PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 294, 28 November 1862, Page 6

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27

The Speaker took the chair at a quarter after four o'clock, and opened the proceedings with prayer.

NOTICES OV MOT TON

Mr REYNOLDS gave notice that at the next meeting he would move the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the whole question of Government printing, and to report on Friday week ; the (Journallee to consist of Messrs Martin, Harris, Tiylor, O.Avin, and tho mover.

Mr IIKYNOLDH gave notice that at the next sitting he v/ould move, —" That an address to his Honor the Superintendent' be presented by thi3 (Joniic.il, respectfully requesting that his Honor will be pleased to represent to his Excellency the Governor the great obstruction and hindrance to public business, and inconvenience to individuals that nri::es from membern of the Executive Government b'iintf liable to serve as jurymen; and also from memLesol'the Provincial Council bcingin like manner liable so to serve during the sittings of the Council; and to solicit that his Excellency may order such steps t-j be taken as will remove the evil.

Mr lIAItDY pave notice to move at the next sitting, that a committee be appointed to prepare a bili entitled the Dog Nuisance Ordinance, 1855, Amendment Hill, the committee to consist of Messrs Ronnie, 0.-avlii, Martin, the Provincial Solicitor and tho mover, to reporr. on Friday week. aiU.-Jtf AUKS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT.

The Clerk to the Superintendent brought up the following messages from his Honor; and they were read by the CLiiICK to the OounciL: —

Mk.ssaok No. 1. " Superintendent's Office, " 27th November, 18G2.

" Tl»o Superintendent, in iiis address on opening Ihe Council, intimated that the prupo&tl for jiu explonilnry cxpod.ition to the West, Coast, merely iiv.-niiod the ;--a:ic:iou of the i'rovincial Council ; for, its. iinticipaliou, au.i nut to lo.rj tho stwainer months, in wi./'ii iL iri nc'.:e!i-;ary tiiat tho expadition siiould l;\k« jiia::.':, iie niiuie the requisite arrangsments, so Uv a i iiu cuuid do ho, i.e.'ulin^ this sanction. ♦■ Th-: unj'jol.s cyni.oir.])lat::d to be atLnined by thi-; f.';c;L-:!ii.i"r., ei'ibracj tlio survey ot tho Wi.-hb Coast, and iiu 'o::-.uni:i dion of the country ar-i to its clm-T>\.t.'.v-:V.

'; With reference to the first objec!', it may be sufficient to c-i;S;rve t.hat •'.;»<; accurate and minute investi-{.'.-.ttkv.s oi' Captain Stokes and other otlicers leave but litl.k; to be desired so fa;1 as the mere coast line is eon-crno-l ; but there iy an interval between iliac and the ].!ii-tir ( ns of tiio IVoviace reached by our surveyors, ;uiv.uu-ing i'rrim lUe ci'-stwsvr.l, which requirss to be exa»)i;ii!-J, ami vhic':>. w;i bo uiosjt eliieuiiifcly done by an exposition moving along the coast. " 'I he .second is one of very considerable importance, liotii a£i regards its more substantial advantage* and it.-; proikaliio .scientific results. It h:*3 long been exT'ec ed that the ranges which border the VVcsfcJJoa.st lin'i mid the adjacent lands, are rich in seams of true coal, in opper, and other ores, the development of which may add very materially to the prosperity of this c.ilony ; and what is an obje ;t of scarcely secondary importance, (lie exploratory examination of the country may in its geological, inineralogical. and botanical character, field not an unimportant page to the records ot scientific research. " The expedition would probably take a period of four months, audit is proposed that it should be conducted by the Chief Surveyor, Mr Thompson, accompanied by the Provincial Geologist, Dr. Hector, with a staff f'ullv equipped for the necessary scientific observations. Tin; probable cost of the expedition will he about LI,OOO per month, including the hire of a steamer. "(Signed) "J. L. C. JRtcha.bdson, " Superintendent" Message No. 2. " The Superintendent forwards a copy of a letter received from his Honor the Superintendent of Taranaki., on the subject of the probable removal of fcome of the inhabitants of that Province to Otago. " It in not necessary that the Superintendent .should rocal to the recollection of the Council the humiliating and painful position of this once thriving province ; or, should point to its murdered inhabitants, its devastated homesteads, and its deserted iiolda ; it. is sufficient that he should remind the Council that an insurgent tribe holds possession of the choicest lands, and has continued in possession in preae:ieo of her Majesty's troops, and of the local militia ■which has been restrained from clearing the insurgents oil the hoil. The inhabitants of Taraniki looked to the co;mug summer :w to the hoar of their reinstatement on the lands bought by them from the Crowu ; but aa there Is not, as yet any evidence of the immediate vindication of the national honor, they conclude that the time has arrived when they must seek a home elsewhere.

