Provincial Council.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 545, 23 January 1858, Page 3

Provincial Council.

t'-t'i (We^nesdaylaatiwas the dtejr; oppoint6d iifortlte tiieeting^of'theiProvincial Gouncili the first since the general'election;;and jthe ninth.sessioiii in otitm-of numbec;! i'Thi <::rtiajorfty df the members 'met first iat -thk hchurfehywheFe^dirviier^r^ice was performed! vandt:»fterwar4s pfbceedednto/the jGbnncil Chamber. About ;«ne^o'cloek>; the ;:tim^ ;:'B4eht»ioAediin :thte proclamation oh summons' - :the bdth; <mi ithe> S&'ariger's !Ghl[ i'lery ; aridnii th 4 bodyiibf>;!theiHk'ousei<wa^ vet-y fullj and i among the /visitoxs for, thfe s. doeasiotaiWeret several ladies^^There iwer^ otwenty-five^members -jn their,eeate>icbm;----o prising fthe Vej^esentatives^f i the p < Vince'except''^ond^membeV.for -the HeathjIcbte^^ district;^^'wheVeia^feeat!^is ■ conSiefquehce of Mr* Harmani^^ t;aking!fa^'dur|''v'ey^contPSfct uffder;shei(jro:verßri*ehfc.i -J.Mi. " Harniaii was present ;in ttheischamber'ias ; 'one^of^4hiEf Uj£ecu€iye;«'> The lOßisbopi of -»Ghristctturcti a«d*h'erilrohdea;c6« of Akafoa. -^werfetflso-aceomnlbdatfed' with'seats within ojth#'htcmSe;« ri-;4--/v;a:cQ -,::;;.-':; !

