AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 799, 10 December 1853, Page 3

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, December 6, 1853. Ihe Council met at 3 o’clock. The Speaker in the Chair. Minutes of last meeting read and confirmed. Gaol Department. The Speaker read a further communication from the Superintendent respecting the Estimates for this Department, in which it was recommended that 65., instead of os., per diem should be voted for the Turnkeys. Deeds Bill. The Speaker also read a communication from His Honour, enclosing a draft of a Bill intended to amend certain defects in the existing Conveyancing Ordinance. The Speaker requested Mr. Connell to take charge of the Bill. Petitions. Mr. Boylan presented the following two petitions, which were received and read. North Shore Ferry. To the Honourable the Provincial Council of Auckland. We, the undersigned landowners and residents of the North Shore of the Wailemata, understanding that a Ferry is about to be established between Auckland and the North Shore, trust that a boon so long desired may be granted with due consideration, so as to confer the greatest advantage on the greatest number. To enable your honourable bouse the better to understand how our wishes on this head may be carried out, we beg to state, from our personal experience, that we consider, with regard to the point of embarkation, that a preference should be given to Onewa, or Stokes Point, the South Point of Shoal Bay, rather than to the terminus of the load adjoining Patrick Heath's land ; but to the latter place rather than to any point of land on the North, or Flag Staff Hill side of Shoal Bay. • The reason for this our opinion is, that at Stokes’ Point passengers can at any time of tide embark and disembark without difficulty, which is not the case at Patrick Heath’s, :nd the road to either of these is equally short and good; whereas the road to any part of the Flag-Staff Hill side is eight or nine miles round. Your petitioners further pray that the lowest tender may be accepted, and any surplus money voted by your honourable house at once expended on bridges on the North Hoad. Your petitioners would observe, that it would be more for the public good if the starting point of the ferry be from Government Reserve Land, than from the land of any individual, as more people would in that case be induced to tender for it. Under any circumstances, however, your petitioners trust that before any point be determined on, some scientific and disinterested persons may be consulted on the subject, before a select Committee of your Honourable House, formed of members who own no land on the North Shore, or else before all the Members of the Council. It is moreover hoped that the person whose tei der for passengers be accepted, will be bound, at any time of tide, or on any day other than the public ferry days, to convey passengers at a reasonable rate. Construction of Bridges. To the Honourable the Members of the Provincial Council of Auckland in Council assembled. The Petition of the undersigned sheweth that he is much interested in the establishment of a line of road between the North Shore of the Waitemata and the Bay of Islands. That your Petitioner is well aware that it would be of the greatest importance to the public in general, to have such a road at once opened --that it would enable the Government to dispose of much valuable agricultural land—that it would be the means of bringing numbers of valuable cattle to Auckland, and thereby would be the cause of reducing the very high price of meat in the markets. To enable your honourable house the more readily to open the said road at the smallest cost, your petitioner would beg to propose the following plan, viz. —that men holding bush licenses, or others, should at once be invited to send in tenders for building bridges over the different creeks in their immediate neighbourhood. Should this plan be considered good, your petitioner, having all the means of labour, bullocks, and drays at his immediate command, would undertake, either for a moderate remunerative cash payment, for bills, or for a grant of land in his neighbourhood, to build, and at a small annual cost keep in repair, a line of bridges between the North Shore of the Waitemata and Mahaurangi. That your petitioner doubts not that the same plan could be carried out in the Matakana, Wangarie, and other districts on the North Road. Your petitioner would add, that he is well acquainted with the line of road, knows all the best crossing places at the different creeks, and that he has already built one bridge in his neighbourhood, and he would build bridges of the same kind, or make any alteration in them that the Government agent or surveyor might approve of. (Signed) Mauiuck Kei.ly. Postal Communication with