PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1210, 19 December 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Yestebday—continued.

The following motions were withdrawn by their proposers :—Removal of toll-bars at Newmarket and elsewhere (Mr Cheeseman), removal of pilot station at Kaipara (Mr Ormiston), subsidising steamers between Shortland and Ohinemuri (Mr Bagnall). All the other motions given notice of were agreed to.

Mr Swanson asked the Government the following questions without notice: —Is it the intention of the Provincial Government that the proposed provision of £5000 towards the cost of education shall stand in the place of an Education rate until the passing of a new Act by the Council ? Will the Superintendent be prepared to levy a rate at the beginning of next year under the Education Act now in force if asked to do so by the Board? 3. Do the Government propose to introduce any alteration in the Education Act beyond the alteration in the rating clause; and in what way is it proposed to alter the Act? 4. Is it the intention of the Government to enforce payment of the present rate against all defaulters 1

Mr Sheehan, in reply, said he wished at once to correct the impression which seemed to have got abroad that the collection of the arrears of the rate would not be enforced. He had issued a circular to be sent to defaulting ratepayers informing them that if they did not pay the rate proceedings would be taken against them. No matter what his own opinion of the rate might be he thought injustice to the Council and to the 7500 people who had paid all others who were able should be compelled too. (Hear, hftar.) In answer to the first question he begged to state that the intention of the Government in making the advauce was to enable the Board to carry on operations under the present Act until the Council should assemble and review the question. If the Council did not; alter the Act the rate would be collected and the amount refunded to the Government. To the second question his reply was, that the Superintendent did not intend to levy a rate. With regard to the third question he must decline to state at present what were the alterations the Government proposed to introduce, either in the rating clauses or other parts of the Act. The last question he had already answered. The Provincial Secretary then proceeded to comment upon the working and productive powers of the late Act, and stated there was no question which the Government were prepared to give a more honest consideration to than that of education. EDUCATION BOARD. Four members, were then elected to serve on the Board of Education, viz , Dr Campbell, Mr Philips, Mr Dargaviile, and Mr Prime. Mr Sheehan stated that his Honor the Chief Justice had nominated Mr TT. H. Lusk aa a member of the Board of Education. ADJOURNMENT. On t\e motion of the adjournment of the session till March being introduced by Mr Sheehan, an amendment by Mr Buckland to substitute Ist May for 24th March, was carried without a division. The Mount Eden Road Bill and the Mount Albert Eoad Bill were read a second time, and passed through all their stages.

EDUCATION EMPOWERING BILL.

A Bill fora further advance of £2,500 to the Education Board was introduced. A long discussion followed, which] ended in the motion being agreed to. A Bin to increase the amount of the proposed appropriation for general purposes by £7000 Avas passed in committee, and reported to the House.

ROADS IN THE NORTH. A committee was appointed to consider the scheme of expending £3000 during the recess upon the roads and works north ot Auckland. The Council adjourned at 10.45 p.m.

THIS DAY.

The Council met at three o'clock. The minutes of the proceedings yesterday having been read and approved of, a notice of motion was given in by Mr Hay, for & grant of £100 for the road from Maketu to Ararimu. Mr Swanson asked the Speaker if he had exactly acted up to the Constitution Act .in submitting the tie between Messrs Hurst and Prime in the elecfcon for the fourjnembers of the Education Board to decision hyi secon vote of the Council instead o£u. \ giving a casting vote himself. T^T'l The Speaker replied that the^^f^, voting in the case referred to was *( °« He should act in the same way 'Jot WULp. % Mr Hurst begged permission to y^o?, he had only consented under $rekf!&^lP 6 put in nomination, and the result of tne election was in accordance with his own wish. ROADS AND WORKS IN THE NORTH. Mr Sheehan presented the report of tne committee appointed to consider the expenditure of £3000 on the roads and works nortn

of Auckland. The report recommended that the sum be increased by £2000, and that the (expenditure be confined to main lines of road, the East ahd West Coast lines to be considered as such.

Mr Carleton spoke against the adoption of the report, and called for a division of the Council.

The Council divided with the following result. For the adoption of the report, 29----against it, 2 ; majority, 27. The report was adopted.

The standing orders were suspended sto allow of Mr Hay's motion being received •without notice.

In reference to this Mr Sheehan said the matter would be investigated, and if it was discovered that the expenditure was required the sum asked for would be placed on the Estimates. QUESTION. Mr Moat to ask the Provincial Secretary, Whether it is the intention of the Provincial Government to take any steps towards establishing steam communication from Auckland to the different ports on the East Coast, between Mahurangi and Whaugaifj 1 KOTICE OT MOTION. Mr Carpenter to move, That a respectful -address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting him to send down a return showing the revenue derivable from the various educational reserves in the province, and setting forth the amount paid out of such revenue in aid of the Auckland College and Grammar School.

Mr Ball to move, That a respectful address lac presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting him to take such steps as he may deem necessary for the establishment of a settlement of immigrants at Victoria Valley near Mongonui.

Mr Ball to move, That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to make provision in the Estimates for 18/4, for the establishment of a ferry service in the harbour of Mongonui.

Mr Tonks to move, That a respectful address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, resquesting him to furnish this Council with copies of the Correspondence between the Provincial Government and the Parnell Highway Board relative to the Manukau Road!

Mr Sheehan to move, That a respectful address be presented to the Superintendent, recommending His Honor to reserve as a site for a Juvenvile Reformatory allotments .Nos. 32 and 33 of section No. 2 of the suburbs of Auckland.

Mr Sheehan to move, That with reference to the provision made by the General Assembly, during the session of 1573, for the acquisition of land from native owners in the province of Auckland, it is, in the opinion of this Council, desirable that before the purchase of any block of land be effected' the .Superintendent of the province should be consulted as to the situation and quality of the land, and as to its general adaptability for the location of immigrants, and for general purposes of settlement. Mr Cadman to move, That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to obtain and send down to this Council the cost of the railway .between Auckland and Newmarket since the Messrs Brogden and Sons have become the contractors ; also, the cost of that portion of the railway upon which the Messrs Brogden and Sons have been paid 10 per cent. Mr Crispe to move, That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting him to place on the Estimates a sum of money to assist in opening up a connecting road between Mauku, Patumahoe, and the proposed railway terminus at Pukekohe, in conjunction with anticipated funds from the General Government and the Highway Boards. Mr Tonks to move, That the petition of G. H. Morton be referred to the Petitions and Private Grievance Committee.