"The Superintendent suggests that the passage?) of all tiiu:o desirous of settling in the Province of Otago. bo gratuitously defrayed out of th3 provincial revenue : ami that each family be allowed 50 acre* or more of land, at the upset price, on condition of occupancy and improvement, to be paid for in five annual' payments. indeed, under the peculiar and urgent circumstances of the case, the G'overiiiiK.'iifc have been induce to ahticipate your "wishes with respect to the passage money, and have intimated the same to the Superintendent of Taiuualu. This, however, has nob been acted uiiMi as vet. '' J. L. C. HIGITA'RDoON, Superintendent, •«27th November, 18G2." (COPY.) " His Honor, the Superintendent of Otngo. c£ Hiii,— 1 have the honor to request that jou will have the goodness to inform mo whether, in tho event of any uuued I proprietors of this Province desiring to settle r\ the province of Otago, any facilities would b« aiVorJed them by your Government, and of what kind'' "It will 1)0 obvious to you that a number of Jhvnis, tho peaceable occupation of which is indefinite, lieiii,", oii'ered tor side at once, would not realise their value. " "Would a Taranniu settler purchasing lend in 3our Province bo allowed credit ibr say five years, to the extent of the pence value of the land here'.' •'The (jcviv.nd Hovernmeut at present defrays the enst of couv'oviug to tho other Provinces tho.se who to abandon Taf:iiiaki. This Is perhap-i as equitable a course as c;in !.>e pursued; but should the General GovoiMtiiont t;ii:c a diiFcreut view on tins po'taL. would yuiu1 (iLivcrairiciit bo prepared to pay tho pa;s;;geri of {'amities'so leaving • —[ have, fro. "CHARLES BiiOWrV, Superintendent." Mj-ssagk No. 3. "Tit'"1, v-uiiorintenuent would not anticipate the usual funu oi' api-.i-oprlaiion )>y Ordinance, did not (sirouii!>-tauc'?K ot an urginit nature dL-maud a deviation from f.!ic <-stiiiili.s!ied ruie in the present instance. i' Public ti;iid«!i-« have bocn invited for plans for tho erection of a Lunatic Asylum, and other public buildings : but it is not passible that the former can ho mio'.visl and oiU-ricd out, even in part, before the expiry of one year from tho present timo. It is, thereibr<\ absolutely necessary that immediate airangc-

ruents should lw innaii for the custody of lunatics, of which there arc now no less than 22 demanding relief, and wiio are occupying much needed space in thy hospital and gaol. " It is therefore desirable immediately to erect at the expense of about .£2,4-iA), near the grounds appropriated for the site of the new Hospital, a temporary Lunatic: .Asylum, which, when no longer needed for that par!k:ular purpose, can form a portion of the building necessary for the accommodation of the hospital staif or the patients. • " J. L. 0. Richardson, " Superintendent." The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY moved that the messages be considered before proceeding to the Orders of the Day. The motion was agreed to. HE PLY TO THE ADDRESS. Mr WALKER moved the adoption of a reply to the address of the Superintendent. He would not occupy time in commenting upon that address. The number and importance of the subjects referred to in the address were so great, that the sooner the Council could come to the actual discussion of them, the better it would be. He was sure that the time had arrived when the members of the Council were animated, by a single desire to assist the Executive in doing all they could to promote the prosperity and consolidate the institutions of the Province. He would move the following reply: —

