PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 310, 10 June 1875, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, June 9. The Speaker took the chair at 3 p.m. SELECT COMMUTES. Mr Harper brought up the report of the Select Committee on the petition for the railway to White Rock quarries, recommending that the Government should cause a survey of the proposed line to be made as soon as possible, and also that the road through to a creek in the vicinity of the line should be surveyed. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Dr Kayner—l wish to ask the Government, without notice, whether the report in the newspapers of an interview between the Government and a deputation of the Chamber of Commerce, is a correct report of the interview ; also, whether the Government have done anything that they were aware of to forfeit the support of the Chamber of Commerce. [Laughter.] The Provincial Secretary said—Sir; In answer to the question of the hon member, I may state that the report in the daily newspapers of the interview with the Government and the deputation of the Chamber of Commerce as contained in the report of that deputation does not appear to be quite a correct report of what took place on the occasion of that deputation. It does not appear to be quite correct in that it does not give the Government side of the question. For the information of the House I may state that the idea of the Government was that wherever the public buildings might be erected, the contributicn of a valuable site was as much as could be expected or fairly asked to be contributed by the province towards a General Government building. Besides this, if the site were one where it did not have roads all round it, the buildings to be erected will not require such an amount of ornamentation, and therefore we thought that the contribution of a very valuable site by the province was as much as the General Government would contribute towards the erection of these buildings, or even more. Therefore, sir. I say that the report of the Chamber of Commerce does not quite fully state the whole of the arguments used at the interview, particularly from the Government poifit of view. As regards the second question of the hon member, which I understand to be whether the Government are aware that they have done anything to forfeit the support of the Chamber of Commerce, I may say that the Government do not look upon the Chamber of Commerce as a political body, and therefore I must decline to answer that portion of the hon member's question. [Hear, hear.] APPLAUSE IN THE GALLERIES. Mr K. Turnbull desired to call attention to the fact that on the preceding evening a demonstration of feeling had been made by the strangers in the gallery; he thought that this was a most undesirable state of things to be allowed, and he trusted that this would not occur again. Mr Webb said as chairman of committee he had called the attention of strangers to the fact that unless the demonstrations of applause were suppressed he should order the galleries to be cleared. Of course it was quite open to any hon member to call attention to the fact that strangers were present, when the galleries would at once be cleared. Mr W. B. Tosswill thought that this had resulted from the fact that on former occasions these demonstrations had not been suppressed. He thought it most undesirable that such a manifestation of feeling should be allowed, as it would come ere long to that state of things that hon members might be cheered or hissed. Mr R. 'Turnbull desired to point out that it would be most inconvenient to call attention to strangers being in the gallery, as that would necessitate the reporters also withdrawing, which no hon member of that House would wish to see. [Hear, hear.] The matter then dropped. NORTHERN RAILWAY. Mr Harper asked the Secretary for Public Works whether he could inform the Council when the Northern Railway would be completed, and whether he would ask the Minister for Public Works whether the railway would be open by the time stated by him, viz., September next 1 The Secretary for Public Works replied that the Northern line was out of his department entirely, but he might say that he understood from the Minister of Public Works that the delay had arisen from the the difficulty experienced in getting sleepers. Now, however, this had been got over, and the probability was that the work would be pushed on aB rapidly as possible. RAKAIA BRIDGE COMMISSION. Mr Pilliett asked the Government whether the report of the Royal Commission on the Rakaia bridge would be placed on the table of the House this session ? The Secretary for Public Works replied that the report was in the hands of the printers. gymnasium. Mr Pilliett asked whether the Government intend providing for the construction and maintenance of a gymnasium for the use of the Christchurch schools. The Provincial Secretary said that it was not the intention of the Government to provide for the erection of a central gymnasium, which he understood to be the meaning of the question of the hon member. order of business. On the orders of the day being called on which had been placed first, Mr W. B. Tosswill moved—" That the notices of motion be taken, and that the orders of the day be taken at 7 p.m. Mr J. N. Tossavill seconded the motion. • After some discussion the motion was declared to be negatived on the voices. Mr Tosswill demanded a division, which took place as follows : Ayes 9 Noes 20 Majority against resolution ... 11 The motion was therefore lost. The House then proceeded to the orders of the day. RAILWAY TOLLS AND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE, 1875. On the motion for the third reading of the Bill, Mr I. Wilson asked the Government what effect this Bill would have upon the wharf known as Peacock's wharf. He had been told that it would have the effect of raising the value of that wharf by £IO,OOO if the wharfage rates were increased to 2s 6d per ton. If this were so, he thought that they should not allow of a sum of £IO,OOO going out of the pockets of the public into those of a private individual. The Secretary for Public Works works protested most strongly against such an imputation as that conveyed by the it-