the Interior. Mr. Ncwimn presented ihe following letter, which was read: To the Members of the Provincial Council. CzmEMBX, —In reference to the proposed postal arrangements for the Waipa District, we beg to state that, after mature consideration, we are of opinion that the best arrangement would be to station a Native with a small canoe at Waikato Heads, where he would receive the letters for the Waikato and Waipa Distr'cts from the Kawhia and Taranaki postman. This arrangement would greatly benefit the settlers on the Waikato, Maungahawairi, Waipi, and Horotiu Rivers, as well as the Settlers at Rangiawhiaand Olawhou. (Signed) John Morgan, and others. Otahuhu Road. Mr. Williamson presented the following memorial, which was received and read : To the Honorable the Provincial Council of Auckland, in session assembled.— The Memorial of the undermentioned land owners and inhabitants of the Village of Otahuhu, respectfully sheweth. That in consequence of the present line of the great South Road not being carried through the village of Otahuhu, but merely touching on the South angle of Section No. 4; and the land between it and the village, being in progress of fencing for cultivation — Your memorialists anticipate, that within a very short period all egrass for carts from the village—except at the junction of the road, will be closed, and, by the constant traffic, this only outlet will soon be rendered impassable. Your memorialists respectfully suggest, that this great disadvantage to the settlement can be remedied >y rendering passable the reserved Road, connecting the Portage Itoad with the front street, at the North West angle of the village, a distance of about 16 chains, which they respectfully submit for the favourable consideration of your honorable Council, And your Memorialists will ever pray. (Signed) W.m. Stasilky, and 40 others. Mount Albert Road. Mr. Hill presented the following petition, which was received and read : To . the Honourable the Provincial Council of the Province of Auckland, in Council Assembled. The Petition of the undersigned, Settlers in the Parish of Titirangi, humbly sheweth that in adopting the Report of the Northern Road Committee, your Petitioners are (since the last Crown Land Sale.) entirely shut out of any means of communication with Auckland by Cart, although within three or four miles of it, as the Report recommends the formation of the Road from the cemetery by Cabbage-tree Swamp, to the junction with the Itarangahapc Road; thus leaving about half a mile of Road from such junction to the Bridge over the Creek on the Mount Albert Road —impassable: and the road at present in use Is now private property. Your Petitioners, therefore, without in any degree objecting to the proposed line of Road, would humbly beg of your honourable House to include in the Report, the making of the said short distance of Hoad, which could be constructed at a very moderate sum. Sheep Bill. Mr. Dilworlh laid on the Table a Bill for the prevention of Disease in Sheep. Notices of Motion. Mr. Powditch gave notice to move That a Resolution be agreed to, that His Excellency the Governor be requested to bring in a Bill before the General Assembly, to authorise the charge of Pilotage for the Manukau Harbour, similar in amount to the charge of Pilotage for Auckland Harbour, making it imperative on all vessels coming or going foreign, to pay the Pilotage, providing the Pilot offers at proper time and place, viz.For outside of the Banks, to any anchorage within the Harbour, for the purpose of entry or loading full Pilotage. From within Paratutai, or the outer banks, to any inside anchorage, for the purpose of entry or loading—or from any one inside anchorage to another, not being for the purpose of first entrance or final sailing,—half Pilotage. Mr. Connell gave notice that he would more the first reading of the Deeds Bill on TV ediiesduy. Reports of Committees. Mr. Williamson brought up the following Report from the Rural Roads Committee : The Rural Roads Committee have had under consideration various papers referred to them by the Council, and with reaped to the same have the honour to report:—

