PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Issue 879, 10 January 1868, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

' WEDNESDAY, 18th JANUARY, 1868. MORNING- SITTING. The Speaker opened the proceedings at 11 o'clock. Present — Messrs Blacklock, (Treasurer), M'Clure, Armstrong, Monckton, Pearson, Hately, Daniels, Ho well, Dairy mple, Clerke, Lumsden, Boss, Swale, Johnston. THE RAILWAY STATEMENT. * The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table an amended statement of receipts and expenditure of the working of the Bluff and Invercargill Railway. He said he found that the item of fuel had been omitted, no coals having" been paid for during the quarter. The estimated consumption was £85. This did not alter the statement materially as to profit and loss, as several works, not chargeable to maintenance or working expenses, had been put down. There was -*XtOUL — "" — ' T ggdage_^£ LIABILITIES CONFIRMATION ORDINANCE. Mr Glebke asked the Government to place on the table all the correspondence wifch the General Government having reference to the last "Liabilities Confirmation Ordinance " passed by this Council. In asking this question he desired! to obtain information. When this subject was mooted, if he had understood the Treasurer aright, the G-overnment preferred paying £5000 out of the current revenue, rather than allow it to go to the colonial account under the " Consolidation Act." The Treasurer had no objection to laying the corresponderco before the House. It was then being prepared, and would be brought down at the next sitting. THE ORETI BRIDGE. Mr Clerke asked the Government if they intend to erect a schedule of the rates charged for crossing the Oreti Bridge, or if not, whether they intend, bj any other means, to inform the public of the authorised scale of charges. He thought the charges when he crossed the bridge were too high although they might be the proper charges. He thought a fixed scale should be made public. The Treasurer said it would be the duty of the lessee to place a board, marked with the fixed scale of charges painted on it, on the bridge, in the usual way. The Provincial Solicitor was preparing a schedule, which the lessee would be bound to display in a conspicuous place. THE CEMETERYMr Clerke asked the Government to lay on the table a statement of the receipts and disbursements of the Invercargill cemetery. His reason for asking this question at the present time was that he had heard that there was a surplus in hand, aud, if so, something ought to be done to improve the condition of the burial ground which was now most unseemly. He then referred to a statement that many were buried without any service being performed. He f hought that this did not redound to the credit of Ministers to allow such a state of things to continue when they must have known they existed. Mr DALBAMTiE rose to speak on the subject, but was ruled out of order. The Treasurer pointed out that the way this matter had been brought up was quite informal. However, the return was now on the table. THE ECCLES CORRESPONDENCE. Mr Clerke to move— "That the correspondence between Dr Eccles and the Government (read at the morning sitting of the 7th inst.) be printed." He said it was evident that something must be done in this matter, and it was most desirable that the Council should be well acquainted with all the circumstances of this claim. There was one remarkable thing about the correspondence -which was the strange way in which' it had

cropped up. First they were told of the receipt of a telegram granting 60,000 acres of land for railway purposes. This, of course, put the House in good spirits. But the next correspondence turned up in a most mysterious manner. The Pbovinciai, Tbeasttbeb. — Why did you not look for it; you had the opportunity. In reply to a question as to the probahle cost of printing, he stated it would be about £15. Mr Abmsteon& opposed the motion. It was only putting the province to a useless cost, and if the correspondence was printed at all it should be by private subscription. In answer to a question by Mr DaiiBYMPE, if he would subscribe ? he said, "No, not a bawbee." As to mystery, I know of none. As far as I am concerned I knew of everything that took place. Mr Lttmsdest supported the motion. The document was apparently a very truthful statement of the circumstance on which the olaims of Dr. Eccles were based. It would have to come before the Council again for consideration. He had no doubt that the Council would have to vote compensation, which he sincerely hoped, although he feareduot, might prove the last. (Hear, hear.) But it was important to put the saddle on the right horae with reference to this immigration agency business. The documents should be printed: they would not cost more than half the amount estimated by the Treasurer. Mr Daletmple opposed the motion. He was in favor of retrenchment, and thought that printing the correspondence j was only throwing money away. He was ( opposed to the going to expense for the mere purpose of holding a Government to ridicule, and thought they had better try and do something of practical value. Dr. Mojtcktoit opposed the motion, He agreed with the last speaker. The documents had been read and made public, and he presumed the newspapers would publish them without cost, if only to enlighten their readers on an interesting subject. The Teea-Sitbee was surprised to hear Mr Lumsden call Dr. Eccles' statements correct ones. He had no objection to have them printed. If the correspondence was of such great public importance as had been assumed by some, the public prints would no doubt fill their columns with it ; but if it was only wanted for members' information, the copies were on the table, and could be examined by them at any time : it was only throwing away £15 that might some future day be wanted. The Speaker thought that printing might be best economy. It often happened that documents before the House were little studied or understood. Mr Cleeke in reply, alluding to Dr. Monckton's suggestion that the papers should publish the correspondence, remarked that it was possible that they might do so without payment, on the same principle that the hon. member himself might attend a patient who had not the means to pay him ; but he might depend upon it that, like himself, they would prefer to be paid. The T^inon wa^_c^rjie^.-—^- .__^— g" : This Ordinance having passed its second reading was committed. Twenty clauses were discussed, and mostly with slight alterations, passed. The Chairman reported progress, and asked leave to sit again. SHEEP ORDINANCE, 1868, AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1868 This Ordinance was read a third time and passed. The House then adjourned to 7.30 p.m. ♦ — '■ ' "