Provincial Council.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 219, 6 December 1854, Page 5

Provincial Council.

Friday, Nov. 24th. Present —Messrs. Hall, Hamilton, Bealey, Packer. Mr. Cass, in the chair. Mr. Hall moved the 3rd reading of the Scab and Catarrh bill, which being seconded by Mr. Bealey was passed. Mr. Hall rose to propose an address to the Superintendent in answer to the communication from Lord Lyttelton. He was glad of this opportunity of stating, that though many of the proceedings of the Association had been strongly animadverted upon, there existed a general feeling among the inhabitants of Canterbury that they were under a deep and lasting obligation to Lord Lyttelton. He felt sure the Council would welcome this addition to their Library, 1 not more on account of its intrinsic worth, than as evidence of the interest which was still felt by Lord Lyttelton in the affairs and the progress of the Canterbury Settlement, Mr. Bealey seconded the adoption of the address, which was carried. ADDRESS. " The Provincial Council beg to thank your Honor for transmitting to them Mr. Blatehford's letter. " The Provincial Council concur with your Honor in thinking that their library is the fittest place of deposit for the Parliamentary papers to which that letter refers. " They beg you will convey to Lord Lyttelton the expression of their thanks for the valuable addition which his Lordship's liberality has made to this library." auctioneers' licensing bill. The house then went into committee to consider the Auctioneers' Licensing Bill, Mr. Cass in the chair. Mr. Hamilton moved that clause 3 in reference to the transfer of licenses be re-considered in order to its being expunged. He had felt that the fee of £40 was a very heavy payment to make in one sum for the privilege ; in the alteration he proposed, facilities would be given to those disposed to take out a license by the half-yearly paymeut of £20, and he thought it would be a guarantee that the important duties of an auctioneer would be carried on by men of character and stability, a very necessary consideration when the amount of property which passes through their hands be taken into consideration. A captain of a trader might come down with a cargo of goods and take out a license for the half-year upon payment of the £20. Having discharged and sold his caigo he might transfer the license at a small charge to some person of indifferent character, ond they might have small sales at public houses, where great evils and annoyances might arise. The effect of this would be an increased charge upon our police force. The opinion of auctioneers seems to be general that the power of transfer should not be granted. Mr. Hall seconded the amendment. He was glad that the hon. gentleman had introduced it. The power of transfer had been defended, because it existed in the case of public houses, but there were many differences between the license given to a publican and that to an auctioneer. The former might be said to refer in some measure to the house, the latter conferred a personal privilege only, and was rather to be compared'to an attorney's certificate, which was not transferable. He had received a letter from an auctioneer on the subject of this bill, which he read. The writer objected to the measure generally. As he understood the intention was to pass the bill through committee to-day, and to afford further time to consider its provisions, he should of course reserve to himself the right of objecting to any of its clauses, if he saw it desirable to do so. As regarded the introductions of night auction, lie felt with the writer and the lion, gentleman that there were great objections to then), and it>r these reasons he should object to the omission of the clause prohibiting- night auctions. The clause was then struck out. On the motion of Mr. Hamilton an alteration to clause o was agreed to. Mr. Hamilton then proposed to alter clause 3. As it stood, there would be too great facility for persons to take out licenses for the brief period intervening between the proposed days of licensing, and "he would therefore prnpo.se to

