PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4410, 8 May 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Friday, May 7. The Speaker took the chair at half-past seven o’clock. PETITIONS. Mr. GRAHAM presented a petition from Mary Vallcr, of Forirua, stating that her grandson, Richard Spicer, had been for many years a member of the Porirua Rifles, and that through his death from typhoid fever he was prevented from exercising the scrip to which he had become entitled. The petitioner prayed that as she had borne the expense of her grandson’s illness, she might be permitted to exercise the scrip. PETITIONS COMMITTEE. Mr. CRAWFORD brought up the report of the Petitions Committee, which stated that they could not recommend compliance with the petition of Mr. Greathead. In the matter of the petition of Mrs. Tocker, the committee recommended that an address be presented to the Superintendent requesting him to place upon the Estimates a sum of £2O for the widow, and that the scrip be cancelled. As to the petition of E. Meredith -with reference to the Education Act, the committee could not recommend compliance with its prayer. In reference to a petition from E. Meredith and twenty-three settlers on the East Coast, praying for the formation of a road, the committee did not feel called on to make a report, as the. Government had already taken steps in the matter. The committee recommended that Major Marshall should be permitted to select eighty-four acres, the amount of deficiency in section 28 in the Paraekaretn block, but they were of opinion that A. Mackay had no claim whatever upon the Provincial Government, the claim being one which should be urged upon the General Government. LIBRARY COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Mr. LTJDLAM brought up the report of the Library Committee, which was read. EDUCATION ACT. - The Education Act Amendment Act was read a third time. COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. In Committee of Sujiply upon several resolutions Mr. LTJDLAM inquired in what way the sums relating to native land purchases, under unauthorised expenditure, had been expended. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY explained that since the law of New Zealand had enabled private persons to purchase land direct from the natives, great obstacles had been thrown in the way of the Government in negotiating their land purchases. The consequence \ was that in one case they had to pay Mr. John Martin a sum of £3OO, he having been in treaty with the natives for the purchase of a large block which the Government desired to acquire. Mr. Martin, however, had dealt fairly with the Government, as he held good security for the money he had laid out, which would very likely he returned by the natives, and handed over to the Government. In Mr. Martin’s case they had nothing whatever to complain of, but there were cases hi which the Government had a great deal to complain of. Eighteen months ago they were told by tilts Native Minister that there would be no difficulty whatever in acquiring the Marimotu block, a splendid tract of 15,000 acres adjoining the Paraekaretn block. And what was the consequence ? Instead of the Government being able to acquire that block at once, the matter had been put off from time to time, and the result was that a number of private speculators had stepped in, and it would be ■ many a long day before that land was obtained possession of by the Government. There was another instance in which the General Government themselves had only obtained possession of a valuable block of land upon condition that some Southern speculators, who had got hold of it, should be allowed to occupy.7s per cent, of it on lease for a number of years, and that, on giving up possession, they should receive a large sum as compensation. These were the results of allowing private individuals to speculate- with the natives. Mr. Ludlam and Mr. C. Pharazyn had no desire to say one word in condemnation of Mr. Martin, but it was establishing a dangerous precedent to buy off a speculator, as it might induce persons to go in merely for the purpose of being bought off. Mr. BUCKLEY explained that Mr. Martin had acted in a perfectly straightforward manner throughout in regard to this matter. In fact, had he chosen to insist upon retaining his security he might have sold the laud for £IO,OOO, having been offered that sum by one gentleman. Mr. Martin was deserving of credit rather than blame for his action throughout the transaction. The resolutions were read a second time, and reported to the Council. RAILWAY TO THE WEST COAST. Mr. WRIGHT, in the absence Of Mr. Dalrymple, asked the Government what correspondence had taken place with the General - Government with reference to having a line of railway laid off, and reserved, in conjunction with the present line of road now being made between the Upper Hutt and the West Coast, in conformity with a resolution of the Council “The PROVINCIAL SECRETARYsaid the General Government had power to set aside for railway purposes five chains on each side of the' road the Provincial Government had laid off, and before the land was thrown open for sale they would take care that every provision was made to secure railway reserves. sheep rates. Mr. PHARAZYN moved,—That a copyof the return of unpaid sheep rates, laid on the table in the session of May, 1873, now he laid on the table, with a statement showing if any of the amounts then shown are still unpaid. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARYsaid he would have no objection to lay on the table a return showing the amount of unpaid rates in May, 1873, but he could not lay on the table a statement of all the rates that remained unpaid. He was glad to hear Mr. Andrew state on the previous evening that he had not paid his rates, as he would be carefully attended to, and all those in his district who had not paid would also be waited upon in due course. SIGNAL STATION, WANGANUI. In the absence of Mr. Watt, the followingmotion lapsed :—That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, to place on the Estimates the sum of £IOO, for the purpose of purchasing a site for a signal station, and removing the present building and flagstaff to the newly purchased site, for the town of Wanganui. APPROPRIATION ACT. A message from his Honor forwarded the Appropriation Act, embracing the authorised expenditure for the year 1875-C. The Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday. THE BEGINNING OF THE END. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY stated’ that the Government had concluded their business, but in order to give the Audit Committee and other committees time to finish their labors he would propose that the Council, at its rising, adjourn to Monday evening,, at half-past seven o’clock. The business to be done would probably be very light, and at its conclusion his Honor would probably prorogue the Council He would now move, —That the Council, at its rising, do adjourn till Monday at half-past seven o’clock. Motion agreed to. NOTICES OF MOTION. The following notices of motion, for Monday’s sitting, were given : Mr. Andrew,—That it is desirable that application should be made to the Parliament of New Zealand, in its next session, for au Act, empowering the Superintendent to sit and vote in this Council. He also gave fiotice that he would move on next sitting day,—That there be laid on the table of the Council a copy of the judgment delivered by Chief Justice Sir George A. Arney on the Ist of June last, on the demurrer in the case of AttorneyGeneral v. Bunny. Mr. Cruickshank,—Thatarespectful address be presented to his Honor, asking him to place a sum of £4OO on the Estimates to open up a road between the railway bridge, Upper Hutt, and Pahautanui block. The Council then adjourned.