PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 373, 21 May 1861, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, May 14. The Council met at 5 o'clock.

Present: The Speaker, the Provincial Secretary, the Provincial Solicitor, Messrs. Gibbs, Wells, Kelling, Baigent, Horn, Kerr, Elliott, M'Mahon, Hwetson, Saunders, Mackay, M'Rae, Parker, Simmonds, and Dodson. The minutes of the previous day were read and confirmed.

CROWN GRANTS.

Mr. Kelling asked the Provincial Secretary ' the reason why the issue of Crown Grants for land bought of the Government in this Province is delayed for such a length ot time.' He could see-, no reason for it, as steamers were constantly running between this place and Auckland: he himself had bought land 18 months ago, and.the grant had not beeu issued.

The Provincial Secretary said there were several reasons why delays occur; every, grant had to go to Auckland to be examined, and the office there had only two clerks, and from the large number of grants,' delay must take place. He, in conjunction with Mr. Sewell, tried to get a Bill passed in the General Assembly for signing grants without sending them to Auckland, but the members thought it was too sweeping an alteration to give up the Governor's signature. With respect to the land bought by Mr. Kelling the grauts were advertised as ready twelve months ago, and had been lying at the office ever since. WAIROA BRIDGE. Mr. Saunders moved ' that the Report of the Wairoa Bridge Committee be taken into consideration with a view to its adoption.' Mr. Wells thought the report should be delayed, as many members did not know the place, and consequently were unable to go into the matter. The members on the Committee were all district members except the Provincial Secretary, and he thought it would have been better had they been more mixed, ile would move that it stood over, for a week. Mr. Horn said he was prepared, before the last speaker stood up, with a resolution, and he begged to move ' that the report stand over till that day week to give an opportunity of public expression on the matter. Mr. Elliott said he came to oppose the adoption of the report, and was glad it was taken up by a member from the Waimea. He would like' to see the report go back to the Committee, as they had overlooked one thing. Two sites were named by the Provincial Engineer, one on fa line from Richmond to Waimea South, the other deviating a little, and crossing the river by the Holly Bush; the first was the more expensive, it was not only wider, but there would be a^second stream to be bridged, and accotding to this-report would cost £9000, the span being 680 feet, but as is generally tlie case, it would not be safe to say less than ,£10,000; the'other would be much narrower, the length being only 345 feet, and lie was surprised the committee did not consider whether the suspending principle would not do on this Bite, and they should have asked the Provincial Engineer what would be the expense of it. He thought the Committee hastily came to their conclusion^ and tlie report should go back, but as Mr. Horn had taken the other course, he would take his stand when again discussed. The Provincial Solicitor called attention to a despatch from the General Government,! vfherein it was stated that when necessary to borrow money the Council must pass a resolution to that effect, and forward it to the Governor for his assent. He said if we proposed to borrow £6000, the Governor will think it great; if we pass a Bill now he will say ' not adopt;' then it becomes a question whether we build a bridge at once, or wait twelve months for the plan proposed. Mr. Saunders said he had carefully studied the report of the Provincial Engineer, but he thought Mr. Elliott's study of it had led him to surmises; if he would carefully look over it he would see that he had never mentioned the lower Bite, the upper one was the best; if Mr. Elliott was acquainted with the ground, he would at once see there was no other road suitable for the purpose, unless they purchased a new one; he did not oppose the adjournment, he acquiesced in it,-and would be very happy if members would give the subject consideration, and carefully look over the reports of the TProvincial Engineer in the mean time; it was the duty, of the Committee to call the attention of the Council to it before the Estimates came off. Ihe adjournment of the motion was carried. Message No 12from the Superintendent, containing Emigration Commissioner's Report, was here .received.

MARKET BUILDING.

Mr. Dodson moved ' that the Superintendent be requested to furnish this Council with the amount expended in the erection of a market building, and what money may remain unexpended out of the five hundred pounds voted by the Council last session, for the preliminary expenses of establishing a market.' h« said members* were aware that

last session the sum of £500 was voted T!y the Council for the erection of suitable Market Buildings. The money was placed under WCcbntrol of the Board :of Works; he. had never heard any report hovv this money was expended ; instead cf their erecting suitable buildings, they had put up an office for themselves, Which, he understood, cost £150. £100 was also spent in filling up a large hole; the site Vas totally unfit; it was out of the way, and with the money passed they could have purchased more suitable land; as it stands it- is a complete failure. Mr. Kelling seconded the motion, which was carried.

