PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Issue 622, 23 January 1867, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, 19th JAN.MB6j;f EVENING* SITTING-. 'The Council met at half-past seven o'clock this evening. The following members were present .' ~— ThelSpeakeri, ■'M^s*M'_Jlsekk»kr^ PD P'' strong, Gierke, Wood; Crerar, Johnston, Swale, Toshack, Lumsden, Pearson, Cowan, Cuthbertson, Nurse; Holmes?and: Drs Menzies and Hodgkinson. ' ] 7~Xfter prayers; had been read by- the Speaker, the minutes of previous meetings were read and confirmed. T i ; Mr- Cj-Ilbab was , presenting a. pet"itiori ; for the. grant of ,£IOO, when he "waVin-.-. terrupted by the ; Speaker, who said ; that any petition praying for a grant of public money could uot be received. „ ... r , Mr Pearson" presented a petition .from Messrs VV. Boyd and Sons, and explained that the alteration "of the road 'referred to only affected the petitioners themselves, and one other person. He didn't think therefore that there would be any objection 'to.it.'"' ; ,!'" '% ' ;■' Mr CtJTHBEiiTs6Sr gave notice that he should, on Tuesday evening, move the following resolutions :— "That the .form of. Government at present established in the middle Island, namely, by .Provincial . Governments, 'controlled by a G-eneral Government, is not conducive to the efficient performance of the functions of Government, : the public credit, or the interests of the community, and that an alteration of this system is highly desk able. "- That any change ought to be in -the direction of simplification and consolidation.'. .'/„'. .; :. ','','.'// '"'.. ,';'.. .: : .;. ' ; .. , " That the absorption .of the smaller Proinces by the larger is not a change, in this direction j but, on the : contrary, would, tend to perpetuate the evils arising from -the i present system.' . " That tte; establishment of one Legis-' lature, : and Government for the whole Island, having such, relations to tbe General Government as might be necesr sary for the interests of the Colony as! a whole, together with a comprehensive system of local self-government for i districts, would be advantageous to /tbe community, and tend greatly to strengthen the financial credit of the Colony. ''That our representatives in the Assembly be requested to use their influence for the attainment of this object., " That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be sent to the Hon. tbe Colonial Secretary." ■ Several other notices of motion were then given. . Mr Armstbong laid on the table a list of reserves made by His Honor the Superintendent since tbe last session of the Provincial Council, along with a/ letter from the Chief Surveyor, which was read, A report from tbe Provincial Auditor, containing a statement ; of the receipts and disbursements of tbe province for the year ending 3 1st Dec, 1866, 1 with remarks thereon, was laid on the' table and afterwards read. , .The Provincial Tkeasuber was, not aware until he beard tbe report- read that the Provincial Auditor did not' know tbat he (the Treasurer) bad found the necessary securities, and lie wished now to iet tbe Auditor understand that such was the case. It was afterwards agreed that th& Auditor's report should be printed. ' The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table tbe returns requested by the hon. member for Aparima, showing the amount of laud sold since the coming into operation of the new Land Act, which was afterwards read as follows : — " Land sold since the coming into operation of the Southland Waste Lands: Act, 1865, 180,839 acres, 3 roods, 14 perches. Land sold since 21st July, 1866, the date on which the Provincial Council was prorogued, seventh session, 34,43- acres, 2 roods, 14 perches ; being nearly 14,000 acres per month since the Act came into operation. ; . ; Dr Hodgkinson gave notice that at Monday evening's sitting he would move —•'That the Council go into committee of the whole House, to pi o vide measures for the increased sale of the, waste lands of the province." . : Dr Hodgkinson asked the Provincial Treasurer the amounc of the debt unextinguished at the present lime. -* ;• - ■> I" ' The PBoviNCiAii TREASOEE-a^HAc-cording, to the Provincial Auditor's report: it amounted to £335,177 6s. lid; The Pbo vincial Teeastjee r gave -iTotaee^hvi^on"^ ask leave to. ; .jofingrin a bill entitled the " Licensing Ordinance, 1865, Amend-, ment Ordinance, 1867." The provincial Treasurer laid on the table the plahß and specifications for the erectionibi*- a bridge over the Oreti, as called for by/ his - hon. colleague for Invercargill, Mr. Lumsden r He (the Treasurei') . also ' laid on. , the table the,, accounts ask'edifor. 