marks of the lion member. He might say that the wharf referred to was under lease for some fivß years yet, and he should not derive any benefit if what had been stated by the lion member was correct. Mr T. Wilson desired to point out that the hon member had misunderstood him What he wished to know was this—if the Government charged 2a 6d on their wharves, the lessees of Peacock's Wharf might charge Is, and the result would be that thev would come into competition with the Government. He desired at once to disclaim any personal reflection on the hon Secretary for Public TVorks. The motion for the third reading of the Bill was then put and agreed to. Mr I. Wilson then moved the re-committal of the Bill, for the purpose of reconsidering the rates of wharfage. The Speaker pointed out that the hon member was too late; he should have moved it before the third reading was passed. The Bill then passed. WIDTH OF TIRES ORDINANCE, 1875. This Bill was read a third time and passed. EDUCATION ORDINANCE, 1875. The House went into committee on this Bill. On clause 50, as follows:—" It shall be lawful for the Superintendent notwithstanding anything hereinbefore or hereinafter provided, to grant any sum or sums of money in aid of the efforts made by private individuals or associations for the promotion of education in localities in which from the smallness or scattered position or the unsettled nature of the population no educational district shall have been constituted," being put, The Speaker moved that the words " there may be less than twenty-five children between the ages of five and fifteen, and in which," be inserted after the words "in which." The amendment was agreed to. After a lengthened discussion, the clause passed as amended. Clauses 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 were passed without amendment. On clause 60, viz—" The term householder in this Ordinance shall mean every person who as owner tenant lessee or occupier occupies uses or resides in any dwellinghouse warehouse shop or other building in any educational district or every parent or guardian who is liable to maintain or has the actual custody of any child. Provided that nothing herein contained shall be deemed in any way to affect any dwelling-house the property of her Majesty or in the occupation of the Crown or Government of the colony," Mr Jebson moved that the words "or shall pay or be liable to pay the household rate of such district " be inserted after the words " custody of any child." The amendment was negatived on the voices. Mr Jebson demanded a division, which took place as follows: Ayes 8 Noes 2D Majority against amendment... 12 The amendment was therefore lost, and the clause passed as printed. Progress was then reported, and leave obtained to sit again. FENCING ORDINANCE, 1875. The House then went into committee on this Bill. On the Council resuming, progress was reported, and leave obtained to sit again tomorrow. SHEEP ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1875. TheJconßideraticn of this Bill in committee was made an order of the day for to-morrow. PAPEBS. The Provincial Secretary laid upon tbe'table a return, shewing the acreage of the reserves made for educational purposes, which had been printed. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The Provincial Secretary said that, before going into committee of supply, he wished to state that the Government, at this period of the session, trusted that hon members would not put so many notices on the paper for sums to be placed on the Supplementary Estimates. He might state that the amount voted had already reached a large extent; indeed, it was stretched to the utmost limit. This, of course, would not refer to the notices on the paper for this evening. Mr Webb inquired whether the Government intended to make any provision for a water police at Lyttelton. The Provincial Secretary said he should be happy to confer with the hon member to-morrow, and see if anything could be done in the matter. The House then went into committee of supply. supplementary estimates, Administrative Sub ■ Treasurer, £SO. Agreed to. Gaols—Lyttelton, £221 10s. Agreed to. Timaru, £l2B 2s. Agreed to. Police Contingencies, £2lO 5s lid. Agreed to. Hospital—Christchurch, £7O. Agreed to. Lunatic Asylum, £250. Agreed to. Charitable aid—Contingencies, £99 Is sd. Agreed to. Miscellaneous—£49B4 lis 6d. Agieed to. Public plantations—£9so. Agreed to. Public library —£4000. Agreed to. Lyttelton gaol—£lsoo. Agreed to. Buildings and works—Chrietchurch Hospital (new ward), £3700. Agreed to. Industrial school —Infirmary, £2OO. Agreed to. Orphanage—Lyttelton girls' school, and furniture, £IOOO. Agreed to. Police buildings—Timaru, £2OOO. Agreed to. Police buildings Southbridge (additional), £55. Agreed to. Normal school —£3000. Agreed to. School buildings—£l3s. Agreed to. District Engineer's office, Akaroa—£loo. Agreed to. Harbour Works office, Lyttelton—£so. Agreed to. Bridges.—Rakaia bridge—£Bso. Agreed to. Orari bridge—£slos. Agreed to. Upper Opihi bridge—£74o. Agreed to. Kakahu bridge—£lsoo. Agreed to. Epworth road to Temuka bridge—£9so Agreed to. Kakaia Gorge bridge—£sooo. Agreed to Amberley foot bridge—£so. Agreed to New Brighton bridge, grant in aid—£4oo. Agreed to. Ashley bridge approaches—£lso. Agreed to. Roads.—Dyer's Pass—£2oo. Agreed to. Sumner road at Shag Rock— £4OO. Agreed to. Cutting into Kowai River—£soo. Agreed I??

