Thursday, May 12.

. The Council met, pursuant to adjournment — present, the Superintendent, Speaker, and all the members. The Superintendent laid on the table a letter received by him from the directors of the Wellington Steam Navigation Co. , relative to subsidising the 'Wonga Wonga' ; also, the estimates of revenue and expenditure from Nov. 1, 1858 to Dec. 31, 1859, together with various returns, estimates &c, from.the Survey Office, the Sub-Trea-surer and the Provincial Engineer, shewing the data upon which the general estimates were framed ; also a report from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, upon the present condition of the land and survey departments. The Impounding Ordinance. ■ Mr. Rhodes, pursuant to notice, moved for the 'appointment- of- a- select committee to enquire into and report upon the working of the Impounding Ordinance, as between freeholder and runholder. Such committee to consist of Messrs Colenso, Tiffen, 'Curling, and the mover. The report to be brought up on the 26th of May.' He had read the Impounding Ordinance carefully over, and, so far as he could see, it could not be beneficially replaced. The council, he was sure, was prepared to afford every facility to the operations of the small freeholder. It was of vast importance to the province to have a middle class — a class consisting of bona fide occupiers of the soil. But the repeal of the Impounding Ordinance would rather put the small holder in a worse position than before, inasmuch as any runholder might drive a nock of sheep over his unfenced land, and thus cause his cattle to stray away from the localty. He (Mr. Rhodes) would be disposed rather to add a clause the Ordinance, giving as a legal right what was now but an act of courtesy, although one, he believed, that had never been refused in a single instance within the district. He would, however, be prepared to vote for giving to every small freeholder a legal right to run one horse or head of cattle for every 4 acres in his occupation. With regard to small farms, they could not do better than follow the principle laid down in the address of his Honor tfie Superintendent — that of laying out suitable blocks in 40 acre lots and either putting them up in a number proportioned to the demand, or at once converting them into Small Farm Settlements — the purchasers to bave a right of commonage, and to reside upon and improve the property. While this would meet the views of the class more directly interested, it would effectually bar the capitalist from buying up a number of the lots. He would always do the best in his power towards establishing in the province a bona fide, small-agricultural class. Mr Curlxng seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Survey Department. The Superintendent, pursuant to notice, moved for the 'appointment of a select committee to enquire into the state of the survey department in the province, and the practicability of executing surveys by contract. The committee to consist of Messrs Rhodes, Carter, Hitchings, Tucker, and the mover. The report to be brought up on the 26th inst.' He would not detain the council by any remarks in support of the motion. The necessity of such an enquiry as that proposed was very generally felt ; and it was important that the principle of contract surveys should be fairly considered. The motion was seconded by Capt. Garter, and agreed to. Wellington Executive Act. . Mr. Colenso, pursuant to notice, moved for 'the appointment of a select committee to report upon the Executive Act of the Province of Wellington, as far as it may relate to this Province, with a view to its repeal or. alteration; such committee, to consist of Messrs. Rhodes, FitzGerald, Carter, and the mover. — Report to be brought up on the 25th inst.' He would not say much upon the motion. The different circumstances in which that council ;stood with regard to other Provincial Councils,, would alone be sufficient to bear him out in bringing the matter forward. ■As was well known, the Wellington Executive Act. was a short one, and the committee would not be long engaged in their investigation. — -Motion agreed to . Estimates. . . , On that motion of the Superintendent,

