ORDERS OF THE DAY.

Southland Times, Issue 620, 18 January 1867, Page 9 (Supplement)

ORDERS OF THE DAY.

.L. |ir. XtTMSDJEN, in pursuance_of . notice, . moved—^^^af.tae^.hple' pf tii&pft'glrs ipu

Invercargiil Railway, including the contract for its ' completion, and the eorrespbndence in reference to Messrs jQalgetjr, Rattray & Co.'s lien, be laid on the table." He said it ■was highly necessary that if the Council approved of the resolution that its provisions should be complied with as soon as possible. t Too much secrecy had been observed in executive matters, and it was high time the relations cf the government atid the contractors, and the lien which had been the cause of so much expense to the province should be understood. Also that the Engineers report as 'to the actual character of the works at the present time, and further when it would be .finally put in possession of the government as the present opening was but a temporary one, and might involve no one knew what complications., . He reminded the Provincial Treasurer that at the time when the railway : : Commission \of Inquiry was allowed to lapse in consideration of the difficulty of a thorough investigation in the "advanced state of the works, he promised to obtain a report ' from the Railway Engineer. Former governments had caused to be published successive reports from the Engineers — whatever they were, the practice was satisfactory. The Provincial Treasurer said that, to show there was no desire to preserve any undue secrecy, -he might state it was the intention of the Government to have unasked laid on the table the documents called for. To prove his assertion all the documents in connection with the lien were already prepared, the others were lengthy and would take some time. There might be some ground for the imputation of secrecy on the part of the Executive. ; Itwasnot always expedient in the transaction of business to, so to speak, show your hand to those with whom you were dealing. The Goverrir ment was only lately in a position to publish the whole of the papers referred to, and did not deem it advisable to publish mere meagre progress reports. Mr Armstrong asserted there had been no secresy on his part with regard to Executive matters. He scouted the insinuation of undue reticence thrown out by the member for Invereargill — a member of , the Executive could not be expected to go about . teliing all " the men in + he street " what had been done. The reports of the Railway Engineer were on the table yesterday. He trusted that all feeling of distrust would be banished, and all would act with an honest desire for the good of the Province. ' The motion was then put and carried. EAST ROAD. Mr Wood, pursuant to notice asked the Government what steps were being taken for the purpose of completing that portion of the East Road now in course of formation. The' Provincial Treasurer replied that two or three days since the Railway Engineer had been requested to draw up specifications for the conveyance of metal from the Green Hills to Invercargiil. When delivered there arrangements would be made for laying it on the East Road. ■ . MEDIOAX PRACTITIONERS. Mr "Armstrong pursuant to notice, moved that a recommendation be made to the Honorable the Colonial Secretary to bring in -at the next meeting of the General Assembly a Bill for the protection of the Medical Practitioners throughout i he colony. A brief discussion took place on this motion Dv Menzies pointed out some of the anomalies arising from the want of a uniform law for the whole colony. The motion was carried on the voices. MAIN BOADS. Mr Armstrong asked, and obtained leave to postpone the motion standing in his name relative to the grant of 10,000 acres of land for the purpose of roadmaking. ..,-.- SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS. Mr Armstrong asked, and obtained leave for the suspension cf standing orders 26 and 27, in order to enable him to move " That a committee be formed for the purpose of determining to what extent a reduction can be made in the Provincial expenditure without injury to the public interest. To have power to call for persons, papers, and reports. The committee to consist of Messrs Cuthbertson, Cowan, Lumsden, Blackldck, Dr Menzies, and the mover to draw up a report and lay it. before the Council at the earliest opportunity." He (Mr A.) said it was obvious the time had come when rigid economy should be exercised. He thought the Council would appreciate the reasons why the government sought to be relieved of the responsibility of proposing reductions. In a place so small as this it was, on personal grounds, a disagreeable duty for a government desirous to retrench to carry out its wishes. The Provincial Treasurer seconded the motion. He thought little need be said in support of the motion when it was known that retrenchment must be the order of the day. Mr Cuthbertson suggested that five members would be best, so that on division numbers would be unequal, and that Mr Blacklock's name should be. the one withdrawn. It would save him from unpleasant duties. He (Mr C.) suggested the course for no other reason ; he was sure Mr Blacklock would be willing to forward "the objects proposed. Mr Blacklock's name was withdrawn. Mr Lumsden objected to the motion. There wwas's s ' an ■ executive council whose duty it was to *" frame estimates and do the work sought to be thrust upon a committee.' r The; motion was in fact one for the ; appointment of a provisional executive,; the nominal one having proved unable 'to fulfil the duties demanded by the ' exigencies of the occasion. Of. course it was. disagreeable fo/ them f;o rt6tte|i o ":ffiy r Mepd^ so-and-so.^ 'He {Mr ;fsiMsß ©Send 1 the power! of the Cdni-

mittee—there were other matters requiring investigation — the last half-years expenditute for instance. In the last published quarterly statement there were discrepancies due either to the stupidity of the government, or to printesr errors. (Mr Lumsden enumerated several instances.) There was the gaol— an institution for the protection of criminals he might call it t costing £1700 per annum, or £117 perhead per prisoner. The Hospital also cost too much — in the laßt quarter there was an excess of £103 over the amount voted. There was a better way of maintaining that charitable institution, and it ought to form a subject for consideration. It was surprising the Hospital should be more! expensive at a time when the general prosperity was greater. He thought the committee might well extend its labors and report on financial affairs generally. The Provinciai/ Tbeasueeb explained that the discrepancies aliuded to by Mr Lumsden were more apparent than real. There- were some printer's errors in the published Gazette, the original accounts as certified by the auditor would be sub^ lnitted.' Taking the whole year the sums paid for the various purposes would be! found correct — the published returns in the interim were not balance sheets but 1 only the expenditure for a period. For his own part he had not tha slightest objection to the fullest inquiry. - ' Mr Clerke should support the motion, although he thought it was rather a nice way on the part of the executive of sliding out of a difficulty they had not the 1 moral courage to face. "With respect to the Gazette, he supposed they were, as the Provincial Treasurer had once said the railway accounts were, " in such a state that no one could understand them." Mr Armstrong deprecated these exhibitions of feeling. Things were very peculiar in a small place like this, and the Government admitted they did not want the onus of cutting down. They had no enviable position : they were squeezed by the General Government and bullied by the Provincial Council, and were helpless between them. (Mr Clebee — ""Why don't you resign"). He (Mr A.) was not inclined to retort or be persuaded. The motion was then put and passed. KAIL WAX LEASING ORDINANCE. The Pbovinclal Treasurer asked and obtained leave to bring in the Bluff Eailway Leasing Ordinance, Amendment Ordinance, 3867, and Oreti Eailway Leasing Ordinance, 1867. CATTLE TRESPASS OBDINANCE. Mr Armstbong, the Cattle Trespass j Amendment Ordinance, 1867, first reading, to be made an order of the day, at the evening sitting.