NOTICES OF MOTION.

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

NOTICES OF MOTION.

'""'■ FOR THE EVENING SITTING. . Mr Ntjbse- — For leave to bring in a bill entitled the Fire Brigade and Fire Prevention and Extinguishment Bili, 1 1867. ' Mr Clerke to ask the Groverntnent if | theyliave paid Messrs Smyth, Hoyt and Co., in full for the completion of the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway, tJJLclusiro of -tlio -bovmxniia at -tfeia Tiliiff, arid if so whether the work was passed as completed by the Provincial Engineer, and if not paid in full, what amount has been paid to Messrs Smyth, Hoyt and Co., and further, how it is that the said line is open for the transmission of goods, and is not available for passenger traffic, except for friends of the Railway Engineer. Mr LtnsfSDEsr — That an address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to. furnish the Council with the plans, specifications, and conditions of lease in connection with the erection of a bridge at the New River. Mr "Wood — That this Council is ot opinion that full effect should- be given to a resolution passed during its previous session, viz. : — For placing the Campbelltown Station further westward, and that in accordance with that resolution, and also the wishes of the residents of Campbelltown the passenger station should be erected one hundred feet westward of the site now selected. Mr Lttmsden — That an Audit Committee to be chosen by ballot be appointed to report upon the last halfyears accounts ending December 31st, 1866, with power to call for persons and papers. - : "■ BEPOBTS. ; The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table reports from the heads of departments. The House adjourned at 1.20 p.m. Evening Sitting. Proceedings commenced at 7.25 Present.— Messrs Wilson (Speaker), Holmes, Blacklock, Johnston, Toshack, Lumsden, Swale, Cowan, Armstrong, Howell, T. M. CJerke, Crerar, Cuthbertson, Menzies, Pearson; Nurse, Wood, .and Hodgkinson. ■■:■.:., Mr Cowan, pursuant to notice, moved — " To ask the Government what action, if any, has been taken to give effect to a resolution of the Council, passed on the 19th July, 1866, regarding the system of surveys pursued by the Government in respect of purchases of waste lands in the province." Mr Cowan said a petition had been presented to the 'House at the last sessiouof Council, iand received by it regarding the system of survey at present in use. The petition had been numerously signed, and to carry out its prayer a resolution was proposed, upon which resolution a discussion took place, and concerning which resolution also a very, voluminous and able report of the Chief Surveyor of this province was lead. That resolution being brought to a division, was carried by one; The hon. member then alluded to two or three of the arguments adduced in favor of the resolution, and this for the information of members of ■'Cbnncil who were then absent but who were now present. One was that if the sales of land-went on rapidly, ~as;at that time app^aie& L likely; aHangte

I surveyor" appointed to a 'considerable distflot could not possibly undertake the work in the period that the Crown Grant should be issued for any particular block, so as to satisfy the purchaser, as • no Crown grant could be issued. till the survey was made. A Becond argument was that a monopoly of the work was made in favor of three or four professional men. He (Mr Cowan) had felt keenly then, and felt still, that the system created a monopoly, and that the delay was great, and threatened to be greater. Another argument shared in by the majority of the Council was that the charges made under the present system; were exorbitantly high, and that it was well known at that time, and is now, that professional men offered to do the work for a. very much less t sum than purchasers of land, required to pay. He, the hon^ member, was personally. interested in this' matter 1 and unless some strong arguments could be adduced against his views he thought the system should be open to professional .men to enable purchasers to get the survey cheaply, and their ; Grown grants early, and so the sale of ; land would: be fostered J • ; r-v.'j • f I - The Provincial Treasurer explained that the resolution of the Council was transmitted by th'o government i;o the Waste Lanu33oard, and the' board having 'duly considered the matter returned their decision on the subject with a letter from the Chief Surveyor, which he (the hon. member) then laid on the table, and moved that it be read. A.nd in order that the arguments set forth rcight be fully met lie would also, lay on the table copy of correspondence" between the Chief Surveyor here and the Chief Surveyors of Canterbury and Otago, also the certified returns for 186(5 and a report by the Chief Commissioner dated Ist January as to the surveys for the past year. , Mr Armstrong having seconded, the correspondence was read. It went to show that the Chief Surveyors of Canterbury and V Otago entirely approved of the system of surveys at present in use here and entirely dissapproved of the system recommended in its stead. The former system had been; used in Canterbury .with. -the niost satisfactory results whereas the latter had been tried in Otago tua a ; jjLftp-n pjoviug most disastrous, had been abandorielirTTwa^ckS opinion "-^rrof these professional men that the survey charges were moderate. ,Mr Ltjmsden, pursuant to notice, moved—" That this Council considers that in order to foster the settlement of the Province by the sale of its lands it is absolutely necessary that main lines of road be constructed traversing the several districts. That the cost of making such roads being properly chargeable against the Land Sales Revenue. This Council desires earnestly to press on the attention of the General Government the necessity of either devoting a considerable portion of the Eevenue derived from the sale and occupation of Crown Lands within the Province, or of setting apart a portion of its lands the proceeds from the sale of which or portion -of : Land Revenue to be exclusively