NOTICE OF MOTION.

Southland Times, Issue 878, 8 January 1868, Page 2

NOTICE OF MOTION.

Mr Dalrymple gave several notices of motion for next evening's sitting; " BEPLY.TO HIS HONOR'S ADDRESS. T ' Mr M'Cltjre brought up the reply to Hi 3 Honor's address. It was as follows : — REPLY. Council Chambers, 6th January, 1868. The Council congratulates jour Honor upon being being so far convalescent as to open the present session in person. The Council trusts that the final decision of the (Jeneral Government relative to the completion of the Oreti line of Railway may be known before the termination of the session. The correspondence relating to the Eastern and Oreti Railways shall receive our careful consideration. The Council » pleased to learn that the financial state of the Province is so far improved at to

be a matter of congratulation, and treats that the preaenfc period is the beginning of a new and brighter era. The Council is glad to find that your Honor s Government has recognized the immediate necessity for prosecuting road works, and hopes that material progress shall be made before the ensuing winter. The Council is gratified to be informed that the working of the Blutf and Invercargill Railway is more satisfactory than hitherto ; end should the Oreti line be finished, trusts that your Honor's anticipations will be realized. The want of a stream of immigrants of a suitable class having been long felt, the proposition relative to the resumption of assisted immigration shall receive our careful consideration. Any bills laid before the Council shall receive its earnest attention. Tha Council is pleased to learn that the Appropriation and Vagrant Ordinances have received the Governor's assent. J. M'Clttbe, Chairman of Select Committee. His Honor the Superintendent.

Mr Abmstbong moved its adoption, which was carried. EXPLANATION. The Pbovinctai. Tbeasubeb desired to make a few observations with reference to the Provincial Liabilities Confirmation Ordinance, which Act did not receive the assent of His Excellency the Governor. Owing to the change in the financial condition of the Province, caused by the Surplus Revenue Act, the opinion of the Attorney-General seemed to be that the items specified in the Liabilities Ordinance were not chargeable to the colony, but rather to the Province in which they were incurred, and it was therefore possible that the items would have to be included in the Appropriation Act of the Council. LICENSING ORDINANCE, 1868. The PnoYnrcrAt. Tbeastibeb moved for leave to bring in a bill intituled the " Licensing Ordinance, IS6S. Leave was granted, the bill read a first time, and its second reading made an order of the day for the evening's sitting. EETURNS OE THE BLUFF EAILWAY. Mr Lumsdest, pursuant to notice, moved — " For a return of the receipts and expenditure on the Bluff and Invercargill Railway for the three months ending oa the 31st December last, distinguishing working expenses from maintenance and outlay." The hon. member (Mr Lumsden) was very glad to hear that the line had paid working expenses. He would like to know how it arose, and expressed a desire to have the return moved for, read. It would be satisfactory to ascertain the cause of the increase in the receipts, as it would be a guide to hon. members when future railway projects arose. The Pbotxstciai. Tbeasttbeb laid on the table the return, which showed a net profit of £75 on the quarter's receipts. Mr Lumsden observed that the item of fuel was not mentioned. The Pbovus-ciali Teeasubeb understood that it was comprised under the heading of " locomotive charges." Mr Johnston thought the item should be set forth separately. The PbovtnctalTeeastoeb would have the return amended to suit hon members, although he thought it was quite unnecessary as the total on both sides was correct. SHEEP ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE. Mr M'Clttre asked leave to introduce a bill, intituled the " Sheep Ordinance Amendment Ordinance." Leave was granted. The bill was read a first time, and its second reading made an order of the day for the evening's sitting. CORRESPONDENCE. The Provincial Tbeascbeb laid on the table the correspondence between Dr Eccles and ~ His Honor the Superintendent on the Southland Immigration Agent question. Correspondence read. Mr Ltmsdes" thought it ought to be printed ; although it might cost a little money the public ought to be informed on the subject. He confessed the question assumed a different complexion to what he previously understood. His Honor was said to be a good hand at the pen, but he evidently had met his match. He (Mr Lumsden) was quite in the dark in reference to the correspondence. "When he was a member of the government he was not aware that any such correspondence existed. Southland wanted a little excitement just now, and he thought the correspondence by being published would make a stir. The motion for printing the documents lapsed for want of a seconder. The Speakeb said that perhaps the newspapers would publish it gratituously. Mr Armstrong — (Hear, hear.) The subjecc then dropped, and the Council adjourned till 7 p.m.

