PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 55, 9 December 1871, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(From the Southern Cross J. Thursday, December 7. Mr Mackay presented a petition from certain inhabitants of the goldfields in the Upper Tararu district, praying for the formation of a road in that district. The petition was read and received. Mr Mitchell asked the Provincial Secretary, without notice, now that the water had been brought into Grahamstown, whether the Government intended to extend the supply to Rolleston-streot by Hape Creek, &c. The Provincial Secretary replied that a sum of money had been placed upon the estimates to provide for an extension of the supply, and that work would be done when the council voted the money. GRIST MILLS IN COUNTRY DISTRICTS. Mr Shepherd moved, “ That a respectfull address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the additional estimates the sum of five hundred pounds to assist in establishing grist mills in country districts.” Mr Hamlin seconded the motion. After debate, a division took place. Mr Shepherd and Mr Macreadv tellers. For the motion, 12 ; against it, 10. The motion was therefore carried. A PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL, AND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. Mr Philips moved, “That a respectful address be presented to bis Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the Additional Estimates the sum of £SOO as a contribution towards a Provincial Agricultural, Horticultural, and Industrial Exhibition to be held during the year 1872.” Mr Gordon seconded the motion. A rather long and lively debate ensued; after which the question was pul. A divi. sion took place ; Mr Philips and Mr Freer, tellers. For the motion, 19 ; against it, 10. NEW MEMBER. Mr Beveridge introduced tothc Speaker Mr Henry Warner Farnall as the newly elected member for the Northern Division. Mr Farnall then took bis seat on the Opposition benches. THE AUCKLAND MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE. Mr Piiii.irs moved “ That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the Estimates the sum of £75 for the Auckland Mechanics’ Institute.” Mr Mitchell seconded the motion, which was agreed to. TEA AND COFFEE FOR COUNCILLORS. Mr Bcckland moved, “ That the House Committee be instructed to have tea and coffee prepared for the use of members during the time of the sitting of the Council.” In doing so, he said lie was quite willing to pay for the cup of tea or what was supplied. All lie asked was that the articles be prepared. It was absolutely necessary that lie should have something, as the water did not agree with him. Mr Farmer seconded the motion. A debate ensued, after which the question was put, and the motion agreed to. MILITARY RESERVE, ALBERT BARRACKS. Mr Bucklanp moved, " That, in the opinion of this Council, that portion of the military reserve situated outside the wall of the Albert Barracks should be made a reserve for educational purposes, and that a bill should be brought in containing provisions for properly laying out and leasing the said reserve, and for dedicating one moiety of the land as an endowment for common ‘ school education within the Province—excluding the City of Auckland—and the other moiety for assisting to found an Auckland C Diversity.” He said"there could not be a much better use to which this reserve could be applied. It would be seen that lie had excluded the city of Auckland. The reason why he

did so was because the city of Auckland was richly endowed already, hut many of the country districts had no reserves or endowments at all. Mr Hkyburx seconded the motion.

I)r Nicholson agreed with- the resolution, and had- decided* - to vote for it, although lie had some difficulty in making up his mind after he first saw the motion. It was true that the Grammar School in Auckland was richly endowed, but that was for teaching the youth of the province. They had no institution or endowments to support an institution for the purpose of teaching the adult portion of our population. Here we had naturally advantages which no colony in the southern hemisphere could boast of. We had here men of first class ability in almost every science which was cultivated, and we had a further advantage not only of studying science in the abstract, but as applied science. There were advantages here of a kind and number which no other colon}' in the Pacific possessed. Chemistry, geology, and botany were well advanced, and highly cultivated sciences amongst us. We also had our hospital, where subjects could be got for anatomical examination; and there was a gentlemen in charge of that institution well qualified to give the necessary instruction. lie thought the endowment was one well fitted to initiate a school of science for tlxe adult population. The proposal to set aside a moiety of the revenue as an endowment of a university was one of the best proposals to which it could be devoted. If a university were started and professors appointed, there was everything available here to facilite the studies of the students, and lie was sure that students here could very well put in threa-fourths of a university curriculum.

The Provincial Treasurer suggested that a portion of the reservoir might be set apart as an endowment for the Hospital and Lunatic Asylum. There were other local charities to be attended to, also. Mr Swanson said the city endowments would not bo set apart for educational purposes. If they wore clear of debt lie believed the revenue from them would be used for municipal purposes. If a University were to be established, be hoped it would not be a wandering institution, like a similar institution down South. He hoped the attention of the Council would be kept fixed upon the education of the poor and common people. He -trusted an effort would be made that every child in the province would be educated, rather than having a few highly educated. As to wliat Mr Hurst had said about having endowments fixed for the Hospital and Lunatic Asylum, the thing lie thought would be difficult. He moved as an amendment, “ That this debate be postponed until this day week.” Air Philips seconded the motion for adjournment. lie hoped something would bo done to enable free schools to be established. Large grants were made annually to country schools, and very little found their way to the city schools. lie trusted that school provision would be provided for the humbler classes of the citizens.

