PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH.

The following is a summary of the business done during the month.

August 11.

Several petitions were received against the introduction of clauses in the Public House Bill permitting the sale of liquors on a Sunday. Mr. Beswick proposed that the construction of the breakwater in the Waimakariri river should be suspended, as that work was no protection to the road on the bank of the river. The House went into committee to consider the matter and hear the evidence of the Provincial Engineer upon it. Several members spoke as to the inefficiency of the work, which was washed away as fast as it was constructed. Mr. Ollivier moved that the committee report progress, and he would move for a select committee of inquiry in the House to investigate the subject. The Education Board Bill was read a second time and passed in committee. The objects of this bill are to form a basis for a comprehensive system of education, and to give the Council control over the education grant; also to appoint a Board to carry out the details. The Superintendent's Salary, and the Provincial Auditor's and Deputy Auditor's Salary Bills were read a third time and passed. The House, in committee", considered the reserves made by his Honor the Superintendent during the recess, and adopted them. The House then adjourned. August 12.

Petitions were received from the inhabitants of Templeton praying for the establishment of a school in their district; also a petition from the inhabitants of Oxford directing the attention of the Government to the impassable state of the roads in that locality. Lincoln was declared an agricultural district under the Trespass of Cattle Ordinance. The Board of Education Bill was read a third time and passed. The House resolved that the town sections in the townships of Geraldine, Ashburton, Arowhenua, Waimatemate, ana Little Eiver should be put up to sale in quarter acre lots, and that the upset price should be at the rate of £45 per acre. The Railway Tolls Bill was read a second time, and the Provincial Secretary explained the objects of the bill, which are to enable the Superintendent to lease the line to the contractors, to levy tolls, make bye-laws and other regulations as to the working of the line. The House then went into committee upon the bill and reported progress. Upon the House resuming, Mr. Buckley took occasion to test the feelings of the House with reference to the estimates by moving a series of resolutions upon the matter; one of which was to appoint a select comimttee to whom the estimates should be referred. The Provincial Secretary pointed out the irregularity of such a proceeding, and remarked that in the event pf such resolutions being agreed to he should take it as amounting to a vote of want of confidence, and the Executive' Wduld tit once resign. A long discussion ensued; after which the Committee divided upon Mr. Buckley's resolutions, which were negatived by a large majority. . The House then went into committee of supply, and the following sums were passed Superintendent's salary, £1500; Provincial Auditor, £500; Electoral expenses, £75; Legislature, £1025; Supreme Court, £1250. August 13.

A Bill was introduced by Mr. Ollivier to legalise the Ratepayers Roll, rendered necessary from some irregularity having occurred in its deposit at the of the Town Clerk. The Bill was read a first time. A Select Committee was appointed to enquire into and report upon the works necessary-for the conservancy of the River Waimakariri. A motion for leasing the tolls at the new bridge at Kainpoi to Mr. White, was lost on a division. . The Public House Bill was considered in committee, and was passed and reported to the House. The House in Committee of Supply passed the sum of £8,307 13s 3d unvoted expenditure for the year 1863, and the sum of £5,862 Is lid, as supplementary estimates. August 18.

A petition was received from the inhabitants of Feudal Town, pointing out the impassable state of the Papanui Road in that district. Reports were brought up from the Roads Bill Committee and the Provincial Geologist. . , In answer to a question by Mr. Fyfe, the Provincial Secretary said the Government had no power to grant permission to persons to open the quarries on the Government reserves. . The Railway Tolls Bill was passed in committee. Mr. Stoddart moved, and it was agreed toby the House, that a bill should be brought forward by the Government for the prevention of bush fires. . lie Public House Bill was reconsidered in and several clauses amended, relating to the power of the magistrates to grant conditional licenses. Mr. Davis brought forward a motion, that a sum of money should be placed upon the estimates to erect a bridge over the Kaituna River, upon the direct road to Akaroa. A discussion followed, when the opinion of the House was against the motion, as the District Boards about to be appointed could deal with the matter. The Provincial Secretary introduced a Road Diversion Bill, to legalise any diversion of road which had been made previous to the session. . The Loan Ordinance Amendment Bill was passed m committee with some slight alterations and reported to the House. . The Roads District Bill was considered m comimttee, and an attempt was made to introduce a clause to impose a toll upon foot passengers, but the proposition met with a decided negative from the committee, and the Bill was passed and reported as it originally stood. . Leave was granted to the Provincial Secretary to introduce a Stage Carriages Bill. August 19.

Mr Wilson, C.8., inquired if any arrangements were intended to tie made to facilitate the wool traffic across the river Bakaia, and the reply stated that the matter was under the consideration of the Government, and experiments were in course of trial as to the possibility ol putting down screw piles upon which a bridge could be erected, and for which a sum would be placed upon the estimates introduced a Cattle Driving Amendment Bill to remedy a defect in the former Act as to the time 01 service of notices upon runholders previous to driving cattle over a run.