'by ; Dr Menzies in the previous isitting,; containing .a^statement of the expenditure on the Bluff Harbor and : • InvercargiU Railway, as also the expenditure on the Oreti Railway. ... Mr Abi_steong brought up ji report with regard to the application^ f Mr C. . Rous Marten for a salary as Director' of ; Meteorological Stations. He reconF" mended that the thanks of the Council be given to Mi* Marten 1 for the zeal with, which. he had performed his duties. = | J r. Swale inbved-^-" that the prayer, of the petition irom certain settlers having) (reference, to the desirability of closing and sellingujt-heo-knd . comprised, .in ..the ok&: jfracks.an^ . leading., from Invei;carigiii, East-road, be granted. 5 ' In s_ppori-ihg the "motion, he said that' ! he considered it highly necessary that those tracks, .... and; many, others, of, .the saime, s njsu£e^s^^ session he' had' brought i.forwiirdiaisinulaE; mo-aon-'bu^not having a plan to show the "p^ositipn. of, the, track referred to, he had [.apJ^Wir - ' -U'cid-ssful in his object./ Ojq_. "tfiis Occasion he had had a plan carefully prepared, and if hon. members only looked at it, fkvf would be amruiced it wits

' V ,!S' --TV : ":'~ ' ' llf*^ absolut j-sjjj; • ne^Sary; I;hat these trapkl / should|p^;ch3seC_ y.A % ,' •^-'l*' Drm"EN_iE_! would point but to the Council that the alteration asked for was a very extensive one. The track proposed to*"be closed up-extended for a distance of 12 miles out of town* These tracks were reserved before tho land was sold, arid foi* formed. the _only :nediu_i of communication throughout the country. The efforts of the different governments .. to, make / gpod roads had not been successful. tJntu the ! roads were made viable these traicks 'should not be shut up. )■ The reason for which they were made still existed,,- and it; would be premature to make any alteration. : , .The,. Provincial jTreasuber confessed that he was rather startled when the hon.* member who last spoke stated that thpetition proposed to. close a road 12 miles in length. He thought it was through two sections onlyV The government must object to the motion on that account. He thought it was unwise to, close up, these tracks until this East-road was properly fbfirie_.T /' / :, " :' ; ; Mr Cuthbertson said that they had means, of , which .they ought to avail themselves in order to form a correct opinion on this matter. They had two paid officers who could give them information,' and he thought the proper course to adopt would be to : obtain, a, report from, then-.; He would therefore, nipve as an amendment that, in accordance with the resolution now before the House, the government be reqiiestedto ! obtain a report from the Chief Surveyor, and the Inspector of Roads on this subject, and place the same at the earliest possible period before the House.;;;.:?,-,;;..; : Mr Toshack seconded the amendment. Mr Holmes always understood that tracks marked on the niaps were only tended to remain open till, the. main roads were formed. He considered it a great ; gri'evariee : that they should' be kept 'open after roads wer.e formed. .If hon. members would take the trouble of looking at the map they would perceive that the track in > questf on was-quit& unnecessary. He held they .were called: upon to grant relief to : those parties, and allow them to- cultivate their lands without let or hinderance. If the main lirie'of road was at all improved, it was quite sufficient for the wants of the district. He should like to hear the opinion of that house as to how long it was- necessary to keep these tracks open. If all these roads were fenced off, the land would' riot be worth cultivating. They ought not to study the interests of the casual traveller so much as those of the settlers living on the spot. Mr Armstrong thought it was desirable the Government should receive its information through the proper channel. Mr Clerke said that lately there was Very little traffic bri this road at all y *• Any deviation there might-be : was merely to, the side of the road. As." to a report from the Inspector of Roads, he (Mr. C.). .did not think that' geritletnah ' knew anything about the iriatter, as the road in question was- merely for ; the ; use of casual travellers. Mr Wood thought as there was a pre* bability of ; tolls, being erected on the various roads, these zig-zag tracks should be "closed as early as possible. He should support the-motion^ :,' . ■ '. ; ■• ."; Mr Cowan said the original intention