| I.—Mr. Ormsjjy's Reports and Tracings. 1 The Committee consider that tenders ought not to be invited . on these reports, bat that they should be forwarded to the i Provincial Surveyor, as likely to afford information to that officer, which may facilitate his preparation of proper plans and specifications for the contracts. 2.—Onehunga Road. That as no definite statement of Lite difference of cost in forming the separate lines of Road from Beattie’s Corner to the Beach, has yet been furnish*d, His Honour the Superintendent be requested to take steps to carry out the recommendation of the second paragraph of the Report presented by this Committee on the 10th November, and to ascertain through tire Surveyor the specific amount of gratuitous labour which will be afforded by the parties interested in each line and that such be taken into account in the estimate of cost. 3.—Great South Road. It appears the villagers of Otahuhu are exposed to much inconvenience by the original main line of Road from Auckland to the Tamaki Bridge having been altered. The Committee recommend that the Surveyor be called on to report on this alteration before the present line on the south-west of the village be metalled i and, if his report be in favour of that line, the Committee recommend that about twenty chains of the reserved Road connecting the Portage Road with the front street at the north-west angle of the village be formed and made passable for carts. 4.—Ths Panmurb Road from the Great South Road io Panmurk Ferry. The Committee recommend that the sum of £4OO be voted for making this road passable for carts. s.—The Howick Road from the Ferry. The Committee recommend that the White Bridge be made good; that ttie pipes across the road be constructed of scoria, and that the sum of £IOOO be voted for this road. C. —Tamaki Road. It appears to the Committee that before metal can be readily procured for the portion on the road in the Auckland side of St. John's College, it will be necessary to form about ten chains on the Panmure side of the College; the Committee recommend that the sum of £SOO shall be voted for repairs on this road. 7. —Northern Roads. Tiie Committee are of opinion that, to secure access to the Scoria Quarry at Mount Eden, tire Cemetery Road ought to be formed as far as Mr. Green’s at the foot of the mountain They recommend that, for the Road from Hie Cemetery Road, to the junction with the Karangahape Road, as recommended by the Northern Roads Committee, and for making passable for carts that portion of Road from Hie said junction to tie Bridge over the creek on the Mount Albert Road, the sum of £l,20() shall be voted. It,—Road from Otahuhu to Howick. A petition from J. A. Wilson and others residing in the district between these villages, prays for a Road to be made between Howick and Otahuhu. Considering the limited funds set apart for road-making, the Committee cannot recommend any thing more for this Road than that the sum of £IOO be voted for throwing a Bridge over the Creek at Lots Nos. 52 and 65. Tun Waikato District. That the sum of £IOOO be voted for opening up Bridle Roads to the Waikato, Waiuku, and the Wairoa, and such other places as may be necessary, upon the Surveyor’s Report. North Shore Ferry. The Committee recommend that the Ferry between Auckland and the North Shore run daily (weather permitting) to. Stokes’ Point, and twice a week (tide serving) to some con venient landing places in Shoal Bay. With reference to His Honour’s minute No. 16, enclosing an application from Mr. Smythies for sum of £‘4 155., as balance of funds expended over the amount subscribed by himself and others for the Repairs tf a Bridge at Onehunga ; the Committee recommend that the Superintendent be requested to pay that amount to Mr. Smythies out of the contingent fund. Mr. Porter brought up the following Report from the Slaughter House Committe, which was received and read:— The Committee appointed to Report on the Slaughter House, recommend that the present building be repaired, and that additional accommodation for killing be provided. That when required by any person, separate buildings be built for private Slaughter-houses—upon payment of a rent sufficient to compensate for the outlay of money. That regulations should be embodied in the Ordinance to ensure the removal of Offal at stated periods. Under a license from the Superintendent, parties should be allowed to kill small cattle, (say pigs, sheep, calves, &c.,) in any proper and convenient [dace. That all large cattle, be slaughtered at a public Slaughterhouse within all proclaimed districts. That the management of Slaughter houses, and all matters thereunto belonging, be placed wholly under the Provincial Government. Orders of the Day. Dog Nuisance Bill. On the motion of Mr. Gilfillan the Council went into Committee on this Bill, Mr. Taylor in the Chair’. The first four clauses were agreed to, and the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again. Local Taxation. Mr. Busby brought forward the motion on this subject of which he had given notice. After some discussion, it was withdrawn. The Estimates. On the motion of Mr. Gilfillan the Appropriation Bill was read a second time, and the Council went into Committee on the Estimates, Mr, Clarke in the chair. Many of the items excited considerable discus-ion, which was sometimes of a very desultory character, members availing themselves of the privilege of committee to speak several times. A detailed report could