add the fee for portions of a half-year to the following half-year. The clause as amended was adopted. The schedule was then considered, and after a few unimportant alterations, was finally agreed to. 'The house resumed. ALLOWANCE TO MEMBERS. Mr. Hamilton moved that a report of the Select Committee on an allowance to members be read. Mr. Hall seconded the adoption of the report. He was glad it oent no further than to recommend an allowance to the Speaker for his expeuces. He hoped the day was far distant when it would be necessary to pay salaries to members to induce them to devote their time to the public service in that Council, but it was a different thing to reimburse the travelling expenses actually incurred by members coining from a distance to attend the sittings of the Council. It ■would, however, be 1)61161' that the question as to members generally should be deferred for the consideration of the new Council. In the case of the Speaker,showever, it would be exceedingly unfair that his constant attendance should be an actual source of loss to him, and he would therefote concur in the recommendation of the Committee. In other Provinces salaries Lad been voted to the Speaker, but he saw no necessity for such a proceeding. APPOINTMENT OF A SUPEKIXTEXDEXT OP PUBLIC WOKKS. Mr. Hamilton then read a series of resolutions having reference to the appointment of a Superintendent of Public Works. He believed there was no difference of opinion in the house upon the subject. The power of control ought undoubtedly to be in the hands of the Provincial Council. It was the body having authority to incur expenditure, and therefore it would be useless to wait until instructions should be received from the General Government. The Land Office is peculiarly a department of survey, and not for the purpose of laying out road lines. The office he sought to create would facilitate the general works of the Province. Mr. Packer seconded the adoption of the resolutions, viz.: " That it is the opinion of this Council, previously to public works of any kind whatever being undertaken by the Provincial Government, a competent and efficient professional gentleman shouid be appointed at a fixed salary to plan and superintend the execution of such works in detail. "That, in the opinion of this Council, immediate steps should be taken by the Provincial Government to obtain from the General Government all requisite authority for iayino- out necessarj lines of road throughout the Province and that instructions he conveyed to the chief surveyor of the Province, and Commissioner of Crown Lands, to'give effect as far as lies in theirpower to the expressed intentions of the 1 rovincial Government in regard to such lavW out of roads." * h Mr Hall said as the question had already been debated, it would be unnecessary for him to do more than to say that the GoVemment would do their utmost to carry into effect the wshes of the house. Hitherto thev hud b ee n ueterred from making such appointment bv considerations of economy. With reference to the laying out of new lines of road, Mr H-ill read extracts from documents before the house to shew the steps taken by the Government "in tue matter. Mr. Hamilton said although he was perfecty satisfied with the correspondence which had l.eenrea.l; he thought that the general opt uimi oi the Province should be recorded I lie report was then adopted. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. Su)-)Tv SC Uie" WeaL im° Comtni"ee of Mr. Packer asked if any allowance had been made for the cost of the sui vey of the Suuiner Mr. Kali, replied that Capt. Drurv was the Purveyor .-.pouted l,y the Home Government to survey i;ie whole of the New Zealand coast and l.iaUjo expense would therefore be incurred bv t:;-' J i:;\n,ce on this account. ALLOWANCE TO THIS SPKAICKH. _ Mr. Hall proposed u vote of £.jO as an a.lnvvance for iraveiUug exposes to the speaker (;uri:;- s U- J)resent financial year. Mr. H.v.Mu/rtix said in reference to the allow-a:i;-v u ',(-; Speaker he objected to the idea of a u:a,-v. jhey were uut in a position to vote a

sulary, and he thought that all they could do was to discharge the reasonable expenses which the Speaker necessarily incurred. He was also of opinion that members should be paid for the same outlay. They were pledged to their constituents to devote their time, but not beyond this, and he feared that if they adopted the principle of excluding the repayment of legitimate expenditure, they would virtually disfranchise a large number of persons who might become members of that house. The motion for allowance was then agreed to. The house resumed. Mr. Hall brought up a report on the Standing Orders, which was referred to the Library and Printing Committee. Mr. Hamilton said he was to ask a question whether any correspondence had taken place between the General Government and the Superintendent in reference to any grunt of land from the Town reserves. There was, he believed, some sort of correspondence connected with a free grant of land, and if he could not find out where it was, he should propose an address to His Honor on the subject. Mr. Hall said the Government were at all times most ready to lay before the Council any information in its possession. The lion, gentleman's motion, however, asked for correspondence {relating to a grant of Public Reserves. The only correspondence in their possession referred to Totvti Land. If that was the correspondence to which the lion, gentlemen referred it should be forthcoming. Mr. Hamilton presented a petkion from the inhabitants of Lyttelton in reference to the condition of the jetty. It was found on examination that two of the braces of the jetty had become entirely destroyed, and he thought that it required the immediate attention of the Government. If the dilapidation continued unchecked, it would go to pieces in a few years, and the Province would be put to a considerable increased expence. The petition also referred to the lengthening of the jetty. If the prayer of the petition could be complied with, vessels of large tonnage might be able to discharge there, and the captain of the steamer had said that if there was a greater draft of water, he could land his passengers and their baggage there, and this would be attended with a great saving to the public. The petition was then read, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Hamilton would as soon as the house re-assembled, moved the consideration of the petition, in the terms of the following resolutions. S£ That the Jetty at Lyttelton is a public work of great importance to the settlers of this Province ; and in the maintenance of which they are all directly interested That it is therefore incumbenton theProvincial Government,failing the ability of the Association, or present occupiers of the jetty, to provide the necessary funds for its repair. That it is moreover desirable that the inspection of the jetty and the adjoining portion of the harbour be made by some person in behalf of the Government to report upon what improvements can be effected in the landing-place of the Province, whereby its shipping and commerce may be encouraged.1' He would also move the 3rd reading of the Auctioneers' Bill, on the first clay of their reassembling. Mr. Hall moved an adjournment until Tuesday fortnight. He would then lay on the table'the Waste Land Regulations, proposed by the Government, and as a part of the plan, a bill im-posing-a temporary tax upon all land purchased under the new regulations; in doing so he would enter into an explanation of the Government's proposal.

The house then adjourned until Tuesday fortnight.