PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20. (From the Daily Southern Cross.)

Waikato Times, Volume VI, Issue 316, 23 May 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20. (From the Daily Southern Cross.)

The Provincial Secretary, in answer to a qu°slion by Mr Brown relatire to the purchase of land' at the Upper Thames by private individuals, stated that the Government had received a telegram from the Colonial Secretary informing them that Mr Mackay had received instructions to do all that was necessary to protect the public interest. Mr Swan carried |a motion for a return of moneys expended in the Hauraki District, between Cape Colville and Ohinemuri, from January 4 to May 1, 1874, with particulars of contracts undertaken, and showing whether any pnblio works'had been undertaken without public tender advertised for. Mr Brown moved, ' That the Superintendent bo requested to place on the estimates the sum of £1000 for the purpose of enlarging the cemetery at the Thames, and making a road thereto.' After some discussion, the Provincial Secretary promised that a sum would bo placed on the estimates suf" iici»nt to repair the present road. The recommendation o( the Superintendent to set as-We certain allotments of land adjacent to the city as endowments for the maintenance of the Lunatic Asylum was concurred in. Tho allotments reserved were : Parnell Rise, (except a site for a public ball), allotment at Mount Eden, near Mr Gillies' residence, the old rifle range, two allotments adjacent to the Asylum. His Honor's message on the subject of the abolition of toll sales wns considered, and after discussion, »»fcrred to a select committee. The Education Bill wot fnrther considered in committee. Mr Reed moved tho ndoption of the clause imposing the household tax with the alteration that the £1 tax be paid on housis of nn annual value of under £20 instead of £10. lie esi muted the amount to be derived imdcr the Act at £23,000. Thciv v. en* about 12,000 ratenble householder* in the province ; 3000 at £1 ; 3<fOO at £2; 500 nt £3 ; 100 at £1. Totnl £16,700. To that was added £4500, tho amount estimuted lo be returned by the Bachelors' tax, and £2000 from land revenue, including the proceeds of the old Supreme Court-houso site. — Mr C.irpenter moved an »is«iklmrnt to tnxthe owners of all honsfs, banks, theatres, halls, offices, warehouse*, stores, shops, mills, barns, stables, and all other buildings within the province- — MrOrmistonpropnal an alteration m the scale of the household tax, and an increaso of the bachelors tax t-) £1 instead of 10s. — Mr Dargaville suggested that funds for carrying on education should be provided by putting an export tax on kauri gum of £5 a ton, which ho estimated to yield from £15,000 to £20,000. lie stated that the tax would not effect tno local valu* of tho article. The clause, as proposed by the Government, was carried on a majority of 27 to 14.— The clause imposing a tax not exceeding 10s per annum on all male residents over 2] years of «ge, wai amended bj substituting 20s for 10a and passed. — Progress was reported, and leaye given to sit again next sitting day. The Council adjourned at 11.30 p.m.