therefore scarcely be given (unless it were extended to great length) which would do justice to the views expressed during different stages of the discussion. We subjoin, however, the propositions which took the tangible form of amendments, with the results in ever} r case. Mr. Gilfillan, who conducted the Appropriation Bill, stated that it would be most convenient to discuss the Estimates for the year 1854 in the first instance. When the votes for next year were adopted, it would be easy to arrange in accordance with them the Estimates for the current quarter of this year. This course having been agreed to by the Council, Mr. Gilfillan proceeded to move the several items seriatim. Superintendent, A blank having been left in the Estimates for the Superintendent’s salary, Mr. Gilfillan moved/ that the amount be £BOO. Mr. J. O’Neill moved as an amendmjnt that the sum be £SOO, and that it be by annual vote. Mr. Busby seconded the amendment. Mr. Boylan proposed that the salary be £SOO a-year, secured for the term of office. But on its being stated that the vote in this Committee must necessarily be limited to one year, and that a permanence of the vote could bo secured only by a Bill, be withdrew his amendment. Mr, O’Neill also withdrew the latter part of his amendment relating to the annual vote. The Council divided on Mr. O’Neill’s amendment, with the following result Ayes. Noes. J. O’Neill, O’Brien A. O’Neill, Porter, Derrom, Donovan, Dignan, Williamson, Boylan, Powditch, Newman, Hill, Mitchell, Brennan, Taylor, Lewis, Busby,—9. Gilfillan, Connell, Bain.—lT. Mr. Dilworth did not vote. Mr. Mucky absent. .... The amendment having been lost, the original motion for £BOO per annum was put and carried, —Ayes 11, Noes 9. Provincial Council. The votes in this department were agreed to as they appeared on the Estimates, viz., Speaker £250 ; Clerk of Council £SO 5 Contingencies £SOO ; Total £BOO. Superintendent’s Office. Before moving the Chief Clerk’s salary, Mr. Gilfillan proposed that that officer should be styled “ Secretary.” The proposition was negatived. c The following salaries were then voted : —Cluet Clerk, 300/. ; Treasury Clerk, 30'.)/. On the vote for the Audit Clerk, Mr. Derrom moved that the amount be reduced from 250/. to 200/. Amendment negatived, and original motion carried. On the vote for the Second Clerk, Mr. Dilworth moved that the salary be 150/, instead of 180/. Amendment negatived and original motion carried. Fourth Clerk, at 145/. a-year :—This item was struck out altogether. On the motion of Mr. Williamson, the Messenger’s salary was raised from 72/. to 78/. Provincial Engineer. The vote of 400/. per annum for a Provincial Engineer was agreed to. Public Works. The vote for the Carpenter, 125/. 4s. Od, was carried. The item of 54/. 15s. Gd. for a Labourer was struck out. The votes for the Panmure Ferry,—viz., 109/. 10s. Od, for two men, and 40/. 10s. for Repairs

were carried, as was the vote of 200/ for Contingencies. Road Department. The vote for Carter’s Wages was raised to ss. a day, and that for Labourer’s Wages to 4s. a day. The votes of 109/. 10s. for Forage for two Horses, and 100/. for Contingencies were agreed to. The Chairman here, on the motion of Mr. Gilfillan, reported progress. The remaining Orders of the Day were postponed, and the Council adjourned. WEDNESDAY, December?. The Speaker took the Chair at the usual hour. Minutes of yesterday read and confirmed. Notices of Motion. Mr. Lewis to move on Thursday,— That His Honour the Superintendent be requested to place on the Supplimentary Estimates a sum of money, for the purpose of erecting a Dwelling House for the Ferryman at Punmu re. Mr. Powditch to move on Wednesday next, — For leave to bring in a Bill to be called the "Passengers Clearance Bill,’’ for the purpose of preventing persons leaving the Province for foreign parts or colonies, without reasonable provision being made for their relatives, and for the prevention of loss, and better security for the payment of small debts. Mr. Boylan to move on Thursday, the first reading of the City Council Bill; and, on Tuesday, that the Council go into Committee on the hill. Orders of the Day. At the suggestion of Mr. Gilfillan, members having notices on the paper preceding the Appropriation Bill, consented to postpone them, that the Estimates might be proceeded with. The Council resumed in Committee on the Appropriation Bill. Mr. Clarke in the Chair. Estimates. Harbour Department. The vote of 200/. a year for Harbour Master and Pilot was agreed to. On the motion that 4/. per month be granted for a Boatman, Mr. Bain proposed that two Boatmen be allowed at 0/. per month each. Amendment carried. The vote for the Signal Man was raised from 73/. to 100/. The item of 80/. for contingencies was struck out. The items proposed for Manukau Harbour in various parts of the Estimates were brought together here, and, on the motion of Mr. Boylan the sum of 1000/. was voted for the whole. The proposed sum of 198/. 