Mr Ellis said the motion took him by surprise. lie looked upon the Government coming down with a scheme for dealing with this large reserve. It appeared to him that the whole subject should have been left over until after the disposal of the harbor arrangement. The Council should not bind up this properly for any special purpose at present. After the present session the provincial revenue would require the proceeds of this endowment. Nothing should be done with the reserve until after the final arc made respecting the Harbor Board. It was thought that the support of the schools in the future was to be provided by endowments. but that lie altogether dissented from. He was satisfied it would be found not to be so. His opinion was that the Government should have brought down the Education Bill before now, and that the reserve should not bo tied up by a resolution of the Council until once the Government had made their proposal known, and until the question of education was fully before the Council. Dr Nicholson spoke to the amendment, and said lie would reply to what was said about the city being neglected. Last year the education vote was £3,500 : no less than a sum of £IOOO was set apart for the education of the children in the city and suburbs, lie reminded certain members of the pledge given when the harbour endowment was under discussion that the city would make no claim to those endowments. Now a claim was being set up. But again it must be remembered that one-half of the reserve was wanted to bo set apart for a University endowment, and that was to all intense and purposes a city endowment. The staff of the University would be located in the city, and the chief benefit would be derived by the city. Mr Boylax believed that in the coming scssionortheonefoilowing,anEducationAct would be passed for the colony. The Act did not, however, provide the sinews of war, and lie thought the General Government would be far more likely to support a lunatic asylum, or an hospital, than to provide educational reserves for our common schools. The number of parents who were unable to provide for the education of their children was increasing. and the number of fatal accidents here was greater in proportion to the population than elsewhere. As to what Dr Nicholson had said about estavlishing a college and perhaps a medical college, uo better proposal could be made. There was something in this climate which was not fully mastered. When a person got very sick here he almost invariably died, and therefore the endowment of a medical college would thus be a general benefit to the whole colony. The Goldfields Secretary trusted they would not make too many bites of a cherry. To divide this reserve into three would be useless. It would make one reepectable endowment, and die would be glad to sec it all set apart for common school ducation. There were many of the endowments already set apart which were of no value at present, and until there were farm alongside of them the increase of their value would be very slow. He agreed with what Mr Boylan had said about hospitals and lunatic asylums. The Government of the day would be coni polled to provide for those institutions, and also for gaols. He certainly understood from what was said a few days ago that the city members had resigned all claim to those reserves, and that it should be set apart as endowments for the Province. He might have been mistaken in that matter. He considered it would be advisable to set the whole reserves aside for common school education. He intended to move that the whole matter be referred to a select committee for consideration.

Air Mackay agreed with setting the whole reserve aside for educational purposes. No difference should be made between the city of Auckland and the rest of the Province. The motion for adjournment was put and negatived.

The Goldfields Secretary moved, as an amendment, “ That the whole question relating to the lands outside the Barrack walls, handed over to the province by the Military Reserves Act, 1871, be referred to a select committee, with instructions to inquire as to the area and value of such lands ; also as to the way in which such lands are proposed to be laid out in respect to streets and otherwise; the committee to consist of the Speaker, Messrs Boylan, May, Backhand, Hurst, Swanson. Dr Nicholson, and the mover.” The Provincial Secretary seconded the amendment. On the motion of various members, the names of Mr Mitchell and Mr Beveridge were added to the committee, and the name of Mr Swanson withdrawn. The motion, as amended, was agreed to. unauthorised expenditure. The Provincial Secretary moved, “That a respectful address bo presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to recommend for appropriation the sum of £2,443 13s lid, to cover the unauthorised expenditure incurred under a special order during the year 1871. The Goldfields Secretary seconded the motion which was agreed to. licensing act amendment bill. The debate on the second reading of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill was resumed. The bill was read a second time, and the Council went into committee upon the bill. Mr Farmer in the chair. Clauses 1 and 2 were agreed to. Clauses 3to 10 inclusive, were postponed. Clause 11 was slightly amended, and then agreed to. Clause 12 was amended by repealing the 50th clause, as well as clause 57 of the Act of 1871. Clause 13 was expunged. Clause 14 was amended by adding the words “No person not being an adult male shall be entitled to sign any memorial under the said Act.” Clause 15 was agreed to as printed.