followed in the sales of land in this province, Uvas,*tbafr these -fights of way were to be closed when, the main roads were made I .' He "agreed "that purchasers of land were . entitled to the' use of their property, and these roads should be shut up as soon as it was consistent with the public. interests. v , ; ,: ; The amendment; on being put was de- : clarecl to be- carried.. ... . The Provincial Treasurer said he would lay the report, called for oh the table ori Mbuday evening. " ; ' ." ' Mr 'Wood in moving the riiotion standin his name "that a respectful address be presented to. His Honor, the Superintendent, praying' that the sum of £150 be placed on ihe .estimates for the purpose 'of forming Eind metalling twelve chains of the Campbelltown road, viz. -—That portion running parallel with the- railway, and extending to the eastern end of Campbelltown," — said in this, case he asked for a 'small sum for "a very necessary work in the district of CampbeUtown. He considered Campbelltown ;t0 be the title -page of New Zealand, : and they all knew that firs fc impressions had great wei ght. This work," if 'performed, would, materially add to the appearance bf' the' place. As the government were now laying down a sid--rrig-tb iget i&tr the broken metal for the -East- road, they would have the same facilities for taking^it down to the Biuff. Mr Lumsden seconded the "motion. He considered it absolutely necessary that the rbad^hbuldbe made. I was a small sumithat was asked for the completion of this important work. ,•:: Mr -Toshack; ; thought j-that the question of metalling roails was a general one. As •the 1 government, were not very strong in money ; matters, they would _ require to take care that they did not exhaust themselves. ■"'-'"' ' ■ :'■'■■''.■ '■!■--■-- v Mr p.uTHBERTSON would like to ask whether supporting the motion just now 'would ' _nvblve' the supporting it when on the estimates." "~ ~ ~ ~~ The b^EA-fcER 1 stated that if the House now resolved that it was necessary they "! wo ul _ ' require to '] abide by that decision. . 0 -, Mr . ,oowan /'thought, it was rather an extraordinary proceeding "to bring forward such- a motion at so early a period- of the when no estimates were^ before the House ;/, V/all <:U. Mr Pearson— considered there was great impropriety in brmgnig forward the motion" at" -the present time, as ; there 'would only be ;. a small sum bf money to . $^A^jproT^Tiai^d^jqT ; all. the i.'di.stricts.; rfiDrMENziEs.explained^hat the shifting sand;- -if allowed to accumulate,^ might c&u§e'%''.j*redt 'de_i" of trouble, and if the )ne^l wetfe'at once laid on it would present this. Mr Wood begged to withdraw few wo, tioa i* to© mewjti_».

Orders op the Day. Mr Armstrong moved that the " Cattle Trespass Ordinance, 186 d, Amendment Ordinance, 1867," be real a second time. In -a few remarks ho would explain that the principal alterations were in the figures in the schedule, which, through- being ■misplaced, caused considerable confusion • and, in clause 4, alteilng charges to be made by poundkeeper'-*. ' ■ ■ - . Seconded by the Provincial Treasurer. The House then went into committee on the -Bill. ... Mr Cowan- pointed out' that, in clause 3, while sheep ahd goats were mentioned, no provision was made for pigs. He would move that the word ''pigs" be inserted after goats. The Provincial Treasurer explained that, under the Pig Nuisance Ordinance, pigs straying through any fence could be shot. Mr Cowaj-t — Only if you have a notice stuck up. ■■■-'••■' The amendment was carried. Considerable discussion ensued on clause 4, as to the rate of charges which -puundkeepers should be entitled to make. It was ultimately resolved to- report progress and ask leave to sit again on Tuesday morning, so tint further inf irmation might be obtained on tho subject. Mr Nurse moved the second reading "'bf "the Southl.ind Fire Brigade, and Prevention and Sxtiuguishtueat of. Eires Ordinance, 1867." . Seconded by the Provincial Treasurer. The house then went into committee on ihe bill. .Several . verbal and other alterations were. then made. Clause 11, inflicting a fine of £» for refusal to assist in putting out a fire, was struck out of the- bill. . 'Clause 12 svhere it was proposed that the Chief Engineer., should be one of three parties authorised by the Superintendent to order buildings to be removed or destroyed to prevent the spreading of fire, created considerable discussion, and it was.. . ultimately agreed that the consideration of the clause be postponed, the G-overn-ment agreeing to take the opinion of the Provincial Solicitor whether buildings removed or destroyed would be paid for by the insurance' companies. The - consideration of several other clauses was also postponed, when, the chairman having reported progress. Mr Toshack moved the adjournment ".'