Nelson.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 394, 12 May 1849, Page 3

Nelson.

Department of His Honor the Superintendent. A slight increase has been made to this establishment by the addition of an extra clerk, whose services have become necessary from the increase in the public business, and ia justice to the gentleman who has hitherto discharged all the duties connected with the Superintendent's Office and the Resident Magistrate's Court, besides affbrdiog his services to the public in various other departments. The salary of the latter officer has also been slightly raised, viz., from £135 to £155. Sub-Treasury Department. At Nelson the Sub-Collector of Customs is also the Sub-Treasurer, and formerly received the sum of £20 per annum on account of this service, in addition to his salary as Sab-Treasurer. For the last two yearf, however, no additional remuneration has been given to him, and I have, therefore, at the earnest solicitation of his Honor the Superintendent and in consideration of the extra duty and responsibility entailed by two such

important offices being in the hands of one individual, placed a sum of £50 upon the estimates as a salary to the Sub-Trea-surer. Customs Department. In this department a slight increase has also been made by raising the salary of the acting Landing Waiter from £130 to £150. Otago Estimates. I have forborne making any alterations in, or (with a single exception) additions to, the existing establishment in the estimates for Otago, because there seems a probability of a separate Government being shortly established there. The exception to which I allude is the making provision for a Clerk to the Bench, an officer whose services are required in every district where petty sessions are held and cannot longer be dispensed with in the principal settlement of so extensive and important a district as that of Otago. General Charges. The .items under this heading are, for the most part, of a similar character to those classed under the denomination of " Miscellaneous " tN in the estimates of 1847 Tor the whole of NeV Zealand, and are corresponding in amount to*about one hal r , or a little less, of the sums': so appropriated. There lire* however, some new items introduced whi£h require more particular explanation, v%. :-^- <vt " Education. The Education Ordinance No 10, Session 8, gives power to the Lieutenant-Governor and the Executive Council !o appropriate any sum for eJucational purposes not exceeding one-twentieth of the whole revenue of the Province. This I have been unable to do in consequence of my Executive Council having declined to recommend any such appropriation, and I have, therefo c, placed on the estimates a sum of £800, which I would ask you to vole for the purposes, and with a view to ils being applied in the manner, provided for by the Ordinance. I need hardly point out to you the importance of securing to the Province at as early a date as may be practicable the means of instructing the children now growing up ; and I would hope that however great differences of opinion may exist as to what religion should be taught in schools aided by the state ievr will be found to advocate the doctrine that it is unnecessary to teach any. If then, the necessity of establishing schools and the importance of providing that in those receiving aid from the state, religious instruction of some kind be given, be admitted, I think this Council will find no fairer or more satisfactory principle than that laid down in the Education Ordinance under which an amount of assistance is given by the state towards promoting education amongst every class of the community belonging to any Christian denomination, in the exact proportion which the number of persons belonging to that denomination bears to the whole number of Christians in the Province. Public Offices — Court House — Council. In laying before the Council an estimate under this heading it may be necessary to state that the Local Government have no public buildings of their own whatever, that at present various scattered and inconvenient buildings are rented at exorbitant rates, and that some of them — as the Court House and Registry office are in an untenable condition — whilst no other or more suitable buildings can beobtainel. In the present state of the revenue, however, the colony is not in a position to undertake the construction of the various and expensive public buildings, which are so much required, and among which may be enumerated a Court House, a Council Chamber, a Resident Magistrate's Court, and offices for the various public departments. I propose, therefore, to meet the difficulty and put off the necessity of building for two or three years by leasing at a fair rental from the Board of Management of Native Reserves the premises known as Barrett's Hotel, ' of which the lease falls in next July, but as the present lessees,* or their sub-tenants, have incurred very considerable outlay in building, in expectation, as they allege, of a renewal of lease, the Executive Council of the Province has recommended that a sum of £300 should be awarded to- them in satisfaction of all claims to compensation. These premises are at present, I believe, very much out of repair, and will also require some alterations to adapt them to the purposes of the Government, but the expenses of doing this wilt not, it is estimated, after a careful calculation, exceed £500, provided that such repairs and alterations only be undertaken as are absolutely essential. These two sums would, therefore, amount to £800, to which must be added another £100 for rent of the present offices from the Ist April until such time as the new ones can be got ready, making in the whole £900. ' I

Wanganui Boat. The es'imate under this heading is to provide for the expenses connected*"with a boat now building for Wanganui. Great difficulty has hitherto been experienced, and considerable expense incurred, from the Government having no boat suitable for crossing the bar, a disadvantage of no inconsiderable magnitude, during the disturbances at Wanganui, and one which it is very important should not continue, whilst that settlement is occupied as a military post. The boat now building will be of about 25 tons burthen, and though rather flat in the bottom, and more especially suited for the particular purpose for which it is intended, may occasionally be useful in keeping open the communication between the various settlements in the vicinity of Cook's Straits.

