May 22.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 226, 30 May 1872, Page 6

May 22.

The Speaker took the chair at 2 p.m. Several petitions were presented and received. NOTICES. Seventeen notices of questions and motions were given. PAPERS LAID ON TIIK TABLE. The Provincial Secretary laid on the table a circular respecting the employment of Chinese on the public works of the Colony ; and also a report from the Rector of the High School of Otago. NEW BILL. The Provincial Solicitor laid on the table a Bill to be intituled "The Education Ordinance 1872." The Bill was read a first time, ordered to ba printed, and its second reading made an Order of the Day for next sitting. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr Green, the Secretary for Works stated it would not be possible for the Government to complete the forma' ion of the road from Port Chalmers to Blneskin during the present financial year, as they were not in a position to expend the amount that the work would cost. In reply to Mr Green's question — when he expected the road Dunedin to Blueskin,

via Water of Leith, to be open for dray traffic?— the Secretary for Works replied tbat the Government were very anxious to complete the work as soon as they were able, bit*; it would cost close upon L2OOO, and besides that, as the line passed through private property, negotiations would have to be carried on with the owner of the land ; so that he could not fix the exact date when the road would be open for traffic. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House having gone into Committee of Supply, consideration of the Estimates was resumed at page 14, when all the items under the head " Main Branch Roads " were agreed to unchallenged, except the item " Dnnedin to Portobello, L 800," which was opposed, but subsequently carried on a division of 17 against 10. Under the head "Miscellaneous Roads," the item "Port Chalmers to Blueskin, L 100," was agreed to as read. The item "Peninsula Beach Road, L 300," being moved, Mr M'Kenzie moved as an amendment, " That the amouut be reduced by L 299." The amendment was negatived. Mr Hutcheson moved as a further amendment, " That the item be reduced by L 100," which was affirmed on a division of 19 to 15. The remaining items were agreed to as read ; a3 were also the whole of those under the several heads " Works and Buildings, LG970," " Railways, L 3000," "Bridges, LS3C>O," and "Jetties and Harbors, L 9.450." On the item "Orepuki Tramway," L 20,000, being considered, Mr Bell brought under the notice of thp. Government the advisability of necessary works being constructed by the settlers in the districts in which the works were situated contributing to the funds, they being allowed, in return, to select land to the amount of their contributions. Mr Reid replied that such a course would be in opposition to the spirit of the Act ; and would have j the effect of stopping legitimate land sales. Mr Bhaud moved as amendments that the land to be taken (it being proposed that payment for the vote should be made in land) should be in the district through which the tr.miway was to pass ; and that the item be reduced to L2LOO. The first amendment was carried ; the other was negatived on a diusion by 15 to 14. Dr Webster then moved that the itsm be reduced to LSOOO, which was carried on the voices. Progress was then reported. CATTLE TRESPASS ORDINANCE (SOUTHLAND) REPEAL BILL. The Provincial Solicitor moved for and obtained the discharge of this Bill, which is now included in the Impounding Ordinance. OTAGO LOCAL REVENUES BILL. The Provincial Solicitor moved the second reading of this Bill (formerly called the Otago Municipal and Shires Council Local Revenues Ordinance ) The object of it was to enable collectors of Municipalities and Shire Councils to collect and receive the various licenses and registration faes. In Committee he intended to propose an alteration of clause 4 as printed, making it read that Municipalities should maintain and manage all main roads within their boundaries, after the completion of the roads. Mr Mervyn, while not intending to offer further opposition to the measure, could not help thinking that it would act unfairly to some parts of the country. Towns not incorporated would receive no advantage under it, and among those was Naseby, which Dunedin and Invercargill excepted, contriimfcecL tile largest amount of revenue to tHe Province ; while it would also act unfairly towards some municipalities — Palmerston in particular. He approved of the measure because it recognised the principle that direct taxation imposed on the inhabitants of a district should be retained for local purposes ; and the precedent the Government was seeking to establish might be turned against themselves. Great credit was due to the Mayor of Dunedin for initiating the movement which resulted in the measure ; but the mayors of up-country municipalities had been made cats paws of by that gentleman. Mr Bastings denied that the country mayors had been made catspaws of. What would accrue to Dune'lin was only what it was entitled to, considering its population and the extent of main road it would have to maintain. He hoped soon to see shire councils established ; and it was only fair to assume that the municipal bodies would merge into shire councils, which was a principle they had been lighting for a session or two. The measure would do a great deal of good in enabling them to spend their local revenues acd govern themselves. The Bill was then read a second time. IMPOUNDING BILL. The Provincial Solicitor, in moving the second reading of the Bill, explained that it assimilated the law relating to the impounding of cattle throughout the Province. The Bill was read a second time. • INVERCARGILL EDUCATION RESERVE EXCHANGE BILL. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, this Bill was read a second time. EDUCATION RESERVE, JACOB'S RIVER HUNDRED SALE BILL. This Bill was also read a second time. The Council then went into Committee upon the four Bills above-mentioned. After C' nsidering some of the provisions of the Impounding Bill, progress was reported, and leave obtained to sit again. The Otago Municipal and Shire Councils local Revenues Bill was reported to the House, with amendments, and its third reading made an order of the day for th next sitting. The Invercargill Education Reserve Exchange Bill was reported to thu House without amendment, read a third time, and passed. The Education Reserve, Jacob's River Hundred Sale Bill was also reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed. OTAGO EDUCATION ORDINANCE, 1564, AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Mervyn, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said its object was to leave the decision of the question as to whether the Bible should be read or nob with the various School Committees, making it permissive, instead of compulsory as at present ; and also to prevent religious instruction being imparted in schools. He did not think it was intended by those parties who introdncf d the ' Ordinance that this religious instruction should be imparted — tbat the Bible should be explained. It was left open to a doubt, which would be removed by the passing of the Bill before the House. The motion for the reading of the Bill a second time was carried on a division by 15 agaimt 8. LICENSING ORDINANCES AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Bathpate, in moving the second reading of this Bill, explained that the necessity for this cimending Ordinnnce arose from a technical mistake in the Ordinance of 1870. Under the second section of that Ordinance, it was piovided " that a licensed person need not apply for a renewal, provided nevertheless that no such person shall be entitled to sneh renewal if the Commissioner of Police object, the objections must be stated one calendar month before the 31st December ; and in case such notice sball be given, the holder of such license, if deßirous of continuing the same, he may apply for a license," but it did not allow the party time to apply. He was bqund to apply a certain time before the first Tuesday in December ; and the section as it now stood was entirely unworkable. It was proposed to alter the section to the ex-

tent that instead of notice of objection being given one calendar month before the 3lßt December, it should be given one calendar month before the first Tuesday in December. In addition to the Commissioner of Police having the right to object, any owner or occupier of property in th.c neighborhood could lodge an objection one calendar month before the first Tuesday in December. The Bill was read a second time, considered in Committee, reported to the House without amendment, and then read a third time and passed. THE AIDED SCHOOLS CLAUSES. Mr Clark moved—" That in the opinion of this Council the • aided clauses' contained in the Education Bill, proposed to be introduced by the General Government at next meeting of Assembly, are opposed to the true principles of political economy, and are calculated to place in the hands of Ministers a most dangerous patronage, which may be exercised so as to prove most detrimental to the best interests of the Colony, and to the success of a sound system of national education." Mr Reid seconded the motion, to which the following addition was made—" That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to forward the foregoing resolution of the Speakers and members of the House of Representatives and Legislative Council." On the motion of Mr Cutten the debate was adjourned, in consequence of the absence of several members. ,