TEMUKA TOWN BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1196, 26 June 1884, Page 3

TEMUKA TOWN BOARD.

A meeting of the Temuka Town Board was held last night. Present — Messrs Gray (Chairman), Blyth, Mason, Quinn and Brown. MIHUTIS, The minutes of the previous meating were read and confirmed, OFFICES. The Chairman explained thai he and Mr Blyth bad looked out for an office. They inspected some offices, and concluded that it would be better to build on the Fire Brigade Statioa site.

An office could be built for not much more than they would hare to pay in rent for a year. Mr Blyth said tbey could not get a place for less than 12s a week, and they could build such an office as would be required for about £43. At a later stage of the meeting the question of building an office on the site of the Brigade Station was again considered. It was resolved—" That the Clerk be instructed to prepare plans for an office for the Board and submit the same for approval at next meeting, and that Mr Heap's offer of an office at 5s per week be accepted until the building is ready." THE RECENT FIRE. 'J'he Chairman said men were employed at the recent fire, and bad to be paid. There was an account of about £3 had to be paid. Mr Brown asked whether it was the

duty of the Board to pay such money. The Chairman said the Borough Council in Tiraaru gave some assistance of the kind. They would of course have to resuscitate the brigade now, Mr Brown doubted whether they ought to pay the whole of it. He did not desire to pay ratepayers' money now. Mr Mason s»id the brigade would have to be taken over. After some further conversation, the account was passed for payment. DOG COLLARS. | On the motion of Mr Mason, se j conded by Mr Brown, it wan decided to get three dozen dog collars. LAJrtPS.. Mr Quinn propose! that four new lamps be put up in the town in the following places : On« between the Star Hotel and Roddick's house, one

at the Post Office corner, one at the cornar near the Temuka Leader Office, snd one between the Wesleyan and English Churches. Mr Blyth seconded the proposition. The Chairman questioned whether it would be wise to put them up just yet. Oae might be put at the Post Office and another at Twomey's corner. Mr Brown thought they ought to go to the Churches. Mr Mason asked what was the neces. pity of putting one near Roddick's.

Mr Quinii thought one was necessary there.

Mr Mason would like to know what their means were to be, aufl what the cost of the lamps would be. After some further consideration it was resolved —" That tenders be called for the erection of four lamps," THE FIRE BRIGA.DE, Mr McSheeby Gentlemun waited on the Board with reference to handing over the lease and the plarj of the Fire Brigade Station. He wished the Board would erect the bell and clean the wells. The Brigade hod little funds And had ordered some things through the Brigade Association. The Brigade was nearly defunct, but the few that remained would stick to it until they found what the .Board would do.

The Chairman thought tho h-t. thing they could do was to resign ..* it be started afresh.

Mr McSheeby Gentlemun said they had a sick and accident fund. His idea was not to resign but to place the plant tinder the control of the Board and work under it. The Brigade had b?cn ten yer.rs in existence and got no assistance except what they got from the fire insurance companies. In consequence of this the members had fallen away. After some further conversation, Mr Gentlemun retired.

Mr Mason suggested that something should be done with regard to the fire bell. It was decided to instruct the Overseer to get the bell hung as early as possible. FINANCIAL. It was decided to instruct the Clerkto write to the Temuka Road Board asking them to appoint a day to arrange financial matters between the Boards. BTE-LAWS. The Board then went into Committee to consider the bye-lawn, and sat until 11 o'clock. GENERAL AbSEMBLY. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Legislative Council on Monday, Mr Waterhouse moved—'That the payment to theTaranaki Harbor Beard of one fourth of the proceeds of. confiscated lands bought from Maoris, is altogether unauthorised by law, and ought to be adopted. The Hon. Mr Oliver argued that the terms of the Act covered what had been done, and that any question in reference to it would be an intricate legal point. He quoted several Acts in support of his contention, and said the point raised had been fought out and decided in the other House.

Mr Waterhouse withdrew his motion for the present, but hoped the matter would u • car"fnMy and strictly enquired into.

In re: !y to Mr Stevens, the Hon. Mr Oliver said that the Pacific Mail Company were, under the contract about to be executed, bound under a penalty of £25,000 to carry out the mail contract as far as this colony is concerned till next November twelve months for £31,250 a year, and there was now a great probability of getting it reduced by £BSOO, by the American Government contributing. The Council then adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

In the House on Monday,

Tho Hon. Mr Gonolly said, in reply to Mr Feldwick, that no warder had ever been dismissed from the Auckland prison service for his refusal to flog a prisoner. He could not say what steps would be taken should a warder refuse to flog a prisoner. Messrs Moss, Feldwiek and Daniel condemned flogging in gaol. The Hon. Mr Connolly said the punishment was only inflicted in the case of brutal or disgusting offences, and be did not see his way to have it abolished. Sir George Grey inveighed against the injustice done to warders iu this matter. It appeared to him the height of injustice, and it was only reasonable to ask that a person should be got upon whom this, as well as other duties, might devolve. The Hon Mr Bolleston denied a statement made by Sir George Grey that the Hon, Mr CodoUv was unduly responsible for the measure under which this punish* ment was provided for. The Hon. Mr Rolleston withdrew the statement he had made that the leases were provided for by Sir George Grey as Superintendent of Auckland. Still he held to the fact that they were so provided for by an officer under his immediate control,

Sir George Grey produced papers which he had received from Auckland which he hu'-l proved that he had not been a purty to the transaction. After a discussion a motion for the production of the papers connected with the gumfields was agreed to. 4 long discussion took place on the relative merits of Australian and New Zeilund timber for railway purposes. The Hon Mr Mitchelaon promised to make enquiries. The House then went into Committee of Supply. The resolution for £43,000 out of the consolidated revenue, as honorarium, was puf. Mr Holmes moved that the amount be reduced to £21,000. He argued that it would be unfair' to vote the full amount of the honorarium seeing that their session had had not exceeded eleve'i sitting days. Mr Peacock seconded and supported the amendment. He argued Ihiit the honorarium should not be looked upon n» pay for services, but sunplv as a refund for the necessary outlay, They had not exceeded one fourth of the normal period of an ordinary session. The amendment was negatived on the voices.