. of the adjourned debate on Mr Blacklock's motion, which was as follows: — . . "That it is desirable that the periol. fixed by the Southland Waste Land Act. 1865, for allowing licensee occupiers of Crown Lances to come under the opera- • tion of that act be extended for a reasonable period, so as to allow these run- . holders who have not come under the operations of the Land Act still to do so, 1)3. of the date prescribed to do so. au! that a recommendation be made to the Greneral Government on the subject."' Seconded by Mr Wood. The Provincial Treasurer thought the matter had already been fully debated, and that there could be very little more tobe said on the subject. i The motion having been put, was lost, when Mr Cuthbertson, as the member who had moved the first adjournment,, resinned the debate. He said iheie was no necessity for committing the House to' such a resolution, as the matter could be settledby the Waste Land : Board. They all knew how reluctant the pastoral tenants' were to come under the act. He considered such ah interference with the Land Law; as quite arbitrary. He should oppose any -recommendation of the-' kind," as he considered it quite uncalled for. He : therefore begged to propose as an . amendment— *'' That the course proposed to the Council by this motion' involvesan arbitrary interference with "the Laud Eegulations of the . Province, and that, such an interference is to be depreciated as d-tri mental to the interests- of the province." Mr Wood seconded the amendment. •Mr Armstrong said. if he understood ■ aright there had been a case of hardship hiad.e out. „L>r.HopGErNsbN felt embarrassed how to vote. If it could be shown that the resolution was for,' the .public good, • he . - : Would support it. If it wore sought to give an indulgence to; an individual,' he' . Bhould.opppse it. ... Mr CoWAN said he should, have: come to a more satisfactory conclusion if. he had been unaware of the private interest in the ■"' recommendation, The '■ rental derived -.•-. under present rules was, small uuder-^ £2Q..;.;„ under ..the new act. if ! would be be£i2s. '..".'.".';;;;"':;:.; \ - Dr Menzies thought it .had been' clearly shown tbaiv the arrangemeut would be advantageous to' the province. !.-.:■. The result of the action taken in the.mat-. ter would do good. . . There rwould be the increased rental and a considerable por- • ""' tibri ;bf fair land open for selection. ... "■'.'.','.: The Provincial Treasures' imagined that from what had fallen from. Hon. ■. ••"• members in the course . of .the debate, the : : . public advantage would be benefitted by the arrangement. The government thought that in ore than One runholder^ ; would come, under ibe act if the motion. was passed. On the amendment being put, a divirr=r rsia_ : was "caHedribr^vifh^th^f pHo wing: re- . 'SUit'.— '" " ''■'■' -' '■ . :,.. ;.:'..;-. ; : ';••:{"} ..-Ayes..-- ( -.;;. ■ :. Noes." .......;: Cuthbertson Armstrong :. ..;; Johnston;- ':-.- .;-:r;-.. Cowan:; '■':.-'■,, ' Toshack ; -v- ■ Lumsden „-.■... Wood;'''- Crerar .-.■;.',■'.■■"'„ Gierke ; Blaekloek '„M?&}e s ■■■■■ - ' : :/•{ *'v'__pdgkinSOn' '::;; — — Nurse " The original motion was' then; put -and :..: ipaSSed, ,:•:•, , 5 "V7 v.-;:;.."'/ '\;.> <,b:;\£ ii-'. ' : ".'. ";-■.' '.".' ....The^Erbvincialc-iTreasur^eiv^id on the Ji c "table- a -letter from the Keaident Surgeon oi" the i'ruvinciai ilosprtarr^which was- ,„__ -s-g^' $-$& pTidetfed- -ts~li-_- '-bn-the^feble. ■■'■■■ - The'T-Couse'tihen adjourned till Mo_;i3Sy^ @Y©ni_g at 8 o'clock-.

MONDAY, JANUARY 21st, 1867. The Speaker took the chair at S. 15. • The minutes of the previous meeting were- read and confirmed. -.-.-' , -. Mr Pearson asked, nnd obtained lenT e to postpone the consideration of ';h is motion relative to" the appointment of a committee to renort on the completion of the Northern. Eailway. ■' ■ '.* ; -. -,j?y\-r Leave was granted to Mr John'stbh'+o bring. in.- -a ,- "bill entitled the- Boads prdinan<*e, 1562, Amendment Ordinance, 1867.-..— .-The- rlnll-, was v tl\eiv ,r.ead a ; first time, and the ysecond reading/ maVle an order of the day for' Wednesday evening's sitting. -•? , ; _- •.•-;•- y -,-.,-, .