devoted to the construction of Main Trunk Boads with the view of opening up the country arid facilitating tk'o sal© and settlement of- Rural Lands." Mr Lumsden said that when asking to bring in this motion he was not aware that the government were about to submit a motion somewhere similar, neither had he been aware of the correspondence intimating the intention of the General Government to withdraw or disallow the appropriation of the pastoral rents. He thought the province had a right to claim more than that from the General Government for the purpose of making main roads to open up the country. Sometime ago an application had been made by the Provincial to the General Government for a large portion of land for the purpose of opening up the Eastroad territory by ; a- tramway or otherwise. That was disallowed, and it might be thought not worth while to moire in this direction again. He, the hon. member, thought differently, and that the demand should be persisted in. The General Government had treated this province in a very mean and heartless way, and it was evident the latter occupied no warm : corner in the General Government's heart. This province 1 was treated as a financial milch cow, to be made the most of, the cowkeeper meantime denying the unfortunate animal all sustenance; and the reason for this stupid, narrow-minded treatment was simply because the General Government did not give themselves very much concern about our interest. The South was looked upon as a conquered country, to be stripped^ and which had to be content with such crumbs as might be doled out to it. He, ! the hon. member, liked very much to see the tone assumed by the Superintendent in his letter to the Government. It was time we plucked up a little spirit and in r sisted on more consideration being shown us. Our resources were more than sufficient for our debts, and if our case were fairly represented to moneyed men ;^at home there could be no difficulty in getting the capital advanced on the securities we had to offer. But the finan- - cial concerns of vNew. Zealand ;J had been bungled at home. In disallowing us a portion of the land revenue to open up the country the General Government was acting like a chief creditor on an estate disallowing the smallest expendi ture with the view of placing the assets in the market, and so preventing the estate being realised in a successful way. Till we had roads it was very clear that land sales must lag on very slowly. -Tt had now become a universal cry' that the roads of Southland were in such a state that no farmer could buy land. Under these circumstances the province should not only still ' claim from the Generali Government the pastoral rents, but that a very considerable portion* of the land should be set apart ; to open 'up the country- by trunk roads. °The land revenue should be devoted to roads in order^to advance the prosperity of the cptmtrv."; -The^rbyincie had bucK a^gotxfc c.r.: b**Z£'-,y-;xj^£X& £ ::«.£ --??.-. ■ X:i.. t.^y e'?. ; i ; ;:

olaidi as warranted the Council in »HU persisting in asking for more concessions from the General Government. -l ; Mr TosHiLok had much pleasure in supporting the motion. It was exceedingly desirable that strong remonstrances should be addressed, to the General Government, pointing out the very injurious consequences that would ensue unless their stringent policy is relaxed. The road question had become a very serioUs one, as the settlers were becoming; disheartened. ; One in his district, from this cause, had lately sold his land,' with ixnprovements and crop, at 60a per acre; and it was high time both the Provincial and -i General Governments should open their eyes and read the signs of the times. (Hear, hear.) It was unsafe for the General Government to pursue such a policy, and holding the provincial estate, it was their duty to see rthatf that estate Was not depreciated in value by neglect or mismanagement, as, .if the 1 province were allowed to go to wreck and ruin, the security would be worthless. Mr Stafford had* altogether too stringent .a way of dealing with! the province. (Hear, hear;) ' Mr HoiMtes said that before the question was ptit, -it was highly desirable that the House should have a better understanding of its position with: the General Government. That government had never sinned against this province, but the province had sinned against itself. ; The colony had been plunged in debt by the incapacity of those in power, and the General Government had been brought in, like a paterfamilias with a wayward son, to pay its debts— to . implement its engagements. ; When the debt came to be adjusted it was found that it was enormous— almost the full value of the whole available lands of the province in a state of nature. [The Provincial Treasurer— "No, no.] After these lands were placed in the market on very liberal terms, we find one-third of the debt has not been met by the sale of these lands. What right had we when we had erred to call down the wrath of the province upon the General Government. The parties to blame were those who misspent the money and gave us nothing in return. The hon. member _said he' did not. stand up an apologist for ; the General Government. Jt could, protect itself, and give, a we should not take up the position of making these reflections upon the General Government. He held that its conduct duriug the last session, in ., regard to Southland was liberal and considerate in the extreme, and at . the present moment instead of going forward and asking what it was certain we should not get because not desirable for the Government to give us; for the handing these lands over to contractors would be giving away, certainly, a third; perhaps a half, more than the price that the contracts could be done for cash. By such a course we should be depreciating our own property and the land so disposed of would come into, the market and prevent legitimate land sales. He (the hon. member) had heard of land being, bought in Southland that only cost • /the purchasers 16s per acre, while other parties were called upon to pay £1. The system of giving land for contracts was vicious in the extreme and had already been found to be so in thi9 province and elsewhere. There had been an outcry in Canterbury where the half of their railway was. made under, this system.. It could not be expected that the General Government would encourage such a system. By making. such : useless represen- ) tation as was now proposed the Council would stultify themselves with the General Government. Hon members would therefore do well to pause and consider. The General Government had /taken no interest in Southland but to make good its debt and settle with all itß creditors. We find that those parties who were Baid not to have received anything have been paid. He instanced the Bank of Otago which he understood had got. acknowledgements for . its debt, which acknowledgements were at par almost, and the small creditors had nearly all been paid. It should not go forth to the world, as if debts were not being paid. It was highly desirable that in some way the roads of the country should be. made, but he did •not at all believe that the .course proposed to be adopted was the correct one. Mr Armstrong said the policy, of the General Government was, not so much harsh as it was false policy. In order to provide for extinguishing the debt, of the province it was necessary to promote land sales, and to accomplish this the country must be opened up. No; inducement could be offered to intending settlers. A letter, was lately received from the General Government advising us to levy an acreage tax. If that was not false policy he did not Icnow what .was j-r-; first asking people to buy land and then asking them to pay a rent tor it. He (the hon. member) felt that the Council ought to go beyond the remonstrance. It was necessary a resolution be passed in this -Council jvv.Mcbjwould amount not exactly to a demand, but something like this we had a right, to ask. x He agreed with and heartily endorsed all the remarks of the proposer and seconder of the resolution. ■ ; Mr Cowan said every hon. member would allow that a necessity existed ;for the transmitting ; of a certain reinon- ■-. strarice^to the General Government. The manner in which that should be done was a point on which very many would differ. Without means to make roads, things would lie dead. '■ Means had been limited contrary to expectations^ arid our position was 'now worse than ever. He objected to the system of giving land hi payment of public works, and endorsed thoroughly the views of ; the hon. member for Oteramika' so far as t hey referred to the exor-bitant-price those works would cost: The contractors; for the Bluff line ; had "sold their land 1 at a discount of 5s to 6s anacre frdm-government fate, and doUbtlessithe contract price had enabled them to do^so. without loss. He believed the Southland Waste Lands Act had provided^ arid properly provided, a limit for this giving of. land by the Provincial Council. (Cries of "no.") The safeguard to wkjok bt ,-ii *£:< z^ .si-,- ■_.-

alluded was that the appropriation had to be confirmed by the Government and Council. No greater amount could be granted than 250 acres to any person unless in, payment of work for which a vote has been passed by the Provincial Council. He had decided objections to one. clause of the motion, and woul<l move as. an amendment that the words in the third sentence of the motion "either," and ," or of setting apart a portion of the lands, the proceeds frointhe sale of which orportion of land revenue " and "exclusively "be struck out. < L Dr HbDGKixsoN--The position of the -Province should be. taken as it is and it .should not be cast in our teeth that we are the authors of the mischief. The Government had not done what -they> could and;- their conduct had not -shown much statesmanship; Their •■- duty .?wa%:to do all they can to restoreprosperity 4d-the;Province, being mortgagees to put ouf-^or their— .estate in the best position ifor^realizabion. Considering the motion x)f the hon. member for Invereargill he was riot inclined to support it. It would not be in the power of the . General Government to vote moneys therefore there was no choice (as in the; motion) and it must be in the shape of land. _; . " The Speaker said it was only the proceeds of the sale of land. This was liot giving- away land. (Hear, hear.) -Mr Cuthbertson cordially sympathized with much that had fallen from previous speakers on both sides, but disagreed with, some remarks by the hon. member for Oteramika. It was very desirable the Council should know the relation in which they stand to the General Government and he hoped a discussion would be brought on which would place the Council in full possession of the facts. In the meantime he would say that he knew that .the General Government had sinned against the Province, and every member but the hon; member for Otoramika knew that. The extravagance and mismanagement was partly our own fault and we had paid heavily for it, but every item of expenditure was assented to by successive ministries in Auckland and "Wellington, and prospects were held out thatpayment would be grant^cLjh^m.^^And beetled on an utter want of interest in the province to 1 a stand, and being reduced to the position irom which we are now emerging, the Stafford Ministry were acting in a way tbat'cbuld scarcely be characterised too strongly. Their conduct was disgraceful as it was selfish and foolish. There could be no doubt as to the folly of reducing any portion of the community to the condition to which this province had been reduced since the passing of the Southland Debt Act. The General Government held the provincial land as security for the advance, and by rendering the land inaccessible to purchasers they were reducing to a very considerable extent, the value of their own security, ■lato the Southland Debt Act they intro- • duced a clause (clause 15 empowering the "reduction in: price of land) which had more effect than any other part of it in preventing sales. Considering the utter disregard to the interests of the province, he (the hon. member) could