PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. FRIDAY, MAY 8.

Waikato Times, Volume VI, Issue 311, 12 May 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. FRIDAY, MAY 8.

vulijnifi.r i,\>r> «ciur. Ifr fli-i^po asked the Provnioi.il SVcietary if any arrangement had been mado with the Ge loral Government by t\ hicii t)io Volunteer Laud acnp could bo exorcised on. General Crovcrnaient land.

BDUCYTIOX TULTj. Mr Reed said lie had to ask tho indulgence of the Council m re»pcct to the Order of th« D.iy for the second reading of | this bill. He regretted that, he was unprepared to go on | with it. Circumstances had occurred which had prevented him making that preparation winch such a subject demanded, ila would take it as a favor if the House would allow the second reading of tiro bill to be postponed to an early day next week. It was the first bill he had brought j forward, and lie would hko to be properly prepared in that. , He knew that there wore some members who desired to have longer time for considering the measure. Jfo injury could 1 arise and ranch benefit result from the postponoment. Mr Carleton scarcely knew how thi» proposition should te receired. If the hon member wa3 unprepared they should give him every allowance. What the clrcuroitaifces were whioh bad hindered him* frani going on with the bill he (Mr Carleton) was aot^ in a, position to say ; but he knew that circumstances had occurred that day, within his own knowledge, which might have caused, tua hon member to form the determination he had. ' But whntever tho reason might bo he protested against these postponements in the name of the members of the Council. It was exceedingly hard upon them. They were very anxious to attend and do their duty, and remained at great personal loss to themselve«, as every member belonging to an out-district could testify. He could foresee that the same tluug would happen this session which had occurred at all previous ones, and the substantial business of the Counsil would be postponed from day to day at the beginning, until the out-distrieb member* being tired out would be compelled to return home, and the most important business would be left; to those who lired in or near Auckland. He did not know what course the Council was prepared to take, and offered no opinion as to whether the request ought to bu granted or not. lie merely rose to protest against the injustice and hardship to the country members caused by these continual postponements. Mr Dargaville said that if the members were prepared to go On with the bill, it was hardly fit on the part of the hon member to nrgea postponement. Mr Reader "Wood thought that tho usual courtesy should be accorded. Mr Hurst asked whether it was not trifling with tho Council. When he (Air Hurst) complained of delay in connection with the bill, he was told by the Provincial Secretary that he could master its contents in 24 hours. Ho had mastered them sufficiently to know the reception the bill would meet at the hands of the Council. He considered it an insult to the common sense of tho Council that such a bill should be placed beforo it. The motion waa eventually aerred to.

EDUCATION KATE. Mr Moat moved, " That a respectful address be preoented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to lay on the tubleof this House a icturn showing the amount collected by each receiver of rates appointed under the Education Act, 1872, and the sum paid to him for collecting the same." It was a pretty general impression outside that an undue amount of the education rate had found its way into the 1 pockets of the collectors, and the return he asked for migitk show whether thafc.wns tho case or not. Mr Sheehan said the bon member by his- motion had anticipated the action of the Government. The bulk, of the rates were collected before the present Superintendent came into office. He would have the return pi ©pared and laid upon the table: Mr Bagnall suggested thai the return might also include the amount of rates in each district remaining uncollccted. It was believed by som* that ti considerable amount was outstanding, owing to the neglect and other deficiencies of collectors. Mr DargavilU thought it would bo worth while to bo furnished also with particulars of the defalcations of collectors. Ho believed fchafc in «omo cases tho bondsmen had not been called upon to pay. # MrSbeehan said onl.v two cases of defalcation had occurred since the Superintendent took office, and in botb, cases the loss had been recouped from Mie sureties. The motion was carried" wi*h the amendments suggested.

VOLUNTEER LAND SCRIR Mr Crispe mover], '• That a respectful address be pre- I senterl to his Honor tho Superintendent, requesting him to send down to this Council a return of all the land in the Wairoa and' Waiukw MHitia districts available for the exerciie of Volunteer land sorip. " His object was to see whether there w»» a possibility of the Volunteers being ablo to exercise their scrip on land, aear their homesteads. At present the scrip was in most case* utterly valueless, owing to the situation of the land available for selection. Mr Sheahan believed the return would be nil. The operation of the Vohmteer land scrip, when exercised was to involve tho .holders in trouble and expense, and tho3owho knew, anything about the matter very wisely refrained j £rola availing th tinsel yes of the privilege. They only ren- , dered themselves hablo to pay highway »ates. The lesult had been that a large- quantity of the land set apart for that purpose had been thrown into the market and sold for from 6d to 2s 6d an acre. The consequence was that the lands of tho province had been depreciated in value. Motion agieed to. The Council adjourned at 8 o'clock until Tuesday afternoon.