The Bill was read a first time. The House agreed to a motion by Mr. Wilson that certain correspondence between the General Government and the Provincial Government of Canterbury, on the subject of the Masters' and Servants' Act, should be laid upon 6 the third reading of the Public House Bill a warm discussion took place, as to the introdutcion of cerSToC™l»»w» as the HtaGerald been introduced by that gentleman m the old Act, which eave power to the magistrates to inflict penalties upon anvone supplying spirituous liquors to any person who So JtoVmjiring hi. health by ««,»ve tajkmj. Mr, Toswill moved as an amendment to the Bill that the clauses be inserted, but on a division the amendment lost by a majority of 19 to 9. The Bill was read a third time and finally passed. _ p^mcial The House ordered the report of the Provincial E ii«ee« »to the itato of White'. Vanta** budge to belaid on the table, as it was supposed that the bridge was not in a fit state to be taken from the hands of the »ov«4 «* » dJSta "S Xi they r -otam. sitionf and promised that proper steps would be taken to carry it into effect.

The standing orders were suspended to admit the introduction of Peacock's Jetty Extension Ordinance, which was read a first time. The Roads Diversion Bill was read a second time; passed in committee and reported to the House. The Railway Tolls Bill wore read a third time and passed. The House then went into committee of supply, and discussed the expenditure under the head of Police, when the sum of £250, the salary of one of the Inspectors, was ordered to be struck out. The remaining items amounting to £8,163. 12s. 6d. were passed. August 20. Mr. Peacock ask the Government, if it was intended to take any steps to improve the entrance to Heathcote River, as there was great danger to shipping when the wind failed, as they were compelled to hug the rocks where the channel was the deepest. The Provincial Secretary said, the Government had no intention of incurring any expense for such a purpose, as the Railway would shortly be open for traffic. _ - The Cattle Driving Bill, and the Stage Carriage Bill were read a third time, and passed through committee. The Roads Diversion Bill was read a third time and passed. A vote of £9,153.165. sd. was agreed to after some discussion, to be devoted to the erection of schools; the obtaining three qualified masters from England; and for other educational purposes. The sum of £33,700 was asked for Immigration, previous to which several amendments were put to reduce the amount; and a long debate ensued as to the desirability of placing the immigration arrangements in the hands of the Home Government Commissioners. The Provincial Secretary wished the House to pause before they came to a hasty decision upon the subject, and suggested that the existing arrangements by Messrs. Marshman and Selfe had not had a fair trial; but the House, on the motion of Mr. Buckley, decided that the vote should be expended under the direction of Her Majesty's Commissioners. A vote of £2,250 was passed for charitable aid, and the Provincial Secretary remarked, that the Government wished to be armed with power to employ the Lancashire operatives, as they had been sent for out of charity; and it was the duty of the House k to assist them in obtaining work. The Hospital %-ote for £5,282 was refused: it being the opinion of the House, that the public should support, that institution. Ultimately, it was agreed that the sum of £2,500 should be voted for six months, and £1,500 as a supplementary grant if the public took the management. August 25. The House met and adjourned for a week, in consequence of the illness of the Provincial Secretary. September 1. The Cattle Driving Ordinance was read the third time and passed. , , The House then resolved itself into committee upon the report of the Lyttelton Harbor Commission. A long dis- i cussion took place on the comparative merits of the dif- j ferent plans proposed for a jetty, and upon the best site for it, consistent with the safety of ships discharging, and facility of approach from the railway tunnel. A screw pile pier to be procured from England, as offering many advantages, stemed to meet with the most approval from the Council, and a series of resolutions were passed, tho effect of which was to refer the consideration ol the site to engineers in England, and that his Honor the Superintendent should order from England a sufficient amount of material for completing a wharf 450 feet in length, and also the necessary machinery for dredging the harbor. Seftembee 2.

A Lyttelton Municipal Council Bill was read a first time. _ . The House, in committee, made some alterations in the Public House Bill, as suggested by His Honor the Superintendent.

Mr. Wilson moved, that parties indebted to. the Hospital, should be called upon to pay at once; but the Provincial Secretary informing him that the Government had already taken steps for that purpose, he withdrew the motion. , A discussion arose upon the hospital grant. Mr. Olhvier contended that the House could not pass a vote for six six months when the estimates were framed for twelve; and Mr. Wilkin thought that an amendment could not be moved upon a vote that had passed the House. Mr. Moorhouse rose to a point of order, and put it to the speaker, whether the carrying an amendment passed the vote without the vote itself being put and carried as a substantive motion. The Speaker ruled, that the vote had not passed, and it was open to the House to re-consider the matter, which was agreed to be done at a future A long debate took place upon the vote of £2,155 7s. 6d. for the Lunatic Asylum, which was passed by the House. £1,850 was granted for the payment of Inspectors other expenses connected with the inspection of sheep. £843 was voted for the salaries of Gardeners/ and expenses of public plantations. The sum of £310 was voted for the inspection of weights and measures.

