THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Issue 1764, 8 July 1873, Page 2

THE PRO VINCI AL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, Ist July, ministerial explanation". Mr Tolmie, iti moving the adjournment of the House explained that the Executive, gazetted that day, consisted of himseF, as Provincial Secretary; Mr Turnbull, Treasurer ; Mr Bastings, Secretary for Goldfields ; Mr Turton, Provincial Solicitor; and Mr M'Dermid, without offi -c. Individually, he had only accepted office with the view of facilitating business during the session, and, if he carried through, be would retire at the close of the session. He concurred with Dr Webster, that no member holding a seat in the General Assembly should be eligible to hold a seat in the Provincial Government. He had seen the difficulty that arises owing to the heads of departments leaving their placea to be filled by deputies, and he thought it would be well for the House to affirm that resolution. He would take ifc as applicable to himself, whether carried or not. At the expiration often days therefore— should the existing Executive continue so long in office — it would be necessary to reconstruct the Government. It was intended that one member should be appointed from the Northern, arid one from the Southern part of the Province. With regard to his position as a member of the Land Board — he held, that position as a member of the Executive, and as such be claimed it as a right. As soon as he ceased to be a member of the Executive he would resign his seat at the Land Board. It was the desire of the Government that the business of the session should be got through with as little delay as possible. Tt was particularly desirable that the Estimates should be passed. Owing to some alterations the Estimates were being reprinted, but they would be laid on the table during the week. After some discussion the motion for adjournment was carried. Wednesday, 2nd July. The following Bills were read a second time : — Port Chalmers Waterworks ; Dempsey Trust ; Queenstown Waterworks ; Bridges Traffic Regulation ; South Dunedin Cemetery Closing; Lawrence Reserves Management Amendment ; Dunedin Reserves Management (placing the Princes street Maori reserve in the hands of the Corporation). Mr Green moved the suspension of the Standing Orders for the purpose of enabling him to propose the following resolution, without notice : — " That a respectful address be presented to" His Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will be pleased to transmit to the Council at as early a date as possible an Imprest Supply Bill, to provide for the payment of current expenditure and liability incurred by the sanction of the Council." Mr Turnbull took the earliest opportunity to intimate that tho Government would regard any such proposal as a vote of want of confidence. It was not the intention of the Government to bring down any Imprest Supply Bill at all, but to lay the Estimates before the Council immediately. Ifa majority of the Council dissented from this course, then the Government were perfectly willing to retire ; but he believed it was the wish of the majority of the Council that the Estimates should bebroughtdown as early as possible because if they were not passed duringthe present session the probability would be that as far as the construction of works was concerned the summer would be lost. It must be apparent, therefore, that any delay in the passing of the Estimates would be the most suicidal course they could possibly pursue. Mr Green hoped no such construction aa that alluded to by the hon. member would be attached to his motion. He had brought it forward as a private member, without any solicitation or concert on the part of other members. He entirely disclaimed any intention of endeavoring to further party motives in bringing it forward. After some discussion, Mr Green obtained permission to withdraw his motion Mr J. C. Brown moved— "That the financial year should terminate on the 30th September each year, instead of March 3 1st, as at present." Mr Brown stated that he had been induced to bring the motion forward in accordance with a wish expressed by many hon. members. The motion was seconded by Mr Clark. Messrs Lumsden, Kinross, and Stout supported, and Messrs Tolmie, M'Lean, Dr Webster, and the Hon. Mr Bathgate spoke against the motion, which was lost on the voices. Mr Stout moved — " Ist. .That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient, in order to provide for the speedy settlement of the country, that the ' Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872,' in so far as it provides that the area opened for alienation by deferred payments shall not exceed 5000 acres on any one run, that the-acea. io be. opened in any one year shall not exceed 30,000 acres, and "that no new block on any one run shall be opened on the same system until at least one half of the said block has been disposed of, should be amended. 2nd. That there should be provided, in lieu of the provisions in the said Waste Lands Act relating to the alienation of land on deferred payment, that the area to be opened in any one year should not exceed 100,000 acres, and that there should be no limit as to quantity to be taken from any one run, nor should it be insisted on that at least one-half of the land opened for sale on the said system should be Bold or leased before further land could be opened." After discussion the following amendment was proposed by Mr G. F. C. Browne, and seconded by Mr M'Glashan : — " That in the opinion of this Council ib is inexpedient to attempt to amend tho Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872, until the said Act has had a legitimate trial." s Mr Tolmie said that there was v&/ occasion for him, as representing th/

