PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 524, 23 July 1866, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

— _—_<£. — — WEDNESDAY, 18th JULY, 1866. * EVENING SITTING-. The Speaker (Mr Wilson) took the chair at 7 o'clock. Members present- — Messrs Blacklock (Provincial Treasurer), Swale, Johnston, Lumsden, Clarke, Ho well, Armstrong, Cowan, Crerar, Davies, Pearson, Hodgkinson, Stuart and Clark The minutes of last meeting were, being read, when the PEOVINCIAL TREASURER explained that the rule was, that the rninutos of one days' proceedings should bn read next. Reading deferred. Dr H.ODG-KTNSON, chairman of committee, appointed to draw up a reply to his Honor's address, asked leave to table the reply. Seconded by Mr ARMSTRONG-, and carried. Reply read.— " The Council regrets that your Honor's state of health has prevented your addressing us personally, and sincerely sympathise with you in your illness. The selling of the railways, instead of leasing them, ia indeed ' a matter that deserves great consideration, and wo assure your Honor it shall receive the same afc our hands. "We perceive your Honor deems it i desirable to extend the period for leasing the railways in the event of this Council being of the opinion that it is not advisable to sell that property. The appointment of an efficient and trustworthy agent to effect sales of our waste lands, in Australia and Great Britain, and to give information such as shall lead to the introduction of emigrants of a good character both of the worlciug and employing class shall receive every consideration from the Council. SAMUEL HODQIvINSON, Chairman. Invercargill, July 15. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER moved, Mr ARMSTRONG- seconded, that the reply be adopted. Mr LUMSDEN said he hardly felt disposed to allow the motion to pass without making a remark. Though the matter would come before the House in another shape, when its merits would be discussed, he felt it due to himsylf to state that he could not endorse the latter clause of the reply. Mr STUART said there were two ways in which to look at the reply. The i*eply itself might be considered on debateable grounds, or as merely a matter of courtesy to his Honor. If the Council were to follow the latter plan, which, for reasons he considered the most desirable, it should consist of nothing but genteel generalities, giving no expression of opinion which should give rise to discussion. Now, this reply contained at least one paragraph which, as one of the Council, it was impossible for him (Mr Stuart) to allow to pass, and he would oppose the motion for that reason, and he thought the better plan would be for the Council to consider the reply as a mere matter of courtesy, and to have the paragraph referred to exchanged, and a more general one substituted. It was possible that the Executive might not be able to endorse all that was contained in the reply. If the reply was received, or if they did endorse it, it was clear that it was debatable ground, and they might find themselves in the position of having to bolster up an address which they did not like. He would suggest that that paragraph should be struck out which had reference to the appointment of an agent being engaged to visit the Australian Colonies and Great Britain, for the purpose of land, etc. The Grovernment must either be prepared to take up the speech and say that it is theirs, or fall back on the old plan of considering the reply a piece of courtesy, and making it deal in generalities. The hon member then proposed, as an amendment, that after the words " the payment of a trust- worthy agent to effect sales, etc," there be added the words "shall receive at our hands every consideration." The Executive were always expected to make their own statement. Mr COWAN seconded the amendment. It seemed to him that it was a very necessary or.c, and that the reply should be merely an echo of the sentiments propounded in the address — sentiments which were yet to be brought to a climax. To a particular paragraph taken exception to, he had also a dislike. The Council had been told that certain things had been done. A certain gentleman had entered upon his duties for a particular object. It was due to the Council that before such a position should have been taken up by the Provincial Grovernruent, that they (the Council) should have been consulted. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr Cowan) disliked that paragraph in so far as it confirmed to a certain extent the action that apparently had been taken by the Superintendent and the Provincial Government. This was a matter on which the Council should have been consulted — upon which they would have fought, and upon which they likely would have divided. He (Mr Cowan) had very great pleasure in seconding the amendment. Dr. HODG-KINSON thought the hon member was under a misapprehension. It was a mere matter of words, and he (Dr. Hodgkinson) did not see the object of calling the report in question. Mr. ARMSTRONG asked to withdraw his motion. He would make no opposition to the' amendment. The SPEAKER objected to this as not being in proper form, and begged to make one remark in reply to what had been said by Dr. Hodgkinson. That reply pointed to the entire concurrence of the Council with the action taken by the Government. Dr HODGKINSON said he presumed to differ from the Speaker. Mr ARMSTEGNG- again begged to ndthdraw the motion standing in his oarne. The SPEAKER, said there was no aecessity. Mr JOHNSTON believed the hon member could withdraw his motion with '