- Mr Armstrong, pursuant to notice, moved ; that ■ the reserves niiade ' by 'His Honor the Superintendent since last session as per list laid bri the'tabl'e,- be confirmed* 'y *; ;) T[ y <\ t ;: T Pursuant to notice; " ; LV Hods,kinson . moved "that' the' Conned; ddaronhto com- '■- mittee of Ihe whole Honj-ej foi* the purpose,of considering what measures can betaken ep increase the "sales of the Waste Lands of the Province;" ,". The House then went into com mifctep,; Mr 'Crer-ir beihsf appointed chairman in the absence of Mr Johnston. Dr Tlodgkinsion said the first .thing* they should take into consi 'eration was tbe loth Clause of the Sonthl nnd 'Debt Act! He considered that it was the only impedijmeiit to the sale of lailrl. and very few would buy loud -when r there was a probability of the price bein_r lowered at. . six' 'month's notice, and- at.' the idiscretion of the colonial ministry; ; The. Act. should be dreaded in that direct ion. nnl a pledge got from the ministry that they would not l;i\yer the price. lie begged to submit the. "following /resolution :"— ;; That it is the opinion of 'this. House, tint th cloth Clause of the Southland Debts Act should. . be amended' so as to vest the; power of lowering theprice of 1 and W- the Oeneral ' Assembly- of -New Zeahmd instead" of in the G-overnor as at present: nlso, that in the interval before such: amendment is -made — the—Ministry -of— -Now—Zealand should make. a distinct pledge not to lower the price until the subject has been submitted tO:the Greneral Assembly-V Mr Holmes : apprehended -that there was not any' likelihood of the price being lowered until the two. years had elapsed in which the Government lmd. undertaken to pay Southland's debts, if the laud .sold freely, the debt would be reduced, and while .the ordinary sales met the balance, there was no chance of the price of land being lowered below 20s an acre, it was just a question as' to the amount of the land sold, and the reduction of the debt.. Mr Armstrong thought it was not only '.the interest of the Greneral Gevcrnnient but for the interest of the whole Colony to ; promote the' sales of land- in this: Pro-vint-e, and the clause referred to materially affected that object.Mr Cowan could not see that the proceedings of tlie " committee would be of : much avail, -as, recently, all the pressure that could be brought to bear on the ; Greneral Government was applied, lie thought that- a report from a Select.Committee would better attain the object of the morion. "'Mr "'Wilson said that there -should be stability in the Land i Laws of the Pro--;; ;: vince. • Intending purchasers "both, at hoiiife'-nnd abroad- should- have some cer- 1 ' tainty that- the price of land would not be reduced at six month's notice.: A number of years ought to be'fixed. The hind might be sold at auy ,pricenr*ss or LOs per acre. . , He. considered that it was not conducive to the interests of the colony as a whole -to sell - : the land of Southland or any other Province below , its value. The. subject of immigration had .'been brought .for ward, by the hon. ' member for Oteramika (Mr. Holmes). He (Mr W,.) . considered that- when our... bpuikia'rie's were so small it would bo "a' waste of money to pay passages to this . •Province. Ai: immigration should be a colonial measure, so that immigrants should beat' liberty to go to any part of the. colony .; If the Council were to expi'ess an opinion, he thought that a Select Committee would; be the. best Way. ; ........ . Mr. Pearson would give his cordial support to' the" motion; Whatever was the result of their, .endeavors,, it, was their' duty to get this absurd ciiuse' repealed. 'Our liabilities -were l-n'o'w-h^ - : We} were in quite- as favprable ; .a. position .as. ".Canter- , bury — a Province which' was' so .much /vaunted.: They were.ull liable .to • make' ' mistakes. Otago and Canterbury were.. . making mistakes'' ;: as '--fast -as-- we ' were." .. Sooner than .continue to be threatened *ih. ____s'_vav.' he 'should agree to be anriex-ed' • JTJ tajb. .(l^lvli^rTtrom Mr~Holm es) . Why sh"blfld~we"p*riy our debts within a' . ,yt*ar,. when the. Province, of, Canterbury is' hot "told fpllo so?**' The price "of Lmd • /was *•: raised ' , j.ust ,at;-; a:,- time when it ought-'-' tO'-.-ihav-e been kept at a . ''£1: ;; 'The-'- real- '■ < -reasoh' ■-'• 'why "land wa^V/no'ty, jSpUiitg', so: ;as it, ought to' idopWas, because' the price, was" " aiot definitely ,lixed-. T ,:He,: ; w.as:'itold -. by ;a- ; merchant the other day -thathe • had bad.-; '• v i ces frbni ; ho me to' 'purchase : p.OOO acres j - if tlie price. V.as;; fixed. "There 'was also .pleiicy'pf/capitar in Australia .' to invest"" whenever the. point was finally, settled.;: -.