Provincial Council.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 423, 22 November 1856, Page 5

Provincial Council.

Tuesday, Nov. 18th. The Council met at 5 p.m. In the absence of the Speaker, Mr. Fooks was elected Chairman of the day. Messages from his Honor were received; No. 4, forwarding a copy of the correspondence between the Governments of Victoria and New Zealand, on the question of steam postal communication [published in the {Lyttelton Times' of November 12th] ; also a copy of a letter from the Superintendent of Wellington, pointing out the inconvenience to the Southern provinces of mails being sent from Melbourne to Auckland, alone; and desiring the co-operation of the Provincial Government of Canterbmy, in establishing a direct steam communication between Australia and Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago; conveying also a proposal to join in paying a bonus of about £6,000 for a steamer to call at those three ports, making Wellington, or Otago, either of them, or both alternately, the port of arrival ; to cany the mails free, and immigrants to the provinces at a reduced rate. In Message No. 5, the Superintendent returned the Canterbury Association's Debentures Bill, with amendments. Mr Hall's motion for an address embodying his resolutions on steam were deferred till after the consideration of the Govern men t'resolutions. In the absence of Mr. Rhodes, the motion given notice of by that gentleman, relative to the rate of wages to workmen on the Sumner Road, dropped. On the motion of Mr. Packer, the following resolution was agreed to, being slightly amended from that originally proposed. " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the estimates a sum not exceeding £300, to be advanced in aid of a building as a Town Hall, at Christchurch, subject to arrangements to be legally entered into by the Trustees, that the building shall be available to the Government, for public meetings, and for the sittings of the courts of justice." Mr. Moorhouse's motion, "That his Honor the Superintendent be empowered to set aside 250 acres of the Waste Lands of the province, to be applied, in addition to the sum of money voted towards the construction of the Governor's bay road," was put and carried. A motion by Mr. Ollivier for a reserve of 250 acres for the Lower Lincoln Road Avas agreed to. Mr. Hamilton then brought forward the resolutions on the communication between the port and the plains, as published-in the 'Lyttelton Times 'of the 15th inst. The house went into committee. Resolutions 1, 2, and 3 were agreed to without division. Resolution 4 was in these words : —■ _ "4. That this council taking into considera- / tion the various plans which have been proposed j for opening such land communication, thinks it I inexpedient to depart from resolutions repeatedly! adopted in favour of the line of road now in| course of construction by way of Sumner. 1

Upon this, an amendment was proposed by Mr. Ollivier in the following terms. "That this Council taking into consideration the various plans which have been proposed for opening fcuch land communication, is of opinion that a sum not exceeding £3000 should be placed upon the estimates for the purpose of repairing the line of road over the Bridle Path." A prolonged discussion arose upon the amendment, which lasted till 11 p.m., when the committee divided as follows :— For the Amendment. Against. Dampier Donald Davis Bray Moorhouse Hall Cookson Packer Ward Barker Ollivier Brittan Westenra Hamilton Morgan Tancred—B. Blakiston Thomson—lo. The house resumed, and adjourned till the next day at 11 a.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 19. The Speaker took the chair at a few minute's after 11 a.m. Before the house proceeded to the business of the day, Mr. Beittan rose to state that the result of the adverse vote of the preceeding evening had been to cause the resignation of the members of the Executive. They could not consent to carryout the vote of the committee to spend £3,000 on the Bridle Path, for the formation of a cart road; a vote come to contrary to the opinions of engineers, and without any reports or estimates to guide them. The Government had not been prepared to go out on a single adverse vote, but they had suffered so many defeats during the' present session, that they could only come to the conclusion that the confidence of the house was entirely withdrawn from them. They felt it would involve a loss of the dignity and prestige which ought to attach to a Government, if they did not retire without waiting for a direct vote of want of confidence; and they had accordingly tendered their resignations that morning. He wotdd therefore move the shortest adjournment which was possible for the appointment of their successors ; viz., till that evening at 4 p.m. Mr*. Hall suggested that the third reading'of the Waste Lands Regulation Amendment Bill should be proceeded with, in order to ensure its early despatch to Auckland. The bill was accordingly read a third time, and passed. The house then adjourned till 4 o'clock.^