" We desire to congratulate your Honor upon the undeniable evidences of prosperity, which abound on every side; and, as we acknowledge that this prosperity is mainly owing to the existence of a very extensive and highly remunerative gold field, so we shall ba prepared to unite with jour Honor in the adoption of such measure1 } as will encourage the development of the mining interest, and open out the communications pf the interior .with the coastline. '

" We shall be prepered,_ wnon the estimates are before us, to outer into their consideration with a due regard to the requirements of the whole Province and will take measures to adjust the strength and remuneration of. the.different departments to the duties required, of them, and the circuinstances of the times. " The completion of-the main roads'of the Province, and the maintenance! of those already made, will receive our earnest attention, as -subjects of paramount importance.

"The important questions connected with'-tele-graphic communication, the establishment of lighthouses, and the expedition to the West Coast, will all be maturely considered, so soon as your Honor shall oinmunicate with us on those subjects,

" Our warmest sympathies being, as your Honor justly ol)?.erves, with our our gallant, l:;ng-.sufF.3riiig feilow-colouiats of Taranrtki. we shali Iw prepared favorably to consider the proposals udiieli you may lay before ua with a view t_> their relief.

': The influx of a criminal class from Australia and Tasmania we regard as an evil of the greatest magnitude, which we shasl consider it our duty to assist in removing, by every constitutional means within our power. " V7g shall gladly avail ourselves of your Honor's suggestion, by making1 a public recognition of the devotion and untiring exertions of the late Captain Cargill, the first Superintendent of this Province, and tho leader of the colony. " We cordially participate in your Honor's anxiety on the subject of the disposal of the Crown Lanu3 of the Province. The question is beset with many difficulties, but we assure your Honor that, we shall approach the consideration of it with an earnest desire to effect the settlement and improvement of the country, in s-uch a manner r.s may promote the interests of the State, and every class residing wirhin. its boundaries.

"V/ft thank your Honor for the assurance that you will concur with us in a memorial to His Excellency the Governor, to dissolve the Council, so soon as the session is conclude;!."

Mr MAUTIW seconded the adoption of the reply ; and it was unanimously ngrecd io.

WEST COAST EXPLOIIIKG EXPEDITION

The PIIOVINCIAL SECRETARY said that the message from His Honour the Superintendent was so explicit that but few remarks on it were needed. He v/ould, therefore, at once move, "that the Council anprova of the Expedition as set forth, find request his Honor to tike the nocessnry measures for carrying it into effect." In conned ion with the anticipated advantages from the mineral discoveries of the explorers, he might mention that it. was expected that a very superior quality of coal would ho found. Such had been the case on the West Go:c,b of the prison. Province ; and if such was found o*i our own West Coast, it would alone fully rop'iy any cost to be incurred. It iniivht he siid (hat L4.000 was a largo amount to be expended without a certainty of something like an equivalent being r-ecu red ; but the probability was that more than a, full equivalent would be obtained ; a/d at all events, even apart IVotn the s^un to our scientific knowledge, it. would bo 9. mtisi'.Lotory tiling to know the character of a, pa.il of the Province hitherto unexplored. Therefore the Government considered it highly desirable that the Council should accede to the proposition. Mr REYNOLDS seconded the motion, and it was agreed to unanimously.