the concurrence of the House. Mr STUART thought the Council should have a reason why the motion should bo withdrawn. After some discussion the motion was withdrawn, and the amendment carried. NOTICES OF MOTION. THE RAILWAYS. Mr BLACKLOCK moved for leave to bring in a bill entituled " the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway Sale Ordinance, 1866." Seconded by Mr ARMSTRONG, and granted. The Dili was then read a first time, and the second reading made an order of the day for Thursday morning's sitting. Mr BLACKLOCK: moved for leave to bring in a bill entituled " the Oreti Railway Sale Ordinance, 1866." Mr ARMSTRONG secouded ; leave granted. Bill read a first time, and second reading made an order of the day for Thursday morning's sitting. THE HOME AGENCY. Mr ARMSTRONG- moved for leave to bring in a bill entituled " the Special Provincial Agent Ordinance, 1866." The PROVINCIAL TREASURER seconded; leave granted. Bill read a first time, and second reading made an order of the day for Thursday evening's sitting. ORETI BRIDGE. Mr A. M. CLARK asked the Government why it had not called for tenders for the construction of abridge over the Oreti, at what is known as Mitchell's Perry, and that a copy of the present occupant's lease .be laid on the table. The hon member said he asked the question because the G-overnment had shown a want of energy in the matter, and especially as the ferry at present was hardly safe, and that unless a new punt or bridge were furnished, there would, in a short time, bo no communication that way at all. He could see no reason why a bridge should not be preferred to a punt as being nearly as cheap, and more satisfactory. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER said the government had had very great difficulty in dealing with their tenant, the ferryman now in possession, owing to the informal documents drawn out when he took possession. The difficulty had been made by him not agreeing to what might be considered a formal contract. The draft had been in his possession now for several months, and he will not agree to the terms. The government, finding that they could not bring him to terms , have determined to go on with the bridge. The conditions had been prepared, and laid before the Executive Council recently. These conditions have not been finally arranged, owing to some of the matters requiring to be referred tv the Provincial Solicitor, but the G-overn-ment were in hopes of being able to call for tenders within about a week. SCHOOL COMMITTEES. Dr HODGKINSON moved that the Executive be requested to give timely notice for calling meetings of ratepayers in the various school districts, for the purpose of electing school committees. The hon member said the object of his motion was to ascertain whether anything could be done to remove the disabilities under which we were now suffering. Upwards of a year ago a resolution was passed that the working of the Education Ordinance should be suspended until a new ordinance could be prepared, the understanding being that a new ordinance wouldbesubstitutedin a few months. A considerable time had now elapsed, and it was desirable that the proper machinery should be put in motion in order that some supervision of schools should take place. He did not press the motion, but wished it to be considered whether ifc would not be well that arrangements should be made to enable committees to be elected in the various districts with power to supervise the schools in the ordinary way. It did not follow, though this was done, that rates need be levied. The question of schools was one of the most important that could be attended to in this or any new country. Mr JOHNSTON" concurred in the opinions expressed, and seconded the motion. Mr ARMSTRONG- said that the reason of the government's inaction in this matter was the fact that the Education Ordinance was suspended. There existed a necessity for its suspension. It was found totally inadequate to the wants of the Province, and was exceedingly unpopular. The government were not prepared to bring forward a new ordinance this session. The Provincial Solicitor had been consulted, and had given it as his opinion that the fact of electing committees would put the ordinance in motion again, and that the rates could be called for still. The government therefore while they deplored the want of an efficient education scheme, thought it would be injudicious to put the old machinery in motion. The SPEAKER did not think this Council had any right to suspend any ordinance the governor had sanctioned. It was beyond their power. (Hear hear.) Mr LUMSDEN thought the education question one of the most important that could be entertained by the Council. It was a discredit to the government that the affair was allowed to be in abeyance so long, and that the best way to spur on the government Avould be to put the present ordinance* if it is one so objectionable, into motion. The government would soon have to amend it. He (Mr Lumsden) had always a great pleasure in paying the education tax. It was a duty, owing to the present and the future, and a tax we ought to pay most ungrudgingly. It was a disgrace to this province that a ragged school should have been rendered a necessity owing to the laxness of the government in not introducing some cheap scheme of education. In the meantime he would give his support to the motion of the hon member for Riverton. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER could hardly understand the expression

