PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 35, 20 October 1864, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, 11th October. His Honor the Superintendent having delivered his opening address, as noticed in our last issue, the sitting was opened as usual yvith prayer. Tho Speaker—The Superintendent has forwarded to mc several yvrits, yvith declarations of the return of the following gentlemen as mombors of this House : —Henry Clarke, Esq., for Tokomahiro, in the place of John Hardy, Esq. ; William John, Dyer, Esq., for Tokomairiro, in the place of John L. Gillies, Esq. ; Frederick Walker, Esq., of Green Island and Dunedin, for the Lindis district, in tho place of Thomas Frederick Walker, Esq. ; James William Thompson, Esq., of South Clutha, for the Clutha district, in the place of D. P. Steele, Esq. , . • Mr Walker yvas introduced, and took a seat on the Ministerial side Several new Bills yvere introduced, read a first time, and ordered to be printed. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr Blair —At the next sitting, to move that leave of absence be gianted to Mr Lloyd during the present session. Mr Yogel—At the next sitting, to move that leave of absence for a week be granted to Mr Murison. Mr Macandrew—On Thursday, to ask the Secretary of Public Works what steps are proposed to be taken with respect to the erection of a ship-lift at Port Chalmers. Mr Dick—On Thursday, to move that a return be laid on the table of the reserves made for a line of railyvay betyveen Dunedin and the Clutha. Mr Mackenzie—At the next sitting, to move a reply to the Address of his Honor the Supei intendent. Mr Adam—At the next sitting, to move the appointment of the followiug gentlemen as a House Committee : Messrs Reynolds, Burns, Birch, Walker, and the mover. Wednesday, October. 12. The Speaker took the Chair at tyvo o'clock. Messrs Dyer, Clark, and Thomson took their seats. Some correspoadence relating to Immigration was laid on the table. The Otago Provincial Representation Ordinanco, and the Port Chalmers Town Board Bill were read a fiist time, and the second reading made orders of the day for Friday.