TAIIAKAKf SKTTT/ErtS,

The PROVINCIAL SROLIKTAIIY sail that for somr: ye-u\s they had all sympathised most sincerely with the Uniterm"- endured" by ti:c settlers in the uufortmiate province of Tavanaki. But p.yiiip.ithy was not fI.U that was lieo-itd. Those settler.-: hnl lately come to the conclusion that if the existing state of things continued much longer, it would become necessary for them to abandon the. Province which they originally colonised, and which they had hoped to make their permanent home. As a result of the war, the Maories claimed the land almost up to the bounds of the town of New Plymouth, and they thus he'd the land which the settlers had tilled, on which many of them had erected substantial and comfortable houses. la reply to the Superintendent of Taranaki, that the Government wrote back that the Waste Lands Regulations prevented the sale of land in any other than the prescribed way; but that they would be very happy to receive the settlers, and that if the General Government declined to defray the expenses of the passage, this Government would be prepared to pay £6 per head per statute adult. None of the Taranaki settlers had availed themselves of this proposal; and the Government thought that they might now go farther, purchase land, and offer it on a s\ stem of deferred payments, as explained in the Message. He would move that having' considered Mesc a?e No. 2, and the accompanying letter, the Council deeply sympathised with the Taranaki settlers in their painful and humiliating1 position ; and should it be necessary for them to forsake the land of their adoption, the Council would be prepared to carry out the arrangements set forth, as to passage money and payment for land. Mr* REYNOLDS seconded the motion.

Mr HARDY asked whether any estimate had been formed of the probable total cost to the Province of what was proposed. Already the Council had sanctioned a considerable expenditure. He did not object to that; but he did object to its being marie a precedent to justify further votes of money before the Council knew of the financial position of the Province. They Avere now asked to sanction an expenditure that was unascertained, and as it seemed to him, was almost una.scertaiuable ; and if there was no over-ruling urgency, it- would be well to wait for the financial statement before going into the question, especially seeing that lands were to be dealt with in a w.ty not authorised by the regulations. Mr WALKER moved as an amendment, "That the consideration of the subject bo postponed until the estimates are laid on the table." The statement nude by the Provincial Treasurer was, to say the len^t, extremely bald, and it was verv advisable that the subject should bo ventilated a little more before it was discussed and settled by the Council. He should like to know what would be the difference between the actually realisable value of the land proposed to be dealt with, and the upset price at which it was to br: made ovir to the settlers

Mv OSWIiNT seconded the amendment.

Mr REYNOLDS believed that there would be very few who would avail themselves of The proposals; and that there would be little or no loss to the Government on the land. At any rate. Ot-acio ought to hold out readily a helping hand to these sufferers".

Mr HARDY quite approved of the settlors being invited here. He only wanted information.

The PROVIN« JIAL SOLICITOR said that in the prosperous state of this Province, the Council might well deal liberally with their brethren in Taranaki; but he did nob believe there would be 6.1 lost to the Government, under the proposals as to land. The cu.sewas extremely urgent, it bein.a; desired to write by the next mail, or the Government would not have introduced the matter at the present stn^e. Mr OARGILL did not think there could be any (lonhfc ns to the propriety of offering inducements to settlers to Poms here; bub he thought there was something like unnecessary ha^te in the way in whi^h it was sought to get the matter through the Council. He believed (or at least ho hopod) that they were not likely to be influenced in their consideration of the case by any investigation of the estimates ; but still he thought ib very' desirable that the Government should give some information ns to the mode in which they meant to carry out t'is plan. Fie would suggest that the amendment should be modified, bo as mrrely to afford fair time for explanation and conf-ideratif'B..

Mr WALKER had no objection so to modify the the amendment. He believed that the fair value of the binds to be provided for the settlers would be L2 10s or L3 an aero; but the upset price "would probably be LI

The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY rose to order. The hon. member had already spoken on the general question.

Mr GILLIES agreed that the explanation was needed.

Mr PATERSOpT was sorry that there should be any show of unwilling-ness to give assistance to the settlors in Taranaki. They were in deep distress ; and what was proposed was a charity, which should not he refused, or put aside, upon any merely technical ground.

