Provincial Council.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 738, 3 December 1859, Page 4

Provincial Council.

Tuesday, November 29th, 1859.

Tho Speaker took the chair at 5.30 p.m. Present: Messrs. Alpovt, Bishop, Blakiston, Usb, Coolcson, Davis, Dobbs, Fooks, Fyfe, Hall, Haranan, Lockharl, Ollivier, Potts, Khodes, and lempler. Prayers were read b % y the chaplain, and the minutes of tho last meeting, wero read and confirmed.

Mr. Alport presented a petition from the inhabitants of the town of Lyttolton praying for the passing of an.ordinance to constitute a board for the regulation of local wants and requirements. Read and received, '

Mr. Bla.kiston presented a petition from Geo, Jackson,' of Kalapoi, publican, praying ihat the Council would tako into consideration the hardships he had Buffered by the diversion of the Great Kort'n lload from" before his house, which had been built and a license obtained on tho supposition that that road would be completed as at first- laid out. He (Mr. Blalmton) would- ask the Provincial Secretary whether the Government intended completing this part of the road P Mr. Olmvier «aid that tins wasone of those caaes before alluded to by him, in which, from the sandy nature of the line, great expense would have to bo gone to before the road could be made serviceable, as it would be worse than useless to make the road unless it were at the same time covered with a coating of clay and then metalled. The coat of so forming this particular piece of Toad would not he believed be much les« than £'600 or £700. He admitted the hardships of Jackson's case and would be prepared to recommend the carrying on of the road if money were forthcoming, but such he was sorry to say was not at present the case. Mr. BlakißTon would ask whether the Government intended taking any steps for the improvement of that portion of the North road at the turn of the river on the Christchurch side of Pel ton'a ferry,'which part was now in a very bad and even dangerous condition, several serious accidents having lately occurred on it. Mr. Oixivier said that part of the road passed over private property, and the Government woold take no action in the matter till the coming into force of the Diversion of Eoads Ordinance.

Mr. Rhodes, in. the absence of Mr. Thomson, brought up the report of the Select Committee on the Sheep Ordinance Amendment Bill. Report read and received. DIBTEICT COMMUNICATION WITH MELBOTJBNE. Mr. Lockhaet moved " That in the event of

the funds of the province justifying the expenditure, it is desirable that a direct steam communication between this and Melbourne be established; and that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to adopt measures to carry the same into effect, at a cost not exceeding £4000 per annum." (This was at first proposed in the form of a distinct resolution, requesting the Superintendent to place the sum of £4000 on the estimates for the above purpose, but was altered to the above form, on the suggestion of Mr. Ollivier.) Mr. Lockhaet said that he proposed this motion with a conviction that it was the most beneficial measure that had yet been brought before the Council. He would ask hon. members to look at the case of Otago. Three or four years ago that province was in a state of destitution, with streets unmade and roads impassable. About 18 months ago a steamer had commenced running direct to Melbourne, and the consequence was that Otago was now the most flourishing province in the colony, with the treasury overflowing to so great an extent that the Government was positively at a loss what to do with the money, in consequence of which the price of land was being I'aised, simply because the revenue was coming in faster than it could be disposed of. Canterbury was but little known in Australia., He wa3 informed by an eminent commercial firmbothhereandinMelbournethatasubsidy of £4000 would be met with a like sum contributed by people of Melbourne; and he felt assured that £10,000 per annum would suffice for placing a serviceable steam vessel of sufficient tonnage and capability on thisline. Itwasproposed that.if thissubsidy should be granted, the steamer should call at Wellington, from which province £3000 more would be contributed. Sydney used to be our place of supply, but now it was becoming evident that the trade was being diverted to Melbourne, where there were many people of capital anxious to invest money here. This measure he felt assured would be one of the first means of giving a stimulus to the trade and general prosperity of Canterbury. . The motion was seconded by Mr. Fooks, who observed that another object which would be gained would be the saving of some four or fire days in the arrival of the English mail. Mr. Blakiston thought the motion involved two questions: first, whether or not there was money to spare for this object, about which there could be little doubt: and, secondly, whether this service should not be set on foot by the General Government, for which purpose he would suggest that the Southern Provinces should combine to urge the General Government. Mr. Templeb thought we should have to wait too long before any good would result from such a course. The want of steam communication with Melbourne was one of the present moment. And further, it was not alone steam communication but direct steam communication that was wanted. If the steamer were to call at any intermediate port half the advantages would be lost. This province wanted to be known in Australia. He could assure hon. members that such was not the case now. Mr. Gliiviek was not so sanguine as the proposer of this resolution as to the advantages to be gained fdr the sum named. £8,000 per annum was not enough to establish efficient steam commit nication with Melbourne. He thought the cost of a monthly line would be more like £20,000 a year. £4000 would be very well spent if the service could be obtained for that sum. He imagined it not to be unlikely that Otago, whose coffers were now so overflowing, might before another year passed, it she extended her local works as she ought, find herself in much the same position as that in which this province now stood. This was a subject which would not be very warmly taken up by the General Government, wedded as they were to the Coleman contract. Nor did he (Mr. 0.) think it desirable that that contract should be upset. He thought that no contractor would be found to come forward for this service for so small a subsidy as £4000 per annum, but some arrangement could doubtless be made with the directors of the Coleman line by which one of their steamers might be placed on the Melbourne line. 'He'was sorry at present to be unable to hold out any hope that funds would be found to spare for this service. Motion put and carried. Mr. Blakiston moved "That the allegations contained in the petition of Samuel Smart, of Ij)*' telton, contractor, be referred to a select committee, to consist of Messrs. Alport, Bishop, Fooks, W raro, White, and the mover; to report this day week. Agreed to. GKA.NT TO IIBBAKIES. Mr. Alpgrt, in moving " That, in the event ot the funds of the province permitting it, his Honor be requested to authorise the expenditure ot the sum of £200, to be equally divided between the Mechanics' Institute Christchurch, and the Lyttelton Colpnists' Society, to aid those institutions m purchasing additional books and periodicals," observed that the sum was so trifling that he hoped no objection could be taken to this vote by the Government. Such societies ns these were the means more perhaps than any others of promoting instruction, and affording a means? of study in tho evenings to those whose whole time during tho day was occupied. In the Lyttelton Colonists' Society to which he more especinlly referred, in the year l&fr the issue of books weekly had averaged 50, and tin1 nightly attendance 10. Since, however, the liberal vote of the Council last session the issue of books had increased 20 per cent, and the nightly attendance 50 per cent. It was as nearly public an institution as it could be at the amount of yearly subscription. Lectures were given by the various ministers of religion and by other gentlemen on n variety of subjects; and lie (Mr. A.) would notice that at these lectures the attendance of strangers temporarily resident in Lyttelton was usually numerous. In all this he Bpoke more particularly ot