10s. was voted for Russell Harbour, also 48/, for the Pilot at Hokianga. Police Department. The Estimates proposed 54/. 15s. Od. as Forage Allowance for the Commissimer (also Resident Magistrate), and 204/. 15s. Od. for a Sub-Inspec-tor, (also Inspector of Weights and Measures, and Inspector of Nuisances ) Mr. Gilfillan mo\ ed .as an amendment that 150/. be voted for the Commissiorer, striking out the vote for Sub-Inspector. This amendment was eventually assented to. The sum proposed for the Sub-Inspector at Mongonni (also Resident Magistrate and SubCollector) was on the motion of Mr. Boylan, reduced from 204/. 15s. Od. to 100/. after a division in which there appeared for the amendment 10 against it 9. The remaining items fir th's Department were agreed to as they stood ; viz. Sergeant Major 7s. per day ; 2 Serjeants at Gs. 3d. each per day ; 4 Corporals at ss. 6d. each ; 23 Privates at 55.; and 229/. 15s. Od. for contingencies. Medical Department. Mr. Gilfillan proposed that the amount on the Estimates for this Department 1,203/. 9s. 6d. be granted. Mr. Powditch moved that the salary of the House Surgeon be raised from 150/. to 200/. Agreed to. Mr. Dignan moved that the salary of the Provincial Surgeon be raised to 250/. Carried. The other items for the Hospital were agreed to as they stood. The sum of 585/. 17s. 6d., as proposed, was voted for the Lunatic Asylum. Judicial Department. The votes as proposed were agreed to, viz : Registrar of Supreme Court, 300/.; Crier, 72/. ; and contingencies 20/. Law Officer. On the proposed vote of 410/. for the Law Officer Mr. Busby moved a reduction to 250/. being the lower sum mentioned in the interim Report of the Provincial Officers Committee. A division took place, as follows, For the Amendment Against it. Busby, O'Brien, J. O’Neill, Porter A. O’Neill-—3, Donovan, Mitchell, Boylan, Williamson, Powditch, Hill, Brennan, Dilworth, Lewis, Dignan, Bain, Connell, Gilfillan —15. Messrs. Taylor and Derrom declined to vote, Messrs Newman anjd Mjacky absent. The original proposition was then carried. Resident Magistrates Department. Mr. J.; O’Neill moved that the votes for the Ilowick Court be expunged altogether. On a division this amendment was rejected, and the proposed sum of 117/. 15s. os. was voted. Mr. Boylan moved that the vote for the OneInmga Court be expunged altogether. This amendment also was rejected on a division, and the proposed sum of 120/. was voted. Sheriff's Department. On the vote of 300/. for the Sheriff, Mr. J. O’Neill proposed that the sum be reduced to 150/. On a division there appeared, for the Amendment 10, against it, 10. The Chairman gave his catting vote against the amendment. A division on the original motion followed, with the same results, — the grant of 300/ # being carried by the casting vote of the Chairman. On the motion of Mr. O’Brien the salary of the Gaoler was raised from the sum on the Estimates (150/.) to 200/., by an unanimous vote. On the motion of Mr. Gilfillan, the sums on the Estimates were raised in the following instances, in accordance with His Honour’s recommendation in the communication presented yesterday ; viz., Turnkeys from ss. to Gs. per day each, and Overseer of Hard Labour to ss. per day. The vote of 380/, for Contingencies was agreed to. Coroner’s Dkpabtmeot. The vote of 30/. for Fees to Coroners was agreed to. Miscellaneous. The various items under this heading were agreed to as they stood, except that the vote for the Relief of the Sick and Destitute was, on the motion of Mr. Boylan, raised from 350/. to 550/. ’fhe Chairman here, on the motion of Mr. Gilfillan, reported progress, and the Council resumed and immediately adjourned, after the other motions having been postp med until the next day. THURSDAY, December 8. The Speaker took the Chair at three o’clock. Minutes of last meeting read and confirmed. Notices of Motion. Mr. Porter to move on Tuesday next— For leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Slaughter House Ordinance. Mr. Porter to move on Tuesday next — That His Honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the Supplementary Estimates a sum of for each of the members from the Bay of Islands, and £l5O extra for the Clerk of Council. Also £IOOO for the Taraaki Road Orders of the Day. Mr. Williamson rose to ask leave to postpone his motion on the Board of Works until the Estimates had been gone through. Mr. Dilworth thought it was better to proceed with the motion, and postpone the consideration of the Estimates relating to the Roads for a week, when the Council might have better information to guide them in the apportionment of the money. He moved accordingly.