The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY said that lie would not oppose the amendment. His impression had been that the Council would at once have mot this proposal with the most hearty assent, and. -would scarcely have made it a question of pounds, shillings, and pence. Indeed, he thought the sympathies "of members would have been so entirely with the sufferer?, and that they -would be inclined to say that the Executive was culpable and deserved a vote of censure for not having acted at once, upon the receipt oi the letter in June or July last. Bab some members had evinced an amount of cautiousness as regarded funds, which he hoped they would maintain throughout the session, especially that when votes for roads in particular districts were before the House, they would pause and think of the interests of the Province generally. The quwtion of cost seemed to him scarcely worthy of consideration. What was proposed was to bring within the Province some thoroughly colonized New Zealand settlers and their families, the very best class of people, under the circumstances, to be liad ; and at LG a head, and they would be brought here at a less rate than was paid for emigrants from England. True, it was expected that thei'e would be repayment by emigrants from home; but honorable members would be aware how small a proportion was repaid within a limited number of years, and that a good deal was altogether lost. 'Taken, altogether,- the land which, the settlers would get would not probably exceed 4,000 to 5,080 acres, • The outside price got for land taking it all round, would, lie believed, be less than 3"s jin acre; but if lie was wrong, his honorable friend the Chief Commissioner, would no doubt correct him. Talcing a difference of 10s an acre as between the average and the upset prices, there would be a total of L2;000." When the war broke out in 1861 the Council, without hesitation, passed a vote to give LI,OOO toi the Tarauaki settlers. That money was voted heartily -and. unanimously; but it had never been paid, so that the Council were debtors -to the settlers for the amount. He.■■ confessed. .that lie was astonished that the Council should have for a moment hesitated to assent to the proposal ot the troyernment; that they should not have heartily weiconjei} the settlers, for they were a c'ass of

men who would not, be benefiting tlienv-e'vea so much by coming here, as th.y w-,ui.i ba benefiting the Province. Ho differed from his coikaau.i (Mr I'atc-r----son) on o-.e point. Thi;j was not a- charity—it was a work of brotherly 3ovy ; aui as s-uch it ought be Lave been done afe o'ice au.i fvijwly. He consca^ei to the delay until Ivlondiiy; but he feared that by so doing it would become impossible for the Superintendent, to write by the next mail, which it was considered of great importance h& shoii'd do The amendment, postponing- the consideration ot the subject until Monday was put, and Carried. A TEMPORARY LUNATIC ASYLUM. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY said he felt more dimlence in bringing- forward Message No 3 than he had flit about either ot the others; for it certainly appeared, for the moment, to involve an almost unnecessary expenditure. JJut it was in fact a matter of the utm-'st emergency. The hospital was crowded with patients, including a number who were of unsound mind ; every week, almost, there were additions to tha lunatic clas3, and the ordinary invalids were also increasing;. There was this dilemma— either a temporary lunatic asylum must be erected, or the lunatics must remnin amonjjat the ordinary patients, greatly to the discomfort and disadvantage of the whole. In fact, the Provincial Surgeon was most righteously complaining that he was not receiving justice in the matter of dealing with his patients. It' any place was provided for lunatics it mu4 bo fit to accommodate oO patients; and the estimated cos-; of such a building "was L2,40u. He admitted that the sum seemed large for such a purpose ; bufc it was proposed to put it upon the ground selected for the new inspital, and when the- permanent asylum wag erected, .the temporary one would become an adjunct to the new hospital, so tluit the cost would be in no way wnstnl. The permanent asylum could nob be proceeded with, for the dc-igm were nut completed, and there was still some difii::uHy as to a site. Th.it baildinjv wouid take some considerable time in erecting; while any riflavatall in providing some place for lunatics wou'd be" a serious injury to tii • "hospital, and would lead to the exclusion <f ni. aiy patients who ougip. t">l)e:vimir,te.l. He would fciserefore jnovo that- hi.s Honor tin* Snneri:itendefit be requested to proceed immediately with the erection of a tsmj'orary lunatic ::syluni Alv WALKER seconded tha .roiioti.

