THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 626, 6 November 1858, Page 3

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4.

The Qouncil met at 5 p.m. Present —the Speaker, Messrs. Ollivier, Cass, Duncan* Fooks, ' Dobbs, Blakiston, Packer, | Rhodes, Higgins,,Templer, Bishop, Potts, White, | Ross,. Ward, Hall, Studholme, Thomson, Har- • man, Davis, Miln, and Cookson. I,: Prayers being read and the minutes of last " meeting recited, Mr. Hakman brought up the report of the Select Committee appointed to consider the petition of Mr. C. E. Dampier, which alleged that the petitioner had hot been put in possession of of land sold to him by the Canterbury Associa- ! before them the labours of previous committees on the same subject, and having taken further evidence, came to the conclusion that the road complained of a3 infringing on the petitioner's land was in fact constructed entirely within the reserve originally laid off for that road, and that accordingly no damage had been done by its formation to the property which the petitioner had purchased from the Association. " -On a motion of Mr. Ollitiek the report of the Public Works Committee -was allowed to be deferred until Tuesday nest. • KAIAPOI TOWS IMPROVEMENT. Mr. Blakistox in a speech of considerable length moved that an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent praying that he will cause to be placed on the estimates a sum of £2000 for improvements in the town of Kaiapoi. The hon. member pointed out the increasing wants of the locality, giving copious references to figures aud documents, and proceeded to show what a very small share of public funds had been spent in improvements there, and what necessity existed for some attention to the accommodation of.the public both in streets and public buildings. He went through the sums which had been laid out of late years on the town of Christchurch, contrasting forcibly with the very small grants to Kaiapoi. It seemed, he said, as. if there was a charmed circle round the latter town, within which no sums would be expended by the Government: Mr. Dobbs seconded the motion. His opinion was that the members of the Executive had never been to Kaiapoi and had therefore no knowledge of its requirements. They did not recognise the fact that that town had now a very large population, paying a very large contribution to the General Revenue in the way of customs &c.; and that in the district there were large land sales putting vast sums of money into the chest. He must say that Kaiapoi had a reasonable demand for consideration, and instead of having; their applications sneered at by other members they shouldbe met.in the same spirit as they themselves were always ready in that Council to meet the demands made by members in the neighbourhood of Christchurch for expenditure in their particular districts. The sum mentioned in the resolution might be taken exception to as too large, but it was not unreasonable wheiv compared either with the neglect which the place had ■ suffered -hitherto, or the advantages which would .accrue by its judicious expenditure. Mr. Olljvikr regretted to be .compelled to object to■ the motion, for this reason chiefly— that that was not the place to bring it t'or.wavd. There was a select committee appointed and now sitting to investigate the requirements of the province in the matter of public works. It would be the proper time, when their report was presented, to bring forward the claims of parti cuirirdistricts to special consideration, when it could be seen what amount remained for appropriation. A < sum of £500 was already on the estimates for Kaiapni, in the discussion of which item the committee might if reason was showji recommend an increase. As to the comparison of Christehurcih with Kniapoi, ho w6uld nsk-}----what were the facts? Kampoi was a town of about 300 acres, all of wjiich. had been ruril

land, brought from the state at £3 per acr6. fo behoved those who made so advantageous a purchase and sold again, so well, to do for Kaiapoi in some degree what the Government was bound to do for the towrts in which it had been the recipient of large sums at town prices-, wlfich in Christchurch -liad been lately to the amount of perhaps £106 per 'acre-. KaiapcJi had certainly made rapid strides, arid was advancing as fast as the hon. gentlemen had described; but many there like his hon. friend Dobbs) instead of claiming, anything on that accouirt> were in fact the very person? who.profitted by it; who-'with. the speculative genius thai ais--tiriguishe.d tKeni had been able to, purchase land perhaps at £5 an acre, and sell it again a year Of two. after wards at; something like £150 or £20d an acre.' lie hoped however thit in exhibiting . the short catalogue of' grants to Kaiapoi, his hop. friends tiad hot forgotten that the Government was now beginning to spend a reasonable sum there, and toshow a diposition to assist th^ inhabitants in making improvements in their own town; that also they AVould not forget that roads were being made and had been made td and from Kaiapoi, facilitating sales of land and the operations of commerce to the advantage of that town; a course which Vvould be still pursued by the Government to the extent of making and maintaining the streets in the town which formed thoroughfares for traffic, and Of spending money in any other improvements #hich would help commerce in tha|, place, irrespective Of the" rights of ownership in the land oa which thg town was" laid out.

