AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

New Zealander, Volume XXII, Issue 2391, 30 March 1865, Page 3

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29. The Speaker took his seat at a quarter past three o’clock. notices of motion. Mr. Carle ton to move “ That the name of Mr. Swanson be added to the Library Committee. WHARF AT TAURANGA. Mr. Foley asked the honorable member the Provincial Secretarv, If it is the intention of his Honor the Superintendent to send down a message, reco nmending an appropriation of the sum that this Council requested to be placed ou the additional estimate of expenditure lor the erection of a wharf or pier at Tauranga.’’ Mr. Carleton replied that the Superintendent would send down a message towards the close of the Session in reply to all the addresses that hal been presented to him, recommending|sums to be placed on the additional estimates ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. Mr. King moved “ That an address be presented to his Honor the Superinten lent requesting him to place on the Additional Estimate of Expenditure for 1365, the sum of £590 towards furthering the important objects of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, such amount to be handed over to the Council of the Society upon application being duly male,” and in doing so remarked upon the importance of acclimatisaiion and the necessity for the Society to have funds to carry on their operations. He adverted to the efforts that had already been made by the Society and .read a list of the birds that had been introduced, and begged publicly to thank Mr. Morrin for the exertions he had made in endeavouring to send birds from England. He also alluded to the introduction of Alpacas and other animals, and said that the Society ha I already expen le I £ 129 out of their own pockets, but this could not be continued. He trusted that the Council would support him in this motion and left it entirely in their hands. Mr. Foley seconded the motion. Mr. Swanson in supporting the motion, remarked on the necessity of having some place set apart as a nursery for these birds on their arrival. Mr. King explained that every effort had been made by the Society to obtain a pordo i of.* the Domain for the purpose, but owing to- the opposition of the present Minislry had not been able to succeed. The motion was put to the House and carried. OTAHOHU. Mr. Ful y in moving that a respectful Address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the additional Estimate of Expenditure for’ 1865, the sum of £250 for the improvement of the roads aud streets of the village of Otahuhu, said that nothing had been laid out on this settlement, since its first establishment some twelve or fifteen years ago, and remarked upon the bad state of repair in which the roads and streets of the village were. Mr. A. Martin supported the motion which was then put and carried. VILLAGE OF PANMUKE. Mr. M‘Ghee moved, “ That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place ou the additional estimates, the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, tor the repair of roads and streets in the village of Banmnre,” Mr. Foley seconded the motion, which was carried. AG NT GENERAL. Mr. Swanson moved, “ That this Council do now take into consideration the office of Agent-General of this Province, and the reply made by the gentleman holding that office to Mr. Speaker’s letter, transmitting copy of the address No. 49, presented by this Council to his Honor the Superintendent, respecting the appointment of that officer,” and in doing so reprobated the want of courtesy shown in the brevity of this answer. He also alluded to a rumored resignation of Captain Daldy. Mr. Sheehan seconded the motion. Mr. Carleton informed the Council that all the correspondence received from this gentleman was not yet copied; but as soon as it was, it would be seut down to the House. Dr. Pollen moved, as an amendment, that the subject should be postponed until this correspondence was in their possession, which was accordingly carried. TUAKAU BLOCK. Mr. Cheeseman moved, “That this Ciuncil go into committee to consider the correspondence between his Honor the Superintendent and the General Government relative to the Tuakau Block, In Committee. On the motion of Mr. Cheeseman, Mr. Wynn took the chair. Mr, Cheeseman, in explaining his views o! the best means of obtaining this block, strongly objected to the nanow course pursued by the General Government towads the Provincial Government in regard to forfeited lands, moved that the Coumil do recommend his Honor the Superintendent to purchase this block at a teasonable rate, aud that the Council appropriate the sun necessary for the purchase. Mr. Foley opposed the money being taken from the Provincial revenue, and thought that it should come from the Railway Board of Commissioners. Dr. Pollen recommended that the Council should have nothing whatever to say to this matter, as he would to the utmost of his power oppose the purchase by the Provincial Government of any land in the Province from the General Government. Mr. Carleton explained that the resolution moved by his hon. colleague was not a definite arrangement of the Government, but was drafted under an order of the chair rather as a means of eliciting a fair opinion of the Council in order that they and the Government might work together in this matter. lie then entered at some length into an explanation of the steps that had been taken by the Superintendent in endeavoring to obtain the land from the General Government and the difficulties that had been placed in his way. A lengthened discussion took place until the time for considering the notices of motion had expired when the Chairman reported progress aud the Council resumed. REFORT OF SLAUGHTER-HOUSE COMMITTEE. Mr. Harrop brought up the report of the Slaughterhouse Committee, recommending the piece ot land known as Mr. Young’s on the Pamnure-road as the best site, and other matters respecting the construction of the building. The report was then received and read. MESSAGE, The following message was received and read: In complying with the request contained in address No. 57, of date 2nd March instant, the Superintendent lays befoie the Provincial Council a return ofland sales held during the year 1864. Robert Graham, Superintendent. Superintendent’s Office, Auckland, 29th March, 1865. COMMITTEE RESUMED. The orders of the day were postponed, and the'committee on Mr. Cheeseman’s motion for the consideration of correspondence between his Honor the Superintendent and the General Government relative to the Tuakau Block, was resumed, with Mr. King in the chair. A lengthened discussion took place, and ultimately the committee reported progress, and the House adjourned for half-an-hour. SHOAL BAY. On the Council resuming, Mr. Wynn moved, “ That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting him to cause the pier in Shoal Bay, known as Heath’s Pier, to he put in an efficient state of repair at a cost not exceeding £40.” The motion, on being seconded, was unanimously carried. NEW ROAD. In the absence of the mover, Dr. Pollen moved the postponement of the motion standing in the name of Mr. Cadman, “ That a respectful address ho presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will place upon the additional estimates the sum of £590, for the purpose of forming a road from the Woikoukou Creek to the Awaroa River, near M’Lcod’s mill.” AUCKLAND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EXHIBITION. Dr. Pollen also moved the postpone nent of the notice of motion in Mr. King’s name, in the absence of the mover. MECHANIC'S INSTITUTE. Mr. Swanson moved, “ That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the supplementary estimates the sum of one hundred pounds, for the purchase of books on practical mechanics, for the use of the Auckland Mechanic’s Institute. Such money to be expended by ihe committee of the institute in conjunction with the ibrary committee ot this Council.” He believed that ;he motion he had read would be unanimously carried. For the information of hon. members who had not paid attention to the affairs of the institute, he night as well mention that the books were not the property of the members of the institution. Each jo k was marked with the stamp of the Library, and lad labels pasted ou the face of it, stating the source ro® which it was derived, and that it was for reference only. Mr. Sheehan seconded the motion.

