PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Press, Volume III, Issue 262, 2 September 1863, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, September 1. The Council met at five o'clock. Present:—All the members except Messrs. Birch, Cox, Haylock, and Wilson. The minutes of the last sitting were read and confirmed. A message was brought from his "Honor the bupenntendent, returning the Public House Bill with amendments. These consisted in the omission of the words relating to the repeal of former Ordinances and a proviso that licenses issued under the old Ordinance should remain valid till the expiration of their term. CATTLE DRIVING ORDINANCE. On the motion of Mr. Olliyier, in the absence .L » Wllson ' the " C;,ulc Driving Ordinance, 1563, was read a third time and passed. CH„ISTC_r. KCU HOSPITAL BEL. Mr. Ollivier postponed the introduction of this Bill, as he found the subject required further consideration.

lytteijTon wniup comnssiox. The House resolved itself into Committee of the whole House to consider the report of the Lvttelton Whar p Commission.

The Provincial Sechetahy said tint the-e were three courses which the House might adopt with reference to the report. Ist. It mi<rj, t empower the Government to carry out the report as it stood 2nd. It might reject the report, and issue a fresh commission. 3rd. It might consider further information desirable, and refer the whole matter to the quarter whence it could procure the most valuable professional advice. This was the course recommended in the resolutions which the Government were about to lav before the House Reference to England was desirable in many points of view. In a work of such groat importance to the colony they were bound to do their best to obtain for the country the greatest possible accommodation both in the construction of the work and the adoption of recent improvements. Then the credit of the colony would be raised in the London maiket by the knowledge that so large a scheme met with* the approbation of eminent English engineers; it would also mako the place known, and induce people to come out ami engage in business, and the improvement in the harbour would give it a good name with the underwriters and would reduce f-eights. Such was also the advice of the Commissioners themselves. It might be objected that reference to England had done no good on a former occasion, but it was not fair to judge from a single instance. The Consulting Engineer of the province would no doubt be willing to refer the matter to a select board of emincut engineers. It was better too to remove the whole question out of the reach of local interests. With regard to temporary accommodation the Government proposed to refer this also to the Consultin-r Engineer, and at the same time to order from I England a sufficient length of screw pile jeftv to bo placed where recommended by thp English Engineers. Lyttelton harbor, froci the natare of its bottom, was particularly adapted for the use of screw piles, and had this advantage, that the position of tho wharf could be shifted if necessary while, if (hey were not used in the harbor, they might he employed all over the province for ! bridgework. The length of the jetty would be • 450 feet, and iis cost, erected, .£so'per* yard In j tho meantime Government proposed "to allow j Messrs. Peacock and Co. to extend tiieir jetty j which would answer all purposes till the piles arrived. He concluded by moving the following resolutions, "Tne Council Siting considered the Report of ths Lyttelton Wharf Commiseion resolve:— ■ "

1 liiat it is desirable, in enlarging the Wharfage Accommodation, to adopt a plan that shall proncJe ultimately for tlie safe and commo-

dious berthing of Vessels of the largest tonnage likely to frequent the Port of Lyltclton, keeping also in view a ready access to tho -Kail way. 2 That the works for effecting this object will necessarily involve an undertaking of great magnitude, and will rail upon the Province for a proportionately largo expenditure of

money. 2 That although tho Report of the Commission recommend? a definite lino of operations, it also reco ninends that, before accepting the same, further opinions as to the site and character of the works should he obtained.