MOUTERE ROAD.

Mr. Hewetson moved ' for leave to introduce a Bill to authorise the making of a certain road iv the Moutere District.'

Mr. Curtis seconded the motion.

Mr. Parker said before putting it, he had been requested by a number of residents in the Moutere to get a postponement of the subject, to give them an opportunity to shew-that it7"is quite contrary to the wishes of the people to form a new road ; they can prove that, allegations and accusations had been made respecting it quite contrary to truth, and on behalf of them he would oppose tlie introduction of the bill; he would move * that leave be not granted;' he believed the present road was as good as any could be found ;. there was only one objection to it, a steep hill, but a person had given in an Estimate, offering to reduce it to a. gradient of one foot in ten for £20 ; then the road would be complete, and the gentleman who claims compensation will take ,£l2. Mr. Bensemann had taken compensation - some years ago, so that no one else would come forward; he hoped the Council would pause before they introduced : he Bill.

Mr. Simmonds thought it would be better to move an adjournment till next Tuesday. Mr. Curtis said an adjournment was unnecessary ; the motion was only for leave to introduce a bill; there was a large majority in its favor, at the rate of three to two; but if passed, the work would be postponed till after the new road board was elected; the ratepayers would have to choose their own members.

Mr. Horn thought as the ratepayers had come to the Council for power to open this new road, they were not justified in opposing them, but were bound to accede to the memorial.

Mr. Kelling said the ratepayers in the immediate neighborhood were against the new road; only three had signed in Upper Moutere for it, and the others were residents of Motueka, Nelson, or the Waimea (no, no, from Mr. Hewetson); many who signed didn't know anything about the road. Mr. Baigent said he went through the road eight or nine months since, and was very much pleased at the large amount of work done on it, double what he expected, and he could not see why they wanted to leave a good road to go in a swamp; it was unfair to those parties that are located there, and it is in the very heart of the village (no, no) ; he could see it was a party feeling; one said, ' I have power, and will go in the Council, and set you at defiance;' but he thought the Council had better wait before introducing the bill.

Mr. Mackay agreed with Mr. Baigent; rhe had been through the road, and was much pleased with it, and could not see why they wanted any alteration. ;

Mr. Hewetson having replied, the motion was put and lost.

THE ESTIMATES.

The Provincial Secretary moved 'that the Council resolve itself into Committee to consider the Estimates for the year 1861-2.' And in referring to the similarity of the source of each year's revenue, remarked that it would be observed that the Customs had been estimated at the same amount as last year, the consideration that each year might reasonably be expected to afford a slight increase being overborne by the allowance to be made for the number of Taranaki refugees that had influenced the returns of the past year. Land Revenue was always an uncertain thing, only to be estimated by a reasonable guess, as it depended materially on the purchases of runholders made to protect themselves under an emergency.,-An inequality would preponderate in proposed -district expenditure in the case where £3000 was proposed for erecting a bridge (over the Wairoa), and consequently there would be a less amount devoted to the Amuri district than would otherwise have been the case. The Expenditure would be found as previously, no opportunity presenting itself for any alteration of importance. Mr. Wells seconded the motion, which was carried. " ,

Mr. Gibbs said that about £150 had been placed at the disposal of the Government Agent at Collingwood for the improvement of a road to Appoo's Flat; three or four Sessions ago an equal sum was voted, but instead of spending that money only, they thought it better to spend between £500 or £600 instead of the £150; the road has been worse than before; it was great mismanagement, and the General Government had shown great discretion in putting the money into hands that will expend it properly,

Mr. Elliott said the Provincial Secretary had made some admissions in bringing forward the Estimates; he calculated upon getting as good ,a revenue this year as last; he would have liked to have heard about a future year, and the payment Of the £29,000 now soon due, and he hoped he should be favored with a return of the quantity of laDd sold in the Amuri districts.

The Provincial Secretary moved that Mr. Mackay take the chair, which was carried. Mr. Kelling objected to the offices of Commissioner of Crown. Lands aud Provincial Secretary being combined. Mr." Saunders couldn't see why Mr. Kelling objected to the two-being together; he would ask if Mr. Kelling would like to give .£SOO to another Provincial Secretary ; they would be much worse off if they had to wait and apply to the Government for every question asked; there they had the Provincial Secretary, who answered' every question without any further trouble; but no doubt Mr. Kelling would like to saddle ihe province with an additional .£500; they: could not do without that officer, but would like to see him without a vote.