scarcely listen with patence to the hon. member for Oteramika as apologist for the General Government. The motion before the House did riot recommend that land alone should be given, and was on some points 'objectionable. The system of giving land for public works was also objectionable, contractors estimated 50 per cent, of depreciation, and the late contract on the Bluff line was a proof of the evil. These in en were prepared at the first to part with the land under the government charges: It would be better to adopt the amendment arid let whatever goes •forward have the full strength of united ybtes. ■■'■■■■■' ■'■■•' The Pkotetciai/ Treasurer supported •the mdtidnof his collegue, one remark of the hon. member for Oteramika ought not to go 1 forth, namely that this Province was. in debt to such an extent as almost to the affipunt of its assets. Such was not the. ' ease. If it were it would be useless to put such a motion as this. No creditor would listen to it. Our assets if realised •to-morrow would amount to some six -times the amount of our debt. For this reason the request that could be made by the passing of this motion would* not be at' all an unreasonable one. . The objection - of the'hdri/ irieinber as to the grant of lanx( had been disposed of. The making of roads would increase the value of land ; still unsold.-" Were it known that a road was to be- made to a particular district the land in : that district would sell readily j ' The sooner the lands were sold the sooner 'the debt ahd~the heavy interest would be reduced or done away with. It -would be -wise policy on the part of the General Government to grant the request. The hon . member had said that the better course would be toaskthe General Goyernj■'jdient to guarantee our debt to the^ extent 'of two hundred thousand and allow us to '.borrow- atthe usual long period, providing "'interest and sinking fund, and then- we could go dri with our dwn. .That clearly .that the. previous part of his . •:-ar^ument was erroneous, - -■■ die tiu^ ,-? \i H'i.MrHoiME.s explained that his recpm;-; .iijriendation- was to the effectthatthe^reßenjt . ? jdebts would be, extinguished by^^hg ; sjle .ipf landuntij.tlie debt only-, amounted , tp , thousand, and debentures tp • be issued, by the General Government, tp- _ cover ,that amount. ,i „ r ;, i i. .; The ; ]Peovi]s:cial Treasurer .replied r .that if; that, was the case then there would v fbe surplus toimake roads with. : _ in speaking;, to thp, - -amendment } said it had to be noticed that - : wJien:pncexland rf was i sold it became lana, iiirevenue, anjdiwa& tjien shut i; upby the. jiSosthland Debt , ; Act; hear.^l i(Ehere was one remark which fell from^ ...the rinpyer of,:.the am,endmentrto. I .t"h|e; ideffeet. that ;as^ibey c i had sold': their : lan^ -ofqr/ssi under the G^oyernmentjratej^^tjiereTofpjre they ppuld afford to d 0.50. - .: A...man c iave.spld.land, . that ,J?e had^paia, oati,i^v^;lh%iwould .^be likely to prore that th* man wai hatd

up. The Council were haggling about a few hundred pounds when the whole estate was being frittered away week by week. Mr Pearson said he would confine himself to a few facts and figures as regarded the area of unsold land. H« had thought it necessary to state these owing to the peculiar views put forth by the hon. member for Oteramika as to the provincial assets and liabilities. ... The more he had travelled. the more he was. convinced: that, every acre of saleable land would sell' ac 20s per acre; : AcresThe total area, including Stewart's Island ... ... . .... ... 2,744,109 Allow for unsaleable ... 4Qp,000 Leaves a Balance of '■• ... 2,314,109 . ■■•.: . - Acres. Sold prior to passing of the new Act, December, 1865, . 300,000 . : Since passing of the uew Act till Ist December, 1866, .in- - , , eluding free grants ..< 176,37.6 5 "::. ;— '476,376 Balance. ... / ... ...-1,867,733 He found land through which the railway runs averaged at «£5, £6 and £7 an acre by the holders ; surely the : waste lands should fetch 20s. . As -to- the debt not having been sooner cleared oil, toe wonder to him (the hon. member) was that it had been cleared off so well, taking into consideration the reputation we had acquired as to the uncertainty whether the price of land was fixed or not. Many purchasers held off as there was ,a possibility of the . price being lowered. Had the pride been,. fixed he was perfectly certain; that, much more land would have been sold. No one would buy when they thought the price would be'reduced at the will of a Government that had no particular interest in supporting the province instead of their own. The General Government might ultimately, in self defence, have to sacrifice the land at 10s an acre. There was this possibility. There were many people waiting to make large purchases, but the first point which always turned up was, when is the price to be fived. When the price was fixed there would be a rush. ThelanclkwinAustraliawasdrivingpeople away from that country. They had plenty of capital seekius-^>° a 1 D T + f" ( ?T flonrmember) had had letters from all parts requesting to know the terms on which the land was to be had. All expressed a wish that the price should be fixed. The hon. member stated his opinion that the majority of the land was worth more than 20s per acre, and that it would be a great sacrifice to have it sold at 10s. Mr Johnston said of two evils the Council would have to choose the least. We had no other resource than to complete the roads, or a portion of them, before the winter should set in. If the amendment did not interfere with the appropriating the several blocks of land proposed by government he was inclined , to support it, but if it interfered with that he would not. ■ Mr Ltjmsden said it appeared to him that the objection which the hon. member for Oteramika had offered to this motioD, and also that taken hnld of in the amend : ment of the hon. member for Oreti amounted to this, they supposed that the proposition here is the devoting of land for the payment of public works. The motion contained no such proposition. He objected as