Tuesday, May 22, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 398, 26 May 1849, Page 3

Tuesday, May 22, 1849.

The Council met at 2 p.m. Mr. Bannaiyne moved lhat the Council take into consideration the subject of Mr. Watkin's petition for Government aid, by way of loan or otherwise, towards the rebuilding of the Wesleyan Chapel. His Excellency said that while the Expenditure was in excess of the Revenue he did not see how the Government could comply with the petition. Dr. Greenwood said that the motion of which he had given notice, referred to this and similar petitions. He did not think it was the business of that Council to vote away the public money except on the application of the Government. He thought the Council could not be expected to know the merits of every petition which might be presented to it. It was the business of the Government to examine into such cases, and if it was necessary to refuse an application, the onus of doii'g so ought to be on the Executive Government and not on the Council. He referred to a resolution of the House of Commons on the same subject, to shew that his moiion was not witfiout precedent. Dr. Greenwood then moved the resolution of which he gave notice on Monday. Mr. Seymour seconded the motion. Dr. Monro said he should be sorry to see any such motion carried. He did not think that Council were likely :o be led away by motives of generosity to vote the public money improperly, and he objected to the Council depriving themselves of any power which they might possess, he did not know if they had the power to vote any specific sum, but if the moiion was carried il would appear to the public that they were debarring themselves of such rights as they possessed. Mr. Moore agreed with his hon. friend (Dr. Monro). He thought thai by agreeing to the motion they would be shutting the door to a privilege to which the public were quite entitled. He considered the hon. mover rather premature in conjuring up abuses which did not exist. The members of the Council were not likely to support frivolous petitions. Dr. Greenwood said there seemed to be some misapprehension on the subject as he had no wish to limit the right of petition, but he thought the Council should not take into their hinds the administration of the Public Revenue independent of the Government. He felt quite convinced that if the Council were to vote £300 or even £30 to any purpose, they would be sure to have as mauy applications as they had voted pounds. Pie did not consider that they should lose any power. The question was put am! negatived. - Mr. Hickson then moved the second reading of the bill tor levying rates for making and repairing Roads. He said it was generally known that the roads were much in need of repair, and lhat the funds could not. be raised by private means. There were three modes by which funds could be obtained — • first, by a rate, secondly, oy turnpikes, and thirdly, by a tax on horses and carts, but he thought the first was the most adapted to the purpose, and therefore he shouM support the principle of the bill, but there were some clauses which in his opinion might require amendment. He did not think it would be desirable to include the couutry districts in the operation of the bill. Mr. Ludlam seconded the motion, he agreed with the general principle of the bill as far as the levying of rates was concerned, but he thought it ought to be confined to the town. He considered the fairest plan would be a toll, as then every pcr&uu ut>ii>g the road lu<l to pay for it. He thought the country people here were in favour of a toll, but he understood that such was not the case in Nehon, therefore it would be necessary to legislate for the two places on Uiileient principles. He was of opinion thai, there ought to be a tax on' carts as they used the roads most and ought to pay most for them. Dr. Monro said, that with regard to the propriety of calling on the inhabitants to repair the roads there could be no question, but there might be a question how far the inhabitants were able to make roads for themselves. There were some objections to the ordinance. There was no difference between the system employed in the town and the country, and he thought one system would not work well for both, he was not aware of any other place in the world where the making and repairing of streets and roads was provided for by the same machinery. He considered it also an objection that the sums levied were not to be applied by means of Commissioners, this appeared to be a case in which the people could manage their own affairs better than any one could for them. There were other objections, the 18th clause appeared to him most arbitrary and uncalled for. According to that clause any person whose property was bordering on the road would be compelled to remove trees or other obstructions falling on to the road, and it might happen that trees might

be blown down by the wind or in case of a land slip a large quantity of soil might obstruct the road, and would require several days for its removal, he thought that if such persons paid their share towards the repairs they ought not to be called upon to do more. The 19th clause was also very obnoxious and not warranted by any precedent. There was no country in which a tax gatherer was allowed to enter a house with a view to make a valuation of the property. After some further remarks, the hon. gentleman alluded to the Parliamentary Grant and stated, that whilst about £50,000 had been spent in the district of Wellington only about £700 had been applied in the settlement of Nelson. He had heard with pleasure the announcement that the Government contemplated opening a road between "Waitohi and Wairau, but he did not consider that road would be of much advantage to the settlers in Blind Bay. He urged the necessity of the Government appropriating a portion of the Parliamentary Grant to the roads in the immediate vicinity of Nelson, observing, that until that was done he thought the bill coutd hardly be brought into operation in that town, but that if the Government would make the roads the settlers would have no objection to keep them in repair. Mr. Moore spoke in favour of the bill which he would support with some modifications. The Colonial Treasurer wished to see the roads and streets placed on a perfectly distinct system of management. The Lieutenant-Governor said that the bill was originally intended to apply to the township of Wellington only. With regard to turnpikes he would blate that he was aware the Governor-in-Chief had an objection to them, and would, he believed, refuse his assent to their establishment. The reason for that objection was, that Sir G. Grey had himself been a party to passing a bill for the establishment of turnpikes in the populous district of South Australia, and the result was that the expense was greater than the receipts. Dr. Greenwood in the course of his remarks on the bill, referred to the insufficiency of the roads in the neighbourhood of Nelson. He sail that the New Zealand Company had oeen obliged by their agreement with the Government to lay out the sum of £40,000 on roads in that district, but that the Government had never taken any care to see whether the roads were constructed at all. In some plares the roads were only defined by a ditch at each side, and by the extra luxuriance of the fern. In one case the sum of £10,000 had been spent on a road leading to a district in which the only inhabitants at this time were two squatters who kept pigs. Dr. Monro asked if his Excellency would have any objection to the appointment of a select committee to report on the bill prior to the second reading His Excellency thought that a committee of the whole Council would be sufficient. The Colonial Secretary had heard no objection to the principle of the bill. The principal objection appeared to be the want of distinction between the town and country roads. Mr. Seymour proposed that the provisions of the bill be confined to Wellington. The Attorney-General considered that the bill would be a great bnon, he thought people would be glad to get out of the mud they had been in for so many years. The bill having been read, the Council resolved itself into commutee of the whole Council. The committee then proceeded to discuss the various clauses of the bill, a variety of amendments were introduced, and after the consideration of the I2Ji clause, the Council a Ijourned till Wedu?sday.