Wednesday, 4 p.m. At 4 p.m., the house re-assembled, when Mr. Ollivier stated that he had been invited by his Honor to take upon himself the office of Provincial Secretary, but he had declined to undertake the responsibility. Mr. Ollivier at some length reviewed the proceedings of the Government, since the opening o*F the present session, and thought that the resignation which had taken place was not called for, it was in violation of the pledge they had made to the House. He had suggested that Mr. Brittan should be again sent for, and, no doubt, that hon. Gentleman would be prepared to submit to the House an outline of the course he proposed to pursue. Mr. Brittan stated that he had again accepted office, in conjunction with his late colleagues ; and after a brief explanation, read to the Council certain resolutions which he proposed to submit to the House to-morrow, which are appended. " That this Council, taking into consideration the various plans which had been proposed for opening such land communication, and regarding the resolutions repeatedly adopted in former sessions, in favour of the line of road now in course of construction by way of Sumner, is of opinion that that road ought not to be abandoned as the permanent line of land Communication between Lyttelton and Christchurch, and that the works thereon should be carried on with as little expenditure as possible, by means of the prison labour." " That in the opinion of this Council a special survey ought to be immediately made with a view to ascertain whether any temporary road can be constructed on any other part of the hills, which may serve for the passage of light

inilnc, pending the opening of the Sumner UoiuL and careful estimates prepared of the cost of any such work." "'That in accordance with these resolutions his Honor the Superintendent be authorised to expend the necessary sums in making the proposed survey, and be respectfully requested to place on the estimates the sum of £3.000 for the establishment of steamers." Mr. Brittan then moved the House into Committee ■on the Loan Bill, when it was agreed that the blank left in the first clause of the bill should be filled up by the sum of £30,000. this being the sum proposed to be borrowed: of this sum £10,000 is to be appropriated to Immigration, and ihe remainder to public works and steam. Council adjourned till Thursday afternoon.

Thursday. Nov. 20. The Council met at o p.m., and immediately went into committee on the resolutions in reply to His Honor's address. No. 3. On the question that the resolution carried yesterday, on Mr. Ollivier's motion, stand part of the reply, Mr. Hamilton moved as an amendment the fi?*st resolution of the series given notice of by the Government yesterday. Mr. Brittan declared the intention of the Government to stand or fall by these resolutions. A spirited and lengthened discussion then ensued. The resolution was finally carried, on a division, by 13 to S. * On the question that this resolution stand part of the series, Mr. Dampier then proposed a slight amendment, which was seconded by Mi\ Hall, and lost by 11 to 9. Mr. Ward then brought forward a series of resolutions iv amendment to those proposed by the Government, as follows:— 1. "That this Council considers that the present circumstances of the province do not demand a fresh decision upon the advisability of proceeding with the Sumner Boad. 2. " That the funds which are at the disposal of the Government being only sufficient to provide a temporary means of carriage for light goods, in connection with the establishment of steam communication, the Council is of opinion that the present temporary road over the. bridle path should receive the attention of the Government in preference to any other. _ 3. " That in accordance with these resolutions his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the estimates a sum not exceeding £ , f or the purpose of widening, smoothing, and levelling the bridlepath, as far as may be practicable." The first resolution was then proposed by Mr. Ward, and seconded by Mr. Mcorbouse as an amendment on Mr. Hamilton's resolution, then under discussion. The resolutions were supported by Messrs. Thomson and Ollivier and opposed by M^srs. Donald, Bray, Hamilton, lacKer, and Brittan: the latter irentlemah '• declaring that he should accept the vote of the Committee upon them as decisive of the fate of tne<Government. On a division there appeared— ' For_ tne amendment: -Messrs. Cookson. Dampier, Davis, Moore, Moorehouse.'MoiW OiSnier, luomson, Ward, and West-nra l(f ' Against:—Messrs. Barker, Blakiston,Bowen, Lray Bntian Donald, Hall, Hamilton, Packer and Tancred, 10. The chairman gave his vote against the amendment, wmdi was accordingly lost __ Mr .Hamilton's resolution was then finally clewed on ly II to 9, on a second division. * 4 . Mr' „li3IILTOIf then moved the next resolution o. tne series, recommending a survey for a new temporary line over the hill. Mr. Vv A iiD proposed his second resolution as it ™ts'too lt; whidl was kst; on division > ] >y The remaining resolutions were then moved OV -Ur. Hamilton, and adopted, after a- brief a-scussion upon the vote for steam • th« «u<n f°/- t}'^ purpose was "teased iVom ■oijXJO to £5,000, by a majority of 15 votes x jo. The house resumed, and adopted the resolutons as a whole. The Loan Bill was then read a third tiny, and passed. The Canterbury Association's Debentures i»!!l was passed through committee, behi" a.terea aecordintr to message No. 5 of his Honor,read a thi-d tune, and j.a^d. The resolutions ou Steam Postal Communi-

cation with Australia, in reply to message No. •A, were postponed fill Tuesday, Mr. Oi,i,iviKU gave notice of motion as follows :—

" That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient to repeal the Executive Council Ordinance, and to enact that an Executive Board shall be formed, to consist of the members of this Council, and to be presided over by his Honor the Superintendent, for the purpose of advising and assisting the Superintendent in the Government of the province. "

At the. request of the bouse, the notice was withdrawn, under a pledge that it should be brought forward next session. Tne house then adjourned till Tuesday next, at 2 p.m., when it is expected that tho business of ihe session will be concluded.