GOLD DUTY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue III, 26 May 1870, Page 6

GOLD DUTY.

Mr. HAUGHTON moved, " That this Committee is of opinion that the export duty upon gold should be reduced." In doing so, he said that he did not intend to make a speech on the subject. The House had already expressed itself almost unanimously on the question, and he intended to bring it under the notice of the Assembly during its next session. After a short discussion, the House divided on the motion, with the following result : — Ayes, 11 — Brown, Clark, Fraser, Gillies, Haughton (tellpr), Hay, Hughes, Mackenzie, Main, Mouat (teller), Shepherd^ Noes, 14— Allan, Ashcroft (teller), Barr, Driver (teller), Green, Henderson, Hutcheson, M'Dermid, Mollison, Murray, Shand. G.. Shand, J., Thomson, T^rnbull. The motion was therefore negatived. CONTINGENT NOTICES OP MOTION. Mr. ASHCEiOFT raoved^ «• That it be an instiuction to the Committee that the Contingent Notices of Motion for ' When in Committee of Supply,' be taken before ' the Estimates are proceeded with." The motion was discussed and negasved. COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. The item Police Commissioner, £500, was passed ; Clerk and Accountant, £250, passed. The whole of the sums £18,338 ss, Police Department, were passed. Harbour Master, £500, passed. The total sum put down for the Harbour Department, viz., £5281, was passed. The item G*»l, £5865 10s, after some distwssion. was passed, Another sun* of

£3120 was also voted for the same service —this includes £2000 for Maori prisoners refunded by General Government. At the evening sitting the Supply Committee, the item £800, under the head " District Gaols," was agreed to, as also the items £1150 and £125 under the head " Provincial Treasury." The item £500, Chief Inspector (Sheep Department), Capt. M'KENZIB opposed, on the ground that the duties were not performed in a satisfactory manner. Mr. DUNCAN explained that the Inspector had been almost constantly travelling during the last six months in the execution of his duties. The item was carried, as also the item L 1750, for Sub Sheep Inspectors, LSO, Inspector of Sheep at Port Chalmers, was passed ; incidental expenses, LBO, passed ; travelling expenses, LIOO, was struck out. EDUCATION. Secretary and Inspector, LSOO, passed after being discussed ; Inspector, LSOO, negatived by 20 to 6. ; Sub-Inspector and Music Master, L4OO, was negatived by 14 against 18 ; the item, Clerk, L9O, was passed ; Drawing Master, L4OO, carried ; the following items, under the head "District Schools," were carried :—L11,655: — L 11,655 and L 4030 ; the item L 550 to Rector, under the head " High School," carried. On the item LIOSO, "Masters," at L 525, being proposed, Mr. SHEPHERD remarked that a reform in connection with the High School was needed. The boys who attended this school were sons of some of fhe wealthiest people in the province, and they cost about Ll3 a head a year. The item was passed. Friday, 20th May. High School — one Master, L 300; one Commercial Master, L2OO ; Janitor, L6O, passed ; salaries unforseen, LJSO ; Lady Principal, L 250 ; the following items were also passed : Governess, eight months at L 250, L 166135. 4d. ; contingencies, L 100; High School Scholarships, L 250 ; prizes, L3O, printing fuel, repairs, &c. ; contingencies, LIOO ; rectors or head-masters for grammar schools, at L2OO each, LBOO, A number of items, amounting in the aggregate to the sums named, were voted for the following services : — Hospital, L 5700 ; Lunatic Asylum, L 4340 ; Collection of Jetty Dues, L 740; Miscellaneous, LU4B : Collection of Tolls on Roads, LI 250 ; Industrial School, Ll3lO. On the item, Crown Lands Commissioner and Surveyor, L6OO, Mr. HAY moved an amendment that it be reduced to LSOO. Carried, The following items were also carried : — Clerk, L3OO ; one draughtsman, Land Office, L30O; one book-keeper, Land Office, L 250; salesman, Land Office, L 220; three rangers of Hundreds, L 6,00 j apprentice clerk, LBQ; Head Clerk, Crown Giant Office, L 3.00 ; Assistant Clerk, do., L 200; | Geodesical Surveyor, L 450 ; Chief Draughtsman, L4OO ; three District Surveyors. L 100 0; two Assistant Draughtsmen, L 600; two Assistant Surveyors, L 560; seven Draughtsmen, L 1735; one do, L 100; one Lithograpnic Printer, L 250; Draughtsman, LB.O ; Rangers of Bush Reserves, L9O ; Refunds on Land, LIOO ; Printing, Advertising, and Stationery, LSOO ; Incidental Expenses, L 20 0; Travelling Expenses, L 500; Labourers' wages, L2OOO. The following items were passed : — Engrossing Crown Grants, L3OO ; Equipment of Survey Parties, LOOO ; Lithographic Materials, L2O ; instruments and Repairs, L6O ; Contract Surveys, L4OOO. GOLDFIELDS. On the item six, wardens, one at L6OO, four at L 550, and one at L4OO, a total of L 3200, Mr. ASHCROFT moved as an amendment, that the sum be reduced by LSO. Mr. HUTCHESON 4hoved as an amendment that the item be reduced to L 2950. The Committee divided on the second amendment with the following result : — Ayes, 13— Brown (teller), Clark (teller), Green, Henderson, Hutcheson, M'Dermid. M'lndoe, Mitchell, Mollison, Murray, Seaton, Shand, G., Thomson. Noes, 10— Ashcroft (teller), Duncan, Fraser (teller), Hughes, M'Kenzie, Millar, Reid, Reynolds, Sibbald, Turnbull. The amendment was therefore carried. Arrears, 1 month, at LSO per annum, L 4 3s 4d. Passed. On the item 8 receivers, 6 at L 350, and 2 at L3OO, a total of L 2700. Mr. HUTCHESON mo.ved that the item be reduced to L 2400. The Committee divided on the amendment, with the following result : — Ayes, 11 — Brown, Clark, Green (teller), { Henderson, Hutcheson, M'Dermid, Mitchell, Mollison, Murray, Sibbald, Thomson (teller.) Nobs, B—Ashcroft,8 — Ashcroft, Fraser, Hughes (teller), M'Kenzie, Millar, Reid (teller), Shand," G., Turnbull. The following items were passed — Five Bailiffs at LIBO, L9OO ; Inspector of Depasturing Districts, L3<so. On the item, two Chinese Interpreters, L 450, Mr. GREEN moved that it be reduced to L3OO. The amendment was negatived. Mr. SHEPHERD moved, as a further amendment, that the item be reduced to L4OO. The Council divided. : — For the amendment, 7 5 against it, 10. The original motion was carried. On the item, Mining Surveyor and Staff, L2OOO, being put it was negatived. On the item, Travelling Expenses, L7SO, Mr. HUTCHESON; moved that it be reduced to L 32& The amendment to reduce the item to L 325 was carried. The remaining items under the head of Goldfielda were also passed. The item. LSOO to Chief Engineer, under the Jiead "Itoads and Works," which. wa3 an addition of LSQ on the amount of the last appropriation, was reduced to L 450. The following items were then passed :— Three District Engineers, LIOOGj and Assistant Engineer, L3OO. Under the head " Secretary for Land and Works Department" (continued J, there were passed : — Draughtsman, LI OO ; do., Apprentice, L 80;8 0; travelling expenses, L 50 0; and several other minor items. Under the head " General Road Board," there were passed ;—lnspector; — Inspector of Works, L 250; Draughtsman, L 275; do., assistant, L 75.

The Council adjourned, till' Wednesday, 25th May.