PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1081, 17 June 1873, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

SUBSIDISING THE FIRST BORN. Mr O'Conor tnoved, '• That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place upon the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £IOO for the purchase of 100 acres of land in the Inangahua Valley, as an endowment upon Miss Rose Williams as the first child born of European parents in the Inangahua district." In explanation he would say that the young lady alluded to was the daughter of one of the oldest settlers in the Provine, certainly in the Inangahua Valley. When the child was boi-h, some seven or eight years ago, Mr Kynnersley was in charge bf the goldfield, and he promised that on consideration of her being the first child of European parentage born in that part of the Provine, and the daughter of the pioneer of the district, he would recommend the Government to make her a grant of land. He (Mr O'Conor) had been asked by her father to bring the matter fdrward, and he considered that the child was deserving of some recognition,.particularly at the hands of the old Nelson settlers. For the old settlers he had the highest respect ari'd Especially for their daughters, and for "this feasori he had brought forward the resolution. Mr Ivess seconded the resolution, relating as it did to a resident in this particular district. . He was well acquainted with the interesting young lady referred, to, arid also her father, who had done good service to the country [A. Member ~; In what way ?] | *> T acting as storekeeper in the early I days of the goldfields, and supplying diggers with the neeessaries of life. The child had long been promised this dowry; arid was anxiously looking forward to.receiving it. The Council might think that a similar grant would i suffice, but it wad not for its value that the land was sought, so much as being I a recognition of the BerVices rendered by her fathefc. (Much merriment.) Mr Reid thought there was a streak I bf witticism running through the Whole I question. He found that Miss Williams was alluded to on the Notice [ Paper ak the . child of " Europahe" j parents in the Inangahua district. He Was hot prepared to state that this i Was attributable to the nationality of the author of the resolution, but it | looked suspiciously like it. He was f glad to find that Mr O'Conor, although I an opponent of Mr Vogel, was becomS ing a convert to his victors as to the j desirability of populating the country I as soon a§ possible. "Full many a flower I is born to blush and ho was not sure that there were not in the \ Province many blossoms quite as I bright and attractive as this Rose, and j who were fully entitled to an equal [ amount of consideration, but Were not brought so prominently forward. A I similar motion had been brought before the Weßtland County Council, | where it had been received with no [ little ridicule, some of the speakers j suggesting that the first calf born in ; the district was quite as fully entitled [ to a bonus. Mr Guinness could state that a f similar proposition had once been laid t before the Westland County Cctiacil, I when it was argued with some force

that a grant might just as well be made to the first cow that produced a calf in the district. The question was certainly open tb discussion whether money should not be spent upon reproductive works, and possibly at some future date the subject of the resolution before them might prove reproductive. At the same time ho was scarely prepared tb support the motion. Mr O'Conor, in reply, said that the orthography on the Notice Paper was not his, but the printer, or reader, was responsible for it. Seeing the jocular mood in which the Council appeared inclined to treat the resolution, he would, in deference to the young lady, ask leave to withdraw it. Resolution Withdrawn. LAND OK GOLDFtELDS. The Provincial Secretary moved, " That in the opinion of the Council, it is desirable that the Goldfields Act should be amended so as to extend the term for which agricultural leases may be granted to fourteen years to entitle holders of agricultural leases for a term of seven years to a renewal for an additional seven years at the same rent; and also to entitle lessees at the expiration of the full term of 14 years to obtain a Crown grant, without further payment. Agreed to. The Provincial Secretary moved, " In the opinion of this Council the following alterations should be made in the regulations under which agricultural leases are granted on the Goldfields. Deposit to be reduced to £5 ; survey fee not to exceed 2s per acre; and rent not to exceed 2s per acre." Seconded by Mr Baigent. Mr Shephard proposed as an amendment that 2s per acre as rent be struck out, and " 10 per cent, on the assessed value" be substituted. Seconded by Mr F. Kelling. A division was taken, whether the 2s per acre as rent should stand part of the question, Ayes, 7; Noes 9. Mr Shephard's amendment was then put, Ayes, 13 ; Noes, 4. Mr Gibbs proposed that the words " no land to'be assessed at more than £1 per acre," be added to the motion. Seconded by Mr O'Conor. This proposal was lost on division. Mr Shephard moved, and Mr O'Conor seconded, " That agricultural leases under the Goldfields Act may be converted into leases under the Amending Act." Agreed to. Motion as amended agreed to. W r EST WANGANUI GOLDFIELD. Mr Gibbs moved, " That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to represent to his Excellency the Governor the expediency of proclaiming the native lands at West Wanganui under the Goldfields Act Amendment Act, 1558." Agreed to. THE EDUCATION BILL, CLAUSE 4. The Provincial Secretary moved, " It shall be lawful for any Local Conunitte, whenever it shall think fit, to allow the Bible to be read in any school under its control, iu the last part of the ordinary school course of instruction only: P/ovided that any parents objecting thereto may withdraw their children from the school at the time when such reading takes place. Agreed to. NEW CLAUSE. Power to elect an additional members of the Central Board was granted for the City of Nelson. THE BULLEE, TOWING TBACK. The Provincial Secretary moved, " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place the sum of £1220 on the Appropriation Act, for the purchase of land to be given to the Buller Towing Track." He said that a deputation had waited upon his Honor the Superintendent when on the Coast, and presented a petition praying that the interests of the Company should be purchased by the Government, and that the Superintendent undertook to recommend the step to the Provincial Council. The Provincial Engineer recommended that the property should be purchased upon reasonable terms, and thrown open to the public. The sum arrived at was £1220 as a fair price, payment to be made in land. Seconded by Mr Eeid. Mr F. Kelling did not approve of public works being bought by the Government, as it Was bad in principle, and should not be encouraged. Mr Reid did not know the actual value bf the work. He sho'iild be glad to hear from either side Whether the sum arrived at was too much or too little. . Mr Wastney thought the difficulty of arriving at a proper estimate of the value of the track was attributable to the Provincial Engineer. Mr Guinness allowed that great difficulty was occasioned by the vagueness of the Engineer's report. Mr O'Conor said he was the first person who procured protection for the works, and the track was principally laid down by himself under consultation with the District Engineer. The works as carried out were first approved, by the Directors, and the District Engineer passed the work. When the boats began to ply on the track, it was found that alterations had tb be made, and the tracks had to be widened and extended, and for these the Engineer gave authority. It was plain enough that the people of the place had put their hands in their pockets to producb a work of public utility. They had improved the means of communication, and produced a work which that Council thought was

