The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, December 24, 1859.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 744, 24 December 1859, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, December 24, 1859.

The Session of the Provincial Council which- closed last night commenced so long* ago as the end of September, thus extending over the unusual time of three full months. During this time a good deal has been done, not only in the way of actual enactments perfected, but also in the consideration of various questions on which no ordinance' has been necessary, and in the adjustment, of the political machinery.

The ordinances passed number no fewer than fifteen, besides the formal adoption of the Land Regulations, which are really the legislation of previous sessions. The new Ordinances are—Loan Amendment, Diversion of Roads, Cathedral Square Amendment, Church Property Trust Amendment (private), Peacock's Jetty Extension (private), Lunatic Asylum and Gravel pit Reserve, Race Course Lease, Public Hospital, Ship Building Reserve,: Cattle Trespass Amendment, Sheep Ordinance Amendment, Municipal Councils, Railway, Loan, and Appropriation Ordinances. Of this list, those which excited the largest share of comment were the Race Course and Public Hospital bills, and the four last named. The Race Course and Public Hospital bills were the scape-goats on which was 'poured a large portion of the wrath of the Opposition. They involved the question of public reserves and the mode in which reserves ought to be dealt with. In connection with the Hospital bill, one for setting apart a mill site in Hagley Park was introduced but afterwards abandoned. The two hills were strongly j opposed by those who disliked the idea of any encroachment being made on the reserves for public recreation; the intention of the measures being to enable two portions of Hagley Park to be resumed by the Government, one for the site of a general hospital, the other to be leased for milling purposes. The latter was withdrawn, and the former passed—on the ground, no doubt, of the importance of the object for which it was intended. It would be difficult to say what was the princi- J pie involved in the Race Course bill, unless j it was the recognition of a'semi-public body as one to be entrusted with' the execution of the objects of a public reserve. The Municipal Councils hill confers upon towns and: populated districts the power of controlling the expenditure .of public money for local purposes, by means of an elected board. Additional powers are given to the inhabitants to rate themselves for the execution of purely local works, ,and to organise a system of drainage and j sanatory measures generally. This bill was opposed by those who denied its necessity, doubted its applicability to the circumstances of the colony, or dreaded taxation. It passed at last after a narrow escape of rejection in a thin house at the third reading". The Railway and Loan Bills are so well known to our readers that we need not recapitulate their provisions. Suffice it to say that by the adoption of these measures the province has put itself in. a position to deal with the great work which in the course of a few years will connect the towns of Lyttelton and Christchurch. The Appropriation Ordinance, though in the shape of a bill unopposed, contains in itself the result of many nights' hot debating within the walls of the chamber. The fact of a deficit in the chest at the close of the financial year prejudiced the Government very much in the eyes of members who had always been accustomed to deal with a surplus; while the. fact that the large expenditure of the year (about £60,000) on public works had trespassed considerably over the boundaries laid done by the Council in the estimates adopted a twelvemonth previously, sufficed to raise the cry of recklessness and contempt of the house against the Executive. Putting the two facts together, it was open to the opposition to say that had the Government obeyed the instructions of the Council implicitly, no deficiency would have resulted; and that, therefore, the financial difficulties of the province were chargeable upon the Government. Following this reasoning, though the Council did not refuse to indemnify personally the members of the Executive for the expenditure incurred without authority, several members attempted to couple with the indemnity a severe censure. The Government explanation was simply that the falling off of the revenue was sudden, and quite beyond their control; it arose from causes of which no one foresaw the result at the time. Up to the time of that crisis the revenue had been flourishing beyond all expectation ; and opportunity for economically expending the funds in the construction of public works had been afforded to a remarkable extent in the favourable weather of the winter, and the abundance of labour. The Government had undertaken no work concerning which they were not ready to abide by the decision of the Council as to its necessity and utility, and they challenged investigation as to the manner in which all these works had been carried put. In so doing they were acting in accordance with custom and common sense, both of which abundantly testified that latitude must of necessity he allowed to the Executive if the public works of the province were to be performed in the best manner. This explanation %as generally deemed sufficient, and the hostile motion was riot carried. Before the discussion had become one of party, however, a

demand for accounts of tho current month's expenditure had been made by the Council,: probably on the part of some members out 6T curiosity, without understanding that serious difficulties existed in complying with the: request. On the defeat of the vote of direct; censure, the previous motion was pressed, and the Government stated tpiat it could not. be complied with, not1 only;;becaus||^; was difficult of preparation, ])ut;;-&bausa^^feheir opinion it would be unwise to produce'it: it would be both useless and dangerous. Rather, than produce it, and at the same time to avoid compromising the Council by allowing its resolutions to be disregarded, they resigned. A new Executive was appointed, which advised getting rid of the financial deficit by creating it a permanent lien on the revenue of the province—in fact, funding it. This step the Superintendent declined to take, declaring it to be so contrary to his views of a sound policy that, its adoption, would necessitate his retirement from office. The Executive did not desire to press matters to this point, and, before doing any business in the Council, vacat ed their seats. The members of the former Executive resumed office, without change,; except in the annexation of one of the members of the opposition to their ranks for the purpose of carrying on the business of the country. This lias been done, though the chief paid office under Government —that of Provincial Secretary: —has not yet been filled up. Since the period of these troubles their cause has been gradually removed, by the regular recovery of the land revenue to something like its original dimensions, with every prospect of further increase. It should be mentioned also that ho necessity whatever existed for adopting ■ the ' loan' policy, as the Union Bank has expressed itself perfectly satisfied to allow the overdraft without demanding additional security. Of the other business of the session it will be sufficient to say that the Diversion of Roads Ordinance provides for carrying Public Roads through private lands, compensation being made to the owner by valuation, in a specified manner. The Cattle Trespass Amendment Ordinance provides that an occupier of land who within six months has not taken the trouble to fence in his cultivations cannot recover from trespassing cattle more than very small, almost nominal, damages. The Sheep Ordinance Amendment Ordinance provides, as its main feature, that for the future fines inflicted in cases of sheep infected with scab may be'levied on the sheep themselves j but to protect the interests of capitalists having a lien oh the flock, the power is left .to mortgagees to foreclose, within twelve months after the passing of the ordinance. .