Mr VV. H. CUTTEiI',' much rogro'ted that the Govern meat had aUo-.v.-Lt so mu;ih tiiiw to pass without pro.j;jed:r:g wllh the erection of the permanent a-sylum ; and he trusted they tvould now" use every exortioii to war! 3 tU-.iu cad. it was not vonr clear, from the l'roviru:i;a rie-'.-Cary's siafou^nC where t-:io tempor -ry hospital was to ba placod, or whether it was to ba of wood or sto ie.

Tire PiiOVIXCUL Siiw'RHTxVßYsaid that the building would be iiio-iii'yof wool, for a stone one could not be erected w'.ih eni'liiriont rapidity ; and if, would Ik: erectel on parr, of the old 'Cemetery ilcsorve, now the Hospital fite. Tiie liiotioji was agreed to. A MIXI.'n'IUU.Ui STATEMENT. Ths PROVINCIAL SKOicKTARY said lie desired to ma%e a few remarks as to what the Government proposed to do during the session—a (-ourse which might avoid the asking of many questions, aid also assist in the general conduct business. The Government were anxious as as inuoti as possible to develop.* the entire resources of the Province; and they therefore felt that one of the most important matters they could bring before the Couucil would be the question of roads^ Main roads into the outlying districts were much needed. Hitherto considerable sums had been spent on roads round Dunedin, from which expenditure the outlying districts no doubt benefited to a large extent. The Government were now anxious that during tiie present session, measures should be taken for"supplying the outlying districts with goo 1 main roads. "The roads at present ran within a certain iimitrd distance o^ the coast; but others in the interior were needed, for about the mouths of the Manuherikia and the Glutha, as well as around the Lakes, there was a quantity of valuable agricultural land, and there were also the rich gold fields which had already produced so much, and were giving occupation to so many hundreds of miners. The funds at the command of the Council were quite inadequate to the making of such roads. The ordinary revenue from land sales, the three-eights of the Customs, and one or two other small items, A'ould never enable the most important districts to be reached by ro;.ds. The Government proposed to bring in a Turnpike Bill, which it was expected would enable funds to bs raised by tolls, sufficient to maintain the existing reads and those to be made. Even if the ordinary revenue was sufficient for the making: main roads, or to go iar towards it, it would not be fair so to apply it; for roads and public buildings of a permanent character were things from which future generations would profit, so that it was only right thai; 1 hey should b-ar their share of the burden of constructing them. Tiie Government therefore thought that a loan was desirable. His Honor the Superinteiulonl w:us in correspondence with the General Government, on the subject. When an answer was received—and it w-;is expected in a few days—the estimates would bo laid on the table, and it would then be seen what course the Government proposed to take, and to what amount they proposed to borrow. Tiie Land question would also occupy the attention of the House, it was pressed upon them last session by his Honor tho Superintendent in a message, and they pledged themselves to take it tip this session, and give it their most serious consideration. The Government now asked that that pleJgc should be redeemed. In a very few days he would propose a Committee to in vestigate the question. The Government had duringthe recess given its serious consideration, and oT course found it surrounded with dilHuuities. In the first place, the Waste Land Act. could not be altered, exept by the General Assembly; and this fact made an;f alterations proposed here, to say the least, of an imperfect char.icter. Still it W'S necessary' to do sonr: thing, and that during this session. The Government had prepared certain resolutions, which would i)e submitted to tho Committee, and subsequently they would come before the House, perhaps extended and improve 1 by the Committee. One great object was to satisfy all classes of purchasers, but, it was at the same time a great, tiilliculfcy. Tiie Waste Land Act prohibited the laying off for single purchase.'