much as any member to such a plan. It \ras a most . expensive way to promote pufr.ic works. The actual reading of this motion is, " set apart a portion of land, the proceeds from the sale of which," &c, , He presumed it was possible that lands might be set apart, allowing the Provincial Government to dispose of these lands for public works, and as they succeeded, in selling them [they would have money to appropriate for public: works. Some members had questioned whether -that would be legal.; Well if it was necessary to suggest an amendment to certain acts, it should be done. If our assets are as we think far in excess, why allow that creditor to tie our hands in such a way that we cannot realise, the estate ? And if we do not do so in a couple of years the creditor could ■ sell the land at 10s per acre. This was a case, of gross injustice. (Hear, hear.) The words in the motion were not .too strong for the circumstances. (Hear^ hear.) .If it could be shown that the : amendment was necessary, he could have no, objection. For his part, he thought there, ought to be greater objections to |he' words ."derived from the sale of lands," because under existing laws the General Government could not grant any from the sale of lands. Mr Cowan explained that his motive for the amendment was that in .the event of a portion of the Province being set aside, the proceeds from the saleuof winch, should be devoted to a particular purpose —supposing that no portion of the land should sell, in what position was the Province then. ?. , , - .. .■■ Mr Lijmsden said his. Hon. friend pro--..pqsed/to make provision for an emergency that [was not likely : to happen. There w^ no use, in stumbling at hypothetical exigencies.^ . „.. -, —-— ... o:: ; .<,'< .The, motion and amendment havingbeen reaufajid put,. The motion was , " r .Jlr^.T. M. Clerke, '"pursuant, to notice. f moved--" iThat this Council respectfulif requests ;His7Honor the,'. Superintendent to forward .a "recom,menjdation. to the .projper quarter for a dissolution of the samp on the following, grounds—^lst. That the present Council was elected pn .the question of electing a Superintendent.-, and— p 2nd. ; That the public* now demand . a reelection 4hat 'they . may, be .fairly,, represented .ih..^atte^ Mr;Clerke aske<l leaye b biTthft uuc H >*fr. Withdraw this motion as Jhe, xlid .not think . aV.art,yisableatß^eaen]bto'preßS-it._ j .^lr[JoHNJ>TON,sejconded. „>;,'.,_; < ;. I * / M ? r Holiies thought the^^ some ,valid,r.easpn ; giving for withdrawing: .the motion beiore dismissing it so sum-; mariiy.^ i , ., ; ' ."■- i \ r ,':^ £.~x^'s i I for© the^Hduse, and a ddmmitt'eehftd beea

formed to see what reduction could be made in expenditure. If the motion were carried the members could not do their work conscientieously. (Hear, hear.) Mr Johnston said, that the motion if carried by the members -would , be tant amount to a vote ofwant of confidence.in themselves, (a laugh.) : . . Mr, Wood suggested thajt those members who had any misgivings' should, meet their constituents, the latter beingtheproper parties to decide the matter. :r It would be better thus for each constituency tp : mind its own affairs and each member that, wished to put the matter beyond dispute should meet his, constituents and talk, the matter over with them. (Hsar, hear.) , - . , Motion for withdrawal put and carried. Mr T.M.Clebke,. pursuant to notice, asked the- Government, "if they they,have paid Messrs Smyth,' Hoy t & Co. m; full for the completion of .the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway exclusive of the terminus the Bluff, and if so whether the workVwas passed as completed by. the Provincial Engineer, and if not paid m full, what amount has been paid to Messrs Smyth, Hoyt &,Co.? . And further, how it is that the. said : . line -is open fox the transmission of goods, and is not available for passenger traffic except to friends of the Railway Engineer ?" Mr Clerke m moving the foregoing, stated that he: had heard the remark that the railway had been, taken possession of by the government with oat the work. being certified as finished by, the engineer. He" could scarcely credit the statement, and therefore asked for information. -:.•••■... The Peovincial Tkeastjbeb thought the hon. member might have waited till the documents were on the table. These would. ; speak for themselves. At present the government was called upon to answer certain questions which would.be better answered with the documents at hand to refer to. The government had made arrangements with Smyth, Hoyt and Co. for the part of the line, taken possession of. The Bluff station had yet to be co tnpleted by them under a separate contract. The amount was retained till the works were, .completed. The- contractors had also to, find sureties for the due performance of that work. " Mr HoiJtfiss asked the hon. member to condescend to particulars. The Provincial Tbeasueeb further explained that all the land to be paid tp the contractors was/25,000 acres. Of this amount the. contractors had received 23,500, leaving 1500 acres in hand for the completion of the Bluff station, and the surety besides. Mr Clerke asked if the work was paid for. on certificate of the Provincial Engineer ? The Provincial- Tbeastjeeb said the work was so far certified tp that the government, before settling with Smyth, Hoyt & Co.