Provincial Council.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 477, 30 May 1857, Page 6

Provincial Council.

Fhibat, May 22. The House met at H a.m. Present, the Speaker, Messrs. Bray, Packer, Hall, Dampier, Westenra, J. Bealey, and, Fooks. . ■■■■> ' -'■■. : - ... ';:. :■■ ■">■-'■ /■-■:-'. The report of the committee on,the represent tation of the province was brought up aniL read. , Mr. Ollivie^ moved for a return of, the appropriation of 1,000 acres of land placed.iat: the disposal of the Superintendent and E^ecutave Council by the Waste Lands Act for the service of the past financial year. -, , Agreed to/ .■■,. • . ■ „;.■ .^ ; The following bills were read a second time: the French Magazine Beserves, the Superinten-v tendenfc aud Provincial Council payments, and the Akaroa jetty. , ; ; ■ ;. ::: ... Notices of: motion were then given and house adjourned. „ '• ■-,_' ..- • „,

Tuesday, May 26. The House met at 5 p.m. "\ ' - Present, tlie Speaker, Messrs. Packer, Blakiston. Barker, Bray,' Thomson, Fooks, Morgan, Ollivier, Westenra, Dampier, Hall, S, Beaiev, Davis, Moorhouse, Rhodes, Cooksbn, and J. Bealey: , ; The report of the committee on White's Kaij>oi Bill, was presented, read, arid received. As also the report of the committee on H. J. Cvidland's petvfibiV. - COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. , The House then went into committee^ on the Estimates, as amended by the committee on Public ■ Works. The following votes were passed /■. ■'■ ■'.; , ,■:■•.' North Road Metalling £100. Forming, bridges from Papanui to . Kaiapoi.. *.. .700 Perry Boat? and Gear ....ISOPd»anui and Harewood Main Drain &C.600 From-15th'mile'on. North road to Rangiora .250 Forming to Biccarton Bush 300 Metailiag ditt0...... 250 Lincoln road to the Heathcote ■ 600 Mat-ailing. : ...500 Heathcote to Halswell 260 Bridges 150 Forming Hills Road 300 i Bridges'on ditto 250 Main road through Christ-church 500 The above vote.-' were passed with little discussion. The consideration of the grants of land" in aid of several of the works was deferred for the present. The next item considered was t-he grant for the Sunnier Road, and a very animated debate arose upon this—joined in as against the grant by Messrs. Ollivier, Davis, Moorhouse, Westonra and Dampier; and in favour of the grant by Messrs. Bowen and S. Beaiev, Packer, Bnrker, Bray, and Hall. The discussion was 'on the grounds already familiar to our readers. Finally the House divided, when there appeared—

Ayw -8. : ■ ...... N*«,sMr. Barker Mr. Ulakwtqu '" - -Ji'Bmley"' ?' Gooknoa " 8. Btaiajr " Dampior " Bowen " I>avls ,• '«.'.. Bray „..,. " Morgan "'Hall ■'■•■ ** MoorhouM »• Packer " OUiviuf » Rhode* " Wentonra. The question was accordingly carried by the casting vote of the Chairman (Mr. Pooks). The vote stands as follows: — Sumner R0ad....'..£2,000, together with the 1,000 acres of land. • After notices of motion given, the House adjourned at 7.30 p.m., till next day. Wednesday, May 27. The House met at 11 o'cloi-k. Present the Speaker, Messrs. Barker, S. Bealey; Blakiston, Bray, Brittan, Cookson, Dampier, Davis, Hall, Moorhouse, Morgan, Ollivier, ' Packer, Rhodes, Thomson, Ward, and Westenra. ' : COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The consideration of the amended estimates on Public Works was then proceeded with. On the first item an interesting discussion arose upon the influence of Government pay--1 ments on the price of labour in this province. I Remarks were made by Messrs. Rhodes, Dampier, Bbwen, and others, and explanations en<tered into by Messrs. Packer and Brittan. The following votes were then taken. District of Akaroa. £700 Akaroa Bridle Path 200 together with 400 acres of land Current Repairs of Roads "•■■'*■' and' Bridges..!... 900 Miscellaneous Public Works..7oo Store of Timber .100 . v'Bmii)ijsroß. Government Offices £3,500 Town Hall, Christehurch 300 Do. do. Lyttelton 150 Fittings for Supreme Court... 150 I Police Barracks, &c.,Lytteltonsso Takiiag levels in Lyttelton and Christehurch..... 200 , On the next item a short discussion arose chiefly relative to the propriety of voting a sum for a road which had not been laid out.