used by the lion member for Invercargill, as to the government requiring a spur. "When the present government took office they found a certain ordinance suspended. He could not see what action they could take under it. As to devising a new cheap method of education that was another matter. At last Council it was thought proper to defer consideration of it. The present session had been called for special business, and an ordinance of this sort required very deliberate consideration. He could not think the government deserved the epithets referred to (Hear hear.) Mr STUART said he thought all parties must agree that the state of matters at present was most unfortunate, and we had to consider what might come upon us if the matter was not taken up in time; when the ordinance was suspended he (the hon member) had moved the suspension. It was agreed to, because the ordinance was unpopular, cumbersome in its machinery, and hard in its bearing upon settlers. Still it was only done on the understanding that some better system should be soon devised. Newly in office at that time, he did not know how meagre the means at the disposal of the government were. His plan was to subsidese the teachers in the districts, by grants in aid of the school fees, until some appropriate ordinance could be matured. The government found, after very carefully ' considering their means, that even this could not be done, and that they were utterly unable to carry out their promise. Why the ordinance had not been brought in since, he (Mr Stuart) could not tell. He thought some blame was attachable to the present government. He was entitled to ask why they are not prepared with some measure, even a temporary one. It was no answer to say the Council is called for a special purpose. The Council was at liberty to discuss every subject under the sun which affected the Province. The members, who were greatly interested in the question, could hardly be expected to let it pass. Rather than see things altogether at a standstill as at present, he would only be too happy to support the amendment for the purpose of reviving the present ordinance. Dr HODGKINSON explained that he brought the question up now because the usual time for the education meetings is the month of August. There could not be another meeting for another year, and consequently no supervision for si-hools. After some further discussion, the motion was carried. RAILWAY CORRESPONDENCE. Mr STUART, in moving that an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent to lay before the Council copies of all correspondence with Mr Doyle, engineer, said his object was to obtain for himself and the members of Council information which, during last session they had only got partially ; and the information, so far as got, was not, he understood, satisfactory. The information given privately by the Grovernment had been rather different from that given the Council, and therefore the production of the correspondence was required. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER said it was understood this motion was not to be made till Thursday's sitting, the correspondence would be read then. Motion seconded by Mr Clark, and carried. RALWAY LEASING- ORDINANCE. Mr BLACKLOCK moved for leave to bring in a bill entitled the Oreti Railway Leasing Ordinance, IS6G, Amendment Ordinance, 1866. Mr ARMSTRONG- seconded; leave granted; the bill read, and second reading made an order for next sitting. Mr BLACKLOCK moved for leave to bring in a bn\entitled- the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway Leasing Ordinance, 1866, Amendment Ordinance, 1566. Mr ARMSTRONG- seconded; leave granted, and bill read. Mr STUART reminded the G-overn-inent that it would only be courteous before asking leave to bring in bills (seeing the reply to his Honor's address had been made a matter of courtesy) — that they (the G-overnment) should make some statement of their policy to the Council. Seeing the members had been called together they were entitled to ask this. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER said it was quite unusual to give any explanation about the bills till the second reading. The Superintendent's address was so very full that the government did not consider further explanation necessary. Mr ARMSTRONG- said the hon member for Waikivi had always neglected to do this when in office. Mr STUART said he had never neglected this. • The SPEAKER drew the attention of the hon member to the rule " That the title only slaaU be read, the first reading shall take place without discussion." After some further discussion, the motion was carried. THE BLUFF RAILWAY TERMINUS. Mr LUMSDEN moved "that an address be presented to His Honor the Superi-itendent, requesting him to present to tin' 8 Council for its information, origiuals oc copies of a petition forwarded to him by certain inhabitants of, and owners of land in, Campbelltown, respecting the proposed railway terminus in that town, together with the plans annexed, and correspondence thereon." The hon member introduced the motion with some remarks. It was then seconded and carried. THE LUNATICS. Mr LUMSDEN asked the government the number of lunatic patients at present under charge in the lunatic ward, and the average cost of- each patient to the Province. The hon member stated his reason for asking the question.

Mr ARMSTBONQ- intimated that t\e information would be Bupplied at next sitting. Several notices of motion were given, and the house then adjourned. *