Mr. Derrom seconded the motion. Mr. Newman was opposed to any further postponement of the Estimates. He believed that the Council had information enough before them to enable them to distribute the money fairly. Mr. Williamson thought that the pro e time for the consideration of his motion respecting the Board of Works would be after the Estimates had been voted, and he therefore asked leave to postpone it. No better direction for a fair distribution of the money could be hoped for than that which had already been laid before the Council by the Road Committees. Mr, Gilfillan certainly could not consent to postpone the consideration of the Estimates. A most important part of the subject was the setting apart money for the Roads, and it should be proceeded with at once. The question being put, Mr. Dihvorth’s motion was negatived, and leave was given to postpone Mr. Williamson’s motion. Estimates. Mr. Gilfillan, in moving that the Council do go into Committee, stated with respect to the Hospital, Grammar School, and other Reserves, that, so far from there being any disposition on the part of the Superintendent to keep back information, it was only the day before he had himself received the particulars relating to these Reserves. His Honour had been informed by the Colonial Secretary that the income from the Hospital and Lunatic AsylumJ(Reserves had been 338/. 15s. 10d.; from the Grammar School Reserves, 836/. 155.; from the Hostelry Reserves, 18/. These sums would forthwith be handed over to the Provincial Government. And, with regard to the Provincial Surveyor, he (Mr. Gilfillan) could state that His Honour, so far from having any desire to make the appointment himself, only wished it should be made in such a manner as would best meet the views of the Council. He proposed to appoint a Board for the examination of Candidates, of which, he would invite Colonel Baddely and Mr. Ligar to betnembers, with a member of the Council. He (Mr. Gilfillan) was glad to be able to make this statement, as vague allusions had sometimes been thrown out respecting the exercise of the Superintendent’s patronage, which were wholly destitute of foundation in truth. Mr. Busby never understood the allusions as to keeping back information to have any reference to the Superintendent. Mr. J. O’Neill said lie was compelled by the restrictions put upon plain language to resort to allusions. But what he was most anxious to ascertain was the way in which the sum of 7000/. for Native purposes was disposed of. Mr. Gilfillan said it was impossible for the Superintendent or any other person to give that information, —the Constitution Act having entrusted the disposal of that sum entirely to the Governor, who, at the proper time and place would no doubt lay the distribution of it before the public. The Council then went into Committee on the Estimates, Mr. Clarke in the Cl air. Special Works. On the vote of 8000/. for the City of Auckland being proposed, Mr. Dignan proposed that a sum of 500/. be placed on the Estimates for the Karangahape Road, in accordance with the recommendation of the Northern Road Sornmittee. After considerable discussion the Chairman ruled that this motion was out of order as introducing altogether new matter. Mr. Connell moved that the further consideration of the Road Estimates be postponed for a week, to afford time for the preparation of the Supplementary Estimates. Mr. Dilworth seconded the motion. On a division it was negatived by a majority of 11 to 7. Mr. Boylan then moved as an amendment that 5000/. be voted for the City of Auckland, explaining that he intended if this were carried to propose the omission of the votes for the Port and the Kyber Pass Road. Mr.