PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 122, 9 June 1870, Page 6

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(Condensed from the " Daily Times.") Wednesday, June 1. The Speaker took the chair at two o'clock. "WANT OF CONFIDENCE. Mr. THOMSON'S motion, " That as the Government were kept in office last session, either by a promise which they have broken, or by a misapprehension on the part of several of their supporters, the only honourable course open to them is to hand over the reins of Government to the party then known as the Opposition/ was called on, but the Mover did not appear. Mr. KEID complained of the slight put, not only on the Government, but also on the Council, by the hon. member, Mr. Thomson, putting such a motion on the paper, and then, after an understanding that it was to be brought forward at the opening of the day's business, absenting himself altogether. COURT HOUSE AT ROXBURGH. Mr, REID moved, " That an Address he presented to- II is Honour the Superintendent, recommending that Sections 7 and 8, Block 1., should be set apart a 8 a site for the Court House at Roxburgh." The motion was put and carried. MAINTENANCE OF ROADS. Mr. SHEPHERD moved, "That this Council approves and hereby empowers the Executive Government, if they consider it advisable, to enter into time contracts for maintenance of roads, especially those requiring metalling." Mr. REID said that it was intended, by way of experiment, to let the Main South and Main North roads in tenders of one mile each, and steps would be taken with regard to these roads. He thought it questionable, however, whether it would be advisable to extend the experiment to unformed roads. This motion, which received the general assent of the Council, was carried. PLANTING FOREST TREES. Mr. HAY moved, "That in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that blocks of land, to the extent of 50 acres, should be offered to any one willing to plant the same with forest trees, subject to regulations fixed upon by the Government ; and that Crown Grants for such lands should be obtained in favour of such persons after the regulations so made have been fulfilled by them." Mr. REID" agreed with the motion, but thought the area too small. He moved as an amendment that the area might be made 250 acres. Mr. HAY accepted the amendment. SKILLED BNGINEERS. Mr. M'INDOE moved that a commission be appointed to enquire into the working of the Roads and Works Department. Mr. HUGHES seconded. The motion was lost. ATTENDANCE OF afEMBEKS. Mr. ASHCROFT remarked upon the impossibility of securing a full attendance of the members of the Private Petitions Committee, and said he should decline, as Chairman of- the Committee, to submit any more reports unless there were full meetings. He also wanted to ask the Speaker what course he could pursue if full meetings could not be obtained. The SPEAKER replied that those members who attended should have their names recorded. If, at the commencement of the present session, he (the Speaker) had thought there would have been such a difficulty with regard to the attendance of members of the Select Committees, he would, with the approval of the House, have inserted in the Standing Orders a clause providing that each member not attending meetings of the Committee should be fined.

Mr. HAY attributed the cause to the Government. He wished to refer to the packing of Committees, but the Speaker ruled him out of order.

WANT OF CONFIDENCE.

Mr. MILLAR moved that the House had no confidence in the Executive as at present constittited. Mr. M'DKRMTD seconded.

Mr. THOMSON explained that the reason why he had not pushed forward his motion was that he had been told by the party with whom he usually worked that they could not vote for the motion as it was worded, and he could only apologise to the House for not having pressed it. Mr. TURNBULL did not concur in the motion ; at the same time he knew there was a want of confidence in some of the Government, one of whom was dangerous and another useless. He recommended a reconstruction of the Government.

Mr. GILLIES complained that the hon. member who had brought forward the amendment had made no specific charge against any member of the Government. If it were the wish of the House, and if the Secretary for Lands and Works expressed his consent, he would resign his position at once.

Mr. ASHCROFT did not think Mr. Gillies was the strength of the Government. He thought the best thing the hon. member could do would be to resign.

Mr. HENDERSON said if either the mover or seconder of the motion were to be placed on the Government benches, he would be inclined to take the first ship and leave the province.

After a prolonged discussion a division was taken, which resulted in — Ayes, 4 ; Noes, 17.

TAPANOI CEMETERY.

Mr. HAY moved, "That an address be presented to His Honour the Superintendent, requesting that he will be pleased to cause the sum of LSO to be placed on the Supplementary Estimates, for the purpose of fencing the Tapanui Cemetery." He, however, as the Government promised to fence the Cemetery, begged to withdraw the motion.

Thubsday > June 2. monthly steam service.

Mr. SHEPHERD moved, "1. That it is of importance to the Colony of New Zealand, and especially to the Province of Otago, that a monthly steam service should bs .established between Melbourne or Sydney and San Francisco, via Mew Zealand : the vessels to call at a port not further north than Wellington ; the service to be performed by steamers of large size and sufficient power, having proper accommodation for all classes of passengers, and ample room for cargo ; the con-

tract to be entered into with parties who are known to have suitable steamers under their control, and able to give a guarantee that the service will be efficiently carried out. 2- That this Council is of opinion that the contribution of New Zealand towards the subsidy required by such contractors should not exceed the sum of L 20,000 per annum. 3. That His Honour the Superintendent be respectfully requested to bring the foregoing resolutions under the notice of the General Assembly." A discussion took place in favour of Dunedin being made the place of call. Mr. MILLAR believed that if the sand bar were removed any vessel of 2000 tons could come into Port Chalmers harbour. It was agreed to discuss the matter next day. ROAD BOARDS BILL. This Bill was discussed at considerable length, and read a second time. The Bill was then considered in Committee.