PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1875.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 473, 1 June 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1875.

PRIVATE GRIEVANCE. Mr Carleton brought up the report in the case of Mr Brookfield, Colonel Balneavis, Major Green, Messrs Doel, and others.

HIGHWAYS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This was a bill to remedy a defect, or oversight, in the Act of last year. The bill was read a second time and passed through all its stages. The bill provides for the enactment of part 2 of the former bill from the 17th June, 1874. Mr Dargaville moved, " That an address be forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to issue a proclamation in the Gazette bringing into operation part 2of the Act of 1874." The Provincial Treasurer did not see any harm in the resolution. The Council' divided, and negatived the motion by 21 to 12.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS BILL. The Provincial Treasurer said an understanding had been corSj* to which he understood was satisfactory to a large number of members of Council. The- hon. member (Mr Lusk) made a motion to the effect tha\ £10,000 should be paid to the Board of Education — that was to say, out of the first sum of £20,000 to be raised on these securities £10,000 should be paid to the Board of Education from time to time. The £10,000 for the Hospital which would remain, that would tide matters over for some months. Of course the Government would endeavour to make the best arrangements they could otherwise. Mr Carleton maintained his old antipathy to compromises in a matter like this. He would reserve hli dfl^ision as to how he should decide upon the third reading until after the debate. Mr Lusk confirmed the statement of the Provincial Secretary^ He hoped the hon. member for the Bay of Islands would withdraw his opposij tion. The Provincial Treasurer said if Mr Carleton ] persisted in his threat he would ask the Council to withdraw the bill. The bill passed through all its stages.

APPROPRIATION BILL. This bill was re-committed, to consider the items — ,£44 3s to Mr Lusk (re Siddons v. Lusk), and £68 7s to the late Provincial Engineer. The former item was allowed without division, the latter upon f division : ayes, 16; noes, 14.

SHEEP BILL. This bill was re-committed, for the re-considera-tion of clauses 22 and 49. The clauses, as amended, ■were agreed to, the bill read a third time, and passed.

APPROPRIATION BILL, NO. 2. The Provincial Treasurer said this bill was to make up for deficiencies upon votes made by the Council. There was— (l) £500 for Executive, in | consequence of the large amount of the clerical assistance required in the Superintendent's Office connected with the collection of the education rate. (2) Legislative, .£5OO deficiency, owing to unusual length, and the double calling of hon. members. Provincial elections, £225. Deficiency for the Lunatic Asylum, principally on account of entertainments ; there, .£1,500 j water supply, £300 ; £250 for rei pair of goods' wharf ; £250 for repairs ; total, £3,525. — The bill was put through its various stages, and passed.

SPECIAL SETTLEMENTS. The adjourned debate on the following resolution by Mr Rees, " That in the opinion of this Council the special settlement proposed by Messrs De l'Eau and Hur^t shall, if possible, be carried into effect ; and that the resolution be transmitted to his Honor the Superintendent, was resumed. The Council, however, expressed a wish to go to a division if necessary The resolution, however, was negatived on the voices.

LAND PURCHASE ENQUIRY COMMITTEE. Mr Rees brought up the report of the committee, which was to the following effect : That the committee had not had time to bring up a complete report before the close of the session. The committee were of opinion it would be desirable that a commission be appointed, such commission to send in its report during the recess. That a copy of minutes of evidence taken before the committee be forwarded to the Superintendent, and that he be empowered to expend the money for the object desired by the Council in the same manner as if the money were voted for such commission ; also, that a copy of telegram received by Major Green, be forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent. The following is a copy of the telegram :—": — " Dr Pollen, Colonial Secretary, to Major Green Auckland. — The place for an inquiry into the conduct of the Colonial Government is the General Assembly, not the Provincial Council of Auckland. Attend the committee and refuse to give evidence, your authority being this telegram. Advise the other officers accordingly. — Signed, D. Pollen." Mr Cheeseman said this was an insult to the province and the Council. Several other members were of the same opinion. Mr Dargaville admitted that the conduct of Dr Pollen in this matter was indefensible but he was aware that the Defence Minister did not entertain the view of the Colonial Secretary, but agieed with the objects of the in quiry, as far as could be judged by his conduct. The recommendation of the committee was agreed to.

