AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 794, 23 November 1853, Page 3

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thwesday, November 17, 1853. The Speaker took the chair at three o’clock. On the Minutes of the last Meeting being read, Mr. J. O’Neill called attention to the wording of his notice of motion respecting the Petition against the New Zealand Company’s claim which he said was not in accordance with the notice he had given. This remark having reference, however, to the Minutes of a previous day, and not to those of the last Meeting, the Minutes before the Council then were confirmed. Communications prom Superintendent. The Speaker laid on the table three Minutes from His Honor the Superintendent, which were severally read: 1. Forwarding a list of Scoria Reserves for roadmaking in this district. 2. Transmitting copy of Co'oniai Secretary’s letter respecting the debt claimed by the New Zealand Company. 3. Reporting having called for specifications preparatory to the repair of roads, streets, &c. Petitions. Mr. J. O’Neill presented the following letter which was read : To the Members of the Provincial Council of the Province of Auckland. Gentlemen, —As one of the reporters of the proceedings of your hon. House, I beg to draw your attention to the arbitrary impediments placed in my way by the Acting Clerk of Council, who has repeatedly and peremptorily refused to furnish me with, or to permit me to take copies of petitions, reports, notices of motion, or any other documents brought before your hon. House, for public information, until such a procrastinated time as entirely ta preclude their appearance, in the immediate and proper course of publication, in the Southern Cross, which I represent. A very different course appears to me to be followed towards the New Zealander, —the latter journal, it would seem, having complete access to the original documents—or being furnished copies of them—on the very same day of your sitting, which enables that journal to insert them or extracts from them, on the following morning of publication,—while the same facilities are peremptorily denied to me. I have no favour to request at the hands of the Acting Clerk of Council. I only pray that your hon. House will he pleased to instruct that Officer to place the reporters of f the public press, for both journals, upon a fair and impartial footing. 1 hope I may be permitted to refer, on this subject, to the ceurse followed by the late Municipal Council of Auckland. From the clerk of that Council the journal first in priority of publication, was the first to obtain reports and other documents brought before it, the only object being the earliest possible dissemination of public intelligence. Trusting that your hon. House will excuse the liberty I have taken in citing this precedent, and that you will be pleased to investigate the correctness of this my complaint, I beg to subscribe myself* Gentlemen, Your obedient, humble servant, S. E. Hughes.

The Acting CI--i k observed that this letter did not come before the Council in the form of a Petition, but as a complaint. , Tim Speaker said that the form in which it came sh« uld not prevent the Council from giving it proper consideration. He was mre there was no desire to keep .back any information relating io die subject. Mr. VVilliaimpn proposed that the letter he referred to die St nditu Orders Committee. Mr. Dilwonh thought the Council might decide at I °nce whether the Clerk .should give out of his pt sj session original papers belonging to the Council. Ihe Speaker said that although he supposed the Clerk of Council could immediately explain the matter, yet he thought it would be the more proper course to give some notice of motion on the subject. Nonets of Motion. Mr. J. O’Neill gave notice that it) consequence of Lis notice of motion relative to the New Zealand Company having been put on the pap. r differently from the way in which he had given it, he would on Tuesday next, move that the Petition b» adopted. Mr. A. O’Neill, to move, on Tuesday— That the Superintendent berequested to solicit, as a favour, Colonel Bolton, R.E„ Colonel Baddeley, R.E., and the Sur-veyor-General, to examine the Candidates for the office of Clerk of Works, that a competent person may be chosen to fill that situation. Mr. Busby, to move, on Tuesday next— That His Honor the Superintendent be requested to ascertain and communicate to this Council whether any, and if any, what officers or servants of the Government are at this time employed on the roads or other public works ; and if so, what are the salaries or remuneration of such officers or servants. Also, whether any, and if any, what amount of expenditure has been made on the r >ads or other public works, during the last twelve months, with particulars of such expenditure to the latest date at which the accounts have been made up. IYIr. Onvrmn ffnvfl nnlina Ilia! nn 'FI..»-.^.1.... I. - Mr. Derroiu gave notice that, on Thursday next, he would move For leave to bring In a Building Act. Mr. Newman gave notice that, on Wednesday next, he would move That His Honor the Superintendent berequested to obtain from the Colonial Secretary and lay before this Council a Return of all Free Grants of land in the Province. The name of grantee, the situation and extent of the land, the purpose for which it was granted, and date of grant. Excepting from the Returns .Land granted in exchange for the land surrendered by the old land claimants. Mr. Lewis, to move, on Tuesday next — That the following Members be a Committee to enquire into and report upon Mr. Hughes’s complaint against the Acting Clerk or Council—viz., Messrs. Williamson, Powditch, J. O’Neill, Busby, Newman, and Lewis. Orders of the Day. Petition against the Nf.w Zealand Company’s Claim. Mr. J. O’Neill asked leave to postpone his mo ion on this subject, as he had given notice to move the adoption of the Petition on Thursday.

Mr. Williamson moved ihat the Council do proceed to the consideration of tbe Petition in accordance with the notice on tbe paper, and that for this purpose tbe Council go into Committee, Mr. Powditcb in tbe Chair. Mr. Derrom seconded tbe motion, which was carried. The Petiti n was then read and considered, clause by clause, and finally agreed to with amendments. The Speaker having resumed the Chair, Mr Powd tch brought up the atm hied Petition which was then adopted by the Council. It was ordered to be engiossed, and copies transmitted to the Houses of Lords and Commons by the first vessel. Interpretation Bill. On tbe motion of Mr, Gilfillan, this Bill was read a third time and passed. The Speaker deputed Messrs. Gilfillan, Dignan, Boylan, Mitchell, and Clarke to lay the Bill before His Honour the Superintendent for approval. Doc Nuisance Bill. On the motion of Mr. Gilfillan, this Bill was read a first time. Returns of Land Claims. Mr. Gilfillan moved according to notice that His Honour the Superintendent he requested to obtain from the Cob nia! Secretary certain printed Returns of the Original Land Claims. Agreed to. Road Petitions. On a motion of Mr. Newman it was agreed that all Petitions having reference to Rural Roads be referred to the Rural Road Committee. The Council then adjourned. Tuesday, November 23. [ln consequence of the demands on our space occasioned by the ariivals yesteiday, we are obliged to dismiss the proceedings of yesterday’s Council with a very brief notice for the present. The sitting, which was unusually protracted, was chiefly devoted to a consideration, in Committee of the whole House, of the Reports of the Provincial Officers Committee. A great number of alterations were suggested, and very varied opinions were offered on the questions raised by the several paragraphs. Ultimately the Report (with the exertions of two paragraphs deferred for future reoonsid ration) was agreed to w th the following alterations, viz., the Salaries recommended by the Report: —U e third Clerk in the Superintendent’s Office, to have .£IBO per annum instead of 1 ‘2Ol. Tbe Speaker 2dC I, instead of 2001:—and lb Gaohrto 2001. Plans and specifications, which had been received by the Superintendent from Mr. Vaile were sent in, estimating the cost of a main sewer in Queen-street at aboui 10,0b01. — A Petition was presented from inhabitants of the North Shore, praying that the Ferry about to be established should call at Stoke’s Point, and not at the plac- recommended in the Report of the Northern Roads Committee.]