■lanprovemenifc of road to coal district £100 ; A grant for the road to the slaughter-houses, was postponed 'till, the site was defined. Improvement of a part of Chxistchurch, in &id of local contributions. . . 60 Improvement, of access to punt at" Kaiapoi. '.-,... » . . . , .40 Kakaia Ferry., .. . . . . . .. - 50 Moorings at Timaru . . . . ... 200 A sum recommended by the committee on, public works of £1,125, as a subsidy for local steamers was withdrawn, the money not being required during the present year. The following works, recommended as of secondary import tance, were then placed in the same position as others. Forming and widening the ferry road from Smarts'to the quay. . . . 400 Forming the road from Kaiapoi to the Ashley. ... . . . ... 750 Together with MX) acres. ..,,,.. On the next item a long discussion; arose, on a proposition to add a vote of £200 for the fprmof the road from the Weka pass to the Hurunui direct, which was deferred on the ground that, being an additional, vote, the grant should be first recommended by the Superintendent. , The vote was then passed for Forming through the Weka pass. . 400 Metalling road across the island at - . ' Kaiapoi. ....... .250 From the Halswell to join the Governor's bay road. . . . . . 250 ' Together with 250 acres of land. 100 acres were also voted for the Fendalltown bridge and road. Mr. Packer moved the reconsideration of a vote for the purchase of the ferry boat and gear on the WaimakarirL He amended the vote by a proposition of a grant of £300 for the establishment of a new boat. This amendment was objected to on the ground that it was desirable to purchase the boat, gear, and goodwill from the present ferryman. A considerable discussion arose on this point, after which the following vote was carried :— For ferry boat and gear oa the North Road ......... £300 The House then resumed.

lii answer to questions, fronv Mr. OtLiVIEB, Mr. Pi-CKE^sttited thatit waa the intention of the Government to place a sum of £500 on the eatbbates ast a reward for tile discovery .of gold. Also, that.it, was} tb,e*intentionof the Government to press the adoption of the plan suggested For the construction1 of a central House of Correction. Also, that steps would be taken for' the provision of safe custody for lunatics when the report of a committee in a former session of the Council on the subject had been brought up. The house then went into committee on the Akaroa french Magazine .Reserve Bill, The pro«isions of this bill authorised the sale of the land and, building in, Akaroa formerly used as a magazine and now partly as Government offices. The claims were read and passed seriatim, with. an amendment that the sale should be by auction. The proceeds are authorised to be expended in the construction of a Custom House, Court House, and Gaol in the town of Akaroa.The bill was then reported. The house then considered the Superintendent and Provincial Council Payments Ordinance. tn the consideration of the schedule of payments, Mr. Davis proposed an increase of the salary, of the Superintendent from £550 to £600. Mr. S. Bealey opposed the amendment. The house divided, when the amendment was lost by seven votes to live. After a short discussion the committee reported progress. The house then.went into committee on the Akaroa Jetty Ordinance, which was passed without discussion, and the house resumed. White's Kaiapoi Bridge Ordinance, was then read a seqond time. Mr. Davis moved " that a respectful ddress be presented to his Honor the Superintendent by this House, soliciting that a plot of land be set apart for the erection of a Roman/Catholic < Chapel and schools, for the .Roman Catholics of this province." Carried, After notices of motion,the House adjourned till .the next day.

■_: : >.,-, Thttbsday, May 28th, ; ; ( . *3Fhe Council met at 5 p.m. " . Present,—The Speaker, Messrs. Darapier, JJall, S. Bealey, Barker, Brjttan, Ward, Qllivier, Westenra, Davis* Blakiston, JDonald, Bray r and Packer.. „ . ,/. .;■:...-. ■;■■.".• ;■ ■' . *yi ■ •'■' : The following -Messages were received and read by the Speaker r^ jjfo. 24. transmitting. tlje descriptions of two reserves for abattoirs; one at Biccarton, and one on the river Avon (South.) : No. 25. Transmitting an application from the Rev. J. Petit; J^an, a clergj'saan of the Roman Catholic Church, for funds in aid of education for the children of parentsi -oi that I denomination. ,; ■'•■ :. ':. No. 26. Enclosing a letter from Mr. Vanjham of Wellington, stating the terms'(£7s per njonth) on which the English mails now brought from Melbourne to Wellington should.be forwarded to Lyttelton in the same vessel. No. 27. Proposing to reserve by ordinance a site on the rown reserves for a Roman.Catholic Chapel and schools. Mr. Dampier presented ■ a petition in favour of the Road Reserves Bill. Mr. Leonard Harper was unanimously elected Clerk to the Council. EDUCATION; .';-'-; The Council then Went into committee, .taking the adjoined debate on the resolutions on education. • •.■■••■■■ " ■■'■'■ " ■"■'■.■■.■■-• '■' : ; Mr. Hall's resolutions were considered as proposed to be inserted between the fourth and fifth resolutions, already adopted. The first resolution of the series was as follows :— " The schoolmasters to be appointed to schools assisted by such grant shall be subject, on their appointment, to approval by the Government inspector." , The committee divided, when there appeared against:— Noes 10. Ates 4. Mr. Dampier Mr. Hall „ Ward „ S. Bealey „ Ollivier „ Donald „ Westenra „ Brittan „ Davis „ Barker „ Bray „ Blakiston „ Packer „ Bowen

