PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 223, 9 May 1872, Page 6

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

April 30.

; On the motion of the Provincial Treasurer t it was reßolved that the Address be printed. • The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table ' copies of correspondence with the Home i Agent, reports of the Police, Hospital, and i Education Departments, and of the In- * dustrial School, besides a variety of reports i of merely local interest. The usual Stand ■ ing Committees were appointed. The Pro1 viucial Treasurer and Goldfields Secretary gave notice of a great number of formal ' motions, chiefly relating to certain reserves 1 for various purposes. On the motion of Mi Bradshaw, the Standing Orders were suspended for the appointment of a House Committee. The motion was carried, and a committee appointed. The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table a report on Stewart's Island by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, luvercargill, and Professor Black, which was ordered to be priuted. In reply to a question by Mr Mervyn, tho Speaker said it had not been thought advisable to make auy alteration in the seats of the Provincial Council. Mr Barton called attention to the bad ventilation of the House, and attributed to this the gradual deterioration of the speeches, measures, and manners of honorable members as the session progressed. The Speaker said it would be found that Mr Cairns 1 report dealt with the matter. Amongst the notices of motion by private members, was one of Mr McGlashan to restrict the evening sittings of the House to 11 o'clock, and one by Mr Tolme, that to-mor-row he would move a reply to the address of the Superintendent. The Provincial Solicitor laid on the table the following' Bills : — The Compulsory Land Taking Ordinance, (applicable to certain district roads) ; The Riverton Reserves Management Ordinance, 1872; The Licensed Carriages Ordinances (to be extended to Southland) ; The Police Ordinance, Repeal Ordinance, Southland, 1872 (to assimilate the Police Ordinance throughout the Province) ; The Invercargill Reserves Management Ordinance ; The Otago Roads Ordinance, Amendment Ordinance, 1872; Th> Municipal and Shire Councils Local Revenues Bill. They were each read a first time, ordered to be prined, and days appointed for the second readings. The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table the Shires Ordinance, 1872, which was read a first time, and ordered to be printed ; the second reading to be taken on Friday. On the motion of the Provincial Treasurer, the House adjourned to two o'clock, to-mor-row. May 1. The Speaker took the chair at two o'clock. NEW MEMBERS. The Speaker announced that the Superintendent had written to him, announcing that Messrs Hallenstein and Innes had been duly elected to represent the Lake district in the Provincial Council. PAPERS, &C. The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table plans connected with Professor Black's report respecting Stewart's Island. Mr Clarke presented a petition from certain settlers in the Taieri district, against certain sales of land specified by them. Mr Bastings presented a petition from Mr Adams, a surveyor, complaining that 5000 acres of Mr Clarke's purchase had been surveyed by Mr Connell. Mr Duncan presented a petition from Jane Careon, the purport of which was not stated. The whole of the petitions were received. The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table a report by Mr M'Kerrow respecting the sale of 45,000 acres of land to Mr Clarke on Moa Flat. It was ordered to be printed. SESSIONAL COMMITTEES. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, a Printing Committee was appointed ; on that of Mr Bradshaw, a Private Petitions Committee ; and on that of Mr Thomson, a Committee of References under the Compulsory Land Taking Act. ADDRESS IN REPLY. Mr Tolmie, in moving a reply to His Honor's address, expressed his gratification at the prosperity of the Colony. With regard to the erection of a quartz crushing machine for testing quartz, it was a step in the right directi >n. He believed that eliminating any objectionable matter from schoolbooks was a great thing. The Province should go in for a secular education, pure and simple, of which he had always been an advocate. He considered the pioposal to establish a school of mines would be beneficial. He had no doubt subsidising local industries would be beneficial, and was better than protection to adopt which was retrograding. He was not sure that the Bill for establishing shire coun ils was not premature. It was worthy of consideration. He was inclined to think it was fortunate > the land resolutions of last year did not i pass. Revenue must be had from the land !in order to maUe roads. He concurred partly ia the view of giving bonafide settlers facilities for buying land, but he would not confine it to them. He would give facilities for the sale of larger blocks. Re should like to see the best land marked out in blocks to suit settlers, and sold on deferred payments. The quantity of good land was small, and if his ideas were carried out. schools and churches might be built, instead of the people being scattered over the country as now. At the same time he would limit the purchasing power of any one person during the year. The same plan should be adopted on the goldfields ; but he would more fully explain his views at the proper time. He concurred with his Honor that business could bs better conducted if more immediately under the cognizance of the Superintendent, backed up by a board of directors. Business would then be done more expeciitiously. There was new too much red tape, and the system marked out would consolidate offices, and enable them to dispense with poorly paid clerks. He should like to have seen it referred to that the Council should give utterance to its views on the great questions likely to be discussed in the Aesembly. The hon. member for Dunedin, Mr Reynolds, had advocated financial separation, and he thought the time for it had arrived to secure a fair share of expenditure in public works, which we seemed not likely to get otherwise. He 3hould like to see unanimity amongst the members of the Province, as good must result from it. A few words were said about the San Francisco mail, but he would not detain the House on that point, and would move the reply to the address as printed.

