act was brought up and read, the Cemeteries Bill was read a third time and passed, and the House then (5’45) adjourned till 7 p.m.The Council met again at 7, and, in the absence of the Speaker, Major Lambert was voted to the chair, on the motion of Mr Carlyon, seconded by Mr Buchanan, The' Speaker entered the Chamber at 7*20, but immediately retired ; and strangers and reporters were then ordered to leave the gallery. At 8 o’clock, the House having resolved itself into committee on the Toll-gate Bill, .and strangers again admitted, Mr Buchanan asked for the committee to be deferred, but this was refused. He then continued to move amendments on' the first clause for some hours. At 11*30 p.m. Major Lambert .proposed that the Couucil should, adopt a. system of relays, for the purpose of relieving those members who might require rest or refreshment. l; At; 12‘30 Major Lambert observed some! members inthe strangers’ gallery, and drew the attention of the Chairman to the fact. Those gentle-, men Major Lambert called the Chairman’s attention to the fact that, there were strangers in the gallery, and the house was a aecond time cleared. Mr Buchanan’s opposition

•waajaltimately„defeated%anewstanding rule and' order framed 'for the ocand which will be found in our ’ detailed report. ‘‘ The house 'adjourned at 4*30 aim;' i: At this time (1 a.m.) < our reporter: left V hut 1 the - first clause of the Bill had not gone through committee, and there did r not seem any probability of either mde yielding. ' On Thursday, the Council met at the'usual hour. The Speaker resigned his seat, and the house was cleared for two hours, during which time Mr Tiffen was elected Speaker,; and Mr Wood Chair manof Committees. When the house was again, opened, Mr A s Deane movedfor a’Select Committee to revise the standing rules and orders, such Committee to consist of Messrs. Whitmore, Ormond, Lambert, Wood, and the mover. Mr Kennedy suggested that Mr Buchanan’s name should be as that gentleman was so conversant with the orders of the house, but Mr Buchanan declined 'sit-

ting on the Committee. The debate was then adjourned to: 7:15. At -the resumed sitting Mr Wood presented a petition, signed by 74 electors of the town, praying for some other tax to be substituted for the one proposed in the Tollgate Bill. After much discussion, the Speaker ruled that the petition could not be received,

as it referred to a bill before the house. minor business was disposed of, and on the motion of Mr Ormond, the Highways Act was discharged from the order paper. The Sheep-Branding Act was then read a second time and went into Committee ; but was withdrawn, as it was: the general ; opinion of the Committee that the tar or paint deteriorated the quality of the wool, and they objected to make it compulsory. The Dog Nuisance Act was read a second time, and the Committee postpoued it till next sitting day. The Council adjourned at 9‘30. On Friday, the 11th, the Council met at 3. His Honor the Superinhaving arrived in the St. Kilda,* explained the reason of his detention. Mi* Wood presented the petition with reference to the toll-gate. The words to which the Council objected had beep, expunged,- and the signatures augmented by 18 new names. The petition was read and received, the only objector being Major Lambert. It was also ordered to be printed, though the motion to

that effect was stoutly opposed by members who entered after it had been received. Mr Buchanan after explaining the object of his proposed bill to amend the Executive Act, obtained leave to withdraw his motion Major Lambert obtained leave to defer the report on the 70-mile JBush road till next sitting day. On the motion of Mr Ormond, the Sheep and Scab bill was discharged from the order paper. Mr Buchanan brought before the notice of the Superintendent the new standing order, which he contended was unconstitutional, and an attempt to gag a minority. . To place himself in order he moved the adjournment of the house. Mr Ormond seconded the motion pro forma,' and made a long speech, followed by Col. Whitmore, Major Lambert, Mr A’Deane, and Mr Buchanan in, reply,—the speeches, with- the exception of Major Lambert’s' 1 being little else than personal

attacks of a bitter character. The Council then went into Committee of Supply. On the first item, the; Superintendent’s salary, Mr Buchanan proposed as an- amendment that it should be" reduced from '£525 to A 350: per annum.. Major; Lambert

proposed as a further amendment, that the salaries of all persons, in the em* ploy of Government should be reduced . 10 per cent.- Neither amendraent met , with much support, , and the item yras .passed as it stood on the Estimates. The Chairman then reported progress. On , the motion of adjournment, the Standing Orders were suspended, in order that the. house might , sit on Monday (to-day) at 3 p.m. The .Council adjourned at ll‘ls p.m.