EVENING SITTING.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 47, 24 February 1864, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The Deputy-Speaker took the chair at ten minutes past seven. Present — Messrs. Calder, Chalmers, Cowan, Stuart, Wilson, Howell, M'Kay, Beaven, Scott, Jackson and Tarlton. THE BEPEESENTATIOX BILL. Mr. Stuart was called on to move that the House consider the Amended Representation Bill, but that gentleman was absent at the time. Mr. CHALMERS, who was to move the next^ three bills on the order paper, wished them postponed till the Representation Bill was disposed of. Mr. COWAN suggested that if any other member of the Select Committee was present perhaps he would take charge of the Bill in the absence of Mr. Stuart. Mr. TARLTON, as one of the members of the Select Committee, would briefly explain the nature of the alterations made on the bill. When referred to the Select Committee, the Province was divided into twenty districts. On ■ carefully examining the boundaries of these distiicts the Committee found them exceedingly defective ; in some districts there were no persons living, no voters; in others, but a few. The first care of the Committee was to alter the schedule of the Bill entirely, and they had divided the provmce- into thirteen districts. These had been arranged, not according to theprinciple which was stated by the mover of the Bill, but had a direct reference to a unity of interests, and the number of population resident ih the respective districts. The Committee also endeavored to make the decision so that great geopraphical boundaries should become marks that woidd separate one district from another, and other boundaries — such as great road lines— so that no dispute might arise as to which district a voter was in. If the House would- look at the map, he thought it would find that the committee had been vory successful in presenting a well arranged total plan. With regard to the number of members, , tlie committee, on carefully C9nsidering the matter, ' thought that twenty would give such an increase in the Council as would 'represent the increase of the Province, and such an increase of members would give an increase to the talent of .the. House, and enable them to. (Tarry on its business with more acceleration. The Committee therefore proposed theYFollowing arrangement for distributing the twenty members :— -Invercargill, 4 members ; Riverton j2 j CampbeUtown, 1 ; Waiopahi, 2; Longwood, 1; Waikivi, 1; Roslin, 2; Aparima, ' JL"; Waianawa, 1 ; New River, 1 ; Oteramika, 1; Oreti,,!; .and Waiau, I' member. Total, 20. If membM ; sVesiding in those districts would look- into it they would find that -'the division hadVbeeh made with, the strictest impartiality. After .describing the= ; boundaries ,of the yarious districts' he moved that the House go into committee on the Bill. .;, , y.. v : ---' v MrY WiLSON riecqtided the motibil; -;; ' ~ a •' -Mr:" 'COW AN •would •' -offer' afew remarks before gpinginto cominittee,"ih case it', should .be the decision of the House that -no more than

twenty4ti6\ild'hef the M&L nhihhbr of tnombeira provided for in; the Bill. . He considered that two particular 'districts, Oreti and Waiau, ought to;have more -than ibn'e.hieihber each. He Btatedthis at that time; because these two' being placed at. tho.bottop of the list, their claims might be "shut out "if the total number were limited to twenty. He could" not support .their claims to additional members on account of 'population; as according to the present electoral ■jtoll-therer wore only 84 qxialillodito votb ihitho ! " two cUstri-dtsV ? hilt theso 5J.4 ; had quaHfiod'themselves in^particular branch: viz., eheep,.. and ; . their interest. (was t . perhaps more than that of all others' put' together.' ' In the month of September last no fewer than 188,000 sheep, wore returned to the Treasury as liable to "bo taxecti and thpro was no , doubt tlie nuihbbr would' be much 1 larger nbw. Qn that ground' and' the amount of eapitdl invested he .claimed for these districts additional representation "to " that provided for them in the Bill. He was sorry his colleague (Mr. Rogers), was not present to endorse liis statements. -*.; ,- Mr. CHALMERS . quite endorsed the statements ofthe hon. member. -, Lt was only justice' to the. electors in those districts tof'consider the matter fairly, as probably they had more at stake than all the rest of the Province put together. He considered it his duty to second the hon. members remarks, and he was sure' the : House 'would* do justice to them and save bickering at some future time. Mr. M'EAY