Mr. Wells said the best proof of the value of the Provincial Secretary's presence, was by his answering every question asked in the house this session.

Mr. Elliott thought it would be a saving by liberating the Provincial Secretary from the duties of Commissioner of Crown Lands; he would then be able to go about and see the country; now he is tied up in Nelson, and notable to satisfy himself as to'the value of land, but depend on reports: he did not think the offices should be combined.

Mr. Kelling moved ' that under the Superintendent's Establishment, all the words should be struck out after Provincial Secretary in that lino;' which was lost. .

It was agreed the Audit Department be postponed for the present, to receive the report of the Select Committee.

The Provincial Secretary thought the Assistant Surveyor was badly paid for his services; he had to do s deal of field work, and the saving to tho Government was very great; otherwise than it would be if they had to put the work out. He stated that Mr. Austin, during the last 18 months, had surveyed nearly 200,000 acres of land, and tho amount, had the work been put out by contract at the usual rate, would be £2320, and with men's wages, }fLr. Austins own salary and other expenses only cost the Government £1020, so there was a clear saving of in 18 months. The work close at hand, requiring great skill and care, was very creditably performed by Mr. Lewis,, and cost the Government £293 for twelve months, where the same amount of work put out would come to .£534. He had seen a letter that day to Mr. Austin from the Government of Marlborough offering him £250 a year, and he thought it would be economical on the part of this Government to increase his salary to £250.

Mr. Horn objected to the increase of salary. Mr. Elliott thought the salary small for a talented surveyor, when they considered tbe amount of exposure and roughing tiny go through ; h%

thought the Government should know when they have a good servant, and stick to him.. Mr. Kelling said he did not know what amount of work the surveyors did; he had moved for a return of all surveys, and if they had these returns they would be able to form a better opinion. Mr. Saunders said some members attempt to economise at the wrong place; the member for Waimea East did not approve of the Provincial Secretary's argument; for himself he had never heard of a better, by an additional £50 per year they saved some hundreds: he thought it better to employ a competent staff, and should support the increase. Agreed to. Mr. M'Rae moved 'that the salary of the Second Assistant Surveyor be risen to £100 per year.' Agreed to. Mr. Saunders asked why the contingencies under the department of Weights and Measures were so great. The Provincial Secretary said the Inspector had frequently to go about the country, and to Golden Bay, and other places: the money was not spent unnecessarily. Mr. Horn wished to make a few remarks under the head of Clothing for Lunatics, £30: he said the lunatics here were very badly used, and stated a case which came under his own knowledge ot the dirty and filthy state in which they were kept; he thought if the amount be kept on, they should be supplied with proper clothing. The Provincial Secretary said why did not Mr. Horn go at once to the Government and make a complaint;—the duties of tho medical men led them to the Asylum as well as to the Hospital, and anything asked for had never been refused, Mr. Horn said he did go to the Superintendent's Office, but be had left for the day. Mr. Elliott hoped Mr. Horn would follow up his charge, and move for a committee to inquire into the truth. Mr. Horn said he would do so. All items under the head of Collingwood, were postponed. All items under 'Provincial Council,' were postponed. Mr. Saunders said there had been a very large expenditure on the Government Buildings, which were of no advantage to the Province ; it was an error putting so many town members on the Committee, who seem to forget they are supplied by the country ; he would much rather have seen the money expended on harbor improvements or the Government Wharf, if they must spend it; the original vote was for £9000, but they had greatly exceeded that sum: he said the Committee of Management had saddled the Province with great expense, and it never ought to have been occasioned. The Provincial Secretary said that plans were adopted by the Government, in connexion with the Committee; the Council must go by the Committee, who were equally responsible. It was a very nice building, but had lead to a much greater expense than was at first anticipated, but shows well for the money expended; had they known the expense they would have incurred, they would all have refused, but the building was commenced before they well knew the outlay that would be incurred; they would have the returns, which he thought would be less than they expected. Mr. Curtis said as the members of the Committee had only to select a site and a design, the design they fixed on was then estimated by the architect to cost £4500, but they thought it would not be up for less than £5000. The Government advertised for tenders, and had specimens drawn ; he did not think the money was thrown away, provided the question.of the seat of Government had to be considered, then Nelson would stand as good a chance as any other province, and the Building will be worth all it cost. Mr. Elliott said the work in the Wairau Gorge, in the middle road to Canterbury, had been neglected ; a great deal of expense had been incurred in improving it. He did not know who was to blame in the matter; the Provincial Engineer accompanied Mr. M'Gregor through that district, and pointed out certain things necessary, but the whole of the work had been confined to one cutting, and all else neglected. The Provincial Engineer had sent a letter to Mr. M'Gregor, but a month afterwards he was still laboring at the same. He hoped the Government would be careful in future who they put in charge of works at a distance; it was then as bad as when the work was begun. The Provincial Secretary said he was not aware they were so far in the Estimates, or he would have been prepared with a letter from that person, who said it was consequent on the work being begun so late in the summer; but the principal parts cf Mr. Elliott's statement were unfortunately true. One thing that delayed the commencement of it was the large sums given to the Taranaki refugees. He believed Mr. M'Gregor a very trustworthy man, and a good workman; it was also a difficult thing to get a road round a crumbled side of a mountain; there was a sufficient sum to complete repairs, and he hoped it would be done well.