Mr. Cass could not hear a comparison d>aw# between Christchurch and Kaiapoi without no= ticing the fact that the former must necessarily have a superior claim, both from its size its central position and the circumstances of its foundation. Of course sums should be granted to one as well as the other, but it should be nb ground of complaint that the-largest share fell to Christchurch. The mover of tlie resolution had boasted of the public works achieved byprivate enterprize at Kaiapoi; but instances of this kind were to be found also at Christchurch: the very building they were assembled in was a casein point: Tuam street was another. Then the extent and advancement of the Mandeville district had been urged to back up the claims of Kaiapoi;^but if. the grants to that district were brought into comparison it would be found td have had more attention than almost any other; compared with Christchurch district, it had the certainly hadthe best of it; so much-so that it was likely thatother districts would begin cry out; He would object to this motion, however, chiefly on the principle of not forestalling the report:of the (somrnittee on Public Works, by shoving iit a vote here, and^a vote there, overthrowing all their calculations. -

Mr. Blakiston preferred under the circurrif stances to withdraw the motion; he had urged it now because as chairman of committees he would not have the opportunity of speaking to the vote in supply. As to the argument about l the- property in Kaiapoi town being vested in Lprivate-individualsv-th'at had. nothing to do -with [ inhabitants, when the town was recognisedas such in the most formal manner.

The motion was accordingly withdrawn. SHEEP BILL.

: Sir. Hall moved the second reading of thi3 bill, and went through its provisions. The first was one which remained unaltered from the fpi*mer ordinance, compelling all sheep to be branded and the brands to be registered. Another imposed, as before, a fine on scabby sheep; and Justices of the Peace could order infected sheep to be herded and yarded; a provision which had been found most useful. Then a heavy penaltywas laid on the importation of diseased sheep by land; and an alteration in the law was introduced, to the effect that the importer must make & declaration that his sheep had not been mixed with an infected flock for a ceitiin time" previous to importation. As to sheep arriving by sea, it was proposed not to permit sheep if not clean to be landed at all. Ano-* ther provision was made that even if sheep had been declared clean they must be dipped before being driven into the province. This precaution, he thought, was ~ nothing more than necessary, coming, as most sheep did, from a" notoriously scabby district. Next came the penalty on driving diseased sheep; and a useful clause was added rendering it obligatory to recover strayed sheep, giving notice to the holder of the run on which the sheep were found. The next clause, as before, gave the Superiatendent powef to appoint an inspector of sheep; and a penalty was imposed on the offence of giving a false certificate; a useful power was added, to enable the inspector to issue summonses without going to a Magistrate for. them. On this s ibject he would take leave to draw .the attan i>n of the Government to the existing state of things. The Inspector had tendered his resignation so long ago as the Ist September; and waspf course anxious to be 1 e'ieved of the duties as rauchaa the sheepfarmefs .were to have tie office properly filled up; but no appointment .had yet, been made. Even under ordinary circumstances this would be a moat unpleasant state o." things, but it was particularly so just r-o.v when scab was prevalent in the province, and only the other day intelligence had. been received which he could call nothing less than disastrous. He begged that this ssate of uncertainty might be put an end to: and that no reasons of tlxe red tape or circumlocution order would be offered for the delay in filling np the appointment effectively; but some real practical reasons which showed that there h.°M been a difficulty which could mt be got over. The Provincial Secretary* had said that the delay was caused by the fact that new regulations were being prepared; but he could not see in this alone a sufficient reason, lie hoped to hl iar shortly that steps were boma1 taken, fVr it was of no use making even the- best possible l\vr unless they were in a position to carry it oit out.