Glferk'Hdif thevCstirtc%Mtv Leonard Harper, "'took'the dh'air^priofii'tb] the election of a "v£pe%]&tf,"wli&i j isoy aii: irct^i i,-y.^'v : j ; - JM&it.l - Chttjri?! E*t ahdisaidithat 3h|e v > '^^al»'^'o^.6^]ll6d:^oa;td^k<9^the firststejp - -• Speaker.'• iFortii- ! ;nately Citherie was 'brie1 honourableintemb^r ■ aMong thenif (Min-^BoVen) -who <>had; ei-. ■ 'jfe"rfeWe;ain discb&rgihgk the duties of ; that -office^ and who fJhad« given ?pi't>of,vdiurii^ ' > tefigth^ned^eSSion^ of aifiiriheriGbunoilj p$ 5 Ms- Sbaftyt&pfilfc tk§ fchairitothevsatisfa^- ■■" i:;^idii-'df^sll.^-Eo^&Hy tlip^e'omeftibers .wUo r! • htfd iMd^ilie hono>R of seats! ihi the |)revio^s 5 douiidil, tMrJ'Bdvjren^s «6e«ptanc© off > the ;; ofeiiej'Would*be*i gfuftraiitfe© of the :prop?ri T'^nfittbfc'-of-^uSiifestoi-' Me; would riowjpr^- '•' 'poW-'th&G^r} Gkaftes- Bowen be elected --Spakeri-/; '-^> oi &i,*:liii:i'.'.;C; :^;}^ ;,-.■■.,; j Mr. Fooks emphatically seconded ■'. t%e r':^'iofoHiinfittioiiV- r- The cleric thenput^hfe mj)----1 tibni\^hibh lwab cfeari(ied ttriannhously;o<]'' j •Mrl'OiEWikß thenimd^efd that-Messrjs. Hall and -Cookson and the Provincial Secretary should kccoinpahy Mr. Speaker, io; notify his election to the : Superintenden|t. '-<;•■ Garriedy The 'house thenria(^bui?hediforia r few iniriutes, when the-confirmation^ of'tlke electionKof /'Speaker- was;; hoiifiedv1 by. tMe " i 1;; VV '; : . .;^';;';";-; j immediately; rising, t *said r-rlijUj^r fajlsi io my lot to thank the house for tne^nanji- - mous consent with? which <the iduties of Speakei*. have been conferred upon -me. But, while* thaiikirii* ith^e -gentlemen* who ' havie'plrci'pos^d 'afad secohdeli.my electi<|a tp . Vp%?e^, I; cannot ,bjit r^nkj^t in theiirpbseryati^ rate my ability to; perform;-&e, duties; en-'-' trusted tosxhe^ - While I have ithe honorj J hbweyery of presiding in^this chamber,! 1 : venture %d; prdn*ise! .that I shall never he found wanting^ in anxious attention td t|ie (iufeiesi bf jnay" qffiiq^ .dr^in the inipa^tiali|y whic&}:sHould 7 <eye'r^beJ9ng ! itpyili...^;"f l '^rupt that, rin my ■ eJEFprjtSi ■, tft keep pr(ler. and jbo maintain '•■ itW. ; dignity■; of; the; house. :I tn ay at' aIL tin^es^receive-the ctirdialf support pf 1 hb^oura[ble members^: 11 now beg- aga^n " '' kh tbanlli iKe;y^ounißil 7for"tn'e'hoh'bur'".cbiir "'fer|re^.i^oii/ine.^;^^: j! 'y :i:"; i.,..',.., V...". !'•'•'■ i '" . ; '?., ,The ,ip£iempei^ t>^ the'Jlxeputiye^ then le|ft the chamber, iwd thie $uperint«ndenik, th4y r following immediately. after,; < entered, tne ; members '•■ • standing: up H toil receive i fii^tij •Having ;re^uested all to/ be seatedy llis ". 1 the, EROyiNCiALjUJQU.NC|L.^In meeting yous :fori the Jrst time, I am happily < con- 1 eciou* that imaiiy of-the' difficulties;whi4h ;: &^diitin^isho"prede,cesso'r:'S'o"aa»b<asly . : struggled '.to oyerdoi^e-h^Ve .entirely dis- ; &jses#&^. I;t^^^re^re^^^ttiiate' r you tne pipspec| of aijd exemption r .frpik Jthe; mpre; labou'riqus. rptt-; ':tine>pf'!'duty .that so heavily pressed)upon ! the-lateiCouncils .-uu.l:;•,:-!>:, i, -.■....■;, ■,; j ■Ydiffiire'' awaj?e; tihal. tlie^General A?:^^li%l7' >lwfll[;is'hd^ls[t mccii, • KlothWd 1 #ith ajn '^ftd^sskik^ friable1 i.thfem 1 :^]Kpi'^i^c| !vey3P : 'imate|ial* J^l^iitibns^'ii^-the; , consti^uiipii; .of"!'s&w 1 that might; very considerably'modify anjd ' resfoict the.legislativerfimctidns'oi' tl|e' Provincial; Councils;., r' Gbntenapfetingi the1 possible" eie^dise1 -of. ■ this'! ;p6W;er ; during xbeir approaching1 «ession| apJdfeeliig'^ri , sijtGjiJeajje' 4^9.?grj3ai r ' Importance" 'thfs . proVJiftca', i being, fu|ly,(. represfßnted[, \ t '.airi- fanxious tHafc those ; gantlenien wbp, ho^d Beats- ia{ both the General and Provincial -Legislaturesl should have^ aw opportfanit!/ of serving theclofohyJ in- each capacity i

>;in order to secure this; advantage, must be either vpripr drsubsequent to the meeting ofth>;Geheral Ajsfeernbly. ;.; ;".',; s { $9?, a /variety of reasons-ie, has seemed to, ime-expedient;to :call -you together at thisytime,:iw - order 3to 'the despatch of routine btisir/#S;;, the eriac'tmeht of bne or .:tyv)> very; sliprt,'bills, Jafld 'of /some ;yery ■ simple,- yet important, and- higMy necessary • amendments ;of the Waste < Lands ;;Regulationsi '\1~; shall also inquest your ; attentioh,?^: a ; very jippei^ative : ;d_uty_,-.nafmely-^-the mukingof ; sbme.proper /provision--: for the' custody* and i.caveful 'm'ediicaT treatment of iuriatics. ; r-

.' ,'l|b'/ig. T ;jniy iiitentiari to lay before you estimates,of financial requirements i'or the half-yearr ending-;'/SOth - September -next, and- w^jile'regarding your present meeting as^- a sessionJ^^emergiehGy^X prppose to defer,the consideration ofj?certaih defective Ordinances > among* others the Cattle Trespass Ordinance^ until fyour next session; when it' \yill be' my ,&nty'to >ehd down, /for, yOur deliberate discussion yariousjiamendrnents^df the law* which the progress'; of the ' province ■ has' rendered advisable. : ' ;': '•'" '• ■' ' :