Government, to say anything upon th< original motion, because, as had beer already stated, the Superintendent in his Address had expressed his opinion as tc the requirements of the country with regard to blocks of land for deferred payments system. His Honor, in thai statement, had reflected the opinions oi the Government ; therefore he though! it would he well to allow the resolutions of the hon. member for Caversham tc pass, and to withdraw the amendment. The resolutions were ultimately adopted, without a division. On the motion of Mr Lumsden , followed by a short debate, the following resolutions were carried : — " Ist. That this Council resolves, with the concurrence of His Honor the Superintendent, and in terms of clause 16 of the Southland Waste Lands Act, 1865, that blocks of agricultural land, amounting in the aggregate to at least 200,000 acres, be set apart in that fpart of the Province comprised within the late Province of Southland, as a reserve for the purpose of promoting immigration, bona fide settlement, and public works in that district ; and that with the view of making a judicious selection of such lands only as are Buited for agricultural purposes, the Superintendent be requested to appoint Commissioners to make such selection, and the Council recommends that two of such Commissioners should be the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Inspector of Surveys in the district. 2nd. That the said lands be disposed of from time to time for occupation on the plan of deferred payments only, as already adopted under the * Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872 ' 3rd. That this Council considers it expedient that the * Southland Waste Lands Act, 1865,' be amended so as to provide for the discontinuance of the system of free selection, and the application of the plan of deferred payments, in the disposal of the remaining unsold agricultural lands within the Southland district : And that with the view of giving effect to this and the foregoing resolutions, His Honor the Superintendent be requested to introduce a Bill into the General Assembly at its next session to amend the ' Southland Waßte Lands Act, 1865,' accordingly." Mr Shand moved—" Ist. That all that area of land within the Province of Otago, as per plan attached, and therein colored green and numbered, be withdrawn from sale, for the purpose of being placed under deferred payments as required. 2nd. That a Commission, consisting of the Hon. Major .Richardson, Mr Driver, Dr Webster, and (with their consent) the Mover, along with the Acting Surveyor (Mr M'Kerrow), be appointed to report, during the recess, on the within rune, as to the necessity or advisability of selling part of such runs, not agricultural land, for the payment of railways within the Province. 3rd. That the Provincial Government be authorised, as soon as possible, to call for tenders for the immediate construction of the Railway between Balclutha and Mataura. The railway to be offered to the General Government should they be prepared to take the contracts up." [The following are the runs referred to in the foregoing motion: — Run 111, M'Nab'c, 54,600 acres ; 131, M'lntyre's, 32,600 ; 175 b, Ibbotson, say 10,000 suitable for settlement; 167 a, Larnach, 21,400, of which 7000 is surveyed into sections; part of 78, Tolmie, 5000, of which 3000 is already sanctioned ; 167 b, M'lntyres.2l,4oo ; 168, M'Kenzie, 17,000, of this 10,000 acres are in sections ; 176 a, Logan's, 23,000, less 11,000, 12,000. The 11,000 acres were recently purchased by Mr Logan in December, 1872. Part of 211, Herbert, say 8000 suitable for settlement; part of 163, M'Kellar's, late Schlotel, and part of 178, say 8000 suitable for settlement; part of 193, Swanston, and part of 194, M'Kellar, say 10,000 suitable for settlement. Grand total, 200,000. The whole of this two hundred thousand acres is said to be well adapted for farms ranging from 100 up to, say 1000 acres each — the smaller for dairying and cultivation; the larger for farms partly arable and partly pastoral.] Mr Shand said the land was situated on either side of the Southern Trunk Bailway, Invercargill and Balclutha, and was the best unsold portion of agricultural land in the Province. If they were going to dispose of land under the deferred payments system, that was the best place where settlement would get a fair trial. He also trusted that along with the land, a railway would also be at the command of the settlers there ; that before the crops were grown there would be a railway to transport them to market. If the motion were carried, he would some day prove to the citizens of Dunedin that neither himself nor those who worked with him were obstructionists, for this land was capable of maintaining a population as large as that settled in the Province at the present time. Mr M'Neill seconded the resolutions. Messrs Tolmie, Stout, and Reid also addressed the Couucil on the resolutions. The debate upon the resolutions was adjourned upon the motion of Major Eichardson. Thvbsdat, 3ed July. The Hon. Major Eichardson, without notice, called attention to the fast, that on the previous day it was agreed than an Address should be presented to His Honor the- Superintendent, requesting that there be laid upon the table of the Council the report of Messrs Shepherd and M'Kerrow as to land applied for by the Hon. Robert Campbell in the Marewhenua district. He (the Hon. Major Eichardson) asked, therefore, whether tbe Marewbenua block had been granted by tbe Waste Lands Board to Mr Campbell that day. Mr Tolmie : An application was made to the Waste Lands Board that day, after adjournment from time to time of the v matter; and the Commissioners of the Waste Lands Board took the best legal dvice they could get as to tbe position 'the case. They had no alternative in