-. \.Mr Lumsden thought-the suggestion, that -the matter" should- be.- settled -by 3 a : select committee, .was the beSt-one.^. If it were possible for' '.ihe^ppunqii to "see -.its .way,- .he thougjitthey, should promote; immigration, i. This was .also, a.fit. subject for "a select 'Committee' to. ; report upon. : He (Mr^ Luni^den") wished : :t^ Iwe had" a/speciaF^ ' Secretary,: insisting ,on .pur. just, .claiiiisy We were-hbtina worse! position than the,other provinces. If '-we;^ werp^placed: on- ; Me ; same; Wotliig, ; w e T '.wo uld be,^iiif e'dble; ' -to, pay the Interest .on o'^ vide a sinking, fend tp;pay^.the principal,; •and thus retrieve our position.-,;: • .:. ....>,; -.. '••'■' ; 'Mi* • Wilson ; thought : that 'in; connection "^ #ith''the-s : ale::bT'lahd>,.;^ . ;'ma.l tei;, .yyas^tlie \ apppmtme^ jjf a 2 sp^Qmb :a <ent to'Engkn'd and.^ust?Alja.! liEjsb|i_b present s<-ate of >our .roads^;-QGbnian could \ "gb^hgM g___*B : ' to coriie k*ar«. If he (Mr Wils-on) wa. in any

other place and was asked what was the ;state of /out; roads, what could .he sayi He would protest that no man cpujd go jhome and give* encouragement, to any one .to coiner and settle in Southland as an : agriculturist; 'when there were no roads Hn the'T PrbVin.be. ' : ' If they had got the 'pastoral "rents,! jfchey /might have : made ! seme i m pro ye on, the : roads. , Everyithing with regard to our> position should |be brought to bear on -the- Greneral Gfo- ; vernmeht: 7 ' TzikingOur debts and /assets I into. consideration, we h~ad;Deen/disgracefullv treated. by them, r , : ' ,- „ ; .' ,-. r ' r Mr Holmes had pressed, on the Greneral Government that some finality- should be fixed with regard' to the sale of land. They should look dispassionately : ,.at the subiect..,- r Al : l- the- large ....araount, of land sold since the new-Act came into .operation, excepting some 3000 acres,-bad been paid for in greenbacks at "a depreciated .ynlue. Mr Holraes then went oh to say; that land coulcl be boyghtm Marlborough and Auckland- for from 7s. to, .153 peri acre. There could be no harm in making a representation to the Greneral Government arid that should include a strong ■remonstrance; with-regard to ; the pastoral rents. . The Provincial Government might have done a deal of good with that money— small" though the amount may .b. 3- :' ... / . ..- . • .. h'.Mv Wood .thought it would be dangerous to make the remonstrance about the ' pastoral rents in the same memorial as the other question, and woujd. suggest that they should be made separately. ■ : . Dr Hodgkinson thought it better that a select 1 committee should be appointed. as it . would put the matter in a proper shape. The pastcfral rents, should be . noticed, aB. also the expediency of the General Grovernment appointing an agerit to go home -and induce immigration, as the Provincial Grovernment had no funds for that object. ... -„.,. ,' - : , : Mr Cuthbertson supported the appointment of a select committee. Without some organisation they could not .give force to their views. : o ne " statement made by the hori. member for Oteramika he, greatly regretted, ; viz., that. -the large purchases of land had not been paid for in cash at £1 per acre. If they went i nto minute per centage, such might be the case, but the depreciation Amounted in no. instance to -4 per cent. There was an immense amount of trouble in negociating those documents.: If they allowed 2£ per cent for the trouble, he (M> C). was sm*e that in any case there could not be more than 2.£ per cent profit on the transactions. Mr Holmes in replying to the remarks of the' last speaker asserted that land had been acquired below £1 an acre, and even, as low as 15s. The payment in greenbacks was mot cash, neither did it represent 20s. They were ;in"controvertible'securities in the market, and parties who took them up could get long credit if ;th.ey gave good, security. . . . . Mr Cowan said the Grovernment could not part with land at a less sum than 20s an acre; The Provincial Treasurer said that in the coulee of the correspondence between the G-eueral and Provincial Gfovernments, the request made by the latter was ihat .the Greneral Assembly only should have power to alter the price of land. He the. proposition of the hon member for Oteramika the other evening to float a permenant loan was a good one. Let them have a debt in proportion to their estate. Dr Menzies said the objections to the loth Clause of the Southland Debt Act were wider and deeper- than any that had been mentioned. That Clause gave power to the Governor to sell land on any term or condition