Under the head of Harbours, the House voted the sum of £9004. Septembeb 3. Mr. Ollivier asked the Provincial Secretary, if any reply had been received from the General Government as to the appointment of returning officers for the Province; and the hon. gentleman said, the General Government had refused to delegate authority to His Honor the Superintendent for that purpose. Mr. Ollivier also moved for a return of all correspondence referring to the Okains Bay Road; a warm debate ensued and the motion was agreed to. A return was moved for of the cost of _ metalling the Lower Lincoln Road, which was stated to be in a dangerous state owing to the heavy stone traffic over it. The Roads District Bill was re-considered in committee, and the schedule was amended. The Public House Bill was read a third time and passed. The House then went into Committee of Supply, and the following items were passed: —For defences, £6,550; miscellaneous—fuel, £350; printing, £3,000; registration of deeds, £50; dog collars, £760; postages, cartage, &c., £250; painting, sweeping, and cleaning, £400; maintenance of fire-engine, £133 6s 8d; furniture, £500; extra clerical aid, £200; Maori cattle trespass, £12.10s ; upon this item considerable discussion ensued. Insurance, £300; grant-in-aid of Kaiapoi Mechanics' Institute, £550; Timaru ditto, £390; and Akaroa ditto, £250; grant to the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, £100; grant-in-aid of libraries, £660. The vote under acclimatisation for Alpacas was refused, as the House considered the introduction of these animals premature till there was some fitting park ready to put them in, and the matter might safely be left to private enterprise. £500 was voted for the introduction of salmon and other fish. Mr. Stoddart offered some interesting remarks upon the adaptability of our rivers for the propagation of salmon, and proposed the introduction ef trout to the river Aven. £4,178 15s 6d was voted after some discussion as a Church-buildmg grant. Public amusements, £250; purchase of site adjoining government buildings, £2,150; ditto for Lyttelton hospital, £920; grant for the widow and family of the late Mr. Whitcombe, £1000; hose roll for fire-engine, £20; salary of meteorological officer, £200; erection of instruments, £100; expedition to West Coast, £1,200; examination of cattle at Akaroa, £26 ss; Malvern coal-fields-wages, £24 6s; adjustment of accounts with City Council, £130 lis.. Septembeb 8. A motion was agreed to that a return should be furnished by the Government of all claims for compensation in consequence of the dampness of the Government powder magazine. . Correspondence was laid upon the table, relatmg to the occupation of the Rangitata Accommodation House. The Christchurch City Council Bill was read a second time, and passed in committee. The Hospital Bill was introduced. The Stage Carriage Bill was read a third time and passed. The House then went into committee of supply. The sum of £3,000,- required as a bonus to a steamer trading between Melbourne and Canterbury once a month, was refused. . , . ~, , , A sum of £1,000 was agreed to for a fortnightly coastal Tnn.il steam service. „ _ The sum of £743 12s was voted for the expenses of the Waste Lands Board. . . £25,000 for surveys was voted after some discussion upon the possibility of cutting down the forage expenses. The annual vote of £1,500 for geological survey was Pa The'vote of £3,000 for public works permanent staff was objected to, and the sum of £850 for the salary of a provincial engineer, and £400 for an architectural draughtsman, were struck out. September 9. _ Mr. J. C. Aiirmar. took his seat for the Heathcoto district. ' , . . * The report of the committee upon the Waimakann breakwater was brought up and read. Mr. Birch moved lor a return of the coiTespondence between the Government and the Immigration Commissioners relative to placing the ship Captain Look 111 quarantine. In the course of the discussion that ensue£ the Provincial Secretary said the Government were quite justified in the course tney had adopted, as they had received a report from their medical officer that fever preVailed amongst the immigrants, and neglect of such precautions with reference to previous immigrant ships had resulted in the introduction of fever.-Dr. Turnbull confirmed this statement from what had come under his own observation. — Mr. Ollivier, while agreeing with the necessity for enforcing the quarantine regulations, objectea to the course that had been adopted by the Government as being irregular, but the Provincial Secretary informed

