PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 49, 29 February 1864, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, 26tii FEBEUARY. EVENING SITTING. The House mot this evening at seven o'clock. Present: Messrs. Oowan, M'Nab, M'Kay, Wilson, How-ell, Beavcn, Tarlton, ; Chalmers, Bogovp, Scatfc and Caldev. , 4;, ; On tho motion of M>. M'KAY, sseoomled by My, M'XAS, My, 'farltpn. teal? the .chair us Deputy Spoakoj 4 ,- .. I MtSHStSilUli StMfBMBSTi Mv, OOWAN, before proceeding with the business of tho evening, had to inform tho Hottso, that His Honor the Supwinfciuleuti find formed an Executive Council, consisting of Mr, M'Nab, Mr. M'Kay, tvnd himself (Mr. Cowan) as Provincial Treasurer. He hoped that by to-morrow morning's sittings they would bo in a position to lay a statement before tho House, and proceed with the Estimates. My. O ALDER asked if it was the intention of Government to alter, reduce," or materially modify the Estimates. ; | Mr. COWAN said the Estimates had been taken into consideration by the new Exocucutivo, but their plans wore not sufficiently matured. to be /.laid before the. House. Tomorrow he hoped to be in a position to bringup the amended Estimates. Mr. ROCKERS asked whether the Execu-cutive-had taken into consideration the resolution adopted by the House yesterday evening, and whether they intended bringing in a bill to amend the Executive Council Ordinance. Mr. COWAN stated that the Executive had taken the matter into consideration, and it was unanimously resolved that, seeing the Council would be dissolved in a short time, it would be more advisable to leave the framing of such an Ordinance to the larger Covmcil. The members of tho Executive unanimously supported the idea that such a law was necessary for their guidance, and it was resolved that, pending the forming of this comprehensive Ordinance which ths Executive thought it necessary to pass, that a memorandum should be made out laying down the mode of proGcdiu'e. This would be in reality a law for their guidance, though it could not be binding like a legal enactment. When ready, it would be submitted to the Council for their information. Mr. ROGERS demurred altogether to the reasons brought forward for departing from the resolutions arrived at by the House last night. A memorandum between the Executive Council and the Superintendent, would only affect those who were members at the time it was made, and in the event of any difference arising which would cause the retirement of one member, the gentleman entering into his place must either consent to this memorandum, or have a new one drawn out ; in fact one would not know on what terms he was entering the Executive. He (Mr. Rogers) ffUy believed that before any one took office lie would have made a part of the plan that an amendment Ordinance should be brought in, and also that His Honor should agree to it. The new Ordinance, he conceived, could not be satisfactory to the House. It would be a difficult thing for any single member of the House to bring in, and carry through, such a Bill, and it would come more properly from the new Executive. If it was not done, the past crisis would occur again, in fact it was not yet over. Until they knew what was to be done, he considered the House could not vote money for any length of time, or in accordance with the wishes oi' the Executive Council. Mr. CALDER referred to the Provincial Treasurer's statement, that the Executive had deemed it advisable to leave the proposed Bill to a larger House. He (Mr. Calder) thought the principle involved woidd be just as good in a small, as in a large House aud he considered this a weak point in the explanations made. In Ms opinion the Executive should re-consider their decision. It was most undesirable that a new Council should have to deal with such a Bill, and their object should be to give the next Council the benefit of an Executive Council Ordinance. Mr. M'KAY held that there was no decided disagreement with the resolution of last night in the course which the new Executive had taken. The whole Executive agreed that it was imperatively necessury to have a new Provincial Government Ordinance, but that in the present state of the House it was imdesirable that men who might live officially only four or five days — perhaps ho was speaking prophetically — should bring iv such a Bill. But if the House thought it the most prudent line to pursue, he did not think the Executive would have any objections. Meantime in place of the Bill there was a code of agreement drawn up which would be submitted to the House, and if agreed to, the Executive hoped to carry on the business of the Province. Mr. WILSON would have the proposed bill immedietely. v Mr. CHALMERS suggested the possibility of the Representation Bill being disallowed, and then the memoivmdum would be the only document existing between the Superintendent and the Executive Council, and such a paper might be altered or re-arranged as they thought fit. He considered that before any member of the House took^office in the Government, the conditions on* which he did so should be clearly and definitely understood. Mr. COWAN said the only condition on which he joined the Executive was that the Amendment Bill should be framed, failing which the memorandum was adopted. It was on these terms he was sitting in his seat. Mr. M'NAB stated that the Government had no objection whatever to bring the amended ordinancs before the House. They had merely come to the opinion that seeing the Council would so soon be dissolved, it would be best if the new House were to deal with it. But, if the Council wished Government to bring this law on, he believed there would be no objection. Mr. BEAVEN asked whether Government were going to frame the Estimate to June or October. Mr. COWAN replied that they would be framed to the 30th September. fns honor's rejoinder. Mr. M'KAY, who was to move " That His Honor the Superintendent's Message No. 12, be accepted as a satisfactory explanation of his views: on the subject of responsible government," — asked leave to withdraw his motion. He read the portion relative to Mr. Stuart's resignation as a sufficient reason for .making the request. Leave was granted and the motion withdrawn. ' GRETII/LE AND "WHITIITG-'S CONTRACT. . Mr. WILSON asked an extension of time for the select committee to bring up their report on the road metal contracts. ; The time was extended to Tuesday evening. ■ " - ; PEETOO-PNETnirOHTA. 1 Mr. COWAN laid upon the table, for the information of the House, a copy of the Otago Government Gazette oi 17th hist., containing the pleuro-jmeumonia proclamation and regulations for that province. Notices op Motion. ! Mr. COWAN gave notice^that at Monday ' Morning's Sittings he would ask leave to bring ! in a bill, intituled,, " An Ordinance to amend the Debentures' Ordinance, 1863. " Mr. COWAN gave notice that Monday morning'B' sitting he would ask leave to bringin an Ordinance intituled " The Pig Nuisance Bill, 1864. Mr. CALDER gave notice that on Monday morning he wolild.moyo that his Excellency the Gi-qvernpr be memorialised to dissolve the Provincial Council on his assenting to the Representation Bill. t The House adjourned at .7:50 to noon" on Monday.