that he pleased. In Council, the Governor could revoke the present' land law and issue/any other he thought' proper. The original proposition when the Southland Debts Act was - brought in, was that no action should be taken till 60 day's notice had been given to the Greneral Assembly to .that effect; Mr Holmes had made some remark with regard to the Province of Auckland. The hon. member could not have, have seen the address of the Sup'eriutenuent, some nine months since, to. the ; Proviucial Council of that Province. Their financial embarrassment was so great; that they were unable to" keep their two : main roads,— which were not of .'any great: ex; tent— i n repair. The deb t of Auckland |i swallowed up:- £47,000 to ,meet interest I and sinking fund, and the cost of the | civit' G-overnment ' was £2-7^ooo. The revenue—which was chiefly derived from .Customs^ receipts— was a failing one, and the Superintendent., acknowledged that 1 he" had >' difficulty ■in making both . .ends lneet. In the face of all that the General Government brought in a. bill for a loan '0f.;£25Q,000J which of course; was thrown out - Theonly reason he (Dr Menzies) could ; assign for the attention, of the General Government in this instance was, ■ tnat ; Aiibkland had - 14 ; members to -the Assembly, who : acted'together, : andJ Southland. \\s. ' only . t four. . '£kk i ' ' laud sold, so • ckeaply in ; Nelsonrand:.Marlbp^ as', the hon.:-. member.; for ..Oteramika well : knew^' :l was ; hilly v. and- purely pastoral; country, all ; the agricultural .land -'being sold". On ■■'an" average^ /ouFland; saie^/h^d' . uearly.,doAbled k the,amunt of :mtere^t' p we. had to.pay,. the., -ior.mer .being. ;.a.bout. £50^000,' and the- latter^£3o,ooo. „.He. (Dr j\l) thought a select-cbmmifctee would cof^ider the/questipri much' better-' "thari :a.',<som^\tt&eiof^tiierw;hftte House. • "i)J'r- >:. The., following, amendment was then, put .and carried — -"That a- select com/mittee; be appointed to : ■ consider | and re- . 'port u'pori/\yhat iiie^sUres shcJU^d he, taken' . ; to ; increase the-, sale . pf ; .^th'e '.'waste 'lands', 1 ; ; ;ialso . the-, effect^upon.wthe^aie.s lof land,. - that the, • 15th 'Claxise-^ofi^ther.-Sbuthlanci Debts Act has; and -also the- matter of . t tie i pastoral" rents-^yucH;; committee/ 0 to : consist of ' Messrs' "Hb'dgtihsqn^ iMehziesi 1 ;Wflson;and.Xumsden;"> :i;ir i The Ghaii?nian having reported pror" 'gres'sfthe' 1 resUmejl^ oT ! LfGBUSINei.AMEjS'BSriENT OEDrSTANCE. i- >^h^c^ioJHQ«aalia?icfiasujer movedllfor^, ' *nd obt*in« f d l^*ye to bring in a bill mi-

s jtitled Licensing prdiiiahceiFlß66, Amendi iment Ordinn nee? '1-867, 5 which waß read n » ifirst time arid niade an order bf the day s ifor ! Wedriesday- evening's sittingvj. '^'" f ■ ;."',.' ;; 'v...; iEidE< : o?B; s"o;bv;e^>. : ? ?; 7? ,-,;„-'.',•» ! ; -nMr -Cowan moved r '-that it „.is f.th?e.---1 ; opiniori of this' Council that the rate per: 1 I acre .charged by the Q-overnment for the j i siiry P.y .... of lapjd '... purchased ftpiri \. ,th?e?,' Gfo-. ivernment 1 is inexpediency; ?high': :,aji^ ( 'seeing that the cost of such surveys •devolves,pn.the,p.ur9h r aser,, the .rate per acre should' iri rio ca sd exceed five-pence for bldcks 'over two hundred acre* : blocks of lesser "acreage, ' and "blocks "with~ bush thereon to be changed a : t 'si proportionate rate, and also seeing- that purchasers updep the/ Southland ; W^ste -Land 1865/ are called -on. tor lodge? with? the receiver of land revenue .the -fees, U fori survey at - a rate which - this Council | deerii 1 too' high",.' the T . Glovernmentf be;/ipr l I .structed to. .empower purchasers; under! ; the Act to receive Jand _in : refund. ,pf .the) ■ excess of • survey , fees thalj . r have been; lodged by theni.'' He wasgladit had so- ; happened to con_e on foi* consideration! that evening, as the cause of this- motionhad iri a small way " a' certain - : inj uriou^ effect on the sales of .land,; The hori.