Tbe.J^wi^ol? W? rejected by r a majority of fobr. / J ' - - - Some discussion arose' upon tbisl resolution, Mejsi^. Olli,vier ? Blaki^tqn, Paalier, B^rk^is and>j Bo wen against it: .Messrs., Donald^ I^fittan, Beal^y atyf HjjlJl in favour of it. ; Mr. Hall then proposed _hja secqnd K^M,: tion am follows,;— ' "The secular instruction given in such J schools shall be such as shall be satisfactory to i such inspector. ' tlpoh thereport of the Inspector that the secular instruction is not satisfactory, the Superintendent, and Executive Council may withhold ju^h: portions of the, grant applicableto such school, and for such period as to them shall seem fit.*' An animated debate followed upon this motion, The< 'first sentence of the resolution was withdrawn, and the mptjon in this shape was pufr and 'carriedi''.•"'■' '-^ ' ■■ a i Mr, Hall then proposed the third resolu^ tion;— .■■■:■ ••"•■"■ :}:< '-- ■ ■'„". '■:. .7, ■• - nii' The religious instruction shall in no way be subject to the interference of such Inspector." This resolution was agreed to, as was also the ftttftwing^*' * ' : '::-- "■-•■ ■■' ■■■ -v I'■ " Detailed accounts shall be furnished annually to the ■' Superintendent by the'4iead of each religious denomination .of the expenditure of the grant received by it. Such accounts shall he laid before the Provincial Council." The, resolutions.as carried, were adopted, and the house proceeded' to reconsider the first and fifth; resolutions, wheni; on the; jmotiqn of Mr. words w^ere inserted jemppweiing the heads of the religious denominajbions to remove, schoolmastersj *n^^ the Superintendent and Executive Cquneil'to remove the Inspector ; the remainder oi' the clauses remained as before. resolufcions were then reported to th,e Council. . • ' *''■'■: EOAD EESEBTES REGULATION 811.1.. ■ Mr. Dascpieu moved the house into ComHiittee on the ;abo«e bill. A short discussion ensued upon the first clause, which was rejected fey the adoption of an amendment by M*. Bray, and Mr. Dampier consented to withdraw the bill. :^rri ■ - . ■■ ■:■■..-■'■ , : SCAB AItENDMKNT OKDISTANCE. The House went into'committee on the above bill brought in by Mr. Hall. The several clauses were read- and adopted^ - KEPKESENTATION. Mr. H;Al.xmoved fche following resolution: " That: this'Councit lvatv ing taken into consiAjratioii the rep'rCof. the Committee on the readjustment of the Representation, resolves :-h " That it is expedient the Provincial Council Extension Ordinance should be amended during the present session, with a view to the adjust.inent of the Representation in this Council on the following basi% :-rr, Town of Chri5tchurch............4 members. '"' Lytielton 4 " ' North Chrisichurch District...4 " Sojith ." .. ." ...4 Kaiapoi ' .., 2 " Lyttelton country 2 " Mandttville District (to include the C-oTit)l,vy west of Kangiora, and north of the Ashley) ' 1 Timartt District (to include the country South' of the Ashburtbny.:... J..:.V.....".' 1 " Akaroa Distvicv 3 " Total 25 members. This resolution was unanimously adopted. THE LATE CLEEK TO THE COUNCIL. Mr. POOKB movedthafpllowing resolution :—r . "This Council desires to : record its acknowledgement of the service of Mr. G. A. E. Ross, and of the correct and/efficjent manner in which lie has ; conducted .; the .duties of ■, clerk to the C(»uncjl, from its formation up to the present time." Carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. Ollivieb, the memorial of C. E. Dampier was referred to a select Committee. Petition of H. I. CbidlakpMr. Beat moved that the report of the Committee ou this petition be printed. Some debate ensued, upon the necessity for - showing that the evidence was of sufficient importance to be published. A resolution ordering the printing of the papers connected with this case was finally passed.