PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 279, 9 June 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

STEAM. Mb. Johnson asked, “Whether the terms of contract between the Provincial Government and the Auckland Steam Packet Company are such as to compel them to enter the river at Gisborne, both coming and going. If such is the case, why have they not been compelled to do so ? If not, whether the Provincial Government would make that one of the conditions of the next contract?” The steamer called at Gisborne on her downward trip, but not when returning.

Mr. Reader Wood said the contract was not made with the Provincial Government, but with the General Government, and he believed the,terms were that the steamer was to call at Gisborne, weather permitting. £l,BOO had been placed on the estimates for steam subsidies for the

ensuing six months, and that sum was only half of what would be required for the year to maintain steam subsidies their present footing. IMMIGRANTS* cottages ' Mr. Johnson asked, “y“ et h er tke Immigration Cot Wires At >isborne were built by the GeKe-V, or , Brovmcml Government? the letter. why tenders were JVvro not called for at Gisborne, an/rhat the cost of the same was?" :■/{ : 4 Mr. Rejiuew Wiwd.’isaid the cottages were paid forty the General Government. The late Sitoerinteudent, acting on behalf the General Government, called for tenders in Auckland for their construct ion, and tenders for their conveyance to Gisborne. Tip total cost of each cottage was £l6O. ® WHABVIS AT GISBORNE.

Mr. Johnsoti asked, “ Whether, the Government inteided to take any steps to erect public whrfage. accommodation at Gisborne,” \ Mr. Reader Vood said no doubt the work was very ncessary, and if the Provincial Governmathad funds it would be one of the firi it would undertake. But the lamentffile lack of funds prevented his holdiig out any hope that, at any rate, within tie next six months, anything could be d>au with respect to the wharf.

EWCATION. Mr. Lusk asked the Provincial Treasurer, “ Whither the Government intend to make ahy proposal to this Council in its present Session to provide funds for defrayiig the current expenses of the Board of Jiducation- until the rates authorised by thl Education Act can be levied and collected?" He put this question the more confidently from an express,on on thepart of the Superintendent, of his intention to submit some plan for this purpose during the present Session. The Session was drawing to a close, and hon. members were getting anxious to know what the Superintendent proposed to do. Mr. Reader Wood said the Superintendent had given instructions for the levying of the rate for tke current year, and he was now in correspondence with the Bank of New Zealand, endeavoring to make arrangements by which all the charges on account of education would be; met up to the end' of the current year, that was up to the the time when, in all probability, the Council would be called together again. If the Superintendent succeeded in making the arrangement he proposed to make there would be no necessity to submit any plan for further rating to the Council. BENEVOLENT SOCIETY AT GSBBOBNE.

Mr. Johnson movpd, “ That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place the sum of £lOO on the Supplementary Estimates in aid of the Benevolent Society at Gisborne.” Cases requiring the aid of a Benevolent Society were frequently occurring at Gisborne, and there were no means provided of attending to them. Mr. Wood said the Government regarded this in the light of a vote for hospital purposes, apd as such he would have no objection to the sum named being placed on the Estimates. Motion agreed to. HIGHWAY BILL. Mr. Dargaville asked if the Government intended to mafcej any amendment in the Highways Act, 1874. Mr. Wood replied that it was not intended to do so, as it had been found that the amendmentrabout which there was supposed to be some doubt had not only been passed in but had been confirmed by the Council. INCOMEl 5 TAX. The debate was resumed on Mr. Rees' motion, “That a respectful address be S resented to his Honor the Superintenent, 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 purposes of education, including elementary, technical, and scientific education, and all cognate branches.”

Mr. Carleton movedjas an amendment, “That in the opinion , of this Council direct taxation as distinguished from rates ought to be equally disfributed over all parts of the colony.” Several members having spoken on the subject, and Mr. Rees having replied, the question was put“ That the origmal motion stand part of the question,” upon •fcich tlie Council divided with the following results: —(Ayes, Boylan, Crawford, Harris, Lloyd, Lundon, Lusk, Peacocke, Reed, Rees, Roche, Swanson, Wilson. (Noes, 13): Bagnall, Ball, Buckland, Carleton, Carpenter, Dargaville, Dignan, Johnson,: May, Moat, Shepherd, Taylor, Wood. The amendment was, therefore, carried. MB. H. H. BUSK. Mr. Carleton brought up a report of the Committee on the message of the Superintendent with reference to the case of Siddons v. Lusk. The defendant was cast in damages to the amount of £44 3s. The liability was incurred as a Government official, and the Superintendent was of opinion that the defendant should be protected from the loss. The Committee saw no reason for differing from that view. It was admitted that some relaxation of the strict rule had occurred in regard to the payment of balances; but this was for general convenience, and to get over the difficulties which might

oceur from the unfrequency of postacommunication. The Committee recoml

mended the appropriation of the sum of

£44 3s, accordingly, and expressed an opinion that more stringent precautions should be taken in future regarding thq

dealings of Government officials w : public monies. Subsequently the iir. £44 3s to Mr. Lusk and £25 t the Siddons were both passed u' Estimates. the 2 8th lhe Council was prorogued of May. —