., of more than 32") acres in co.itiguity. Siicl/arca-s fib to be laid down ia grass would be raarlacl olf. To meet the views of men of less c>.p: til or more moderate wishes, areas of 5) acres, or under, of agricnltnrai ian-Js of tin best quality wouldbe laid off so that thoy might really be used'fjr agricultural purpose?. Then it was 'proposed that thr> conditions of purchase, which had hitherto been h Id in abeyance, should be enforced. In fact, a bill had been hild on the table, for enforcing a tv.x for nonfulfihaonfr, as regarded all-lands that had been purchased at l(b an acre and had not bean improved. Tiie proposal would no doubt be well sifred by the Committee, and it would come before the House, improved or otherwise, as a consequence. A3 an encouragement to emigration, it was proposed to purchase land from the Crown, and to lay it oif in suiill sec • tions, calculated to suit the moans of intending emigrants or new arrivals, and to lease to them, with a purchasing clause in the agreement, so that th--v might be eucmraged to settle at once. If the Government were the landlords, the lease would also contain an improvement clause, so that if improvement was not made within a certain time, the land would revert to the Government. As to the immigration of females, the House lad before approved of the plan: and on the whole, the Government must express themselves as satisfied with the females that had arrived in the several vessels noted of late. The Government had recommended that for 12 months, about 100 females should be supplied monthly. By that time the system would have i.een thoroughly tested; and iu the next session, probably, the Council would be able to go more fully into the matter, and decide more clearly upon what should be done thereafter. The question of the gold fields would have to be considered this session. Sin?e last session* a very important field had been discovered; and the Government, acting upon powers given by the Council, gave to Hartley and Reilly, the discoverers, £1,000 each as compensation, on condition that a certain amount of gold was forwarded to Dunedin, by escort, within a given time. The condition was accomplished, and one of the discoverers had already received his money. The Government would not, however, recommend that any fresh discoveries should at present be rewarded in the same way ; because they discovered that the gold fields of the country were now pretty well developed ; and that there was lull occupation for all and more than all the.miners who had yet arrived, or were likely to arrive within the next three or four months. ■ The question of telegraphs had occupied the attention of the Government. The General Government had had under consideration the propriety of constructing a Hue throughout New Zealand; but, from want of muds, or some other reason, the idea had not been carried out. It had, instead, been proposed to the Provinces in the Middle Island to construct lines in connection with those of the General Government in the North Island, the same to revert to the General Government on repayment of cost of construction and some other items. By arrangeinant/ it had been agreed that sums should be placed on the estimates, by Canterbury, for a line from Nelson to the Waitaki; and by Otago, for a line from the Waitaki to the border of Southland, or to the Mataura river. Lighthouses were greatly needed. This was a work which also of right belonged to the General Government: but it had been devolved upon the Provinces to do it if they pleased. The Government of this Province had consented to erect lighthouses on Capo.SauniJet'a and at Tairoa Head, and to .bear .a share of the expense of one on Dog Island. The first cost of these constructions,- would, no doubt, be gradually repaid by the charges upon shipping. Another important question which hud engaged the