Mr.Wells moved 'that the chairman report progress, and the house resume.' The Council then resumed. The Council adjourned till 6 o'clock on Wednesday.

Wednesday, May 15.

The Council met at 5 o'clock

Present: The Speaker, the Provincial Secretary, the Provincial Solicitor, Messrs. Gibbs, Wells, TDodson, Saunders, M'Mahon, Kerr, Kelling, M'Rae, Mackay, Hewetson, Horn, Parker, Simmonds, Baigent, Elliott, Curtis, Drs. Renwick and Monro.

The report of the Thistle Act Amendment Committee was brought up and read.

KOAD BOARDS.

Mr. Kelling moved ' that in cases where any Road Board refuses to pay the compensation and costs of reference awarded, as provided by the Country Roads Act, by arbitration for the right of road, the Superintendent be requested to pay such compensation out of any sums voted by this Council for the Road Board in question.' He said he considered it was a great mistake that a clause of this kind had not been introduced in the Act, as it was calculated to do away with many difficulties and expenses; there was a similar clause in the Thistle Act, which was found very useful and nectssary: he had spoken to the Superintendent on the subject, who quite concurred with the necessity of it. Mr. Kerr seconded the motion.

Mr. Dodson said as a member of a Country Road Board tor many years, he was not aware that they had to pay compensation, and if the door was opened to that sort of thing now he considered it would be an injustice to certain districts.

Mr. Parker said he did not see any difficulty in the matter; as he understood the question it amounted to this—when a question of alteration of road arises, arbitration is agreed upon to award as to compensation, which, if the Board refused to pay, this resolution would empower the Superintendent to do out of any turns he may hold that had been voted by this Council to the district. Mr. Hobi? said he thought the true merits of this case &«e not yot arrived at. In cases of arbitration the award was final; and he maintained that if the Board refused to pay they were actionable in ft court of law, and the Superintendent had nothing to do with it. Mr. Kelling having replied, the Council divided:—

The Provincial Solicitor declined to vote, The motion was carried.

TRUNK ROADS,

Mr. Hewetson asked the Provincial Solicitor ' whether the Road Board of any district would be justified in expending money voted by this Council otherwise than upon the main road, without the same is certified as being in " a good and substantial state of repair," and whether it be not compulsory for the Board when there is no special vote to the contrary to lay out the money placed at its disposal upon the Trunk Roads.' Tho Provincial Solicitor said he was not aware of any clause in the Country Roads Act that compelled iho Boards to spend the money voted them on the Trunk Line, aud in the absence of any such clause they of course were not obliged to do so. Where money was voted for a particular road, it was expected to be spent on that road.

LIBRARIES

Mr. Horn moved 'that in accordance with a resolution passed in the last session of the Provincial Council the sum of twenty pounds sterling, as voted to such newly founded libraries as should comply with the letter of that resolution, that the Appleby and Upper Wakefield having complied with that resolution may receive the amount stated, by being placed on the Estimates.' He said, as no doubt hon. members were aware, a resolution was passed last session giving twenty pounds to newly created libraries. The Appleby Library had complied with all the conditions, and there was no sum for that library on the Estimates; he begged'to move the resolution.