" We join with your Honor in expressing satisfaction at the advancement made in the settlement of the country, and tbe large increase in the value of our exports during the past year. " We are glad to learn that a quartz-crush-ing machine is in course of erection for the purpose of affording persons engaging in quartz mining the means of testing accurately, under the supervision of Professor Black, the value of samples obtained from their reefs : And we concur in your Honor's opinion that a plentiful supply of water and the construction ot the necessary works to utilise it would tend to develop our Goldfields, and give increased and profitable employment to a large populat on. " We a<ree wtli your Honor in the opinion that our educational system has on the whole

worked well, and learn with satisfaction that steps have been taken to secure regular and effective inspection of our schools, and that teachers will be required to pass examinations and obtain certificates of competency before being employed in connection with the public schools of the Province We approve of and will assist your Honor in the endeavo^ to eliminate from our school books all that is calculated to give offence to any section of the community.

' ' We are glad to be informed that a school of mines and chemistry has been added to the University curriculum. This addition cannot fail to prove instructive to the students, and be a means by which the wealth of the Province will be further developed. "It is gratifying to learn that the bonus offered by this Council has proved the means of establishing a woollen manufactory on a comparatively extensive scale, and we beg to assure your Honor that any proposals calculated to stimulate the establishment of similar industries will receive our earnest attention. " The Bills to be submitted having for their object the formation of shire councils, and for securing to muncipal and shire councils the revenues accruing within their borders, will receive our favorable consideration. " We regret that the resolutions passed by this Council recommending alterations required in the existing Land Acts were not passed by the Assembly, and we join in the hope that any resolutions which are passed by the Council during the present session, with a view to a satisfactoiy settlement of this important question, may be allowed to become law. " The other important matters referred to by your Honor will receive our serious consideration, with a view to such measures being adopted as will be calculated to prove beneficial to the Province and its inhabitants generally." Mr M'Kenzie seconded the reply, which was adopted. Mr McGlashan did not consider the progress of the country as satisfactory, and attributed that to the bad administration of tbe land laws. In other respects the speech was interesting. He thought more might have been said on the yield of gold. The school of mines and assay office were most important, but he should like to see a number of young men trained to mining. He considered bursaries might be given advantageously to proficients in mining. With regard to education, more schools were wanted than could be supplied. By a scheme (not the present scheme) the General Government ought to provide a national Bystem of education. He was glad encouragement of native industries was brought under notice, as it might tend to the development of our coal fields. He hoped the Land Bill would be such as the General Assembly would approve. He should have liked the reply delayed until the absent members came down, but was not prepared to move an amendment Mr Mervyn expressed dissatisf actson with tbe portion of the address referring to education, as our present system might be considered denominational. He had examined several books read in schools at Kaseby, and found a very objectionable work, which he called D. O'Beany's history of the reformation (presumed D'Aubigny) — this he thought very objectionable. He objected to the saie of land to Mr Clarke, and instead would have sold the railway in Southland. The Government were evidently ignorant of the interests of the Province, and the sooner there was a change the better. Tho land resolutions should not oocupy much time, and the sooner honorable members returned home the better. Mr Thomson objected to the statement that nearly the whole of the money voted for roads and bridges was expended. He should like to know where. One hon. member said, " Probably in theClutha district ;" but very little had been spent there during the year. He concurred with the views expressed in the Address on education. He should not sjpport any proposition to sell agricultural land for revenue purposes. It would have been fortunate if more complete statistics of the relation of the Province to the Col- ny had been furnished. He found it was L 42,000 worse than last year in its receipts. The dark as well as the bright side should be known. He considered the position of the Province and Council were unsatisf ctory. They did not koow what to do nor what to spend. Bill after Bill was passed in the Assembly which should have been considered in the Council. Immigration was taken from them ; but were they making main roads ? That was an important question ; for no provision was made for opening up the country by main lines of communication. The Council should not spend time in discussing abstract propositions. The Council was in a state of jeopardy. It would be better to know the worst, and not have the General Government hanging over their heads like the sword of Damocles. MrE. B. Cargill was not surprised that it bad been suspected that more than one person had a hand in the address. Reference was made to the University, and he thought Dr Black would be surprised to see the announcement of a School of Mines under him, as if it were established; for it was neither fact nor practicable. He had consulted the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the University respecting the Bill to be introduced, making the Professors ex officio members of the Council. it would place the whole charge practically in the hands of the Professors, to whom it would be distasteful, and he trusted the Government would disavow their intention to make such a breach in its constitution. He trusted the Council would see its way to the endowment of the University, so as to render it independent of au annual vote. He concurred with the views expressed in education. The proposed Bill would not be satisfactory, for it placed the whole control on the Minister in Wellington, and would in its present shape confer such advantage on aided schools as to force the Colony into a denominational system. One point was certain under any system — it must come to be supported by a local rate, because provincial revenue was slipping away. The Council would be forced to take that into consideration at an early day. It was a mistake to abolish that local rate— it was an unworthy agitation, and it was a pity it was effectual. He would not allude to the land laws. He was glad the new San Francisco contract was likely to be brought into a satisfactory shape. He always looked upon exclusive advantages from it, and the Colony would be better in paying a fair share for an Australian service than striving after a monopoly at a heavy cost. The Provincial Treasurer asked the Council to bear in mind the extraordinary position in which the Superintendent stands in relation to the Executive. Being an elective officer, he can only address the House by message or by address. If the address contained nothing very objectionable, his Executive would not op .OBe it. The address on the whole had been well received. It contained what his Houor thought would be beneficial to the University. The statistical statements were from official returns, and were as accurate as could be obtained ' from the departments. He wai surprised at i the fault louud. by the member for >orth Harbor. It had never been the object of the Council to limit the quantity of laud to be purchased by one person. He did not I hink it would be desirable to interfere in