j the matter but to proceed to grant the 1 application, which was granted that day. } Mr "Wood asked the Government what > steps had been tiiken for the purpose of 1 giving effect to the prayer of the petition ■ of sixty-four owners and occupiers of " land traversed by the Bluff Harbor and i Invercargill Kail way, that the above line ': of railway might be fenced in. i Mr Bastings said that it would cost > betwf en £3000 and £4000 to fence in the line. The Government, therefore, would have to consider the matter furthen. He might add that if the Government were called upon to fence in all the tramways that led up to railways, more ! money would be required than the Government could furniab. And it was also a matter worthy of consideration whether, as connected with trains that travelled at a slow rate, the Government would be ' I justified in spending such large sums of i money for such purposes. The Govern- [ merit, however, would state on a future S occasion what they would do in regard to the fencing of these railways. Mr Lumsden obtained the suspension of the Standing Orders to enable him to move — " That doubts having been expressed as to the power of this Council, with the concurrence of the Superintendent, to reserve 200,000 acres of land in the Southland district, under the 16th clause of the Southland Waste Lands Act, 1865, as proposed in a resolution adopted by the Council yesterday, this Council resolves that in the event of the Superintendent being unable under the said Act to reserve the said land, he be requested to purchase 200.000 acres of the best agricultural land on behalf of the Province, in blocks of such size as may be available for the purpose of settlement, the same being disposed of from time to time for occupation under the plan of deferred payments only ; and this Council pledges itself to indemnify the Government and make good such purchase by the appropriation of a sum efficient to cover the cost thereof." In the course of the discnssion which followed, Mr Wood said he was not yet thoroughly convinced that the Superintendent had not the power to reserve the land. He would suggest the insertion of the following words in the resolution of the bon. member Mr Lumsden : — 200,000 acres of the best agricultural land." The Hon. Major Richardson gave noiioe of his intention to move at the proper time the following amendment : — " That in the event of the Government finding that they are unable to carry out the foregoing resolution, this Council is of opinion that the price of rural land in that part of the Province of Otago called the district of Southland should be at once raised to £5 per acre." He would press upon hon. members to take every possible precaution to prevent any further alienation of public property in Southland. Mr Tolmie wished to express the cordial deeire of the Government to assist in attaining the ends the hon. member for Invercargill had in view; bub he thought the plan embraced in the proposal of that hon. member would not work so well as one he was about to propose. His plan was this: By the 26th section of the Southland Waste Lands Act of 1865, the Governor in Council had power to raise the price of land in Southland upon a resolution of the Council being presented through the Superintendent. By that means they could get the price of the land raised to 40b an acre in the meantime, and that would effectually put a stop to the present dem&nd for land in that district. If the Council agreed to this course being pursued, he thought the matter could be completed by telegraph, and the Legislature might then frame such laws as would be necessary for the protection of the public estate. He would therefore move — " That a respectful address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, praying that he will request His Excellency the Governor to at once raise the price of land in the Province of Otago, in the Southland District, to the amount of 40s per acre, in accordance with the 26th clause of the Southland Waste Lands Act, 1865." The Hon. Major Richardson suggested that the hon. member should increase the amount to £3 per acre. After some further discussion, the amount specified in Mr Tolmie's amendment was increased to £5, to meet a generally expressed wish, and the amendment was put and agreed to. Dr Webster moved — " That in the opinion of this Council, no member of the Legislative Council or House of JRepresentatives, excepting His Honor the Superintendent, should be a member of the Provincial Executive, and that the Executive Council Ordinance be amended to that effect." The hon. member addressed the Council at some length; contending that the duties of an Executive could not be fairly performed when three or four out of five members were absent three or four months in the year. After debate, the motion was negatived by 25 to 13. The debate was resumed on Mr Shand's resolutions of the previous day, for withdrawing land for sale ou deferred payments, by The Hon. Major Richardson, who, in the course of a long and forcible address in support of the resolutions, remarked that there was a material difference between the sale of land simply for a money payment, and a sale that w#s effected with the accompanying advantage of at the same time placing the people on the land. It would be the bitterest day the Province ever saw when land was alienated without settlement, and none would feel it more than those capitalists who had invested their money in the country, when the people turned round on account of their liabilities, and imposed a tax on the landed aristocracy of the country. Mr Shand having replied, the resolutions were carried unanimously. Mr Tolmie stated that the Government would not proceed with any further business until Mr S hand's vote of want of confidence motion had been disposed of.

