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Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 144, 8 October 1853, Page 3

The Council adjourned, at half-past twelve, till 4 p.m. on Friday.* FRIDAY, 30th Sept. .At 4 p.m., in the absence of the Speaker, Mr. Bowen was moved into the Chair. It was communicated to the Council that tlie Superintendent had confirmed the Standing Rules and Orders. Mb. Ajtlmer, in bringing forward his motionfor correspondence relating to Hempelman's claim, said that lie had originally intended to move that an Address should be adopted praying for the removal of the Crown Lands' Commissioner, in consequence of his conduct in this matter: but that he had since been informed that a correspondence between the Superintendent and the General Government relating to it was not yet concluded ; and he therefore refrained from pursuing that course until the whole correspondence should be before the Council. > Mr. Rhodes seconded the motion^ which was carried. SUSPENSION OF STANDING OKDEBS. MONET BILL. Mb. Tancbed, according to notice, moved for the suspension of Standing Order No. 59, which requires one clear day to intervene between each stage of a Bill's progress through the Council. Motion seconded by Mr. AYJCMER,and carried. Oil'Mu. Tancred's motion, seconded by Mr. Hall, the Bill for advancing a sum of money for the service of the Government of the Province was read a first and second time. Its substance is to authorise the Provincial Treasurer to pay not exceeding £200 to the warrants of the Superintendent; or, in case there be not funds in the Treasury, to authorise the Superintendent to issue debentures to the above amount, at 3 months' date, bearing interest at not more than 8 per cent, per annum. The amount to be accounted for in the estimates. On the second reading, Mr. Hall expressed his regret for the necessity of suspending the - Standing Orders, especially to hurry through a money-bill, which was one of the class of Government measures requiring the utmost circumspection on the part of the Council (hear). But in this casej as all legal authority to expend money actually ceased this day, there was no alternative between this unusual course and the •greater evils of public credit being riskediJn the one hand, or money being paid without the sanction of the Council on the other. He therefore thought the Government had exercised a wise discretion in so meeting the emergency, and would second the motion (hear, hear). The Bill was passed through Committee in due form. Mb. Tancbed, in moving the third reading, said he fully agreed with Mr. Hall in his objection, on principle, to the suspension of the Standing Orders. But this Bill was brought in under exceptional circumstances, and the extent of the evil was not very great, as £200 could not last very long, and when the Government came to the Council for more, they would be obliged to account for this in the general estimates, (hear). Mk. Aylmer seconded the motion, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. Standing Order 59 was then brought into force again. SCAB AMENDMENT ORDINANCE. Mr. Hall moved for leave to bring in a Bill to check the spread of the disease called scab in sheep. It was impossible to exaggerate the importance of this subject. The disease had been introduced into this Province : it was known to exist, and to be most contagious. If parties chose to move their diseased sheep about, the remedy under the common law was difficult and expensive, and the remedy to be found in the existing Scab Act of the late Province of New Munster was quite inadequate, since any one might drive a flock of diseased sheep through the whole Province, and only be fined . £10. _The Bill he proposed to bring in was not a-complete "rifeasure, but only framed to meet ; the immediate" emergency. A further measure, ihe understood, would afterwards be laid before ' the Council, for the eradication of the disease, | (hear).' , i Mb; Rhodes, in seconding the motion,dwelt lon the importance of this measure. If the ; spread of this disease were not prevented at i oncfe by the imposition of heavy penalties on 1 those who promoted its increase, the Province I would beconie, like Van Dieuien's Land, so ! i -.-■■■■.