Mr. Elliott seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

LUNATICS,

Mr. Horn moved 'that a select committee be appointed to take into consideration the accommodation arid treatment afforded to lunatics in this settlement, with power to call for evidence; such committee to consist of Drs. Monro and Renwick, Messrs. Elliott, Baigent, Parker, Wells, and the mover.'

Mr. Mackay seconded the motion, which was carried.

DRAY ROADS.

Mr. Kerr moved ' that the Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates the sum of sixty pounds for the opening of two dray roads, one from Waimea West to Waimea East, and the other from Waimea West to Waimea South.'

Mr. Horn seconded the motion

Mr. Simmonds said he regretted that the mover had not stated what the intentions of the Road Board were, as regarded the opening of these roads. The want of communication had long been felt in the district; he had no objection to the motion, but thought the way in which the money was to be spent should have been more definitely explained.

The Provincial Secretary said the mover of this resolution should have completed it by stating from what sura on the Estimates he proposed to take the amount he asked for, as if it was given at all it must be taken from another district, or out the amount already on the Estimates for that district : he chought the course pursued by the hon. member very unreasonable and objectionable. Mr. Saunders, in reply to the Provincial Secretary, would suggest that the sum should be deducted from the salary of the Chief Surveyor. Four years ago these roads were proposed, and if they had been made at that time the land could have been purchased much cheaper than now. The districts suffered considerable inconvenience from the communication being cut off as it had been by the enclosure of private lands ; —he, however, wished the hon. member had made his motion a little more definite, but it was high time something was done in the matter.

Mr. Wells said the course pursued by the mover of this resolution was very irregular and inconvenient; he ought to have made this motion before the Estimates were sent down to this Council. He had always understood that Road Boards were constituted to look after and recommend the opening of roads; now it was the practice of gentlemen to come to this Council and ask for sums for making roads sf which three-fourths of them knew nothing, which he. (Mr. Wells) considered very undesirable. Mr. Baigent agreed with the last speaker thpt the demand should have been made before the Estimates came down. The services of the Provincial Engineer had been almost entirely engaged elsewhere, so that he had entirely neglected the Waimeas. If gentlemen would take the trouble to look at the Estimates, they would find sums on them for public works in Takaka, Motupipi, Riwaka, Motueka, and Moutere, but none for the Waimeas; —however, the roads proposed were very desirable, and would be a great convenience to the public.

Mr. Horn said he perfectly agreed with tho principle that these motions should be made before the Estimates were sent down, but thought as that rule had already been broken through, it might be done in this case, as he knew the roads were very much needed.

Mr. Kerr replied, and the house divided— Ayes. Noes. Dr. Monro Provincial Solicitor Mr. Saunders Provincial Secretary Simmouds Dr. Renwick Horn Mr. Veils Kerr -Parker Mackay Dodson Baigent M'Mahon. Kelling Hewetson

Messrs. M'Rae, Gibbs, Curtis, and Elliott declined to vote. ■ . -:

EXPLORATION.

Mr. Baigent moved ' that tlie Superintendent be requested to furnish this Council with Mr. Skeet's report of his late exploration from the Waimea West to the Wangapeka, and also from the latter to the Ranges, with his opinion of the practicability of making a Dray Road in that direction.' He said that he, amongst many others, was anxious to know which way the road was going; he had been given to understand that the report was sent in last week, and he thought the Superintendent should have forwarded it to the Council without waiting to be asked for it.

Mr. Simmonds seconded the motion, which was carried.

POUND

Mr. Mackay moved ' that the Superintendent be requested to place a sum on the Estimates for the erection of a publio pound at Takaka.' He said he had been requested to bring forward the motion, which was considered a very necessary one; he had observed the want of a public Pound there.

Mr. Gibbs seconded the motion.

The Provincial Secretary said the better plan would be to postpone the consideration of the motion until the Committee on the Estimates were considering the amount voted to that particular district. This motion in his opinion was particularly objectionable, as it was travelling out of the way to anticipate desires which were not known to exist, the inhabitants of the district never having expressed a wish for anything of the kind.

Jlr. Simmonds said, as the people of Takaka had never expressed a wish for one, he should vote against the motion. Mr. Mackay having replied, the motion was negatived.