the Council resolved itself into a committee of the whole for the consideration of the estimates. -.-. The Superintendent, said that iri'niaking provision for puhlic expenditure r f rom Ist Nov., last, till 31st Dec, in the piesent year, he had divided the same as much,, as possible into two classes, the one properly chargeable against the ordinary reVenue; the other against the extraordinary/ ■which at the present time was chiefly derived from land sales. The ordinary revenue was estimated at £4002 95., Id., and the ordinary expenditure, including bonus for Steam Navigation, assistance to schools &c, at £3992, 7s. 3d. The land fund, for the same period of 14 months, was estimated at £20,669 Is. Bd. This calculation was based upon the amount realised during the past six months ; as, from the fact of some new blocks being about to come into the market, the same ratio was sure to be maintained. The Superintend^ ent then enumerated the different public ] works which it was proposed to carry, on,, of j the sums set apart for which £5000 had been already expended up to the 30th of April. There remained an* amount of about £3000 to be yet disposed of. By way of suggestion he had put down, with no sum named, harbour improvements and Government offices. For the latter purpose as little as possible should be expended, as it would be followed by no direct advantage, such as would result from expenditure on roads. The Council then entered into details, and, during that and the next sitting, passed the estimates in the following shape :-rSuperintendent's Department. £ s. d. Ist Clerk at 2501 per annum 7 months 145 16 8 2nd Clerk at 120? for 8 mos. ■ Also Clerk of Council 80 0 0 Contingencies 30 0_ 0 Provincial Treasurer's Department. Treasurer, 1 year's salary from Ist Jan. to 3 1st Dec. /59 150 0 0 Contingencies 40 0 0 Provincial Solicitor's Department. Solicitor, 8 months' salary at \ool per annum 66 13 4 Contingencies 10 0 0 Auditor's Department. Auditor, 7 months' salary at 150^ per annum' 87 10. 0 Contingencies 25 0 0 Provincial Council. Rent of Chamber and Offices 7| months at 100Z per an. 62 10 0 Clerk of Council, also Superintendent's 2nd Clerk , at 50Z f annum, 1\ months 31 5 0 Contingencies ,50 0 0 Printing 100 0 0 Messenger to Offices 50 0 0 Harbour Department. \ Expended from Ist Nov. 1858 to 30th April 1859 91 17 10 Pilot 175 0 0 ; 2 boatmen, at 51, with ferry 80 0 0 Contingencies 50 0 0 Resident Magistrate's Department. Police from Ist Nov. 1858 to 30th April 1859 118 4 11 1 Corporal from May 1, to Dec. 31, 1859, at ss. diem 61 5 0 2 Privates at same time at 4/6 110 5 0 1 do. 15th May, to 31st Dec. at 4s. 6d. 51 19 6 Contingencies 50 0 0 Judicial, Supreme Court. Amt. paid from Nov. 1, 1858, to April 30, Expenses Prisoners &c. 38 0 0 Estimate from Ist April, to 31st December 62 0 0 Sheriff's Department. Printing to 30th April 1 10 6 Expenses to 31st December 8 9 6/ Printing Gazette &c. 150 0 0 Charitable Aid 50 0 0 Registrar of Deeds. Registrar, 6 months at 250? per annum 125 0 0 Contingencies 50 0 0 Registrar of Brands : 25 0 0 Inspector of Sheep 100 0' 0 ( Inspector under Dog ;Nuis- ,'.",-■ ■'.]'• ance Act, to 30th" June 12 1,0/ Oi - Public Buildings. "'-9^ Pilot Station . 150 ,o^i)| Hospital 250 •><}:.!<>:■ Addition to Gaol- ' 125 # l 0\ Schools. . [/[ ■>' i Petane School 90 0 0

Wairoa do. 50 0 0 Grants in Aid 300 0 0 Steam Navigation. .Bonus to "Wonga Wonga" § <;....-••■ share at 1500? from Ist Nov., 1858, to 31st Dec. V 1859 583 6 8 Hospital Addendum and Contingencies 100 0 0 Land Office. Salaries paid from Ist Nov. 1858, to 30th April 1859 351 11 0 Contingencies do. do. . 170 O 4 Salaries estimated from May 1, to Dec. 31, 8 months 473 10 0 Contingencies do. do. 229 19 8 Survey Department. Salaries paid from Ist Nov. 1858, to 30th April 1859 600 O 0 Lahor do. do. 450 13 0 Contingencies do. do. 11l 18 7 Salaries estimated from May 1, to Dec. 31, 8 months 800 0 0 Lahor do. do. 549 7 0 Contingencies do. do 88 1 5 Road Department. Te Aute Road from Ist Nov. 1858, to 31st March 1859 2484 11 0 Middle Road do. do. 299 9 1 Shakespeare Road do. do. 713 15 1 Awatoto Road do. do. 434 9 0 Te Aute Road, April 1859 566 9 0 Middle do. do. 128 2 6 Shakespeare Road do. 296 8 1 Estimated expenditure from Ist May to Decemher 31 viz: — Engineer of Roads 8 months salary at 250Z 166 13 4 Allowance in lieu of forage and travelling, expenses from Ist January 100 0 0 Clerk and Paymaster 7| mos. at 1502 per annum 93 15 0 Horse Hire Si per month 22 10 0 Contingencies 50 0 0 Shakespeare Road 550 0 0 Middle . do. and "bridge 750 0 0 Te Aute do. 4000 0 0 Waipawa and Tukituki Gorge 500 0 0 Porangahau Road 1000 0 0 Taupo do. 500 0 0 Mohaka do. 500 0 0 Bridge at Patiki Creek 90 0 0 do. Petane River 100 0 0 Milton Road 100 0 0 Grant in aid for Carlyle Street say three fourths ' 150 0 0 Grants in Aid & Contingencies 400 0 0 Immigration (to he refunded) 1000 0 0 Magistrate's office, Lock-up &c. at Waipukurau 250 O 0 Lock-up at Clive 75 0 0 Police at Waipukurau Wages of one constable at 5s per day 61 5 0 Horse hire, contingencies &c. 36 0 0 Items Postponed. R. M. Court 250 0 0 Registrar's Office . 175 0 0 Harbour Improvement Government Offices

On some of the items considerable discussion took place 5 for an abstract of which we will endeavour to find room in our next ; although, from the want of accommodation for the press, and the conversational tone which the debates in committee generally assume, we can but make an approach at accuracy. Yesterday, the only business done was in committee on the estimates, the superintendent's motion upon the land regulations having again been postponed. The Council adjourned till Monday, at 1 o'clock — Tuesday being the Queen's birth day.