* J. O’Neill seconded the amendment. On a division the amendment was lost, and the original motion was then canid. On the proposed vote of 2000/. for the Port of Auckland, Mr. Hill moved;, and Mr. Taylor seconded, that the amount be reduced to 1000/. Considerable discussion ensued, in the course of which it was urged that the endowments for the Port, which there was every reason to expect would be granted by the Governor, would be sufficient, without a grant from the funds at the disposal of the Council on which there were so many claims for road-making. Mr. Hill withdrew his amendment, leaving the question to rest on its own merits, A division took place on the original proposition of voting 2000/,, which was carried by a majority of 12 to 8. The following are the names as taken down on the division :

Ayes. Noes. O’Brien, Donovan, Bartley, Newman, Busby, Williamson, Porter, Taylor, Mitchell, Hill, Boy lan, Powditch, Connell, Lewis, Gilfillan, Brennan.—B. Dignan, Derrom, A. O’Neill, J. O’Neill.—l2. Mr. Dilworth declined to vote. Messrs. Bain and Macky were absent. On the proposition to vote 2,300?. for the Onehuuga Road, Mr. Williamson moved and Mr. Powditch seconded that the sum be reduced to 2000?. This amendment was lost on a division by 10 votes against 9. Mr. Newman proposed that the sum be 1500?. Seconded by Mr. Dilworth. This amendment was carried by a majority of 11 to 7. On the vote of 1300?. proposed for the Howick Road, Mr. Williamson moved and Mr. Powditch seconded that the words stand “ Howick Road from the Great South Road through the scoria by Pan mure,” and that the sum of 1400?. be voted. Carried.

6u the vote of 1200/. proposed for the Road to Waikato through Otahuhu, Mr. Dilworth. moved that 3000/. be granted. Negatived. Mr. Dilworth then moved that the amount he 2,200/. On division this was negatived by 13 votes against 8. For the Amendment. Against it. Di) worth, O’Brien, Powditch, Bartley, Williamson, Busby. Brennan, Porter, Donovan, Mitchell, Newman, Boylan, Hill, Dignan, Lewis.—B. Connell, A. O’Neill, J. O’Neill, , Derrom, (xilfillari, Taylor.—*-13. Nr. Newman then moved that the sura be 1900/. This was carried by a majority of 11 to 8, The proposed vote of 1200/. for the Ivyber Pass Road led to a long and warm discussion. Mr. Dilworth moved as an amendment that the item be expunged. Mr, Newman seconded the amendment. The Committee divided. For the Amendment. Against it. Donovan O’Brien' Newman Porter Williamson Mitchell Powditch Boylan' Hill Derrom Dilworth Dignan Brennan A. O’Neill Lewis—B J. O’Neill Connell

Gilfillan—ll Messrs. Bartley, Busby, and Taylor declined to vote.

Mr, Hill then moved and Mr. Dilworth, seconded that the amount he 5001. Carried. On the proposal to vote 1000/. for a Bridle Road to Kaipara and the Bay of Islands. Mr. Williamson moved that the words stand

“ Road from Mount Eden Quarry to the Cemeter Road, thence by Karangabapo Road to the Wha Portage, and a Bridle Road to Kaipara and the Bay of Islands i” and that the grant be 2,200/. —Seconded by Mr. A. O’Neill. After a long discussion the Chairman ruled that this amendment was inadmissible, as introducing new matter, and the vote as it stood on the Estimates was to, —Mr. Gilfidlan undertaking to lay before His Honour the Superintendent, what he believed to be the unanimous wish of the members for the Northern Division, that, on the Supplementary Estimates, further provision should be made for these Roads, and that they should have precedence. This completed the list of votes on the Estimates. The Chairman then reported progress. Deeds Bill. The House having resumed, the Deads Bill was read a first time, on the motion of Mr. Connell. The other orders having been postponed, the Council adjourned.