[ gentleman then went on to complain of of the* long period between, the payment for the land, and the issue of the CrownGrant ; that the system of excluding professional surveyors other 1 than a few chosen by the Gfovernment^ must prolong that timo, there being np provision made for assistance or a presr sure of a work ; that a resolution had been passed by the Provincial Council at its last session recommending the em;ployment of authorised surveyors ; that the ; reasons" given- for not acting- on this resolution were the opinions expressed in two reports by the Chief Surveyors of Otago ana Canterbury in favor of the system pursued by the Chief Surveyor of Southland ; that the cases of Canterbury and Southland were not at all anlagous, the land in the former Province being supplied, .surveyed, at the upset price; that the cost of survey here ranged from 6d to 2s 3d an acre, from 20 to 10,000 acres; that the whole of this Prb vince . was triangulated, excepting a very small corrier, arid consequently that, this .cost of survey ought to > be much less ; that it was the duty of Government not to create a monopoly, but to make the cost of survey as low as possible, arid so foster the sales pf land in the Province. Mr Holmes seconded the motion, and went into a great many details to show that the price charged was much too high, he having had a contract arranged with an authorised surveyor at the rate of 4d an acre. ..■',--'-"'. The Provincial Treasurer moved that a report from the Chief Surveyor be read, , which was. seconded 'and agreed to. Mr Pearson said it would simplify matters if the correspondence between the Provincial G-overnment and the Colonial Secretary on this subject was read, aa he believed that jtheire had been such a correspondence. „... The Provincial Treasurer laid the correspondence referred to by the hon.:, member for Waianiwa on tne table, and moved that it be read. - After the correspondence had been read, and Messrs Cuthbertson and Wood; . had spoken On the subject, ■'■'■ The Provincial Treasurer replied that under the .present system the^ average rate per acre was 8d for small blocks, and larger blocks 6d. The only objection the G-overnment had to the motion was that they did not conceive how the charges could? be reduced under. , the present system. "■.•-, Messrs . Armstrong, Pearson, and Menzies, having spoken on this subject, Mr Cowan replied that he would draw attention to the fact that the' Chief; Surveyor's report said the, five district; surveyors laid off, ori an average, 20,000 acres each per month. He (Mr O weritr : into calculations, to show, that, at 8d per acre & district surveyor had after, paying all expenses, £1139 12s per annum for his share. On the; motion; being put a .division -. was called '■' for '■■ with •'•"•the following resuit : — Ayes^-Howell, Crerar, Armstrong, MenzieSjjSrurse, Cuthbertson, Lunisden, Holmes, Clerke, 'I^Qp'4, ?C/6wan, teller . ISToes— Toshack, . JPearson, Hodgkinson, Blacklock, teller". ;: --- Mr Lumsden in moving "that the. letter of theTTßesident Surgeon of the' Hospital addressed to the Government,; - and having reference to the motion? for a return giving : the rules and number of patients which; have been' treated' in the. Hospital '-'during ? the six months ending' : December 3 ist, , 1866, be. taken. iiito : con- ;; sideration, ' ' said that, he ,woiild ; take the opportunity of drawing attention: to,::the J: , fact that in having the- letter laid before , them., the resolutions of that Council ; j.waarjsetb at : npught, by the G-overnment ■andiits subordinate. He would imerely ask the Gpyernment if they- intended to" furriish?thb' statement asked for? . . : Tne.Prpvinciai-'Ke^ : ; the statement sho ul«i ; ; be , .laid , pef bre the^ House. to-riiorrowievening. ■, i -, „c-:( ; \ v-, , v . r :: - -Mr : Cuthbertson-' considered'" the acfaon ' ; oTth^ G:o*>ernment ill ad vised ; iri'bringing "forward? that?, letter." '■' It7 nevei' ; : ought to i have/ been ; laid On -the? tajile, ?iand ought never to have been written-; by. -a Gi-oyeim- • : rneut'- official: -= ;: ' •-"-' = •-: <>'> ■■-■>:[; ud I '?^.;??'^ „ . The .Provincial Treasurer J^wbuld likeia, '(Jcnow \yhat '.course ,tfe for ( J_ongwo.ojd?wpuld ;,haye./aa_p,*^d^ ! ;Lj ;•.- Mr Cuthbertson should have demanded -the report,* and if the 1 Resident Surgepuj ..^h^^r^ledrV.t^^cp^ly^^lj© ($& C.) '7!sh6iidd?at orice.j have-'^'reHpy^ him fromj his duties. ' " *" °'"* ? : ?.^ ;;i [ —.- -j^rTbumsdei-7: withdrew his mption.H<Mi , -tl-e^pTPrni^e of' rae • 'Government \ that the stat ; ement~Mked for would^ be furnished. ; "'7 : ; M*r?'Peafs^'_:*_i6ti wks^ufther ppst- *' pdheii' tillnextsijbtin|-.7 ! •*-'•-'»- --,-, Jdv , Armstrdri^ ?laid on "the* table the y " rep^tV ; 6"f; tlie 1 Select Comuiittep on tfie* teifder -for 'the purchase of the steamer.. Southlandj-the-purpprt of which was to* r.itha^effecJiL-.Jibat the Select CWmittee i ■ ctfuld not etot©rt__i iS.

j Mr BlacklQck TAojeji'tKtifi the order of ithe day be lu^her'^ds^po-ied till next fitting, which was seconded and agreed to. Several -Jiptiees*,; of motion ; were then J given, when House adjourned at ten | inH^e^past.l2, til^, p^lock^iji leveningJ '