IMMIGRATION. • The Provincial Secretary laid on the table a letter from Mr Farnall, of Belfast, announcing that two ships had sailed from that city with immigiants for Mr Steward's special settlement at Katikati. (Hear, hear, hear.)

DISEASED CATTLE ACT. Mr May moved, " That an address be presented to His Honoi the Superintendent, requesting him to forward to the Honourable the Colonial Secretary copies of the following papers :—l.: — 1. The correspondence laid on the table of this Conncil relative to making provision for salary of Inspector under Diseased Cattle Act, 1871. 2. The following resolution passed by this Council on the 20th insfc. : — •' That an address be forwarded to His Honor the Superintendent requesting him to place on the Estimates the sum of £160 to pay the expenses and charges in carrying into effect the Diseased Cattle

Act, 1873, in compliance with section iv, vi imv, last-named Act, together with His Honor's reply.' Carried.

MOUNT ST. JOHN. Mr Reed moved, " That the report of the Mount St. John Road Select Committee be adopted, and that the same be forwarded to His Honor the Superintendent, together with the correspondence and minutes of evidence." Carried.

CHAIRMAN OP COMMITTEES. Mr Ebenezer Hamlin was elected Chairman of Committees. The Speaker complimented Mr Hamlin in terms of very high encomium upon the manner in which the business was conducted.

PROROGATION OF COUNCIL. His Honor entered the Council chamber a little before ten o'clock, and delivered the following address : Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council, — My cordial thanks are due to you for the care and attention you have devoted to all matters connected with interests of this province which have been brought under your notice during the present session. Being new to my present duties, I have . had recourse to your advice on many important subjects. I thank you for the friendly | spirit in which you have given me that advice, and have offered me many valuable suggestions. I will not fail to consider them with the care and attention to which their value and your experience so justly entitles them. I have transmitted, for the information of the Governor, the resolutions you passed and forwarded to me in regard to the proposed Constitutional changes, which would abrogate the Act of Parliament which was passed in 1852 for the purpose of granting a^epresentative Government to the colony of New Zealand. I will forward to the General Government a copy of your resolution, requesting that a bill should be introduced into the General Assembly to vest the endowments of the City of Auckland in the hands of its Ma} or and Corporation, and I will give any further aid in my power for the promotion of so desirable an object. I will give my immediate attention to your resolution requesting me to throw open for pub lie occupation the large areas of Provincial land now apparently locked up by selections under the Waste Lands Act, and to call for claims in relation thereto. In conformity with the wishes expressed in the resolutions you have forwarded to me, I will take care to cause to be prepared during the recess, for your consideration in your next session, a bill for the regulation of cemeteries in the Thames gold fields, and a bill for the formation of a Thames Harbour Board. The several bills you have sent up to me for the Governor's assent shall receive or be presented for assent within the period and in the manner prescribed by law. I thank you for the ability and industry with which you have considered and perfected these various measures : — Qrammar School Reserve Sale Act, 1875 j, Hospital Resenes Sale Act, 1875 ; Hospital Site Exchange Act, 1875 ; Education Reserves Act, 1875 ; Supreme Court Site Road Bill, 1875 ; Supreme Caurt Site Leasing Act, 1875; Highways Act, 1874, Amendment Act, 1875; Public Buildings Act, 1875; Appropriation Act, 1875 ; Sheep Act, 1875 ; Onehunga Wharf Extension Act, 1875; Appropriation Act, 1875, No. 2, 1875. The sums which you have voted for the public service of this province I will carefully and economically administer to the best of my ability. In conclusion, I thank you for the wisdom and fairness with which you have considered all the questions which have come before you, and assure you that I shall always earnestly strive to co-operate with you in all measures for the public good of the province of Auckland. I now declare that this Council stands prorogued, and it is^ prorogued accordingly.