— they having certain claims —requested the engineer to furnish it with a report. Of course the certificate could not be given. Certain works were still to execute. A report would be laid on the table which would explain for itself. These works have been taken in hand by the government. As the works were not all completed, it is not likely tliat the line could be:... Smyth, Hoyt and Co. could take the responsibility upon themselves to a certain extent. Mr Lttmsden, pursuant to notice, moved — " That an Audit Committee be chosen by ballot to be appointed to report upon last half years accounts ending December, 31st 1866, with power to call for persons and papers." Mr Lumsden said the subject was already referred to a committee. He had stated then that it was: desirable that, that committee should look ' into various Pro vincaj accounts. The Government expressed' its willingness to go into such an arrangement he would therefore make no remarks but put the motion. Dr Menzies seconded. Carried. A committee having been balloted ■ for Messrs Holmes, Cowan, and Cuthbertson, were chosen. . Mr Lumsden, pursuant to notice, moved — " That, an address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent requesting him to furnish this Council with the plans and specifications and conditions of lease in connection with the erection of bridge over the New River." MtLumsden remarked that members of Council were aware that the. building of this Oreti Bridge had been let. Certain privileges were.given to the contractors for a number of years. < It ; was desirable to know what value the Go.venment was receiving for those privileges. Mr Clabke seconded, and motion carried. •• ■ Obdees of the Day. : ; >„: . Mr Blacklock moved— "The first reading of the Bluff Railway Leasing Ordinance, Amendment Ordinance, 1867 ;" and also— " The Oreti Railway Leasing Ordinance, 1867." Mr'-ARMSTBONG moved— " The first reading of a Bill entituled The Cattle Trespass Amendment Ordinance, 1867." The bills were read a first time and made an order of the day for the next sitting. ',"■'' ' ' ■ ' ■ ; 'Notices op Motion. - ' Mr Clerke 'as^ed ; and obtained. ,leave to "hayeT Stanoling.jdrder 27 suspended, .to , enable^'hini, to^ iiame two or three jnem r , •bers to join the jCommittee of Investigar tion, wi%: regard to reduction in provincial expenditure., - ; . . , , .....r ; , The. .Pbotincial Tbeasubeb askjed thai;, Standing 'Ord^r 27 be. suspended. in .order ta brjing .in., a ...motion, to the effect that an offer .received for the steamer Southland, should be submitted to the .Committee^o^ , ; : , r - SonVe^discussion f0110wed. ,,.;,. . Th^ i motion ! wa,s eventually, carried. , , ■ ".-The- "P.BbyiNciAL Tbeasubeb , laiilr npWtiie|.y.6le ( a^ report : by the Educationailbom^itt^e,; furnished to His "theSupeTi^tetfdent/ It was agreed .that; repjort c s4? u Mt s&s?*& s^^ idere^ r.^Mbiiz- jr,.- I %■ ';.^^The^Cojiijcil adjo ; uxne^ vtill P&o p clock o'n Wednesday. " as ! Ibfie .Supreme Cflurt waun b^ing eßtaDlisafea to the me of thd

Hall, by the Court, the Gover^iaent shbuld give notice that the use of ..the Haill was to be considered in the -light of a concession or favor. The suggestion appeared to be tacitly agreed to. :~. . -.■ • - - ; ..." ■ WEDNESDAY, l7Tit J ANIJART. \^, Afternoon Sitting.' " The Speaker took his seat a few minutes after 2 o'clock. • , ..." ', v ; present— ]£eissrs Blacklock, Armstrong Crerar, Holmes, Cowan^ Howell, Cuthberfepn, Toshack, T..M. Clerke, Wood, Lumsden, Swaif, Johnston, Dr Menzies, Pearson, and Hodgki nson -, The minutes: of the previous days meetings were read and confirmed. THE.FIBE BEIJ3ADE. . .•;..-.. . Mr Abmstbong said that in the absence of. Mr .Nurse who,. had," given notice of motion upon this subject; he woulo^ move for leave .to bring in u a. bjll -.erttitled the Fire Brigade, : and Fire; Prevention, and Extinguishment Ordinance,, 1867."- ;;., ; The Pbovincia^ 'I' be. ASTTBEB seconded the motion. , - i - ! '.: . - tt was carried Avithout discussion. The first reading.wasi also carried and the second reading made an order of, the day for Thursday, 17th Jan. ! „ ,; LAND AT DACBE TOWNSHIP. Mr Swale asked ,-" the government whether the report, is. correct that ..the section of land at Dacre township pn which the Police buildingsr are, built is-sold, and if so what arrangements are made, with the purchaser of said section; as regards the building; thereon;'' .: In putting, this he said that hehad done so from information he had received that a.section of land in that locality upon ; ; which' government buildings had been erected had; been sold under mistake for .£B, and he. wanted to know if his information were correct.. The buildings had cost much, .and he hoped the, question asked would be satisfactorily answered. : ■ ■■ ■ The PEOvrNCLiTi^TEEASHREB,. in reply, explained that the section haying be.en applied for and not. haying been, distinctly marked on the map examined as a reserve, it had under conditions been sold. The purchaser not having fulfilled those conditions, deemed it right under, the •circumstances not to ratify the sale. The whole of the documents connected with it would be placed on the table. . , . . LAND BETTTENS. ' ' .. Dr Hod&kinson, pursuant to notice, moved— "That the Government be requested to vinake a statement of the number of acres sold since the new Land Act came into operation,- stating, the amount sold since the last session of the Provincial Council, aud also make' a 'statement of the amount of the provincial debt existing at the present time." He said that it was mo3t desirable that such a statement should be. supplied. It would be valuable information which all should possess, and he did not imagine thai any opposition could be offered to the motion. Mr Peabson seconded the. motion. He did not believe that any objection , could bo offered, and the making public such information was highly desirable. — Carried. ■ ■ HOSPITAL" KETUIINS. . . i . Mr Lttmsden moved — " That there be laid on the table a return giving the number iand names of all the patients which were in the hospital at the first of July last — those received and those discharged since, up to thirty-first December, also what monies, if any, have been rceeiv'ed from or on behalf of patients during the aboye period." In moving this he was desirous of arriving at; a conclusion as to what was the condition of this public institution. They knew it was costly, and that the returns were reported to be small. It was a valuable institution if properly worked, but he had heard that its advantages had been abused, . and many who could have afforded to pay for the benefits it conferred, had participated in them, and payed nothing. He thought this should be . made clear, and the motion he submitted would ' have this. effect. Dr Hodgkeinson, in a few remarks, seconded the