But as it is, possible that the General. Assembly may entertain • a very important.' and extensive, exercise of their powers,, and in a-manner calculated >to excite a very material influence on, the; scope; of your legislative'action, you will agree: •with, .me that -it would' be Vvisej'so far as* is: practicable," to3 postpone to a fixture session the enactment ,of new laws, in the' nope that the relative and respective functions, of jthe General and Provincial Legislatures-,w.i1l in the. meanwhile' have " been accurately and unmistakeably" defined. ■ • ■-•■' <'•-.-•:< ■ ■■■- :; ■•■ '■■'<, '•

i;';! There areV: hdweyferV "several1' riiatfers with which it is ; the bifsihess pfyour hody alone'rtp deal/and to" these; I shall, call jour;immediatepotice. r, ,-''•■ ■■•.;/ '■'.".

It has been, found,necessary that certain doubts.as to the interpretation of particular clauses in the Waste Lands Regulations* should be-atonce^ehidved^.to which end Tshall;:subinit to you;a"shoi't bill:,' Having* for its object a more-effective declaration of the principles ;that:ai*e intended by the spirit of the, Reg'iilatipns to govern the ad-; ministration of the Waste Lands, a vagueness in-thai clause which relates, to the ex-1" ercise of the pre-emptive rights having- led rto ineonveniencies almost amounting- to injustice in individual cases that.have come within my observation.

I would also suggest tp you the addition jto;the reg-ulajfcions id proyision enablingGovernment to reserve a right to lay out • public loads.through all sections of land in '< urisurveyedi districts' which, mayr hereafter ;beibought of theiCrbwri—^the consideration ;^forsuch reserved right being* an additional acreage allowed to : the : purchaser at the time, of purchase. It will; be for .you to determine what, per; cehtage of land shall be given in respect of such reserved right, whichJ would* suggest'should be exercised by Government^ or■■ = abandoned within a period of five- years from the. date of the purchase. ! , .• , ■■;■'■■> :. ■■....■ ■■■<>:■[ <■/■->'/.. : : I shall also lay before youialbilltO; provide < suitable .reserves !of lands^being part of the late! Canterbury Association's estate,- for the | use> of; certain; organized, religious bodies I within1 the; province.- - : T . ! ! ■ The, extension of secular education and iinstzaiction being, a :matter* seriously important to the social well-being / pfiifthe pi'bvince, J:shalLask.you:to sanction vsniairrreserves-ofland,in- the different settled* districts which ! have been: suggested •as-i;bonvenient: sites for churches and

iiSch'Ools.i'i :'■ ■■■n: «■:•;: '': : -.;::'; .fO .-v> I - t- liTheurapidly increasing .imports (of :the ! prd.vince having (rendered the provision of lextended accommodationi in - the oiEces of (Her customs a matter of urgent /necessity^! :shall, therefore, iin ;pursuance .•ofuarrarigemerita^entered into ; with the ;rJßepresentative;of the Geriemls Government, ■■askftyourt assent, to'la;bill);enabling.>nie;. :tmdertlieprdvisions of [the Public Reserves' Act),id cdnveyi»to;tho.GeneralGovernment' the site' of-the :€!ustQm i rHoiise; ,as 5 reserved , byathe late {Canterbury; Association^ upon ! : which site! it ;isrproposed;by tiha General Government tor erect a Gustom- House and other buildings necessary, to the public set-. I yiaeli.--,. hi-, i-d^oi ciii <j) ;h;:vA -;■; v ■■. ■•i :•

:. !lnf perusing* ftlie ise veral statistiipal returns wluchlwill be laid-beforeyyou>: your will be ■gfratifiedlto observe; the great increase pf ■ our.flx'porta and, impojjts .during: the past ,i year. On xefecrehcß fhe irfetuhi* of pre'tiduayears.yoiiiiwiU perbeiv,e rthat:^he;e?- ---: tension of: our' commerce grows! In/a gi'ea^. If .increasingl ratio.eacfeUtteeedding!vyear-f-; i ai fact .affording tha sti'ohgest^pr^sumpti|e 1 evidence tik&ti the bflslnnce.lbf,trade: must <!;..; Thd meeting, ot the ;Proviacial €ounfcil,

very shortly be materially in favour of the province. ; ;

At an early period of the session you will be put in possession of your estimated Provincial, Revenue for-the ensuing year, from, which you will gather that an increase/ iri 'the sales; and rentals of the "Wiiste JLands of the province quite in proportion :to the/ increase in. the Customs' Revenue is reckoned- upon. This estimate is justified by 'the experience of the last year,- at".the'; commencement of which'the. late- Government anticipated receiving- an; amount which was at that time geheraliy considered!large j yet,, in fact, Goverhment realized a; sum very considerably., in excess of their estimate. This •circumstance affords an additional pleasingillustration of the prosperity of the province. : ;.;" '' „ : '\ ;;;..'., : ' '.',_'.' .