the Lyttelton Colonists' Society .with which he was more intimately acquainted and; connected, and- to the good done by which lie could bear personal testimony; but he^ cordially hoped the Olnistchurch Mechanics' Institute would be found to work as well and to be productive'of as much real good as had been the Lytteltou Society. Motion put'and agreed to.. A motion by Mr. Olllvijer for a reserve of 15,000 acres as payment for the construction of a tramway to Little Rivor timber district, was ruled out of order, formal notice thereof not having boon given on the notice board. The motion consequently was^ given duo notice of by Mr. Ollivicr for next sitting night. The House on the motion of Mr. Ollivieb then went into committee on the remaining clauses of the Municipal Councils Bill. Clauses 41 to 69 were then with some few verbal alterations passed without discussion, eleven members only being present. .

The House resumed and the chairman reported progress. On tho motion of Mr. Fooics the Peacock's Wharf Extension Ordinance was read a third time, passed and numbered 9. Mi*. Rhodes moved that his Honor the Superintendent be authorized to expend a sum not exceeding £300 in causing roads or tracks to be formed to open up the timber, districts of the Peninsula. Mr. Alport seconded the motion. The vote asked for for the Little River tramway, would be better applied to this purpose. Christchurch was better supplied with timber by water communication thau could be effected in any way by land carriage. ; Mr. Davis supported the motion. The supplies of timber on the Peninsula were much more, abundant than at Little River. No roads had yet been made to the .timber districts of the Peninsula, except such as had been formed by the sawyers. The Government had been largely importing Tasmanian timber, which was known not to be of. a durable quality, whereas on the Peninsula there was an abundance of Totara, the very best timber in the South seas. . -

Mr. Ollivier had no opposition to offer to the motion. He was however rather amused at hearing the Peninsula spoken of as having hitherto been regarded by the Government as a terra incognita. He was glad to hear that the sawyers had made roads and hoped they would continue to do. Why, he would ask, had the Government imported so much Tasmanian timber? Simply because they were driven to do so, the hon. member's (Mr. Davis) friends on the Peninsula not being willing to supply the requirements. Invitations for tenders had been published for a length of time, but only one contractor offered. The Government had taken his contract and had made a road to the bush for his especial Benefit. What was the result ? Why the contract was thrown up ! As to the sufficiency of water carriage, he himself (Mr. 0.) had seen large quantities of timber and firewood on the beach at Pigeon Bay, laying there for a length of time. And why ? Because no water carriage could be procured: to fetch it away. Competition was wanted as a stimulus to exertion, and this was one of the motives of the Government in proposing the Little river tramway. How was it that firewood which could be had in Pigeon Bay for 12s. a cord costs £3 in Christchurch, if the water carriage was sufficient? He had no opposition to offer to the vote. He would wish to see all the timber districts on the Peninsula opened up. Motion put and agreed to.

Mr. Davis moved "That his Honor the Supertendenfc be requested to place.on the estimates the sum of £50 towards the annual regatta held at Lyttelton on New Year's.Day, as a mark of the appreciation of the Government and this Council; for the steady good conduct of the men employed, and the increased numbers and superior qualities of the vessels, engaged in the carrying trade of the province." He had a pleasing task in making the motion. There were, now 45 vessels worked by 120 men employed in the carrying trade between Lyttelton, the Heathcote, Pigeon Bay, Okains Bay, and other parts of the Peninsula. There was no delay in getting timber out of Pigeon Bay by water, but in conveying it from the bush to the beach. The Government had liberally subsidised various local steamers, and he thought the sailing crafts deserved some notice and. encouragement; at all events they were as well entitled to have their regattas supported as were the sporting community in the matter of the races. ......

Mr. Cookson seconded the motion,

Mr. Olliviee said the vote to the races was one for the promoting of horse breeding. He hoped this motion would not be passed. It would give rise to a hundred similar demands equally worthy of attention.

Mr. Davis said that past regattas had been the means of introducing a .greatly superior class of vessels. In England the yacht clubs were quite as highly esteemed as were the turf clubs. Motion put and lost on division. Ayes—Messrs. Alport, Cookson, and Davis. Noes—Messrs. Bishop, Blakiston, Cass, Dobbs, Fooks, Hall, Harcnan, and Ollivier.

After notices of motion, the House adjourned, at 7.45 p.m., to Tuesday next, sth December, at the usual hour. ;