attention of the Govev'rimont and would be brought before (he Council, was the dredging of the Harbor. A sum would ba placed on the estimates for the purchase aud maintenance of a die-ige in order to open up f.ho iiarhor, so that largo vessels might come up to Danediii. He doubted uot, ilnt in committee of ways and means the House would consent to the appropriarion of the necessary sum; bufc lie did not expect that the master would be fully carried out before the next session. The Government would also, by a resolution, recommend the Council to empower a guarantee of 6 per cent, being given to any Company who would undertake to construct a patent slip. It was not believed that the work would email any real cost on the Government ; but still the guarantee might encourage the formation of a Company for carrying out this very important object. The Government had had under consideration the question of a mnil service via Panama. During the last session of the Assembly, the General Government obtained a vote of L30,000 towards " this object. The Provincial Government had boon led to believe, or at least to hope, that for L50,000 a year, a service via Panama might be established. There had been communications with the Postmaster-General; and the Provincial Government had asrreed to recommend the Council to pay L25,000 a year towards the cost, on condition that Otasro should bs the terminal port for the steamers, and that this Government should receive any contributions or subsidies paid by tiie Australian colonies for letters carried "by the steams. The hist marter to which he would direct attention, was the decision come to by the Government that at the closii of this session it was expedient that there should be a dissolution of the Council. But before that time came, the Government were desirous to see passed a new Electoral District BUI. Such a bill won id be introduced ; but at present there wore some siishl; difficulties in the way. connected with the doctoral roll, n? to which a correspondence was £oiugon with the General Government. The reply, expected in a few days, would, it was beiieved/removd tho-e difficulties. He hal now shadowed out the policy of the Government for the. present session. Houorabis members were now subftantialiy in possession of the views of the Government, on the important questions that would come before them ; and they had tha opportunity of coniiderin^ whether they would support the Government in carrying out tiie policy thus enunciated, or whether they would prefer tiiat, others should take office and carry on the business of Government. (Applause.) I CRISIIALS' OUDINANOR. The PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR moved the second reading of ••' An Ordinance to prevent the influx of Criminals into tiie Province of Ott^o." It wns, wir:i one or two exceptions, a transcript of the bill which wai last session adopted by the Council, but disallowed by tha General Government, and which w;i,i a transcript of an .\cfc of t.h^ Parliament of Victoria. The essential modification now made was, that the persons included were not those who had committed a felony in Great Britain and Ireland, or in any British possession, but tho-.e who at the time of arriving' here had not only boon convicted of fe'ony, bufc were actually under sentence. He contended that, this bill ought to be -at once r.cceded to by the General Government, especially seeing that the Assembly had failed to p;\s<s an act for the contemplated purpose, which they might have done after the disallowance of the Bill sent up from the Provincial Council. It was desired to forward the present bill to Auckland as speedily as possible, so that, supposing: it to be returned with amendments, thoy might be incorporated in the bill during the present session. Tiie bill was read a second time; and the House went into committee. Clauses 1 to 4 were agreed to without discussion. On clause 5, Mr CA'RGILL objected to the fine of LIOO, or imprisonment for six 'months, for harboring. &c,, any person in the Province contrary to the provisions of tha Ordinance. It was an exceedingly heavy punishment for an offence «l -asy to allege and not easy to disprovr. Mr REYNOLDS said the object was to punish for knowingly harboring1. After discussion, the clause was affirmed. On cln.use G, Mr CARGILL protested against the fine of LIOO or six months' imprisonment imposed upon the captain of a ship for bringing to the Province a person within the terms of the Ordinance. Captains were already exposed to vexatious prosecutions to an extent that militated considerably against the port; and in this case, it was just impossible that a captain could know -whether a person coming on board his vessel was or was not a person under sentence for felony. Mr REYNOLDS said that no inconvenienca was complained of by captains visiting Melbourne or California, whore the re^-ulstions were even stronger than those proposed. The PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR consented to a notification, throwing the onus probandi of know ledge, &c, upon a complainant; and he would not object to a reduction of the penalty to £50. Mi- CARGILL proposed that the penalty be £20, and tiie imprisonment a month ; but this was negatived without a division. The other clauses were agreed to, and the House resumed. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY gave notice that he wouid move the third reading- at the next sitting (to-day). POLICE KEGUIiATION BILL. Thn PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR said that the Ordinances affecting the police were two—one passed in 1815-7, and the other in 1819. Both were very defective; and the Bill which ha now moved to read a_ second time, sought to remedy those defects, and to give a thorough organisation to a police force, admittedly of "real; excellence. The motion was seconded and carried ; and the House having gone into Committee, the c'auses were agreed to seriatim. The House resumed ; progre-s was reported ; and the bill was ordered to be read a third timo on Monday. The House adjourned at half-past eight, until four o'clock to-day.