PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 276, 29 May 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The following additional items have come to hand since our last issue :— patutahi block. Mr. Crawford asked, “ If the Government have any intimation of the sale of the Patutahi block of land in the Poverty Bay district, aud wheu it is likely to be submitted for sale.” Last session it was estimated that the proceeds of this block would amount to £23,000, and the Provincial Secretary then stated that surveyors would be employed on the land, the value of which would be thereby much enhanced. He had visited the locality recently, and could say that the land was of a most superior description, and that no less a sum than £450 had been paid for the right to cut grass seed. He had heard that the General Government were unwilling to dispose of the laud in view of /the proposed provincial changes, for fear that the Province would realise any of the proceeds. Mr. Reader Wood replied that there had been no intimation given that the land had been sold, but the Colonial Secretary had stated, in a letter, that the sale would take place soon. SHEEP ACT. Mr. Reader Wood moved the second reading of this Bill, which he explained was a consolidation of all the existing Acts, which were very conflicting. It had been drawn up at the request of the Sheep Inspector, whose suggestions regarding provisions for properly examining sheep supposed to be afflicted with scab were embodied in it. The new provisions in the Bill were —“Inspector to have power to separate suspected sheep ;” “ all sheep under treatment for scab to be deemed scabby sheep ;” “ Inspector to impound wandering sheep“ Inspector to give clean driving certificate.” Bill read a second time, and considered in Committee.

On the motion of Mr. Lusk, progress was reported, and the Bill referred to a Select Committee consisting of Messrs May, Buckland, Hamlin, Johnson, Morris, Crawford, Harris and Shepherd.

MB. H. H. LUSK. The message from the Superintendent with reference to Mr. H. H. Lusk’s having been cast in damages to the extent of £4O on Government account was considered. Mr. Macready wanted more information on the subject. Was it Mr. Lusk’s own fault that he had lost the money P He saw by the papers that the member for Poverty Bay, Mr. Woodbine Johnson, was bringing up a petition from parties who said they had lost money from the transaction. If that were the case, and Mr. Lusk had also lost money, it must have been a “ bad spec” altogether. Mr. Beader Wood had no further information, and suggested that the better plan would be to move the adjournment of the debate until the arrival of Mr. Johnson. Mr, Buckland thought it better to adopt that suggestion, as the question appears to be one of evidence. The message was ultimately referred to the Private Grievance Committee. petitions. Mr. W. Johnson presented a petition from certain settlers at Poverty Bay, setting forth that in their opinion Mr. James Siddons had not received full reperation for the loss he had sustained through the calpable laxity of the officials of the Provincial Government, and they participated in the general feeling, that the award in the District Court had not met the case , either as a prevention or correction of such dangerous blunders; or as a satisfaction to the aggrieved person. They had been personally acquainted with Mr. Siddons for many years, and bore witness that he had been subjected to great anxiety of mind in consequence of the error. A petition was also presented by Mr. Johnson from Mr. James Siddons. The petitions were received, and referred to the Private Grievance Committee. HIGHWAY DISTRICTS. Mr. Rees asked, “ Whether the Government have taken any steps to carry out address No. 57, presented to his Honor the Superintendent by this Council at the last Session ?.’ Mr. Beader Wood said the object of the address alluded to was to recommend the Government to make some provision for taxing European subjects outside of highway districts. Nothing had been done with reference to it up to the present

INCOME TAX. Mr, Rees moved “ That a respectful Address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to send down a Bill to this Council providing for the imposition and collection of an Income Tax in the Province of Auckland —such tax to be levied upon all incomes over £3OO per annum, and to be fixed at the rate of one per centum per annum upon such incomes, and that the said tax be devoted primarily to the purpose of education, including elementary, technical, and scientific education, and all cognate branches.” He estimated that there were 1,500 persons who would pay the tax, and that it would yield £17,000. The following items were passed on the estimates :— Gisborne Gaol, rations £37 10s., fuel £l2 10s., contingencies £7 10s. Relief in out-districts, £175. Gisborne Harbour-master and pilot, £75 ; one boatman, £4B ; contingencies, £25 ; total, £l4B.