thoroughly infected as to defy cure. Not only the growers of wool, but the consumers of mutton were interested in this question, because they in some degree consumed the arsenic eraployed to dip diseased sheep, (laughter). Leave given. » ■ ■ . POST OFFICE. Mb. Hall moved the adoption of an address to the Superintendent, for a return of the number of letters and newspapers addressed to Christchurch and its neighbourhood within 3 months. The postal communication between the port and the capital was in a most discreditable state ; in fact there was none ;it was left wholly to private means, causing great risk and difficulty. It was true that this Council had no power to deal with the question by legislation : but the day might come when they would have it, and even before that day, by obtaining the information, they would have a good case to go to the authorities having the power for a remedy, (hear). Mr. Packer seconded the motion, which,after some unimportant conversation, was carried. ELECTION OF CLERK OF THE COUNCIL. The Council went into Committee for this purpose, the Eev. W". Atlmer taking the Chair, on the motion of Mr. Tancred, seconded by Mr. Hall, who gave notice that he should, on the consideration of the estimates, move for a modification of the salary proposed for this officer. ■■-.-■■ Mr. Tancred moved that Mr. George Boss be elected Clerk of the Council. He conceived no objections could be brought against such an appointment. That gentleman had great powers of application to business, and independence of character. This office, although perhaps not so considered now, would be one of great trust and confidence, and should not be thrown away. He himself had had good opportunities of knowing Mr. Boss's qualifications for this office, and believed other members could also speak well of him as a competent and conscientious man, who would not relax in the performance of his duties. Mr. Hall seconded the motion. Mr. Bowen moved an adjournment, on the ground that he understood there were two or three candidates, and he thought an error had caused the non-arrival of some members. He knew that one candidate was actually wailing outside to lay his testimonials before the Council by the hands of the Speaker. Mr. Packer seconded the adjournment, characterizing the motion as a hasty proceeding of which some candidates and [members were probably riot aware. Mr. Hall objected to the adjournment on principle. It would lower the dignity of this Council to put off motions, of which proper notice had been given, for the convenience of either candidates or members. He regretted the absence of the Speaker ; and he regretted that the Speaker was absent the day before also ; but as due notice had been given of this business he would vote for its proceeding. Mr. Tailored said the Speaker must have been perfectly aware that this motion came on to-day ; because he had procured Mr. Davie's services up to the close of this day's proceedings only; and after this day if the election was adjourned, the Council would be without a Clerk. Mb. Bowen explained that he knew neither of the candidates ; and that he desired an adjournment simply in the interest of the public ; in order that the Council might have the testimonials of all candidates fairly before them. On the motion for adjournment being put, three voted for, and three against. The Chairman gave his casting vote against the motion. Mr. Packer moved, as an amendnient to the original motion, that Mr. Thomson be elected Clerk of the Council. He did so in justice to that candidate, and not knowing anything against Mr. Boss. He wished to see both applicants have a fair field. Mr. Bowen seconded the amendment, but reluctantly, because he had only heard that Mr. Thomson's testimonials were of a very high character, and, if examined by this Council, they might turn out not to be so. He should much prefer a postponement, in order that the testimonials of both should be fairly laid on the table. Mr. Hall regretted that a mistake should affect the chance of any candidate. BuL that, mistake, if any, was not on the part of this House or any of its officers now present. He must say that he himself had received from a clergyman of the settlement the highest account

of Mr. Thomson's qualifications, as having discharged, at Leghorn, public duties of a very difficult and important kind, most satisfactorily.

Mr. Cass had seen Mr. Thomson's testimonials : but when they were shown to him he replied that lie had nothing to say then, as he did not approve of that kind of private canvassing for such an office. He couid see no reason for postponing this matter. The Council should not adjourn business duly given notice of ex* cept under great necessity (hear, hear). There was much work to be done; and to-morrow they would have to go begging about for a Clerk, unless they elected one now—(hear.)

Mr. Tancrkd asked if any member knew Mr. Thomson? They had heard a good deal of testimonials, but he had seen many such in England to which the individuals possessing them by no means came up. He did not wish to speak in disparagement of the gentleman spoken of, but he for one would not be guided by mere testimonials, which were often given very unscrupulously. He should be sorry if through his means a fit man were not elected; but he would ask Mr. Hall whether he knew of his own knowledge what these testimonials were of which a clergyman had informed him ?

Mr. Hall said he did not; he had oniy been informed of them by a perfectly reliable authority. He had mentioned this because, as seconder of the motion for Mr. Boss's election, he wished to give Mr. Thomson a fair chance, and therefore attempted to supply the absence of his testimonials by stating what he had reliably heard ol them. Not having seen them, he of course could not endorse the statement of his informant. Mr. Packer knew nothing of either candidate. Did any one besides the proposer know any thing of Mr. Ross ? Captain Simeon had wished to bring forward the testimonials of one of them. That course would have been more satisfactory, for they would have been some guide. He thought it very desirable that the election should be postponed, if possible, till Tuesday next. The Council would not meet again till then, and there would be no lapse of working time without a Clerk. There would be more fair play for members not knowing of this motion. It should be remembered that the Council had taken away the patronage of the Speaker in this matter, and they should therefore give him a fair chance as a member, of speaking in favour of any candidate. His magisterial duties kept him away.

Mr. Hall knew Mr. Boss, and that he was admirably qualified. He protested against adjournment. The Speaker had been late the second day of their meeting, and had been altogether absent the third day and to day. He trusted the dignity of this Council would not suffer these omissions to pass unnoticed. He believed it had only happened once in 300 years that the House of Commons had met without its Speaker. It was of great importance that the Council shoud have both a Speaker and a Chairman of Committee well acquainted with, the duties of their office, which could only be byattendance and practice (hear).

Mr. Packer suggested that Mr. Tancred's judgment might be biassed in favour of his own friend, and pressed for delay in order to give both the parties a fair chance. He also defended. Captain Simeon against Mr. Hall's animadversions.

Mr. Tancred said that as a charge of unfairness appeared to be brought against himself, and in some degree accepted by the Council, he should press his motion on principle, although, he believed in a fuller House he should be much, more certain of a majority.

Mr. Hall denied that any chai-ge of unfairness against Mr. Tancred had been accepted by the Council. Mr. Packer disclaimed having made such a charge; he had only said that Mr. Tancred's jndgment' might be, even unknown to himself, biassed by private friendship, and that some further testimony of qualification was re-

quired. After some further desultory discussion, confined to the matter of fairness or unfairness, and not involving the nieritu of the two candidates; the amendment was put and lost, and the motion, carried by 4 to 1, Mr. Bowen not voting. The House then resumed, and on Mr Cass being voted into the Chair, The Chairman of Committee reported that Mr Ross had been dulyelected. It was resolved that the Chairman be requested to communicate the election to the Superiuteudeut for confirmation.