. Mr. Olliyier. rerouted the motion for the second reading of the bill. He would, however, certainly not procccdlo answer the lion..gentleman's question—a question which had been put in a most irregular way, in the middle of a ii|K!ecU on the principle of the bill before them. If notice were givei!, a proper answer would Ik* pro* pared, , Tho bill w;u then rmid a second time.

„ lIAGLEY PARK. Mr. Harman moved an address to his Hon< requesting a sum of .£2OO for the purpose i enclosing and planting a portion of Hagle park. Considering that one of the special an most objectionable features, of the country ws want of timber, such a proposition as the presei was well deserving notke. A beginning ha been made by private individuals, but sue efforts required the protection of the public; an he hoped that the Government would see th propriety of taking measures to assist. ' Their were several ways'in which the proposal.coul be cheaply and effectually carried out. It wa time that Hagley park should be redeemed froii the state of neglect which made it an eye-sor instead of a beauty to the town. Mr. Qllivier begged that the motion migh •be withdrawn for the reasons he hai stated when the vote for Kaiapoi •wa before them. He thought besides, if any thing were done at "all,, it' wonld be neces sary to go further than the hon. gentleman hac proposed, and not only plant the trees anc shrubs, but preserve them by placing then: under some person's superintendence. Wher ■the estimates had been g^ne through, if there was a sum to spare, lie would take this as being amongst the desirable item?. Mr. Ross thought it would be better to take votes of this kind into consideration, and send them before the committee, as without some such process that body would never have a chance of considering'them. This would avoid the scramble which would otherwise take place if there was a sum to spare after the labours of the committee were ended. Mr. Harjiax pressed histnotion, and the question was put and carried. CAATERBUKY ASSOCIATIONS ESTATE. Mr. Hahmas moved for a return showing the amount of debentures already paid off, and the -sum available from the proceeds of the estate -tor discharging a further amount of the principal debt during the coming year. It was not *only desirable for the province to know exactly nvhat position this estate stood in, but the information was also required for the sake of debenture holders at home. Mr. Ollivier said he could lay on the table a -manuscript copy of the return, though not ex.£4,9/9 10s. 7d. had been paid off on the capital account, prior to the 30th.September last; but the Council would probably like to see an account of the whole remaining liabilities and of the proceeds accruing from the estate from year to year. This should be: prepared, laid before the Council, and printed. The motion was put and carried. ... * AYOX NAVIGATION, Mr. Haemax asked what steps the Government, proposed to take to improve the navigation of this river: A great deal had been said about this -work but nothing done. Jk&SZ'* I?** believed that a report on the : subject had been sent in to the Government from the Public Works Office. It had not vet how--be Jaid m tne first instance before the Executive Council. He thought he could promise that it would be presented to the Provincial Council on , -iuesday next. UPPER nEATHCOTE. Mr. Habmax asked if the attention of the Government had been called to the state of the -Heathcote river from Ashby's mill upwards The result of the formation of a dam at this mill had been to cause an accumulation of water -above so as-to -inflict no slight damage upon property The mill in question had be'enS 7nnnS }l& autho u rhy of a" ordinance of the Council; H was therefore open to anyone in.jured to-take vhat steps he chose to obtain redress; but lt would be better for the Gov- ern--I\t l°interfere tha" any private individual ««?♦ W It IT. IEB' sai d the*ttentiou of the Gov-ern-SfndJf bC? n df awn tO the circumstance alluded to^and as the Provincial Engineer would : be engaged presently in that direction he would : Je instructed-to report upon the case It was Sused er the S-th?S ■^^St^^CSuS^ or iiie mer by watercress and weeds The CHHISTCHtTRCH CATHEDEAU fmSSBB COMMITTEE OK SOPPI.Y.'