Leaving, therefore, a deficiency to be provided for from the Parliamentary Grant to the amount of £2,704 : 9 : 4. In estimating, however, the probable revenue of the several settlements of the Province, I have carefully confined myself within such moderate limits as may leave little doubt of the calculations being fully realized, and 1 hope even that they may be exceeded, and the actual deficiency be found at the close of the year less than is now anticipated. In Wellington the revenue has progressively and steadily increased during the last two years. For the financial year ending 3lst Msrcb, 1848, the amount of nett revenue was £13,432 : 17 : 3, whilst for the corresponding period terminating 31st March, 1849, it was £14,400:17:8, being an increase during the year of £968 : 0 : 5. I think, therefore, that I cannot be regarded as forming too favourable an estimate in assuming that the revenue for Wellington will amount to £15,000 for the year ending 31st March, 1850. For Nelson I have taken the estimate of his Honor the Superintendent, which assumes that an increase of about £400 will take place in the receipts of the current year over those of the past year. For Otago, as I have not yet received the returns relating to the past year, I have no data to enable me to calculate with any degree of accuracy the probable revenue for the current year. I believe, however, that during the year ending 31st March, 1849, the revenue cannot have been less than £15O(), and I anticipate that for that terminating 31st March, 1850, it will fully amount to £2000. I consider, therefore, that I may safely assume it at £1500. Having now given such explanatory remarks relative to to the estimates for the year, and the ways and means of providing for them, as have appeared to me to be necessary, I would only state further — that in addition to j the services enumerated in the estimates, I hope to have it in my power when the winter is over to renew the operations connected with the two main lines of road in this Province, alreaiy so far advanced, and to commence a new line in the Middle Island for the purpose of connecting the Waitohi Port with the Wairau plains ; as, however, the amount of aid which may be granted to New Zealand for the year 1849-50 by the Imperial Parliament, or the proportion which the Gover-nor-in-Chief may be able to assign to this Province is not yet known, it is not at present in my power to do more than state generally that the operations I refer to are contemplated. K. Eyre. Legislative Council Chamber, lQih May, 1849. fr Mr. Moore in moving the -second reading of the Bread Bill said, he agreed with the main provisions of the bill that the public should be supplied with unadulterated bread, | but he had taken some pains to make en- ' quiry on the subject, and had some doubts as to the necessity of the bill at all. He thought a bill of the kind should only be introduced to correct a positive evil and not an imaginary one. He considered also that . some of the provisions of the bill were very cumbrous and stringent and more likely to create annoyance lhan to prevent it.

After a short silence the Colonial Secretary said, that he would second the motion as in duty bound, but that he agreed with the remarks of the hon. gentleman as to its being unnecessary. Mr, Ludlam moved as an amendment that the bill be read again that day six months, he disagreed with the provisions of the bill. Mr. Seymour seconded the amendment. Dr. Greenwood said his reasons for opposing the bill were, that he considered the bill unnecessary, and the hon. mover of the second reading had not shown its utility. He thought all that was required might be done in a shorter way than by an Ordinance, and he did not " see why they should mark out the bakers from amongst others ; the price of flour being low the advantage of adulterating could not be very great, and he understood that in this place the profits of the bakers were considerable. The public also were not in the same position as in some other countries where they were obliged to buy on credit and therefore if they were not satisfied with one baker they could go to another. Dr. Monro said, his hon. friend had stated the principal objections to the bill. He considered that in legislating they should not impute fraud to any portion of the community unless it was shown to exist. The bill appeared unsuited to the circumstances, especially as to Nelson, where flour was very cheap and most persons were in the habit of baking their own bread. Mr. Bannatyne also opposed the bill. On a division the following members voted for Mr. Ludlam's amendment : — Mess. Bannatyne, Hunter, Hickson, Ludlam, Greenwood, Monro, and Seymour, these constituting a majority of the Council the amendment was carried. Mr. Bannatyne then moved the second reading of the Entire Horses Bill, he wished to see ics provisions extended to cattle and some other animals, but with slight amendments he would support the bill. Mr. Ludlam seconded the motion, observing, that its operations should be extended to other animals.as bulls and especiallyjackasses. He thought in soms cases the penalty of Two Pounds would be too high, it might be sufficient to impound the animal. Mr". Bannatyne then moved that the Council resolve itself into Committee on this bill on Monday next. Dr, Monro moved the first reading of the bill to Prevent the Extension of Scab, &c, in Sheep. Mr. Hickson seconded the motion. The bill having been read — Dr. Monro gave notice that he should move the second reading on Tuesday next. On the motion of the Attorney- General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, the Naturalization Bill was read a third time and passed. The Colonial Secretury in moving the second reading of the bill to define the Qualification of Medical Practitioners said, he considered it necessary to remove some erroneous impressions on the minds of somehon. members. It might be supposed that the object of the bill was to prevent unqualified persons from practising, and in some remote districts where there was no qualified practitioner an unqualified person might be better than none at all, but the object of the bill was to enable Medical Practitioners to receive remuneration when they were called upon to give evidence before Courts of Law. In England this was generally done by the rules of the courts. Here he believed that I the coroner had been in the habit of allowing such payments, but the Supreme Court wou'd only pay them as ordinary witnesses. He (the Colonial Secretary) thought that where an individual is enabled to serve the public by some superior knowledge or skill* it was fair he should receive remuneration according to that skill, and for this purpose it was necessary to define who were qualified Medical Practitioners. It was not intended to aim a blow at the unqualified practitioner but to confer & boon on the qualified one. Dr. Greenwood seconded the motion, observing that if it had been intended for the exclusion of unqualified practitioners it would rather have heen an additional reason for supporting it. Dr. Monro considered that the bill with some modifications would be very useful as he .knew of some cases in which the Supreme Court had refused remuneration. On the motion of the Colonial Secretary the-Cbuncil resolved itself into Committee: on the bill, A long discussion ensued as to the mode? of deciding who were to be considered qualified practitioners. 4 Dr. Monro was of opinion that it shoald be left to the Judge or Coroner as the case might be to decide whether a witness was at properly qualified practitioner. The Attorney- General said, it woxtld not be in the province of the Judge to do so, and that the Board proposed would be much.