The most, important business to which I j shall 'invite your attention during- this short session is the- provision pf nieans for the prosecution of PubliQ. Works' no# in progress, as also of those additional-works which I shall recommend as imme- ' ■ diately hecessary to the extension of our commerce, and fh^ ; openingl up of new .districts for 'settlement., .Yon will-, be ; gratified* to learn that our financial condition" is ' equal ;t6 the execution of public works- to; % much greater"extent than could be ad vantagepusly entertained with the •labour now available. > And,- after a large expenditure 6h rapid immigration, I calculate.on sucli a balance remaining .in the .' Treasury as": will permit' of ftlie '■ immediate - emplo} rment of all immigrants whose serviceston their arrival^nay"hot be required. in the ordinary; a,yi)catibhs of the province. ''"" " " /..,- ",.;',,",- ' ..." '-.... ".!.' ! - . The correspondence, which has-passed: ■ between the Provincial; Government and" the Inspector,of t)ie Union Bank of Australia -.relative to the' Loan ,authorised by an 'Ordinance, oof ithe Provincial .Council, ■ Session-Vll^o. : 3,; will ;be laid before you, from which you "■ -will; gather that it. has; been exp.edieni to cancel the debentures, printed : in Canterbury and substitute another form ; prepared at the suggestion' of the Inspector of ;"the XJnidn BaHk of /Australia, in conference; with MrV Fitz--Gerald, the accredited agent of the. : province. The new/forms- having arrived are in" courseiHojf cgmgletion. Arrangements have, as; you will ascertain, been .made to- | prevent- any inconvenience -or delay; interfering;, with the operations of the Emigration Agent on his arrival in England. Meanwhile, it is;a source ;6f; satisfaction to me, acquaint -.you- that/ Mr.f Selfej ia gentleman to whom we are. much indebted :• for his many disinterested good 3 offices,' has provided; for our immediate exigencies , by.the dispatch of the Roehampton, with a considerable number of useful emigrants, whose arrival may be looked; for during the. ensuing month. On referring to the accounts of the Canterbury Association's -Estate: you will find that;,in. accordance with a resolution of the Provinbial Council, I have directed, a tether payment in liquidation .. of the capital siim due to themembers of the late Canterbury Asso-

I eiation. ■;■ ■. •-■■,<■ ••- /-->''■■ :- ■ j ■ The-ordinary expenditure of the p;roj vince, so far as I can at present judge, will .; be only .vex'j slightly in excess of that of j ■ the present financial year, and only" to such an'extent as is absolutely necessary to maintain the enlarged operations of Got vernment. ■ .* On the estimates for public works, you '' will perceive;'among* the larger items, a, considerable sum suggested for expends ture on the improvements of our principal port, improvements that are indispensable to the transaction of our very considerable commerce. Another for the erection of a ! bridge across; the main branch of the river \ Waimakiriri, a work of the greatest" pub--1 lie- utility. s I also propose to ask your I sanction' for the. employment of a cbn- ', suler'able sum for providing access to the ; several large-pastoral districts- ; recently discovered—in laying out; and 'improving the: great trunk roads, North and 'South— , the improvement oi: the Biver Heathcote i: —the establishment of, a thorough system of arteriali drainage— the r -extension of inter-prOvincial; postal 'communication— ■and-.1 the encouragement 'of'steam navigation.\.-- ¥ou ■ will rbe diligently, furnished with every information as to: the nature arid; icost of, and thenecessity for;\eaeh of these.. undertakings,ivs'hich I dmib^nobly6u;vcill, cordially . assist :rifei;.. %?\ es£setni}lj}...s&s • s•BßiW^o.Ti- ehfe¥on.<ie:^btisine^.' of th|?,:; Y6ur. seission^ T would s^'ti& thaE fam - ;by no: means insensible to., the : m^onv^Ti: ' nience that must ■ result to 'tnany g|«ntle-■ men of your number :by: reason";of ybiir'' being called at this season of the year.