> Mr Shand addressed the Council in , support of his motion, which was a want ; of confidence in the Tolmie Government * for the following reasons, viz. : — 1. That ; they are not advocates of true progress. ■ 2. That they hare proved themselves in the past incompetent and incapable in i conducting the affairs of this Province. At the conclusion of the honorable member's speech a pause ensued, and no member rising to address the Council, Mr Reynolds seconded the motion p?'o forma. Mr Shand said he would like the members of the Government to say something upon the motion, but this invitation met with no response. The motion was then put and declared to be negatived on ths voices, when Mr Shand called for a division. Nearly the whole of the members on the Opposition side of the House walked out of the Chamber, leaving only two members with , Mr Shand ; and upon the door beine: locked, the question was again put and declared to be negatived, no division being insisted on. The announcement was received with marks of approval on the part of the spectators in the gallery, ! which caused the Speaker to notify that any similar demonstration would have to be suppressed. The Invercargill Hospital Reserve Management Bill, the Invercargill Racecourse Reserve Management Bill, the Education Reserves Management and Leasing Bill, the Education Reserves Management and Leasing Bill, No. 2, and the Winton Racecourse Reserve Management Bill were read a second time, and ordered to be commited on Tuesday. The Hon. Major Richardson, in moving a motion recommending the prayer of the petition of the past and present scholars of the Girls High School to the favorable consideration of the Government, said the resolution was one that needed no advocacy whatever, so that to use any argument in support of it would simply be to take up the time of the Council. The object contemplated was to give to their girls the opportunity of obtaining that higher tuition which would enable them to instruct the rising generation, and become the intellectual mothers of our coming men. Mr Tolmie would be prepared to support the motion. Mr Fish rose to oppose the motion. He held that the State should not be compelled to pay annually large sums of money excepting beyond what was necessary for the maintenance of their Grammar or District Schools. Mr Lumsden also opposed the motion, because it ihad been proved, as far as experience in the Colony went, that the educated females were not those who had proved themselves to be tbe most desirable class. The general result of the experience of these highly educated females was that they were unfit, or did not care to undertake situations as cooks or servants, and a few friends assisted to purchase a sewing machine for them, or start them in some genteel business. After considerable discussion, the motion was carried on a division by 18 votes against 14. Mr Tolmie moved — " That an Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, recommending that section 21, block 1, Riverton, be set apart as a site for an Athensum " Carried. Mr Tolmie moved — " That an address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, recommending that all that area in the Province of Otago, containing by estimation 20 acres 3 roods and 38 poles, more or less, being section 41a, block 11., | Winton Hundred, bounded on the north by section 41, 1462 links ; on the east by a public road, 1349 links ; on the south by a public road, 1819 links ; and on the | south by section 40, 1280 links — be act apart for a public cemetery." Carried. On the motion of the Hon. Dr Menzies, it was resolved — " That the selection for printing of the papers to form the Appendix to the Votes and Proceedings of the Southland Provincial Council be referred to a Select Committee, consisting of Mr Speaker (with his consent), Messrs Lumsden, Wood, Wilson, Daniel, Kinross, and the Mover, with power to call for persons and papers, and to report in fourteen days."