Mr. Carlston said, that as far as his vote in the Executive went, he would support the motion before the Council, and if the hon. mover had no objection he would on next day give notice that his (Mr. Swanson’s name should be added to the Library Committee of the Council. The Committee were about to enter into arrangements with London booksellers, by which they could procure books at a costrery much below that

at which they ha t hitherto been obtaine 1. Tint is to ' say, there would be a refaction at the rate ot 29 i>er | cent., in addition to which the expense of shipping, j insurance, &c., on th i books to Auckland would be defrayed.

Mr. Cadman expressed a hope that no similar applicati m would be made iu future, and that the people of Auckland would henceforth endeavor to support institutions of this kind, tn steal of coming forward and asking aid from the G ivernrn mt, he would not, however, oppose the motion, but in his opinion the time had arrived when the institute should be selfsapporting.

Mr. Coolah an was stnngiy of opinion that the motion ought to be approved of. The Provincial Library comprised books, with but very few exceptions, of a political character, and it was essentially necessary that the mecha dcs of Auckland should have an opportunity afforded them of perusing works relating to their pardcu ! ar trade. Mr. Ge 'Rsb also supported the motion. In other colonies sums were veiled for similar purposes, and he did not see any reason why the present application should be refused. It was well known that the Auckand Mechanic’s Institute had been struggling from the first. It was true that the erection of a library, would be a very expensive undertaking. Generally speaking in other colonies they had free libraries, but Auckland had not advanced so far as to have a free li • hrary, he hoped however that the time was not far distant when they could boast of the possession of such an institution (hear, hear.) No sum of money could be better expended than for the purposes for which the present vote was asked ; and if other smaller communities in the province applied for and obtained votes of a similar nature, all he could say was that it would be money well sp mt. Mr. Ross opposed the motion. At the present time the Council was just in the humor ot passing a ny motion brought before it. (No, no ) He felt surprised that such a respectable body as the raech nics of Auckland should apply for relief in a m itter of this kind. They were becoming more numerous, wages were higher than formerly, and they ought, therefore, to be able to support an institution and provide for themselves. Last year he had opposed the vote for similar reasons. The motion was then put and carried, Mr. Ross being the only dissentient. MANGAWI AND WAIPU. Mr. Ross moved, “ That an address he presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting him to place on the addition il estimates the sum of twi him dred pounds, for the purpose of opening a road from Mangawai to Waipu, across Bream Tail,” The motion being seconded, was c rried. M INGAPAI AND OTAIKI. Mr. Ross m ived, “ That an address be presented to his Honor the mperintendeat requesting him to place on the additional estimates the sum of two hundred poinds to open the road fiom Wangarei to Mangapie by Otaiki.” Before the motion was put, a count out took place, and eleven members only being in attendance, the Council adjourned at ten minutes past eight o'clock until the usual hour to-fay.