very desirable, and they were now asked to take payment for their outlay in land which placed them in this position—that they must be "satisfied with getting two-thirds of the cost, or do, as he Would do, refuse the offer of the 'Government, and increase the tolls to a profitable rate. Mr Burn said after what had fallen from Mr O'Conor, be was induced to move an amendment to the effect that it was not desirable that the Government should purchase the track at all. When the work Was undertaken it was with the pure intention of making money, but they were now told that something like £IOOO could be made during next year. He then proposed an amendment to this effect, and Mr Baigent seconded it pro forma. Mr Gibbs would like to know what land, and of what value, would be given. The Provincial Secretary said that would have to be defined by the Waste Lands Board. Mr Shephard referred to the condition of the track and the desirability of getting information as to whether it was in working order, and what it would cost to place it so; for if the late floods bad affected the state of it, there might be good reason to pause before taking any such step at present as they were asked Mr O'Conor said the track was under contract to be kept in good repair, and it was so at the present time. Messrs Baigent and Ivess spoke in favor of the vote. The amendment was then put and negatived. Mr Donne, read an amendment, to the effect that the question should stand over, but was told by the Speaker that it could not be put. This he much regretted, as the just and proper dealing with the question would, he thought, be destroyed. His own opinion was that the Towing Track had been a failure and was not worth the money. He though it very significant that the Provincial Engineer should report that he had not been able to go over the track, indeed, the Council had very little information; but there was one impression conveyed to his mind by the matter, and that was that the projectors found that they possessed a white elephant which they were very anxious to get rid of, and would jump at the chance of getting the money. What was the value of the thing as a public work ? What was the value of the scrip of the Company so called ? He had been told that scrip had been sold in this town at 155., and if this were true, who were the shareholders here ? Having to deal with public money did not give them a right to dispose of it after a reckless fashion. There was no evidence that a Company had been formed under the Limited Liability Act. He spoke under correction, but in his opinion no such Company had ever been formed, for whatever might be said about equity, one thing was clear, that regarded from a strictly legal point of view no protection actully existed, and there was no privilege to dispose of. There were no proofs of it, for he would not take the mere assertion of any one member for it. The Government therefore had no right to ask the Council for any such vote. It wa3 very likely and easy enough for the Superintendent to say "all right, your request shall be placed before the Council," but the members of the Committee were divided amongst themselves about the advisability of it, and he should consider it most unwise to adopt it. Of course the hon. member for Westport was there to represent his constituency, but it was an unfortunate thing that he should hold a third of the shares himself. [Mr O'Conor ; It is a falsehood.] The hon member holds sixteen shares, well, that perhaps is nearer a fourth of the shares, and I repeat that it is a very unfortunate position for the hon. member. He much regretted that he could not enforce the amendment he had prepared, and would ask the Speaker if some means could not be pointed out for such a course, but certainly would not support what he should consider to be a fraud upon the revenues of the Province. He felt sure to place and keep the track in an efficient state of repair would prove such a costly expedient that it would be far better to refund the tolls from time to time and take the risk, then take over the track at the price proposed. He should vote against the motion in its present form. The Speaker could see no way but negativing or withdrawing the resolution before the Council. Mr Pinkerton spoke to the resolution. The question was put, and a division ensued. GOLDFIELDS DISTBICT BILL. The Provincial Solicitor proposed the third reading of this Bill. Mr Reid moved that it be read that day six months. Negatived on a division. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. " A NTI-SEPARATION " EXPENDrTUItE. Mr Ivess moved, " That this Council strongly disapproves bf the expenditure under the head of the Contingencies, of the item • Anti-Separation £lB7 17s Sd,' as it appears that this sum was expended for a purpose entirely foreign to the functions of the Executive Government of this Province, and had fbr its object the simulating of constitutional popular action by a means calculated tb cast discredit upon this Province, and foster within it a feelibg of distrust in" our institutions." Seconded by Mr O'Conor. A long and warm debate eiisued:

The speakers .ilsjaiiist the motion, namely, . the Provincial Secretary, Messrs Pinkerton, Donne, F. Kelling; Burn, and Reid, took particular objection to the time of the session at which the motion,. had been introduced, ahd the offensive manner in which it had been brought forward. Both the mover and> 0 seconder considered the motion necessary to prevent a re-occurrence of such proceedings. A .division was taken, Ayes, 2 ; Noes, 14 The " ayes" being the mover and seconder.