motion. Mr Wood suggested that the words, "and Lunatic Asylum" should be inserted after the word " Hospital." . Mr T. M. CleekE perfectly agreed with the suggestion. . There cqulcL be no question that: "more should be known of the working of the; j Hospital and'the Lunatic Asylum too, than was known. ■ • :.. ■ .. :■-. ■ L Mr Cow ah seconded the amendment. Mr Peaeson, while not opposing the resolution,, thought that it was not altogether desirabla that the names of the patients , should .be brought prominently forward. ■ He thought that the appointment of a. Committee of Investigation would be the most satisfactory course to adopt. Such a | Committee would be able to ascertain much more than could be gathered from the returns, asked for, and be able to fix the blame j if there had been mismanagement, on the right individual, and punish him. He would move as an amendmen fc_i-« That' a Select Committee, consisting of Drs Menzies and Hodgkinson, and Messrs Lumsdeh,and, Cuthbertson be. appointed to inquire into the state and working of the Hospital." : Dr HoDGfKiNSON seconded the' amendment. , Several' gentlemen than spoke upon the subject and upon the amendment being put, it was lost by a majority of four. Ten voting in favor; and ten against it. . The motion with the addition of the words " and Lunatic Asylum " was, carried. Oedees of the Day. • vjIEDICAIi PEACTITIONEES BIIiL "■.'•■ : Mr Aemsteong ■ moved^— ,'' That, a.recommen-; dation be made to the; Honorable.. the, Coloniaj Secretary to bring in at the next meeting pf the (general Assembly a' Bill' for the protection of the Medical Practitioners throughout the Colony. 1 ' The mover said, that very; little; was required /to be advanced in favor of the; motion. ..He wouldi however, explain that the^ petition from the mcdii : cal men tq i which he ha 4' previously ( alluded Had been mislaid,' but 'iti absence' in no ! way affected the motion.' He believed that ' a colonial medical -practitioners '• billj was far preferable to a number of Provincial Ordinances. rf, . :: ■•.,..• , | PEOViirciAi Teeasubee seconded the moi tion. , r , . : • . ■• I . Dr Menzies' thoughi'th'e "motionj 'though | right • in the main, /had a defect as it now' stood— it di^l not fully express .what; no doubt wereitMe -mtenj- ' j tions of the framers. v .rlf -the words "And; jto [ better .define the quaUficatipas " . were introduced "after the word " protection," .it would receive his support. " r r v J """ ■■.:!■ : ' 'Several membersTiaving spfokeir t>n the , !■ the jnotion,samended;in:aßcordance; with the suggestion, was. carried> v /; .r|" .?i7"r-: :: ..' o. r: ! The second rea^jng of Bluff . Harbor n ana J Inyercargill Bail w'ay* Leasing Ordinance, Amend- ' ment Ordinance,' lß67, aiid also the Oreti Eailway j Leasing Ordinance/ 1867 V' were postponed^until, the evenmg- sitting.' *The;. second reading oEitlap] ; Cattle Tre3pasß; Ordinance , was postponed untjl ; the next morning's sitting. „ „. i The Council then adjourned. , ; . , ' . ... — .'.".'.,'>♦.-- •: "■', ••'.!' ,ThW Allowing is^tjie 'wlioie.of the'eo^respondeince relative 7 to. the ;' , ." Ecciesagreementi" fe'ad^t,the ; .'opening . of ' the Council :—,<■ n ; ■^■L,.''.. \ : V "' '.'.. c j " Supe:rinteh4ent v s:Offit;e, ' '■ .7; ., j r- -„:.._,, r9f-) zqy • and myJeU. b^irmg *4a& fan "Juiy"ctQ?re^t;° trlrto 1

: that portion of it which relates M ;Syo\n 1 remuneration out of funds to be! apropriatedbythe Provincial Council, I. have the honor tp; inform you that 'the: subject was laid before ; that body and it was also asked 'to give its .sanction,' by ordinance to the arrangement which' however notwithstanding the efforts of the Govern, mentit has refused' to. d6, ;the bijl for the purpose having Cbeen thrown out. ; T " It is' a matter of deep ;regre£ to , me that the Provincial Council . has* "not ? thought fijb to aipprovje' ;of ' my. action in this m atter .believing as I do' that _the:pr_6^ posed mission would T &ive ; ha&:for ,its result great /anti p^rmanetit benefit .to the Province. ; i' ! '.'.'."■. | "I have, &C, .'; ■••'.. " John P. Taltlob, | ;i "'Superintendent." " Invercargill, 21st July, .1866. "A. Etfc^^Esq.. ';' ; ;^f ' ;r4 ■ ; " Sji^-^-in'ryepij^ ';ts your letter of 'this 4ajf a I^tave |he. loner Jter ypu.tiia| I do not cpns^eri-tHat'.any tiding tas taken place /to terminate imy agreement with you of the : 17th inst., but irii asniuch as the Provincial Council,, has, as you are aware, ,'ans unexpectedly.,. to myself, refuse^; to appropriate any money for the purpose of remunerating i you under /that agreenienjy. I jd° ??^^ e ß} justified, in, requiring you 'to .continue j your services thereunder, upon tKe somewhat slender prpbability ,qf . the pouncil hereafter, appropriating " ( , the necessary funds, and I feel bound therefore to offer you the option of relinquishing your part of the contract in question. ; " [have, &g.j' -- '■ '■ „'.•'-• r" John P. Taylor, ; '"Superintendent." '. : "'" Inyercargill, 23rd July,|B66. " Sir, — I have the . honor to acknowledge the receipt of a second letter from your ;Honor, dated 21st inst., informing me that you do not .consider .that any T thing has taken place_to_ terminate tha agreement ma^e between us, but as there is & a slender probability "of my being remunerated "'under that' agreement, your Honor offers "me the option of relinquishing my part of the contract in question. ■ - ■" As I have made very considerable pecuniary, sacrifices to accept the agency, and am summarily offered to withdraw from it or rely upon a very slender probability for remuneration. I have— in view of your Honor's veiy> weak healthy and my consequent disinclination to take such steps as I might* 'otherwise do to vindicate my position— determined to resign the appointment, ; provided your Honor's Government will obtain the sanction of the Provincial Council to my being repaid in cash the actual cost to me of what! have done for the Southland Government. I mean my travelling and other personal expenses at the rates paid by the General' Government to Heads of departments, together with' fees at the same rate /per day during the time I have been precluded from practising: my profession that I made during the interval between my visits ' oh your Government's service to Wellington and this place, as shown by my fee books. - I ' will then consent to sacrifice all claim to compenstation- for future loss ' of practice, and those general losses accruing from sales of property, forced change of house, ; outfit for my family for the voyage, : <&c., j which I have incurred through accepting, the agency, and so, far fulfilling; its duiies.j ■*' I make this offer without prejudice j to my future action,' Should your Govern > inent not accept.it, or the "Proviacial. Council refuse to vote the necessary: fundsj andv.l require that an answer; should be given me in a week^t and that ' the Provincial Council be ; asked to vote 1 tliV; money .at ;the r termination of the present adjournment. '" :it ■ " As . my.ohouse : has „b een let, i: .l :: am obliged to proceed to Dunedin to-morrow, morning to secure another one immediately for my children; I shall' there-" fore be obliged by.your Honor addressing' to me any communication - you m ay be pleased to make to me at that place. .....' , " I have, &c., , ; :"AIiFBEB EcCIiES. " Special Agent for. Southland, ■ ■" For Australia and England." "Superintendents Office, / i: ; 30th July*. 1866: " Sib, — I have the honor to acknow-; ledge the receipt of your letter of .the 23rd. inst., in which you ? state for the reasons', .given ,'th.af you have ; determined to .resign tjie .appomtment provid^dl ,my government will obtain the sanction of the Provincial ! Council to your being orepaid in cash . the actual cost to you of /.v&at ;y^uoh^d; ;! donei '.fyr . the '. Southland Government, your travelling smoother •personal expenses ;at the rate paid by the General Government to heads of departj intents, idgether/'l&ith fees at the sime; rate per. day 'during the time" you have beeii^pr ecl'iided from practising your pro T fessibnthat'you'niade during th§ interval between your visits on the Government I'to1 ' to /Wellington* and thisj place as 'shewn^by" your fee :bo6ks^iyou^.willithen ; consent to sabfifice all claims to. compehf Nation' '■ for HftitureUosresi of .practice and those general losses' accruing fronii<saU 1 <i£ property, i change ;of residence/, outfit $gr your fainily- for the voyage,- &c.,jwhich have incurred throngh accepting the • agency -and so far- fulfilling its. duties. j • ■•> ■■*' Inreply/J I have to-state, ■', thatjybui: ' proposition will-be laid-before the Gbuii-, cil : " at ; its r -hext-' sitting,/ which, ihowever,. 'inkjf mxjt -take iplacefoc a few months.; '-The adjdurmrienfr ; to which: :you refer, was. upotf the un^erstandingewiith, the the> members ,would;nofi Jbfe required' to ; attend as ! a-^proclamation pf drb r guiiig 4he- Council • would in the mean-" feme; be issued, -c - v ;• 1 _ ■,i-o^e;:<«l:have7;&c^A ■; i v- . j.-- xoh;:iyu:< . " " John P..TAJLOBr: bc:S ' - -"Superintendent." \ -jGkf!orgg-B^r%^s; Dunedin, 'r - ~ ■ ' 6th August, 1866. \ ~' iSaf^n^^e^v^^f-^TeHiderice rebict

I- 1 ? also Beg to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter of the 30th nit. (in reply to mine of the' 23rd nit.), in '■ Tv;hicli.ypu acquaint. ; ,me that my proposition will he laid before the Council at its nex^ meeting, .which, however, may not take place for a few months. , ,:,;! have to remind; your Honor that time was a necessary. element in my offer, and that I stipulated that the requisite funds shoula be.yoted by the Provincial Coun? cil atihe, en^.pf the then adjournment fpra^ fortnight,,,, therefore in the absence of that meeting' ?my> offer falls to the ground/. - r .. rrj 7T -. :r <■■■:, ■■ ..'■'■..'" ,1 beg therefore that your Honor will be good enough to give me my instructions, that I may make necessary arrangements, and. will place me in funds for travelling, and the expenses to carry out the agreement which, your Honor writes to me that .you do .not consider anything has taken place to terminate. ; ...... ...I.have, &c,, r ,■ AIFEED.EcCLES, : , (Special Agent for Southland, in. Australia, ' ■;: i..:---. and -Grreat Britain. ■■ His Honor "the Superintendent of Southland. ; ' r., r „.'..'- Superintendent's; Office, ■•;;,;- ,Southlana, 16th. August, 1866. ;, giE^lliaye the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6tlr inst.,. in whictuyou inform me of your "change of residence, and in which also you ask for yourinstructions that you may make . iiecessaily arrangement, and that you may be placed mL funds for tra-velling anid other-expenses to carry out; the agreement with you. r In reply, I have the honor to point out to yoii'that the travelling and office expenses' incurred : by you were under the agreement referred ,., to, to be paid out of any .^funds which may be appropriated by, the Provincial Legislature, and applicable to the purpose: The Provincial Council, has much to my regret,!and,as yo u are aware, refused to appropHjLte any' funds for the purposes of that agreement, and , as there appeared to me but litte probability -of their voting the' J mbriey hereafter 1 ! offered you in a previous letter 5 the'option of withdrawing, from your part of the contract. This, however, joii .'36 not seem willing to do r but, on the otherhand, appear desirous of still performing -the. services agreed upon. I would therefore point out to you that nb provision exists for defraying your expenses or/remuneation under the agreement, and if you still insist upon performing'theservices^in question you do so entirely at the, r risk of having your expenses undefrayed and of receiving no remuneration. I have &c, , : ', (Signed) J. P. Tatloe, ;. : . • ■ Superintendent. A Eccles Esq.y :r ;' , • Ilunedin, 13th Sept. 1866. Sif^l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th, bejiring the: : Dunedin postmark of the ulii and in reply beg to refer your Honor to my. letter, of the 6th August. "''■'■ "'. -I have &c, ' " r< .... ' : . , .Alfred Eccles. .Special Agent for Southland "'; ; ; „I n Australia and Great Britain. r His Honor, the Superin- ; tendent of Southland.