more competent to decide than the Judge could be, who would ne t have time to enter into a question of qualification when he was engaged upon another subject. Dr. Greenwood considered such an examination would be invidious, for himself he should object to sit on such Board or to submit his qualifications to it, he thought it unnecessary to appoint a Board as their duties would be so simple, pnd it appeared a complicated machinery for so simple an object. His Excellency remarked, that it appeared to him an advantage that the mutter would be so simple, being only required once, whereas if the question were left to the Judge a decision would be required on each occasion. Dr. Monro agreed with the remarks of his hon. friend Dr. Greenwood. Dr. Greenwood suggested that a sort of Medical Congress should be formed to show each other their qualifications. His Excellency thought that would create inconvenience in the case of other medical men arriving in the colony. He could not see why medical men should object to submit their qualifications to a Board such as that proposed, any more than to a Congress cons sting of the same three members with j the addition of some others. It appeared to him to be a distinction without a difference. After a very desultory debate — Dr. Greenwood moved and Dr. Monro seconded, that the three first clauses be erased. His Excellency said, that to erase those clauses would be equivalent to throwing out the bill, that the Government could not support such a bill unless there was a guarantee that the Medical Practitioners should be duly qualified. The further consideration of the bill was then adjourned. The Council having resumed — Mr. Moore moved that the sittings of Council in future be limited to four days a week, viz. : — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Mr. Hunter seconded the motion, which was not opposed. Mr. Hick son gave notice that on Monday next he should bring the case of Mr. Grimstone before Council, and move that a specific sum of money be placed on the estimates in compliance with the petition. The Colonial Treasurer gave notice that to-morrow he should move the first reading of the Appropriation Ordinance. Dr. Monro gave notice that to-morrow he should move that a copy of the Instructions from the Lords of the Treasury, under which the Civil List is applied, be laid on the table. In reply to a question from Mr. Moore, the Colonial Secretary said some of the returns alluded to in his Excellency's address would be laid on the table at the next sittings, but as there were some which he had not been able to procure in time, these would be laid on the table from time to time as they arrived. In reply to Dr. Greenwood, his Excellency said, the return of the expenditure of the last 12 months would be laid on the table to-morrow. On the motion of Mr. Hick son seconded by Mr. Bannatyne, the Council then adjourned till 2 p. m. on Friday.

Wellington £13,809 6 3 NeWm 2,934 3 11 Otago 1,203 12 11 Wanganui 328 5 0 Akaroa 341 1 3 Legislative Council 450 0 0 General Charges 2,638 0 0 " .£21,704 9 4

The total estimated expenditure of the whole Province for the service of the year ending 31st March, 1850, may be takeu at £21,704:9:4, viz. :

Estimated >> Revenue, Wellington £15,000 0 0 „ Nelson.... 2,500 0 0 „ Otago .... 1,500 0 0 In all £19,000 0 0

The Ways *nd Means to meet these charges are as follows, viz. —