4 That tho Council, concurring with this recommendation, is of opinion that the whole question should bo at once referred to Knarland for the highest professional advice. 5 That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to cause such additional details and plana as may be necessary, to be forwarded to England.* 6 That in order to meet the immediate requirements of the Port, His Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to order from England n sufficient amount of materials for completing a Wharf of 450 feet in length, together with the machinery requisite for dredging the Harbor. The Wharf to bo erected where the Engineers in England may ndvise. 7 That the thanks of this House be given to the gentlemen who formed the Lyttleton Wharf Commission for their very full and able report. Mr. BrcKLEY wished to call the attention of | the Council to a passage in the report where he w«s stated to agree with it, whereas he had felt and expressed the strongest disagreement. He objected to the absence of much valuable evidence, such as that of the masters of the I.C.R.M. steamers, and of other vessels which frequented this port from Australia and elsewhere. In the want of professional evidence lie was surprised to find the Government assenting to a report opposed to the Provincial Engineer. The new jetty must be looked on sis p-irt of the railway nncl any unnecessary expense would affect the revenue of the rul'.vny ; easy access to the railway was therefore a most important point, yet it had been wholly neglected by the Commissioners. Any difficulties in the way of the extension of the "tunnel line might have been overcome. It was objected that in that case the .jetty could only be used on one sido during sou , westerly weather, but the other could only be used on ono side in all weathers. The expense of shifting goods trucks by turntables would amount to something enormous in the year, and equal accommodation might have been provided at half the cost. If nothing could bo done without referring to England it was a waste of time to have appointed the Commission. Besides, personal inspection by the Engineer was necessary. In the case of the railway it was acknowledged that Imd the Engineer inspected the ground the tunnel would have been taken through the liill at another point, an,l at least £50,000 saved to tho

province. He should reeommenil that additional evidence be taken, and ediiipctent engineers bo paid to come over and survey the harbor. MrOLlMlliMllllllllfDOillfiWfflllllfl I *"*;>y>*><»i- *t>*- Xjttellon. He thouglit sufficient c-nclen<-o lir.a not fcecn tafeen. Ther? "VFfVS ft TTporT from the Provincial Engineer but it did not appear that any questions had been put to him : and there were other engineers capable of affording valuable information. The Provincial Secretary hud spoken of a board of English Engineers, but who was to appoint the board ? After all, eucli advice would bo more or less unsatisfactory without personal inspection. A suggestion had been made by Captain Browning of breakwaters at Officers and Naval points, and perhaps if it were discussed professional men would agree that the suggestion was a valuable one. The evidence taken showed that greater temporary accommodation was required than would be provided by an extension of Peacock's jetty. Mr. MooimorsE supported the plan for a jetty proposed by the Provincial Engineer with a slight modification. The objection thnt ships lying at it would be exposed to S.W. winds might be; obviated by turning it n little towards the south so as t<. bring the vessels head to the viricl. With all respect for the opinion of the Commissioners he could say positively that shipping would suffer as little in an average of all weathers in the position recommended by Mr. Dobson as in that preferred by them. Largo vessels were not affected by the wind, and from that quarter there would be no swell sufficient to disturb them. The best course for the Government, to adopt would bo to send home at once for 450 feet of screw pile wharf, to be placed not according to the advice of men who had never seen the place, but of resident engineers. The cost he estimated at £13,500. The cost of a dredginp machine and the labour of dredging to a sufficient depth to admit largo vessels would be £17,000; total, with £1500 for contingencies, £32.000. The interest on this at 6 per cent. £1920, and the annual cost of dredging, £1500, would amount to £3420 a year, which would bo defrayed by the rental of tho wharf. This work,, with proper appliances for landing and discharging cargo, would be sufficient for the wants of the port for sor 6 years to coroe. It was very bad economy to commence extensive undertakings unless they had sufficient meam to carry them out at once.