land not strictly agricultural. He feared the hon. member for North Harbor was too sanguine respecting a general system of education. How was that to be provided by board ? (Mr M Glashan : The Hill states so). He quite admitted the General Government should provide a system applicable to districts neglecting to provide; but where education '1 systems had been provided, they should keep the management with themselves. Some members had twittingly said that the address contained references to abstract questions; but those members had raised questions which it was out of the power of the Council to determine. It was true that the country had been promised some fundemental alterations in the constitution, but he looked forward to them with some doubt. They^ might be introduced with a great flourish of trumpets; but there was the probability that in a short time they would require to be greatly amended; and the country would be left in the position it occupied at the present time. Mr M'Kenzie, alluding to the reference to businesses in tbe address, thought provision should be made to encourage the establishment of a butter and cheese factory. After a few remarks by Messrs Hutcheson and Duncan, the address in reply was passed. MIBCELLANEOI7S. On the motion of the Government, addresses to the Superintendent were adopted, asking that section 22, block 3, Blackstone, might be set apart for a cemetery ; that section 2, block 5, Kyeburn, be set apart as a coal reserve ; that section 1, block 1 (30 acres), Cromwell, be set apart as a recreation reserve ; that, in terms of his Honor's message No. 1, the Council approved of sections in Longbush and Elbow townships being fixed at the size surveyed, and the upset price recommended ; that Messrs J. H. Baker and T. Hugh an be appointed assessors under the - Waste Land Act, 1866 ; that the claim of Mr James Reid for compensation for losses sustained in connexion with the Traqnair Hundred be referred to the Private Petitions Committee. HOP PLANTING. The Provincial Secretary moved that the Council concur in his Honor's message No. 3, and approve of the sale to Mr W. L Leggatt of one acre of land at Moeraki, under sec. 28 of the Waste Land Act. He said Mr Leggatt had improved the land considerably, and had laid it out as a hop nursery, having already 2000 stems. As it was desirable to encourage a new industry, the Waste Land Board recommended the sale to Mr Leggatt, without putting him to the risk of competition. On Mr Thomson's motion, the debate was adjourned till Monday. FOREST TREKS. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary it was agreed to recommend his Honor to apply to the Governor to declare the Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Act, 1871, to be in operation in Otago. The House, at its rising at 3.30 p.m., adjourned till 2 p.m. next day.