the House that a Quarantine Board had been established in accordance with the regulations, and the immigrants would be inspected by the medical officer, and his report forwarded to the Government. Every attention had been paid to the comfort of the immigrants, and wooden houses would be forwarded at once to the quarantine ground at Camp Bay. Mr. Bickman moved that a sum be placed upon the estimates to purchase Mr. White's interest in the Waimakariri bridge at Kaiapoi, and a long debate took place, from which it appeared that Mr. White had erected a bridge at Kaiapoi at his. own expense on receiving a lease of the tolls from the Government for seven years, and the Government had erected another bridge at Kaiapoi which was calculated to" injure the traffic upon Mr. White's bridge, and it became a question whether that gentleman was entitled to compensation in consequence. The motion was negatived by 15 to 5. The Boads District Bill was reconsidered in committee, and several clauses amended. The bill was then passed and reported. The Fencing Bill was recommitted and considered, and a clause adopted that the runholder should bear one-fourth of the expense of fencing when called upon by a freeholder to do so. The bill as amended was passed and reported to the House. The Provincial Secretary moved for a reconsideration of the vote for the hospital, but it was postponed in consequence of some misunderstanding as to the terms of the motion being considered insufficient to inform members as to what was really the matter to be brought before the House. The House then went into committee of supply, and the following sums were passed as outstanding liabilities: — £28,107 168 7d for the central and northern districts, £2,399 14s for Banks' Peninsula, and £3,679 os for Timaru. September 10. Mr. Beswick moved for a return of any report the Government may have received from Mr. Dobson with reference to the bridge over the main branch of the Waimakariri. The Provincial Secretary laid the papers upon the table, and remarked that Mr. White was required to put the bridge in a proper state for traffic before delivery would be accepted. On the motion of Mr. Clark the House went into committee to consider certain resolutions which were to the effect that no satisfactory data had been arrived at upon which the line to the Ferrymead should be leased; and that his Honor the Superintendent should be respectfully informed that it was the opinion of the House that it was desirable to have the railway leased by public tender until the tunnel is opened. The mover thought the tender made by Messrs. Holmes and Co. was not in proportion to the large goods traffic anticipated over the lme. Mr. Wilkin was of opinion that it would be advantageous to the future success of the line if it were leased to the contractors, who were men of experience and would start the railway in an efficient manner. Mr. Moorhouse wished the tender returned to Messrs. Holmes for reconsideration, as the line should pay something more than the bare interest of the money invested. The resolutions were then put and carried and reported to the House; and they were ordered to be forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Ollivier, that it was desirable for the Government to introduce an Act to to regulate the slaughtering of cattle. From a proclamation in the Gazette it appeared that the butchers would be compelled to pay certain fees for the slaughtering of cattle on their own ground. The Act under which the regulation would be enforced was an old one passed by the province of New Munster in 1847. The House then went into committee of supply, and the debate on the hospital question was resumed. After considerable discussion, the sum not exceeding £5300 was voted, upon the understanding that the hospital should be conducted upon the old system until the management was taken by the public. The following sums were then voted for works to be undertaken by the Government; £3000 to construct a pack-horse track on the West Coast road to the Teremakau saddle. The Provincial Secretary stated that the track was already cut to within 8 or 10 miles of the West Coast, and was being continued, so that in a short time a horseman may proceed direct from Christchurch to the Grey river. With reference to the late lamentable occurrence, the loss of Mr, Howitt and party, ho believed there was but a very faint hope of their being alive, and Mr. Townsend was then engaged in a search and ho. trusted the result would shortly be known. £800 for a new ferry, moorings, rope, &c., at the Kakaia; £1,(500 for clearing the river Avon; £600 for the Pass Hill bridge, and £150 for approaches; £200 for a commission and survey for Timaru roadstead; and £150 for the survey and preparation of plans for the preservation of the banks or the Waimakariri river. Thftt river had a considerable fell in a - few feet, and had cut through an island which had caused it to vary its course. The main object was to raise an embankment to confine the" stream to one side of the island, and prevent its making further encroachments. The House then resumed, when leave was granted to Mr. Ollivier to introduce a Passenger Bill for the purpose of imposing a poll tax of 5s per head upon all persons coming into this province by sea, the proceeds to be applied to the maintenance of a quarantine hospital, and for the relief of destitute immigrants. The City Council Bill was read a third time and passed. The Fencing Bill was read a third time and passed. The Sheep Ordinance of 1863 was reconsidered in committee, and several clauses amended, the most important of which was the imposition of a penalty of £5 upon any person cutting off more than the third part of the ear of any sheep. In the 19th clause the time for separating rains from the ewes after discovery of scab was reduced from twelve to six months, and in the 30th clause an amendment was introduced that all imported sheep should be dipped within 14 days after their landing under a penalty of 5s for each sheep. The Bill was passed as amended, and reported to the House. The Provincial Secretary brought forward a Bushfires Bill to apply to the Peninsula, Akaroa, and Wainui districts. The Bill imposed penalties upon persons setting fire to the bush, and certain regulations to be observed by sawyers. The Bill was read a first time and ordered to be printed. The House then adjourned to the following Tuesday.