Dr. Tfrxbttll commented on tha conduct of Mr. Buckley in withdrawing from the Commission when he found himself in a minority, instead of remaining and pressing the enquiry in*those points in which he thought it defective. Ho (Dr. Turnbull) thought the Committee had either obviated or reduced to a minimum all the diffi-

j culties which they had to encounter, and* that their scheme was in every respect preferable to teat of Mr. Dobson. In supporting the able report of the Commissioners he thought the Council should also adopt their suggestion of sending to England, and in the meantime send for a jetty for temporary-use. ■ Mr. Beswick said it was clear that a vessel lying to windward of such a pier as that recom-! mended by Mr. Dobson would ;be exposed to great danger, and such was the opinion of the Harbour Master of Lyttelton, and others whose

t authority in such matters lie thought superior to that of the member for Kaiapoi. He hoped the question would be referred to England. ' The expense of the plan proposed by the Commissioners would be enormous, and far beyond tliat required by the commerce of the port. With a proper system of lighterage (of the advantages of which he could speak from experience) the emalier .Tork would be amply sufficient to discharge all the cargo that would be landed for many years to come. ■ ♦

Mr. Ftfb said that the jetty proposed by Mr. Uobeon had been proved to be unsafe in a maritime point of view, and he thought it would offer less accommodation to the public. * Mr. Haweks would support the resolutions proposed by the Government, as indicating the course that on tho whole wae the beet that could be adopted.

I Clauses 1, 2, and 3, wore read and passed. Lpoii clause 4 beiu<* read Mr. Buckley wished ta know jf further evidence was to bo obtained, lie considered that in sending this report to England there would be but little likelihood of any other result than ite ndoption. In England the Engineer would probably be directed to import upon the site, which it would bo impossible for him to do, except by relying upon the information contained injthe report. Mr. Peacock said he should oppose the clause. Ho thought the site a most undesirable one, and that tho plan proposed was genernfly disapproved of by the ?ȟblie of Canterbury. His opinion was that the raatterotight to go before a Select Committee, though it was not exactly his intention to propose that measure.

Upon division the claueo was carried by a majority of 7. Clause 5 was then read.

Mr. IircKLET repealed hi- <>>>jei-t ; o-is , .ending the report to without obt-Xini 11 tiirther professional opinion upon the sublet f J moved nn amendment to tho oileet th-t Tv evidence of gentlemen of engineering ability sLuli? be appended to this report. J Ui<l Mr. Bkswtck said ho would oppose this ment. ITo thoutfit that if more evidence S, 'liiirWl. siiflifient confident should be placed?" tho Government for their providing it. Dr. Tv UN dull also stated his intention of nn posing the amendment. P* The amendment \va3 then put, and upon d; r : sion was negatived. l wri * The elauso as priute:l was then passcl Clause 6 was then read. Mr. Tosswilt, said it was his intention to as an .yiioiid:neiit an altorarion in the i Mt ?JJ words of the clause, upon whi<-h the Proving secretary said ho had no objection to the mti omission of the last sentence, "The wharf to h erected when the Engineers in England am J vise. * mx ' Mr. Moobhousb moved as an amendment upon fas clause that authority should beri ? cn \l the Government to legthen the wharf to 60ft feet. He said that 450 feet would do little more than afford accommodation for one W<»e shin and that the eitra 150 feat would be but a com paratively small cost, and that tho plan of at once making tho wharf (500 feet long would certainly bo the most economical in tho end. Should tho Government not consider it necessary to con struct the wharf the entire length ho nropoaod no harm would be done, but in the event of their requiring it, they would havo tho authority fn do so. J \ Mr. Te\tp7.er seconded the motion. After some further discussion, the clause as amended was put an J carried. From a remark made by an honorable memSar it. did not appear to be generally understood th.it Mr. Moorhouse's amendment "was tho question before tho House when tho clause as amondedwas put and carried. No further remarks, howj ever, were made. Mr. MoonnorsE said he thought the subject " should not bo dismissed without an aeknowloiK ment of the great care that the report showed He thougnt the thanks of tho house should be given tn tho gentleman who had framed it. The Provincial Secretary then moved that the resolutions bo reported to the House. Upon resuming, the resolutions wore reported to the House, and upon the motion of tho Pro- " vincial Secretary they were adopted and agreed to be reported to His Honor tho Sußwtfflwndent. Ilio House then adjourned till fiHay at the usual hour. J