Leave of absence was granted to Mr Lloyd for the remainder of the session. The reply to the address yvas moved by Mr Mackenzie and after a slight discussion yvas agreed to. A House Committeo yvas appointed. Seveial notices of motion yvere given. The Bush Files Bill yvas read a second time and passed through Committeo, The third reading yvas made an order of the day for the next sitting of tiie Council. After some discussion the Medical Practitioners Bill was read a second time and passed through Committee. The Lower Taieri Bridge and Waihola Gorge Toll Ordinance was, after considei able discussion, read a second time and committed. In Committee, on the motion of Mr Dick, the confederation of the Bill yvas postponed for a yyeek. CATTLE BILL. The Secretary for Public Works moved the second reading of a Bill to Regulate the Branding, Driving, and Slaughtering of Cattle in the Pi ovince of Otago. He said that most honorable members were pretty yvell acquainted with the objects of the Bill. It was pomeyvhat freely discussed during the last session, and it was then undei stood that it should be introduced as early as possible this session, yvith the clauses relating to pleuropneumonia expunged. This had been done, and there had been no important additions made. The Bill was, in fact, exactly yvhat it yvas defined to be in the title. The Piovincial Tieasurer seconded the motion, yvhich was agreed to ; and the Bdl yvas lead a second time acd committed, In Committee, clauses 1 and 2 yvere agreed to as read. On clause 3, the catch wouls of yvhich are "Superintendent to appoint districts," Major Riehaidson asked what was tho exact meaning of the yvoids "outers in Council." Ho lcnoyv it yvas an Impeiial term, used m matters respecting foieigu natious, but did it here mean only " Executive minutes V" He rather thought the Supeunfcendeut yvas the E\ecu tivo of the Council, and he would .suggebt some alteiation of the phiase. Mr J. Caigill said the clause should be reserved for considei ation. He thought yvhat was meant yvas— "orders issued by the Superintendent." The clause was passed over. On clause 4, "Superintendent to appoint Inspectors, Registiais, and Deputies," Mr Mansford and Mr Reid yvere understood to object that the clause would not be yvorkable. Major Richardson defended the clause, which yvas a s ieed to as read. The clauses up to 7 yvere agreed to as lead. On that elnuse, Major Riehaidson said that catfclo so often changed hands, and brands yvere so numerous, that he did not see hoyv the oyvner, at the time fixed, could supply to the registrar "the number of cattle belonging to hira depasturing within such distiict, and the brands thereon." On clause 12, "Within nine months of publication of notice, all unbranded cattle above six months old to be branded." Mr Reid objected to cattle in paddocks being included. If the owners took the l isk of the cattle breaking out, that should be sufficient. Biandiug might cause tiie death of cattle ; oi the breaking of the horn of a valuable beast might gieatly ieduce its value The Secretary for Public Woiks consnnted to the tempoiary withdrawal of the clause yvith a view to amendment. Clause 15, "Return of cattle to- be made in September of each year," was agieed to. Clause 16, "Registrai liable to fine for taking fees," &c. Major Richardson thought it yvas not enough that an officer taking a babe " shall be incapable of afterwaids holding or continuing in any office or employment under this Ordinance;" and The Secietaiy of Public Works consented to substitute " the Piovincial Government of Otago" for "this Ordinance." The clause as amended yvas agreed to : as was also 17, "Registiar to tiansnnt copies of entries monthly." Ou clause 18, "Assessment on Cattle," Mr Biodie suggested that the clause should be yvithdiayvn. Mr E. B Caigill objected. Mr J. Cargill thought the assessment should be general. What yvas asked yva3 that the oyvneis of cattle vi paddocks should not contribute to a late which would benefit, them as yvell ah l unholders. Mr Brodie would, to test the question, move "That the consideration of the clause be postponed for the present " This yvas carried. On the motion of tho Secretazy for Public Works, the Chairman reported progress, and asked and obtained leave to sit again. Thursday, October 13. Mr Moss presented a petition from S. Saunders, late master of the schooner Piydo, asking for compensation for the loss of the vessel yvhile in the Beivice of the Govei nment. The petition was received and read. The Speaker laid on the table the opinions of Mr Seyvell and another bairistei yvith respect to the poweis of the Piovincial Council on certain specified points. In reply to a question by Mr Macandiow, the Secretary for Public Woiks said that the Government yvere not prepaied to place on the Estimates n sum of money for the construction of a ship-lift at Poit Chalmers. In reply to Mr Birch the Secretary for Public Works said the Government had made airaugements yvith Mr Cairns for the completion of Rattiay-stieefc jetty. A message fiom the Superintendent informing the Council,that he had yvithdiayvn fiom side all unsurveyed lands in the Province, pending the decision of the Council m regard to them, yvas refeired back to the Government for correction. On the motion of Mr Dick, it yvas agieed to lay on the table a leturn of tho land reserved foi tho construction of a railway between Dunedin and Clutha The Provincial Secretin y laid on the table several papers. Mr John Caigill laid on the table Bills for the division of seveial roads, yvhich yvere each lead a riist tune, and ordered to be printed ; and the second leadings weie made orders of the day for the next sitting of the Council. The Bush Fires Bill yvas read a third time and passed. The House yvent into Committee ou the Cattle BUI. Considerable opposition yv.is manifested to the passing of the 13th Clause, yvhich, after some discussion, was amended and agreed to. The Assessment Clause, No. 18, was strongly opposed. After ameuilment it was withdrawn for submission to the Piovincial Solicitor. Clauses 21 and 23 were reserved forfuithei discussion Tiie remaining clauses and tiie pieamMe pissed Tho Provincial Socrotnry moved the seoond reading of the Dunedin Incoiporation Bill. Mr Reynolds moved that the considei ation of the Bill be adjourned foi a yveek. Aftei tome discussion the amendment was witluhawn. Mi Dick moved that the Bill be leferred to a Select Committee. The amendment was negatived. After further discussion, The Piovincial Treasurer moved, and the Provincial Secretary seconded tho adjournment of the debate to Tuesday next, which yvas agreed to. Friday, October 14th. Several notices of motion wore given. Mi Moss asked if it yvere the intention of the Government to re-open the poits for the importation of cattle from the other colonies. Mr Adam said that the Government yvere not prepared to re-open the ports. The Ferries Bill yvas read a fiist time. The Medical Practitioners Bill yvas read a third time and passed. Consideiation of the Cattle Bill, and Dunedin Town Board Dissolution Bill, yvas postponed. The Seciotary foi Public Woiks moved the secoi.d reading of the Dunedin Seweiago Bill. It had been lesolved by the Government to initiate the drainage yvorks. Mr Reynolds objected that the poyver of foiming the seyverage works, and the entire management, should be vested m the City Council. Mi Vogel suggested that the Bill should be referred to a Select Comittoe. After some discussion the Bill was read a second time; after which Mr John Cargill moved that it be referred to a Select Committee, which was agreed to, and the further consideration of the Bill postponed. The Provincial Secretary moved the second i eading of the Bill for providing additional electoral districts, yvhich yvas ordered to be committed on Monday, The Port Chalmers Town Board Bill was read a second time. The Roads Lands Bill yvas read a second tune. The House adjourned at a quarter-past-niue o'clock, until Monday.

Mr Michael Haggerty appealed to a summons issued by the SouthwarksPolice Court, on the application of Apaiehaino Rungatara and five other Neyv Zealand chiefs, to show cause why he detained then' pait of an agreement enteied into betyveen them at Melbourne, and signed by all the paities; the Maoiis requiting it for the purpose of sueing the defendant in a court of layv for deseiting them and neglecting to supply them with necessary food and money. Attei hearing the evidence, Mr Woolrych t>aid he could only order the agreement to be given up on the payment of the solicitor's costs, amounting to £2 7s He should, however, adjourn the summons until July 29, to enable the applicants to obtain the money. It yvas stated that no doubt tho Aborigine* Protection Society yvould pay the money.

We learn from the Ar_;u3 that the question of the defences is again occupying the attention of the Victorian Government, and that marine yvorks on a small scale are being proceeded with, pending the arrival of the long looked-for floating battery fi om England. The visit of Commodore Sir William Wiseman no doubt has had a great deal to do yvith this. Ho fully appiovi s of the yvhole scheme of defence proposed, as also the building of rafts, each to carry a 68-pouncler (95-cwt. gun), and the immediate equipment of a naval training and block ship, in oider that the boys may at once be got togethei. and commence their education These youths are to be transfened to the othei ship on her arrival from England. The vessel intended as a training ship is also being equipped as an arm of defence, hi the form of a five-gun battery, and will be mooied at the White Buoy in the bay.

"It seems," says the 'Star,' " that theie is no lawn in the Horticultural Gardens set apart for cioquet. The story goes that a deputation of young ladies yvaited upon Mr Colo and begged hard for a eioquet-ground, but Mr Cole told them that the eardens were intended for the advancement of hoiticultuie, not of husbandly."