Provincial Council.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 362, 23 April 1856, Page 5

Provincial Council.

Thursday, April 17. The Speaktcr went to prayers at 5 p.m. The Speaker reported to the house, in 'accordance with a resolution passed at the previous meeting, the names of those members who had absented themselves a greater number of tiVn:.s than was allowed by the {standing- Orders. Mr. Ollivikr moved that His Honor the Superintendent b<: requested to place on the Supplementary Kstimales a sum of £120, for the repair of the drainage of the Riccartori road. lie said that during the last heavy rains the road had become nearly impassable, and that, if something was not done before the winter, that this most important, cattle road would be no longer in being. Me thought it a great oversight in the Public Works' Committee that they had ~**ot recommended this work as one of pressing importance. He was perfectly aware of the excuse that would be urged—that of the utter absence of all funds, —still he (Mr. Ollivier) thought (hatsome small sum might be abstracted from other works. For instance, from the Sunnier rosd, for which the grant probably could not be expended during the financial year. Mr. Bray seconded the motion, and gave testimony to the urgent nature of the works. The Ppov. Secretary fully concurred in the remarks made as to the necessity of th^ case. He could not fur an instant ag: cc with the do-trine of the hon. member to abstract from giants made by the Council to be applied to other purposes. He did not think that the amount required for the purpose of clearing the duches and letting (iff the water, would be more than £40, according to infor mation that the Government had received. He had seen a deputation of gentlemen from the neighbourhood, and had learned somewhat the same account from them, and he (the Provincial Secretary) had thought that some money for. this purpose might, be granted from the sum set aside for the current repair of roads. Mr. Olljvier replied. The motion was carried, The Prov. Secrexauy moved that His Honor the Superintendent be requested to reserve certain lands (set forth on the maps at the Land Office, and described in the report of the Crown Commissioner) at A.k;uoa and Timaru, as towns, and reserves belonging thereto, and thnt. the same be surveyed and laid out. on the maps as towns. The following resolutions were also carried : — That the sections at Akaroa bo l:iid out from one-eiyluh of an acre to one acre, and that the upset, price be after the rate of £48 per acre. | That the sections at Timaru be laid out in j quarter-acres, more or less, according to the nature of the ground, and that \he u.;set price be after the rule of £48 per acre. The Public Mouse Bill was read a third time and passed. The Speaker then left the chair. The Appropriation Bill wei.t through committee. The Spkajckk resumed. J The Chairman- reported the Bill. Mr. Hamilton moved the suspension of that, par of the Standing Orders which j related to the subject, in order to base the Biil nvid a third time. Motion agreed to. The Bili was then read a third time and passed. The Prov. Skcrktaky said that it was his intention at U><: lisiiii"- oi the hon:.e to move that it do adjourn for five weeks, for Jhu reusniis stated at their lust, meeting. The house had passed the Land regulations lust session, and had inserted a ibw words I

expressive of their wish not to affect the rights of those holding1 pre-emptive riyht.s of the Canterbury Association. The new regulations provide that the price of land shall he £2 per acre, and the blocks not less than 20 acres. It would appear that according to the strict le^al reading of tin: clause, that the person holding a pre-emptive risjlit cannot avail himself of. the reduced price of blocks, but must abide by the. conditions that he originally purchased under, viz., £3 per acre, and blocks of 50 acres. It wa? the intention of the Government to relieve the holders of the rights of pre-emption from these disabilities, by the introduction of two additional clauses, declaring what the intention of the regulations was, and, in order to be in conformity with the rules, he must move an adjournment for five weeks, to enable the new clauses to be published in the Gazette for 28 days. Mr. Dampier said that without this clause saving the rights of the holders under the Canterbury Association, he had no hesitation in saving that Uie Governor would not have ariven his consent to the Bill. He did not view the subject in the same light as the hon. member. He thought that allowing parties to take land out. of the preemptive rights at, £2 an acre was a prpjiidiee to the person's right who. held the preemptive. The clause should provide for the consent of the parties holding the pre-emptive rights. Mr. Barker inquired whether other members of the house Mian the Government could publish clauses hi the Gazette? The Prov. Secretary could not answer that question. Mr. Moorhouse thought that the house was quite competent to deal with the question now. and debate the clauses, then gazette them for the 28 days, to avoid all the unnecessary delay. The Prov. Secretary thouirht that thoy could not do so if they adhered to the letter of the law. The house then adjourned to Wednesday, May 21st,