EVENING SITTING-. The Speakeb took his seat at 7.10 p.m. present the Provincial Treasurer, Messrs M'Clure, Dalrymple, Pearson, Lumsden, Longuet, Daniel, Armstrong, Ross and Clerke. MrCiiEBKE gave notice of his intention to move at next next sitting — " For a schedule of the rates of Tolls to be taken at the Oreti Bridge." " That the Government place on the table all the correspondence with the General Government with reference to ihe last Liabilities Confirmation Ordinance passed by the Council." " Eor an account of the receipts and disbursements of the Invercargil Cemetery," The Speakeb read a letter which had been addressed to him by Mr Norman Campbell, a tenderer for certain work on the North Road, complaining of undue liaste on the part of the Government in assigning the contract to another contractor whose tender was higher than his own, on the ground that he, Mr Campbell, was not prepared at the specified time with his deposit as security. He (Mr Campbell) concluded that as the Provincial Government owed him a large Bum, this circumstance ought to have been regarded, and further, that as he had subsequently tendered the stipulated amount, £300, he wa§ justified ra asser-

ting that there were good grounds for suspecting partiality and favoritism in the disposal of the contract. He considered the case demanded an investigation by the Provincial Council. Mr Armstbong objected to the course taken by the contractor. He considered that the matter should have come— if at all — before the Council as a petition. The Provincial Teeasfbeb said the course taken by Mr Campbell was most irregular. He was, nevertheless, glad that the matter had been referred to, as it would give him an opportunity of correcting any misapprehension outside. He would move for leave to explain ; and this being granted, he denied that the deposit of £300 had been tendered. The lowest tenderer was unable to furnish the required deposit of 10 per cent. ; and Mr Campbell, as the next lowest tenderer, was informed that he must be ready with his deposit by noon of Monday. He (Mr Campbell) had referred to the fact that he was a creditor of the Government, and had been informed that the amount of the Provincial Government's liability to him had been passed under the Southland Debt Act, and consequently could not be accepted as security. It further appeared that the Bank of New South Wales was in this matter the real creditor of the Government. He denied that there had been any favoritism or that the deposit had been tendered. Mr Peabson, in referring to the motion standing in his name — " That the form of Government at present existing in New Zealand, viz., by Provincial Government, controlled by a General Government, is no longer suited to the circumstances and requirements of the Colony, and demands immediate modification. That a Central Government and legislature for the two islands would greatly conduce to the efficient performance of the functions of government, the financial credit of the Colony, and the general good of the community. That to effect such a change, the Colony should be divided into counties and sub-divided into road districts. That the purely municipal administration of affairs in each county should be vested in a Board, the members of which should be elected in a manner similar to that prescribed for the election of Superintendents under Clause 4 of the Constitution Act. That the police, gaol, harbor, land and j survey departments should be under the j entire control of the General Government. That our representatives in the General Assembly be requested to use their utmost influence for the attainment of such a change in the present form of government. That & copy of the foregoing resolutions be sent to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary" — would propose " That the consideration of this motion be adjourned until to-morrow (this) evening." He said there were but eleven members present, and a subject of grave importance like that on the notice paper demanded the most careful consideration. The hon. member for Biverton (Dr Hodgkinson) was not present, and as he (Mr P.) was unwilling to carry his motion without a full debate, he would ask for leave to postpone its consideration until tomorrow. Mr Longtjet seconded the motion for adjournment, which was carried. On the orders of the day being brought forward, The Pboyincial Tbeastjbeb, in moving — " That the bill intituled 'The Licensing Ordinance, 1868,' be read a second time," said the Government had brought in this bill with a view to obviate certain difflcul- | ties in the present Licensing Act. The defects of the present Act were so many and great that it was deemed better to bring in a new bill, than to seek to amend the one now in force. The changes he proposed to introduce were so great as to amount to a remodelling of the Act. First, as to the fee, which at present was £20 for a license up to ten o'clock, and i £30 for one to twelve o'clock, he proposed to make the fee a uniform one of £25, and to allow all to keep open until eleven o'clock. He believed the whole trade was in favor of this change. The special and wholesale licenses as at present pressed unjustly on some parties who were compelled to pay as much as the publican without having his privileges. He proposed* to fix the fee for sale in quantities over 1 pint, at £10. The form of application for a license was somewhat altered, and it had been deemed advisable that applicants should pay the cost of advertising. He would increase the minimum penalty for unlicensed trading to £10, and would fnrther notice as an improvement on the present Act, that he proposed to do away with the penalty to which the purchaser from an unlicensed trader was now liable. Mr M'Cltjbe seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. The Pbovtstciaii Tbeasfbeb ' moved — "That the House go into committee on the Bill." Mr Lttstsden objected to the haste. Members should have more time to consider the matter, he was always averse to hasty legislation, and would have the consideration of the Bill adjourned until next sitting. Mr Abmstbong took a similar view. Mr Johnston thought the case would be met if the Committee were to consider one clause, and report progress, the provincial treasurer had no objection to this. The House then went into Committee, and Clause 1 having been disposed of the Chairman reported progress. Mr M'Cnnas moved— <( That the Bill intituled 'The Sheep Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 1868,' be read a second time." He • said this ordinance was introduced merely to correct a verbal error in a former ordinance. The Provincial Treasurer seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. The House, on the motion of M'Clure, went into committee ; progress having been reported, the third reading was made an order of the day for next sitting. The report of the Road Inspector was read and laid on the tabl§ ; as was also the report of the Immigration Officer. Mr Clebke gave notice of his intention to move at next sitting " That the

correspondence between Dr Eccles, and the Provincial Government read this morning be printed." The House then adjourned until next (this) day at 11 o'clock.