PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Issue 1063, 4 December 1868, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

-♦ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1. EVENING SITTING-. The Speaker toot the chair at eight o'clock, There were present the following members : — Messrs Blacklock (Provincial Treasurer), Armstrong, Basstian, Howell, Pearson, Longuet, Hodgkinson, Swale, Johnston, Clerke, Calder, Daniels, Monckton, Hately, Dalrymple, and Boss. , COBTtESPCNDENOE. Mr Abmstbong laid on the table copies of letters which passed between the Provincial Government and Mr Peter Dalrymple on the subject of the purchase of land from that gentleman, in consequence of the deviation of a portion of the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway; also, estimates i for finishing embankment No. 1 ; also cost of diversion through Mr Dalrymple's property. The "Pboyhtciaii Tbeasttreb laid on the table correspondence between the Provincial Government and the Engineer, Mr Patterson, C.E., relative to the cost of supervision of the Oreti Eailway works. NATIONAL SCHOOL. Mr Peabsost moved — " That this Council is of opinion that an endowment for a national school for the town of Invercargill, and for the Invercargill Hospital should be made, and with this view requests the Government to take the necessary steps to secure the block at present reserved for public gardens for this object, the same to be surveyed in sections for each endowment alternately, to be leased for building purposes, under powers to be given to trustees to beappointed for these institutions ; one section, however, to be reserved for the use of the Fire Brigade." The hon member for Oteramika said he did not consider it would be necessary to occupy the time of the House by any lengthy arguments in favor of its adoption. There was I think sufficient said on the subject last session, I will therefore, more particularly, as I do not anticipate any opposition, confine myself to assuring the Council that I do not bring forward this resolution from any spirit of factious opposition to the Government, with no desire to set at defiance the decision of the Council, but with an earnest wish to provide an immediately available fund for the endowment of a public school in the town of Inver. cargill ; a school which will combine* a cheap as well as good education for cliildren, under the conduct ' of an able master appointed by and under the supervision of the Education Committee. It is not only a serious moral obligation on the Government to provide means of education for the rising generation, bub it is rapidly becoming a political necessity. There are many men in this town, who having received an education themselves, can appreciate the value of it for their children, who from the force of circumstances, while having large families of children to be educated — cannot afford to send them to the private schools presently existing, and look forward with painful anxiety to the prospect of their little ones remaining uneducated, sooner than face which contingency they are prepared to break up their homes, leave the Province and settle in Otago, where owing to the wise provisions of the Government, the schools established are of first class quality and cheap. Indeed Otago has been held up in this respect as a pattern to the rest of New Zealand. I would seek to copy her example, and not to force the people here, much against their inclination, to emigrate for the purpose of obtaining this great desideratum for their children. By my proposition I do not deprive the Hospital of any quantity of land proposed by the Government at the last session, as an amendment. It reserved half of this block. I propose the whole should now be taken and equally divided in alternate sections between the Hospital and a national school ; this I think is fair and equitable and I cannot conceive the possibility of opposition on the part of any member to my motion. Dr Monokton would cordially second the motion. However much the Hospital required the endowment, education required more. He would like to see the Hospital well endowed, bufc he did not think thab this motion interfered with it, Mr Abjtstbong would not oppose the motion, as he thought the Hospital would not lose anything by it. He did at one time contemplate opposing it, but on further consideration he would not oppose it. The hon. member (Mr Pearson) was most pertinacious on the subject of education. Captain Howell thought they had better mind what they were about. The reserve was for public purposes, and for the benefit of the future generation. Possibly they might want it for a fish market yet. The House then divided with the following results: — Ayes 12, Noes 5. The motion was then declared carried. RAILWAY PLANT. Mr Clebke stated .that the Government had placed on the table that morning the documents setting forth the cost of the railway plant from England. MAORI RESERVE, RIVE RTON. Mr Daniels asked the Government to lay on the table a copy of the correspondence received from the chief Topy Topo since last session of the Council, as regards the construction of streets through the Maori Beserve, Riverton. The hon; member said that certain-action had already been taken in this matter last session, and he understood that the Government had promised to attend to it. Since then the Maori chief Topy, had written to the Government on the subject, and he (the hon. member) desired to have the correspnodeuce read. The Pbovincial Tbeasubeb said that no doubt the hon. member alluded to a letter which had been received by the Commissioner of Crown Lands from the Maori chief. Letter laid on the table and read. ORETI RAILWAY. The Pbovincial Tbeastjbeb asked the leave of the House to postpone the '

motion standing in hia name which bad for its object the setting aside a certain block of land for finishing this line. The hon member said that he thought it would be useless to bring on his motion until the report of the select committee appointed to inquire into the tenders, was laid before the House. He understood that the Committee would bring up their report to-morrow evening. , Mr Armstrong asked leave to postpone a similar motion 1 , ibr the sa'nie' reason. Leave granted. SHEEP BESEBVE. Mr Basstiabt, in the absence of Mr M'Clure, asked leave to postpone the following motion—" That one half of the area of the temporary reserves throughout the Province known as tht sheep^ be made permanent reserves for Hospital endowments, and that the Government be requested to take such action in this regard as may be necessary." Mr Caldeb said he did not think it right that motions should be postponed from day to day. It was pretty well known how the motion would be decided. He depredated the course of bringing forward motions merely based upon peif* sonal grounds. It appeared to nim that all business should be decidtd upon its merits in a straightforward manuer; add disposed of when it came before thfl House". . . Mr Basstian said that he only asked the leave of the House to postpone the motion out of courtesy to Mr M'Clure, who as a member of the Government, was entitled to that consideration. He was not acquainted with the merits of the question. The hon. member for Invercargill (Mr Calder) and the Government appeared to be like Kilkenny cats, fighting with each other for endowments of every description. The Speaker thought the hon. member for Invercargill was quite right The motion as it stood was a complete jumble. It ought to be altered. Mr Johnston thoilght the motion a very curious and singular one. Mr Abmstrong said he thought Bar M'Clure was only joking when he gave notice of motion. It seemed to be brought forward on the principle that as the hon. member for Oteramika (Mir Pearson) was so anxious to obtain endowments for education Mr M'Clure would take care of the hospital. # After some further discussion* the motion lapsed. --;; . EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ORDOfANCttI AMENDMENT ORDINANCE. Mr Pearson asked leave of the House that standing order No. 27 be suspended in order to move that the bill be read a first time. Leave was granted, the bill read a first time, and the second reading made an order of the day for next sitting. GRAVEL PITS. Dr Hodgkihson asked the Government if any steps had been taken to set aside blocks of land known to contain gravel, for the purpose of road making. The subject was a very important one, as in a short time most of the land would be Bold, and then there would be no means of making roads except by purchasing land containing graveL The Provincial Treasurer said that the Government had the matter under consideration, and as soon as the Chief Surveyor returned, he would be asked to make a report on the subject. The report would be ready by next session. ACCLIMATISATION.- ■ Mr Pearson asked if anything had been done by the Government in setting aside 2,000 acres of land for the purposes of introducing salmon and trout into the Province. If the land was set apart, he understood sufficient funds could be obtained for proceeding with the Work of acclimatisation. He trusted that the Government were prepared to carry out the resolutions of the Council. The Provincial .Tbeasitbeb said. that the Government had not done anything in the matter, in consequence of the Superintendent being absent. By the next sitting of the Council, the Government would state their decision. The House then adjourned till 7 o'clock next evening.