i During the progress of your duties, 1 believe you will discover the expediency of :, the step I. have taken. I trust that during! all the period of my association with you! in the conduct of the Government of this province there may subsist the same g"oocj understanding and mutual self-respect that ss happily characterized the intercourse of the late Superintendent and Council, and that, like them, we may, at the close of our public labours, leave lasting evidence of united earnestness and integrity in the - discharge of our respective functions. * It is now my duty to declare this Coun^cilduly opened for tue dispatch of business. All again standing up, his Honor then retired. .': ■'''•■..[ .'. ! STANDING ORDERS. Mr Thomson.rising to present a petition, The. Speaker called attention to the subject of Standing Orders. Those of the previous CounciLprovided that they should continue in force for one week after the calling together of the new House; but the Constitution Act distinctly provided that the first business of every Council on its meeting should be to adopt Standing Orders which must be submitted to the Superintendent for confirmation before the Council could proceed to other business. He would recommend as the proper course to' be adopted that the former Standing Orders should be formally adopted for the present. : . ■■/■..-.. . ■ ■ Mr. Cass said that he was prepared to ■ givejiotice of a motion for the appointment of a Committee to consider the Standing .Orders. , : Mr. Hall would beg leave to submit ;. the following resolution which he thought ' wimld .hayel the effect of complying" with the pro visions.of the Constitution Act, and ; allowing them: to: proceed to business '■ at once:—" That until further provision be made, the proceedings of this Coiincil.be regulated oy the old Standing Orders." -Mr. OLi/ivier observed that that was, in fact, the course proposed to be adopted.1 ■Th'3'committee;tp be appointed would,.he . expected, not. be more than one.day in bringing up their report, when the Council would be in possession of their own 'Standing* Orders. .',. ; : , The Resolution was then put and passed and sent for confirmation to the Superintendent.

After a short interruption of business, •, Message Ko. \ from,his" Honor the Superintendent was announced, assenting to the resolution of the Council on the subject of Standing Orders.; ' PETITIOX. ' ' Mr. Thomson presented a petition from Mr. C. E. Dampier, on the subject of an. encroachment made tipon his property at Ghristchurch Quay by the highway. The petition affirmed that a committee of the former Council had been appointed for the consideration of the case, but that owing to the prorogation the report of that committee had never been concluded. . The ■prayer was that the Council would take steps for the relief of the petitioner. PRAYERS. Mr. Packer here called attention to a standing order, which provided that business should commence with prayers. The Speaker remarked that the point had not been overlooked nor neglected for want of consideration. The hbn. gentleman would remember that business had been commenced after a specially appointed ser- ! vice at the church in the morning. Mr. Hall said that he would not yield to any horn gentleman in a respect for religious observances as a preliminary to business. He might, however, be permitted to point out that when the sitting was , half way through they had adopted the Standing Orders which directed that each sitting should be ope)ied by prayer. This it was evident could only refer to future sittings. (Hear.) Business was then proceeded with; and Mr. Dampier's petition was received and read by the Clerk.

prov. secretary's statement. Mr. Ollivier then rose to take the opportunity'of stating what were the intentions of the Government with regard fo the despatch of business. The subjects which would be brought before the house .were not such as to consume time nor to give rise to discussion; and ; therefore lie could say that the Government did not expect that the labours of hbn. g-entle-Imen during this session would be either itt'dttous Or lengthened. The only bills to • beititroduccd Sy the Government were :-f-----Firist, a bill in amendment of the Canterbury Association's Ordinance, which would 'enable reserves to be made for sites of churches and other places of worship; arid ■