Mr Hurst moved that the amount he reduced so as to make the honorarium £IOO. Mr Seddon objected, that these proposals came frcm wealthy men. It was a contract made with members that they should he paid £2lO per session, and the full amount should be paid. Colonel Trimble seconded the amendment. Ha was in favor of payment of

members, but under the circumstances he thought £IOO sufficient. Mr Fish thought the sum should he embodied in an Enactment, and the sum fixed at £3OO. He would give them a fair challenge, and say that those who voted for the larger sum should get it, and those who voted for the smaller sura the lessor amount.

Air Moss said what they had to guard against was a double honorarium, but that was a question which aflected the next Parliament. He had nil along voted against the reduction of the amount, and on the other had he had voted against its increase.

The Hon Major Atkinson admitted that I members of Parliament lost pecuniarily instead of gaiuing by being members. He thought that the amount should be kept at ihe lowest rate. What was wanted to be provided against was a loss so that the poorest man could be put to no inconvenience, while the richer class would only be provided against any loss, they might sustain. It had always appeared to him that £l5O was enough for that purpose. The balance of argument was against paying anything for these services. He thought it was most undesirable to do so, or they might induce an undesirable class to como forward. Had the Bill of last session been carried, they would only have been entitled to about £IOO. Again, the House had never acknowledged the payment of members definitely. He differed from certain members in that respect. At tho same time he knew that many members believed in all that had been affirmed, and that they should be recouped their actual expenses. In that case, having only been a fow weeks instead of a few months, it was only reasonable that they should accept the lower rate. Sir George Grey said that he did not agree with the previous speaker. Instead of a loss, members of Parliament made a great gain. The House opened up to members the highest political honors and rewards. Viewed in that light the doors of Parliament should bo opened to all classes, rich and poor. After a few other remarks, be said they had to look to the fact that a great contest was about to he entered upon,—a contest against we al!!i—and it was therefore necessary thev should be prepared for the contest. Major Harris supported the full honorarium and Mr Stevens the amendment.

Mr Swanson looked upon the honorarium as a mistake. If they were to litive payment of members, lie advised them to levy a special tax for the purpose. That would Lo the best way to test the question. The question was put that the amount be reduced, and the Committee dividedAyes 24, -Noes 34. The following is the division list : Ayes—Atkinson, Beetham, Bryce, W. C. Buchanan, Oadman, Dick, Driver, Fulton, Hobbs, Holmes, Hursthouse, W. W. Johnston, Levestam, Locke, Mitohelson, Newman, Peacock, Pearson, Postlethwaite, Rolleston, Stevens, Shepherd, White and Wilson. Noes—Bathgate, Bracken, J. E. Brown, Daniel, DeLautour, Dodson, Feldwick, Fish, Fitzgerald, George, J. Green, Grey, Harris, Hutchison, Joyce, Kelly, Larnarch, Macandrew, F. W". Mackenzie. Montgomery, J. McKenzie, Moss, Munro, O'Callaghan, Petrie, Pyke, Seddon, Shaw, Sheehan, Steward, Tawhai, H. Thomson, J. W. Thomson, Turnbull, and Watt. Pairs—Ayes ; Tole, Trimble, Kichardson, Sutter, Williams, Mason, Hurst, Connolly, and Wakefield. Noes ; Tomoaua, Taiaroa, Tvess, McMillan, Duncan, M. W. Green, Morris, J. O. Brown, and Pilliet. The remainder of the votes were then put and passed. Oq the motion forgoing into Committee of Ways and Means, Mr Munro moved as an amendment that immediate action be taken for the improvement of the harbors of Greyinouth aud Westporb. He pointed out the great importance of the coal trade.

Mr Petrie seconded the amendment. The Hon. Major Atkinson also supported the amendment. The amendment, was negatived, aud the House went into Committee of Ways and Means. .

The Revenues Bill was introduced, passed through Committee, and reported. The Hen. Major Atkinson made a statement as to "the of the elections, etc., and said, with regard to the appointment of the agent-General, prior to the recent vole affecting the position of the Government, the present Agent General had been offered reappointment for a period of two years from the Ist January next, thg date on which his present appointment expired, and gaye the reasons for so doing. After discussion the motion for the third reading was carried, and the Bill passed. Wellington, June 24.

Both Houses of Parliament were prorogued shortly after 2 p.m. to-day, by Commission, the Commissioners being Sir Win. Fitzherbert (Speaker of the Legislative Council), Sir G. Whitmore, the Hon. U, Oliver, and Dr Grace. Tha formal prorogation was until July 24th

Before the- prorogation the Legislative Council passed the Public Revenues Bill.