suggested' an alteration. •; Ho saw that it was proposed to give Longwood one member, and Aparima two. He considered this very unfair. They ought to be very careful. He had only got the Bill that day, and there appeared to be only one small map to consult, aud one hardly knew what he was looking at on it. ■ -Mr. TARLTON: " Oh, yes, he can." Mr. M'KAY moved "That consideration of the Bill be- postponed till to-morrow evening's sitting. There being no seconder the motion lapsed. The House then went into committee on tho Bill. The preliminary clauses were passed witliout discussion. A debate took place on whether Campbelltown should have one or two members, one only being set down in the Bill. At the close the " ayes" had it for two. Mr. M'KAY contended fiercely for an additional member to Waikivi. On the question being put, the Chairman declared for the "noes;" but Mr. M'Kay insisted on a, division, at which he stood alone on the right hand side of the chair. A division also took place on the motion of Mr. WILSON that New River district shoukl have two representatives instead of one. The "ayes" carried it by a majority of one. Mr. STUART moved — "That progress be reported, in order to reconsider the claims of Waihopai and AVakivi to additional representation to that given in the Bill." The House resumed, and Mr. STUAUT made a motion in accordance withthe explanations above given. Mr. TARLTON was sorry for various reasons, that the number of members should exceed twenty. Mr. SOOTT was of the sam-v-* opinion. Mr. STUART'S motion—" That the House goiuto committee aud reconsider the clause,'' was carried, and The House went into committee, and after some discussion, divided on whether the above district should have two or three members. Mr. CALDER moved that it hare thro*.', but the motion was lost by the easting vote of the Chairman. The question that tlie clause stand as printed was then put by the Chairman, aud the House again divided, with the same result fivo on cat-li side. Tlio Ch-airm-.i-u decided for the " Ayes." The remaining clauses were passed without discussion, and the Schedule was also adopted Tiith some trilling alterations. Progress was reported, and the House resumed. Mr. STUART moved the suspension of tlio standing orders, in order that he might move the third reading of the Bill. Mr. M'KAY opposed the motion. Some time ought to be allowed the members for considering the Bill. The whole political system of the country for the next four years, hinged upon that Bill, (cries of no, no,) aud they ought to have time to consider it. To force it through in one night was far too hurried. Mr. WILSON considered the Bill in its amended form an improvement. Mr. COWAN saw no necessity for rcacVng it the third time that night. Mr. TARLTON was of the same opinion, and considered it advisable to postpone the third reading till next clay, as in the interim they might iind some error. Mr. STUART had no objections to postponing, but he thought that by reading it then, business would be facilitated. Mr. TARLTON moved that the third reading take place to-morrow evening. Mr. M'KAY seconded tlie motion, mhich was carried. UEBENTUBES BILL. Mr, CHALMERS enquired if there was any Committee appointed to report on the state of the works on the Bluff and Invercargill and Great Northern Railways ? If there was one, no report had been brought up, and it was impossible to go on /with the Debentures or Appropriation Bills till they had it. Mr. TAR (.TON said the motion* was withdrawn. Notices op Motion. Mr. Wilson gave notice that at to-morrow morning's sitting he would move — " That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the construction of the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway, and the Northern Kailway, with power to call for papers, persons, and reports, and for leave to report from time to time. The Committee to consist of Messrs. Stuart, Calder, M'Kay, and the mover." Mr. Wilson also gave notice, that at the same time, he would move — " That an address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, respectfully requesting him to cause to be laid upon the table of this Council copies of the contract entered into with Messrs. G-reville and Whiting, with specifications thereto belonging and dated 31st December, IS 62, for supplying road metal, and of a contract with tha same parties dated IGth August, 1863 ; together with copies of all correspondence that has taken place between the Deputy Superintendent and the Engineer of Roads relative to the road metal furnished by Messrs. G-reville and Whiting." The Council then adjourned at 10.5 p.m. «. .