May 25.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 121, 2 June 1870, Page 6

May 25.

privilege. Mr. HAUGHTON called the attention of the Speaker to the difficulty committees had of carrying out their functions from the non-attendance of members. The SPEAKER remarked that country members were not so much to blame as town members. No fewer than four committees had lapsed since "Friday for want . of a quorum, there having Wen only two members at each. EMIGRATION AGENT. Mr. HAUGHTON said that he had noticed in the " Kelso Chronicle " an adTertiaement on the subject of emigration to otago. In it intending emigrants were referred to Mr. Robertson, late member, and accredited agent of the Otago Government. He wished to ask ■whether Mr. Robertson had been accredited by the Government ? Mr. REID said that it had been stated the previous session that Mr. Robertson had Received a letter of introduction from His Honour the Superintendent. The advertisement in question was signed by the Secretary of the Home Agent, who had probably appointed him. SUBSIDIES TO MUNICIPALITIES. Mr. TURNBULL asked if the vote for Municipalities included the annual subsidy for Dunedin. Mr. DUNCAN explained that it was resolved three years previously to give Dunedin a subsidy at the rate of LI for LI, for three years. That time was now up, and the Government had not proviued for Dunedin, Mr. REID suggested that Mr. Turnbull should give notice of motion for a sum to be placed on the Supplementary Estimates for Dunedin. Mr. TURNBULL explained that his object in asking was, that if Dunedin were not included he might move to reduce the vote. Mr. MOUAT pointed out that the amount of the subsidies to Municipalities was fixed by Ordinance. GBANTS-IN-AID. On the items under this head, Mr. REYNOLDS moved that the items be postponed. He thought that the Government might have given Mr. Turnbull some indication as to whether they would allow a sum to be placed on the Estimates for Municipalities without notice of motion. Mr. DUNCAN withdrew the items for the present. MISCELLANEOUS. The following items were passed :—: — Volunteers, L 400; burial of paupers, LIOO \ expenses of returning officers, L 20 0; advertising, L 15 0; printing and stationery, L2OO ; printing the "Gazette," L9OO, was passed after some discussion. The item of LSOO for prospecting was also passed after considerable discussion. The following items were also agreed to :—Fuel and light, Ll5O ; collecting Dog Tax, L 250 ; compensation for deviation of roads, &c, L4OOO ; relief to destitute, L 60 0; Acclimatisation Society, L 50 0; auctioneer's expenses, L6OO. On the item, Introduction of Salmon and Trout, L4OO, being proposed, a brief discussion took place as to the charge alleged to have been made against Mr. Dawbin, the Government and other hon. members taking occasion to deny that there was any truth in the statement. The item was adopted, as were also the following items :—Railway preliminary expenses, L 500; Botanical Gardens, L 600; Prizes to Pastoral, Agricultural, and Horticultural Societies, L 50 0; encouragement to new industries, LSOO ; arbitrations and actions, L 50 0; assessors and collectors under Waste Lands Act, L4OO. The item Public Vaccinators "was passed, as also the following :—Cleaning and repairing clocks, L 75 ; general contingencies, LIOOO ; unforseen contingencies, L 100 0; Water and City Rates, Ll5O ; Witnesses' Expenses, L7O ; Woollen Manufacture, for first 5000 yards, LISOO ; Board of Health and Rations, L2OO : Premiums on Guarantee Policies, LSO ; Electric Telegraphic Messages, LSOO ; Compensation to officers on retirement from public service, L 50 0; Otago Museum, L2OO. On the item Lawrence Athenaeum, LI 00, being proposed, Mr. REYNOLDS said he was prepared to support assistance being given to Athenaeums, but he found that the Lawrence Athenasum received a sum of L2OO during the last session. It would be unwise to vote a sum to this Athenasum unless it was intended to give equal advantages to all the other Athenaeums in the province. He mentioned the matter because he had a motion on the paper to vote LSOO on behalf of the Dunedin Athenaeum; hitherto it had not been benefited by the arrangement by which public Libraries were subsidised by the Government. Mr. ASHOROFT thought Athenseums ought to be dealt with on a general principle. Unless he could see that the Oamaru Institute would get its fair share of assistance he should be inclined to oppose the item. There had been a debt of LSO on the Oamaru Institute, and the committee had asked for a subsidy upon the amount subscribed, but could not get it. Mr. MOTLEY endorsed the remarks of the last speaker, and said he thought that if the House voted money to assist these institutions the libraries ought to be free to the inhabitants of the country at large. Mr. SHEPHERD would support the Vote, and said he would always be willing to favourably entertain votes for either new or old institutions if it were shown that assistance were required. In reply to Captain M'KESZIE, Mr. REID explained that the Government in this case, as in all others, were merely proposing to supplement the of the inhabitants of the district, /at the rate of LI for LI. ' The item was then passed, as were also the following items :—Milton Athenaeum, L3OO ; Waitahuna. do., LIOO j Refund of Rent, University Reserves, 'L 1331 Is. ; Refund of Rent to Walter Miller L 164 16s. The House divided upon the item, " Preliminary Expenses Port Chalmers Railway L 94 12s 4d," with the following result:—For, 16 ; against, 12. The item was therefore carried.

The following items were passed :—: — Under the head of " Roads "—(Main North Road) Dunedin to Waikouaiti, L 4000; AVaikouaiti to Palmerston, L 2000: Palmers-ton to Oamaru, LI7OO ; Oamarn to Waitaki, Ll5O. The item-Dunedin to East Taieri Bridge, L 16,000, was passed after being discussed. East Taieri Bridge to Tokomairiro, L9OOO. The item was passed. v Tokomairiro to Clutha, L 3700. Passed. Clutha to Mataura, L 2700. Passed. Progress waa reported, and the House adjourned at 1 o'clock until 2 o'clock next day.