FERRY BOAT,

Mr. Mackay moved ' that the Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates a Bum of .£25 for procuring a ferry-boat, Ac, to be stationed at \Vindies, above the junction of the rivers Takaka and Waingaroa.' He said the river Waingaroa was perhaps one of the most dangerous in the Province, and people had been detained four days.

Mr. Gibbs seconded the motion

The Provincial Secretary said the Government had placed the sum of £500 on the estimates for making a road iv the Takaka which would do away with the necessity of crossing the river. He would recommend that tho consideration of this

item be referred to the Committee on the Estimates.

Mr. Parker proposed, a 9 an amendment, the addition of the words, 'and that the above sum of .£25 be deducted from the amount proposed to be voted to the Takaka district.'

The motion, as amended, was then carried COURT ROOM.

Mr. Mackay moved ' that the Superintendent be requested to place an additional sum on the estimates for the purpose of adding a Court Room to the proposed new Lock-up at Takaka.' After some remarks by the mover, Messrs. Baigent, Parker, and Dodson, the motion was negatived.

ACCOMMODATION HOUSE,

Mr. Mackay moved 'that the Superintendent he requested to take measures towards establishing a house of accommodation for travellers at the base of the hill comiug from Riwaka, Upper Takaka, and also for placing a ferry boat on the river in the same locality.' He should like to see encouragement given for the erection of an accommodation house there, and let it be a condition in the license that the party taking it should see persons across the river.

Mr. Dodson seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

RIVER GUIDE POSTS,

Mr. Mackay moved 'that the Superintendent be requested to place a small sum on the Estimates for the purpose of erecting guide posts on c ich side of the different dangerous river-mouth fords, in tlie Golden Bay District.' Mr. Wells seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

IMMIGRATION.

Mr. Elliott called the attention of the Council to the increasing scarcity of labor in the Province, and the necessity that exists for immediate steps being taken to introduce a body of immigrants. He said his Honor seemed to think that the Immigration Commissioners would take such steps as to satisfy the want of the Province in this respect: he considered that the best plan was to keep up a continual stream of immigration from the home country. He would only say the Commissioners had power to borrow £4000, and the introduction of labor always p <id for expenses incurred, and was productive of great benefit; thi3 fact had been shown over and over "gun.

Mr. Wells seconded the motion, which was put and cirried.

ORDER OF THE DAY.

The Provincial Secretary moved ' that the Council resolve itself into Committee for the further consideration of the Estimates.' Mr. Mackay in the chair. Mr. Elliott moved, as an amendment, ' that the consideration of the Estimates be postponed until Tuesday next.' Mr. Horn seconded the amendment.

Mr. Saunders said he would oppose the amendment ; he considered it highly desirable that the business of the Council should begot through as speedily as possible; they were now coming to the unamiable part of the Estimates, that of scrambling for the different districts; besides if the postponement took place the Council might as well b<3 adjourned until Tuesday, as there was nothing of importance before it.

The Provincial Secretary said he was quite in the hands of the Council in this matter; he was prepared to adjourn or to go on. Mr. Saunders had said they were coming to the unamiable part. Now, as far as he was concerned, he considered they were over the unamiable part; for up to the present time it had been everyone against the Government, and now it was likely to be everybody against everybody. The amendment was then put, when the house dividedAyes. Noes. Mr. Wells Mr. Mackay Curtis M'Kae Elliott Kelling Gibos Kerr Heweston M-Mahon' Horn Parker Dodson Baigent Dr. Monro Siuimonds Renwick Saunders The Provincial Secretary and Solicitor declined to vote.

The Speaker gave his casting vote with the Noes, and the amendment was lost.

The tlouse then went into Committee on the Estimates. Mr. Mackay in the chair. The sum of £2550 for education was postponed.

Tbe sum for laying out the grounds of the Government Buildings was after some discussion raised from £200 to £230, as was also the item for furniture, &c, fiom .£l7O to £260. The sums for fire engine, fencing ground for red deer, and tho Government wharf were postponed.

The items for the Powder Magazine and Cemetery were passed without discussion. On the sum ot £100 for the road to the Cemetery being proposed, Mr. M'Rae said ha thought that it was the duty of the Road Board ot the district to keep the j-oad in repair. Mr. Kelling proposed 'that it be struck out.'

After some further discussion the item was postponed. The House then adjourned till 5 o'clock on Thursday.