second, a WasteLands-Begulations Amendment BiHj which was called for by the difficultyr presented'in the interpretation of one of the clauses in the 'present Regulations relating to "Prereniptive Rights." The- Government, would ask.the/greatest., attention :: to : be -given, tq- .what was the most' important■■■'•■part: of the Council's-»duties, vizi—the public! Works department. Before the tlose'-off the sitting he would give nbtfce.'b^vJhi^'TAtehtion to move for a committee; to.'cp^ifiei; ; and report /upon the public 5 the province for the, ensuing -^yeary-;. He i hoped that that committee would; be;in; a condition to report within a •week1-after their appointment. While on- this subject he would remark how great a convenience it would be if honorable gentlemen would give early attention to the-consideration-'of this branch of their duties,, since it was necessary that the. Provincial Engineer should remain in town .pending the- sit-. ting of the committee, and .-. his ■;,presence was urgently demanded by the•;■ duties'aof his office elsewhere. He would, however, stay to afford every information and:4assistance which might be required of him. This being disposed of, he (the Provincial Secretary) would be in a position by tomorrow week to lay before the Council the estimates for the next half-year,--and at the same time to give a full- statement of the intentions of the Government with respect to finance. The state "of : the revenue was "highly satisfactory, and "he hoped the proposals of, the Government for its .appropriation would be equally so. Another bill which would be laid before the Council was- one which would authorise the transfer of the. Custom House reserve in Lyttelton, one of the Canterbury Association's reserves,, to' the General Government. This and. the other bills, might be disposed of in the, course of a weekj and then there would only remain the estimates. They would perhaps/ occupy another week; and he trusted "that 'three weeks in all would release hbn. members from further attendance. /He would now ask indulgence,,. for any. shortcomings, such as might be owing- to the late period at'which he had accepted office. He would endeavour to apply himself to the despatch of business.with alacrity, and he ioped that the same cordial support would be given 'to'himself and his colleagues which had been' always accorded to the hon. gentlemen who'had filled their seats in the .previous.Council. • Mr. Ollivier. then gave notice tlia-k on .Thursday the 28th insk-he would be prepared with a financial statement. ' Messrs. Cass,;-Thomson, and HiiLL, also gave notices of motion for the next meeting; after which the Council adjourned till the following day at o p.m.

Thursday, January 21.

The Council met this evening at five o'clock as usual. Present-—The Speaker, Messrs. Haslewood, Hall, Higgins, Sprot, Duncan, Miln, Bishop, Davis, Woodford, .Studhohn, Blakiston, Fooks, Ollivier, and Cass^ : Me. Olliviee laid on the table the following papers .— 1. Correspondence . between the Provincial Government and Mr. Fitz Gerald, relative to the loan of £30,000. 2 & 3. Correspondence relating to "White's Kaiapoi Bridge Ordinance and In wood's Mill Ordinance. . ' 4. Report by the Provincial Engineer on the state of the Public Works. o. Correspondence relating to the Grant_ for • Education.. ' ' INWOOI>*S MILL BILE. : Mb. Hall presented a petition from Mr. Daniel Inwood, praying for permission to introduce a private bill, which was read and received. . . ' . • : NEW BILLS. Me. Ollivieb rose to ask leave tcv introduce the Canterbury Association's Reserves Ordinance Amendment Bill. The object of this bill was to empower the Government to reserve three portions of the Town Reserves as sites for churches and schools of the Church of England, Church of Rome, and Wesleyans. A site had before been appropriated to the Church of Scotland. Leave given, and the bill read a first

time.' . • , "' Mb. Olliviee then moyed tlie introduction of the • Waste Lands . .Regulations Amendment Ordinance. The object of .the bill was simply to render clear the working of Borae clauses the interpretation of which had been a difficulty in the way of the Commissioners, In clause 33 lie would ;propose to omifc two.lines, whicTi^ referred to a transfer by endorsement according to £ form said £r» be ft)nnd in a schedule, wherei however, *it did nob exist In clanse 40 a provid'on wooW be introduced tn give facilities for. (Ji^ Twwcva-'" ■ tion of road live« throii^jh private "jfsaa^frf giving compedaation. lov clauae -52 throe Ua«f^ -.•. were proposed to bo j^^ •prux^^ths^;^*^^^^ pastunige licensee elioul^.^^trsnsi^iMv^'Qiieef v', of transfer must te'ipi^Mli^JbffiQM^?--In clause 66 tbs mo^mi^^^*^p»

would be made, in defining1 clearly the practice "with regard to pre-erapfire'-i'ights. Hitherto, ■when pr-e-empiive rights "were challenged, the iperson, holding ilia 4-ight \>y purchasing the smallest possible £oi*fcion of the block made the application of the intending purchaser, -and '■ thxas : delays •were thrown in a purchaser's and sometimes an application was entirely Now, however, it was proposed to alter-the wording so as to express the real -meaning' with which the Council adopted the in question, viz., that when a pre>einp3ive right was challenged, if the rightSiolder did not purchase'the whole of the block the remainder became waste; lands of . the Crown. These were all the important features - in the bill to be introduced. Leave was then given to introduce the bill; and it was read a first time. PUBLIC WOEKS COMMITTEE. Mr. Ollxvieb proceeded to move for the appointment of this committee, and obtained leave to place seven names thereupon. Mr. Hall wished to know what the duties •of the committee were; he should like them to "be specified in the resolution appointing it. He ■would suggest that the committee should be empowered to enquire into the progress of the works during the past nine months, and to investigate what, would be necessary to proceed with for the next sis months. The committee also should have before them the report of the previous session, that thus the two might be connected together. He thought the duties entrusted to the committee should be expressly ! named for their guidance. .Mr. Ollivieb agreed with the meaning of the hon. gentleman, but he thought it was so well understood what the duties of a public works <Qmmittee were that there was no need but to