Telegraph road, Avon district £3OO. Agreed to. Main road, Waipara and Amberley (Kowai district)— £BOO. Agreed to. Banks' Peninsula ISuramit road, including Long Bay Track extension—£Boo. Agreed fo.

Akaroa Main road diversion —£950. Agreed to. German Bay to summit—£2oo. Agreed to. Pigeon Bay road (Akaroa side)—£soo. Agreed to. Pigeon Bay road (Pigeon Bay side) —£500. Agreed to. Barry's Bay Valley road extension —£150. Agreed to. Pawson's Valley road extension —£150. Agreed to Wainui road extension—£2so. Agreed to.^ Lake works—£lso. Agreed to* Okain's to Duvauchelle's Bay—£7oo. Agreed to. Okain's to Le Bon's Bay—£3oo. Agreed to. Okain's to Little Akaloa—£Boo. Agreed to. Le Bon's to Akaroa—£3so. Agreed to. Little Akaloa to Pigeon Bay, via Mcintosh Bay—£3so. Agreed to. Le Bon's to Summit (new line)—£6oo, Agreed to. Le Bon's Bay Jetty approach—£6oo. Agreed to. 'Cow road, Little Akaloa (B)—£400. Agreed to. Gravel pit purchase, Avon district—£3oo Agreed to. Grants in aid —clearing Biver Styx—£3oo. Agreed to. Oust drainage extension—£loo. Agreed to. Roads to coal pits, quarries—£soo. Agreed to. Oxford Bush road—£soo. Agreed to. Mr Jebson moved that progress be reported . The committee divided— Ayes 10 Noes ..." 16 The motion was consequently lost. Municipalities and Road Boards—£7s,loo 16s. Agreed to. Progress was reported, and leave obtained to sit again to-morrow. t CHRIST'S COLLEGE. Mr Walker moved—" That the House go into committee to consider the following : ' That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting hira to place on the supplementary estimates a sum not exceeding £250, in continuation of previous grants to Christ's College.' " He said if this money were voted, it would be money well spent in favor of an institution which had been of great benefit to the cause of education in the province. It was an institution which opened its doors to all classes of the community, and he trusted, therefore, that the motion would be agreed to. Mr Parker seconded the motion. Hon G. Buckley said that the Government could not accede to the vote. If this grant were to be continued from year to year, why not give a grant in aid to other private institutions. Mr W. B. Tosswill was in favor of the vote, and thought it should be continued until they had an institution of their own, which could take the place of Christ's College. He trusted that the very moderate sum now asked for would be voted'especially as the institution was of great use in educating those boys who gained scholarships. Mr Brown said that he remembered when he was asked respecting this vote he was promised that it should be the very last time that money would be asked for Christ's College, and yet they came year after year asking for money. He trusted that the Council would set their faces against voting money for private schools, for Christ's College was nothing but a private school. The Provincial Secretary said that the Government would oppose the vote, for whilst agreeing as to the high character of Christ's College, they felt that it would be unjust to other institutions to continue this vote. Mr Higgins opposed the motion. Dr Ttjrnbull said, it had. been a matter of surprise to him for years how this excellent institution had held its way. This institution ought to be supported, because it supplied a distinct and definite want in the community, viz, providing education for those who had gained scholarships. Mr Harper said he hoped if the Government opposed the motion from personal motives that they would walk out of the House and not vote on it. No Government had ever before opposed the motion. Mr Knight pointed out that there was a public school in Lyfctelton which gave an education equal, if not superior, to that obtained at Christ's College. Mr Walker having briefly replied, The House divided. Ayes 11 Noes ... 16 The motion was consequently lost. alford forest. Mr Walker moved that the House go into committe° to consider the following : "That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesing him to place on the supplementary estimates a sum not exceeding £SOO, as a grant in aid to roads in opening up Alford Forest." Mr R. Ttjrnbull seconded the motion. The Secretary for Public Works said that considering the amount of bush to be opened up, and the assistance that the district would give towards the work, the Government would not object to the vote. The motion was agreed to. In committee the resolution was agreed to, reported, and the report adopted. RECONNAISANOE 3URVEY. Mr Walker moved that the House go into committee on the following resolution : —" That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the supplementary estimates a sum not exceeding £SOO for a reconnaissance survey for a light railway from Ashburton to Alford Forest and Mount Somers." Mr R. Turnbull seconded the motion. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS said that the Government would not bind themselves to spend £SOO, as they believed that the survey would be done much cheaper, being conducted by their staff. Under these circumstances the Government would not oppose the vote. The motion was agreed to. In committee the sum was altered to £2OO, the resolution as amended was agreed to, reported, and the report adopted. EDUCATION. The following notice of motion standing in Mr Wynn Williams'name lapsed:—" That this Council will indemnify his Honor the Superintendent for an expenditure under warrant of public money, sufficient to pay the proportion of one-sixth required by the Education Ordinance to be raised by rate, anc that it shall not be necessary for the present financial year to levj such one-sixth

by rate. .And that this Council will indemnify bis Honor the Superintendent for an expenditure under a warrant sufficient to pay the amount required for the maintenance of the schools in the province beyond the sum to be levied under the household rates and the rate of 5s for each child. That a respectful address be forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent embodying the forgoing resolutions." .BRIDGE OVER THE ASHLEY. Mr Hj ! gins moved—" That it is expedient that s bridge suitable for cart traffic should be erected over the Ashley River at the Gorge, provided that persons can be found who will contract to build the same and accept payment in land to be selected in the neighbourhood, and on the northern side of the river, and that his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to take such steps as may be necessary to give effect to this resolution. The amount of land to be set apart for this purpose not to exceed 600 acres." The Secretary for Public Works said that the Government had no objection. The motion was agreed to. PIGEON BAY AND HOLMES' BAY ROAD. Mr Montgomery moved—" That the House go into committee to consider the following :—' That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the supplementary estimates a sum not exceeding £SOO, for the repair of the road at the head of Pigeon Bay leading past Mr Hay's house, and towards Holmes' Kay.' " Mr Pilliett said he would not oppose the vote, bnt it was not sufficient by half, as the engineer had reported that its cost would be £1325. The Provincial Secretary said that this resolution was in contravention of the action taken by this House in previous sessions. The House had formerly refused to vote in two sessions running a sum to replace a road washed away by a river, and now the hon member asked the House to replace a road washed away by the sea. It was for the Council to say what they would do in the matter, he had merely risen to point out the danger of establishing a precedent. The motion was negatived on the voices, SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE. Mr W. B. Tosswill moved—" That the House go into committee to consider the following : ' That the Council proceed to the election of trustees of the School of Agriculture, in accordance with the provisions of a resolution passed on the 19th of December, 1872.' " The motion was agreed to. In committee the resolution was agreed to. The Provincial Secretary moved—" That the following gentlemen be requested to act as trustees :—Sir J. C. Wilson, Messrs R. Wilkin, H. P. Gray, W. J. G. Bluett, A. C. Knight, W. B. Tosswill, A. Duncan, and T. W. Hall." Mr W. Tosswill seconded the motion, and said he believed that the whole, with the exception of Mr Hall, had expressed their willingness to act. Mr Bluett moved—" That the name of Mr John Macfarlane be substituted for that of Mr A. Duncan." Mr Jebson objected to so many members of the Council being placed on the list. He was of opinion that the selection should be made from all parts of the province. It appeared to him that it would be bettei to postpone the further consideration of this question until to-morrow. Hon G. Buckley suggested that the election should be by ballot, after nominations had been received. Mr Montgomery agreed with the remarks of the last speaker. Mr Bluett nominated Mr Harper. Mr Jebson nominated Mr O. G. Parker. Mr Brown nominated Mr Charles Merton. Mr Gray moved—" That the names of gentlemen proposed as trustees for the School of Agriculture be handed in to the Government before 3 o'clock to-morrow, and that the election take place on Friday next." The motion was agreed to. Progress was reported, and leave given to sit again on Friday. RETURN OF MESSRS SEALEY'S UNPLOTTED WORK. Mr Pilliett moved—" That there be laid on the table a return from the chief surveyor, stating approximately what proportion of the Messrs Sealey's work is now unplotted." The motion was agreed to. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. On the motion of Mr R. Turnbull, leave of absence for ten days was granted to Mr J. W. White. WINCHESTER RECREATION RESERVE. Dr Rayner moved that the House go into committee to consider the following:— " That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the supplementary estimates a sum not exceeding £IOO, for the purpose of fencing and planting the Ricreation reserve at Winchester, near Temuka." The Provincial Secretary said he was afraid the Government could not agree to the motion. The motion was negatived on the voices. religious instruction in schools. Mr Walker said he did not intend to move the following motion standing in his name, as the question had been disposed of in committee on the Education Bill last night:—" That it is desirable that the communication of religious instruction in Government day schools by ministers of religion should not be left to the option of the local committees." RICCARTON DISTRICT. Mr Gray moved that the House go into committee to consider the following resolution—" That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the supplementary estimates a sum not exceeding £6OO for repair of bridges and culverts in the Riccarton Road Board district." He pointed out that several accidents had occurred through the state into which the culverts and bridges had fallen through want of repair. The Provincial Secretary opposed the motion. The House divided on the motion. Ayes 9 Noes 16 MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT. Dr Rayner moved—" That the House do now adjourn. Sir Cracroft Wilson said that the Go vernment were perfectly prepared to go on with the business. The motion for adjournment was negatived on the voices, navigation of the heathcote at SUMNER. Dr Turnbull moved—" That the Government be requested to take steps during the recesss, towards improving the navigation of the Heathcote at Sumner, in accordance with Mr Whately Elliott's plan of filling in the rocks at the Cave Rock, Sumner."

The Provincial Secretary said that the Government would of course give the matter consideration, but it was by no means certain that any practicable good would result, indeed Mr Elliott did not seem to be favorable to the project. He read an extract from Mr Elliott's report, and said that in the face of that report, he hardly thought that any practicable good would be obtained. The motion was agreed to. Dr Turnbull moved that the House go into committee to consider the following resolution —" That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the supplementary estimates the sum of £6OO, for the purpose of building a jetty at Shag Rock Point, Sumner road, in accordance with the recommendation of Mr Whately Elliott, C.E. The Secretary for Public Works said that the Government could not accede to this motion. The motion was negatived on the voices. publishing notices of motion. Dr Turnbull did not move the following notice etanding in his name:—"That it is desirable that steps should be taken by the clerk of the Council to provide the morning journals with copies of the notice paper for publication." contract surveys. Mr Turnbull postponed the following motion until Friday:—"That in the opinion of the Council the existing contract surveys should be determined as soon as possible." glynan's case. Mr Pilliett moved—" That the report and evidence taken before the select committee inquiring into Glynan's case, be printed. The Provincial Secretary said he thought it would be a pity to print this. The right principle was not to print anything which would not interest the whole province. This was an inquiry into grievances said to have been sustained by a private individual. Mr Jebson said he believed if this evidence was printed it would put a stop to these grievances for the future. Were the public interested in the proper administra tion of the Waste Lands and Survey Departments? If so by all means let this evidence be printed. Mr Dixon opposed the motion. The Secretary for Public Works said the printing would be expensive. He might mention that the report of the Commission on the Surveys would be published, and then the public could see whether there was anything wrong about the surveys. Mr Gray suggested that the report should be printed in the Star, and a number of copies bought and circulated, which might be done at a small expense. [Laughter.] Mr Walker said that if the Waste Lands Board in this province carried out the same publicity as prevailed in Otago, there would be very little occasion for printing these reports. Mr Pilliett replied, stating that the good to be derived from inquiries by select committees was the publication of the facts elicited by those inquiries. The motion was negatived on the voices. Notices of motion having been given, the Council adjourned until 3 p.m. this day.