TBOvefor its appointment as a matter of course. 'He,haft endeavoured to connect this committee

with the last, by placing upon it the names of - the same gentlemen as far as possible. He had • added the names of those whose local experience would be found of advantage. He would follow the,snggestion of Mr. Hall as to the terms of the resolution. '. The question was then put and carried in the following shape :—" " That a committee be appointed to enquire into the progress of the public works ordered - -during last session, as well as works which it jmay be desirable to undertake during the six months commencing on first of April next. 'The committee to consist of Messrs. Alport, ',' Dobbs, Thomson, Packer, Hall, Biakiston, and the mover; with power to call for books and persons." To report on Tuesday Feb. 2. CffliailAK OF COMMITTEES. ~Mr. Ollivieb said his next duty was to pro---jpoae to the house the name of a gentleman to ■ fill the office of- Chairman of Committees of the The dignity of this office was only se- • eond-to that of Speaker, and the duties were •arduous and involving' great responsibility. It ■was, therefore, their duty to choose a gentleman "- 6f practical experience, and one able to conduct - >cprrect.ly the proceedings in committee. He would propose tbat. the Hon. Charles Bobert - Biakiston be elected Chairman o( Committees. - Carried unanimously. Mb. Hail, then, pursuant to notice, moved for a return showing the several sums of money and the number of acres of land authorised by the Provincial Council to be expended on various public works during the year commencing April 1, 1857; and the amount of money and number of acres of land actually expended oh each; work during tbe nine months ended the 31st 1 December last; also, for a return of the sums of mofiisy and number of acres of land spent the above period upon public works for which no specific vote has been passed. .Mb. Ollivieb had no objection to tbe return moved for; it was, in fact, in course of preparation *by the Provincial Enginee-, and would have been laid before the Couhcileven if his hon. friend had hot moved for the; return; j The motion was then put and carried. Mb. Hall withdrew a motion for a return of correspondence relative to Inwood's Mill Ordinance, as. it had already been laid upon the • ■'-■■' A motion of Mr. Thomson's lapsed in his •Absence; it also called for correspondence which . Ikadaiready been laid upon the table. STAKDI2TG ORDEBB. Mb. Cass moved the appointment of a Com- - mittee on tbe Standing Orders, to consist of tbe Speaker, Messrs. Hall, Packer, Sprot, and the mover; and to report thi.s day week. Carried. NOTICES OF MOTION. For Tuesday, January 26. There being no other business before the House, Mr. Ollivieb. remarked that it was desirable that the Council at its rising should .adjourn till Tuesday next, for which day, if "the House agreed, notices of motion should be ■given. The following business was then placed on tbe paper:— Jlr. Ollivieb : To move an address in reply jto the speech of his Honor the Superintendent. . —Tbe -eecond reading of the Canterbury Asko,Ration's Amendment Bill, a»a of-the* Waste, Lands Regulations Amendment Bill. \ Mr. Hall :' For leave to introduce a Bill to '* .amend the Slaughter House Ordinance. ' ,' ~—To,'ask what person's are responsible for the [',*&£&*'6£ the Provincial Government? Also^ '' ~Upon what tenure the present advisers of hi 3 ' f^onortlie Superintendent hold their offices? . * -yl^qr ,'l'ea^e 'to "introduce Inwood's Mill Bill, "'And" tjbat 'the bill be submitted to a select comsmittee;' to consist of MesarV. Cass, Xteucan,, " a Jfijnpiis, ftuskur., and the'^novw. ,1 ! '* , xMf. Blak'ibton": To asli^tbe Government;' *' 'wh&i' Measures they- p'rop&te to take ia order

to restore the means of communication over the River Waimakariri with Kaiapoi- and the north country ? , , The Council then adjourned till five o'clock on Tuesday evening next, the 26th inrftant.