CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume III, Issue 286, 30 September 1863, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Tuesday, September 29. The Council met at two o'clock. Present: All the members except Messrs. Birch, Bowler, Cox, Davis, Duncan, Haylock, Rickman, Ross, Simms, White, and Wilkin.

The minutes of the last sitting were read and confirmed.

Mr. Hobnbrook: moved that his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on tlie Estimates tlie sum of £400 to defray the I cost of having potraits taken of Mr. Godley, the founder of this province, and tho three Superintendents. It was rather late in the session to bring forward this motion, but as there was a» very clever artist resident in the province he thought it a good opportunity to have these potraits painted, and they would be a fitting ornament for any Council Chamber that might hereafter be erected. The Pbovincial Secretaet thought it would be better for the hon. member to withdraw the motion, which could be brought on again next session. In the mean time the Government would take the matter into consideration. The motion was withdrawn. LTTTELTOy COLONISTS' 80CIETY. Mr. Peacock, in the absence of Mr. Davis, moved that His Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the estimates the sum of £200 for the Colonists' Society of the town of Lyttelton, to assist them to erect" a suitable building for their Society, Mechanics' Institute, and Athenaum. The Society had at present no room in wliich to hold their meetings, and as other societies of a similar nature in tlie province had received grants of public money, he thought that Lyttelton was entitled to equal consideration. The motion was negatived. SITE 3 FOB GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. The House went into committee to consider the following resolution moved by the Provincial Secretary : " That it is desirable that the Government should purchase sites adjacent to tlie Government buildings if such purchase can be effected on reasonable terms." The Committee divided, and the numbers being equal, the Chairman gave the casting vote with the ayes. COMltl-TEE OF SUPPLY. Tlie House went into Committee of Supply. , The Provincial Secretary moved that the sum of £1000 bo placed on the Estimates as salary for the Provincial Engineer. Mr. Ollivieb thought that one engineer was sufficient for the province. He objected also to the increased salary proposed, which would be a slur upon the lato Provincial Engineer, by whose exertions the province had been reduced from chaos to its present order. Mr. Beswick would support the vote, if it was the intention of Government to employ only one engineer. The Provincial Soltcitou thought it was, necessary to import additional talent. In every part of the civilised world, with the exception perhaps of Victoria, the cry of protection to local talent was exploded. Protection to local talent might be all very well for individuals, but it was most mischievous to the public interest, a fact which would some day make itself very apparent on the Estimates. The motion was carried. In reply to a question from Mr. Beswick, Tlie Provincial Secretary said that the condition of the river "Waimakariri Avould engage the earnest attention of the Government during the recess. APPROPRIATION bill. Upon resuming, the Provincial Secretary obtained leave to introduce an Appropriation Bill. The Standing Orders 108 to 121 were suspended, and the Bill was read three times and passed. THE LINES OF RAILWAY. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary, tho House went into Committee to consider the adoption of the following resolutions : — 1. The Council resolves that it is expedient that his Honor tho Superintendent should at once take measures to extinguish titles to private property along the Railway north and south. 2. That the Council will indemnify his Honor the Superintendent in respect of such purchases as may be necessary lor Railway purposes. The Provincial Secretaby, in reply to a • question from Mr. Tosswill, said that, provided , the land along the line of Railway as at present ] proposed could be obtained at a reasonable rate, the Government did not intend making any great , alteration in the route. I

Mr. Ollivier said ho was sorry to hear the Provincial Secretary say so, as it would appear from this that he (the Provincial Secretary) approved of the proposed line. He (Mr. Ollivier) thought that the line at present marked out was open to many objections, and that the Government ought to have it entirely in their power to alter the direction of it as they might think desirable. Mr. Wilson said ho would go even a step further, for he thought that not only ought the Government to be at liberty to alter the fine, but that it would be much better if they would do so, as the proposed route was a very circuitous one. Since the line had been marked out it had been ascertained that the swamps were not the impassable obstacles wliich they were at first supposed to have been. A more direct line, therefore, might advantageously be taken. Some discussion took place upon the subject, but the general views of the House appeared to be that the Government should be left entirely unfettered in their choice of the line. The Provincial Solicitor said that in this question there were two points to be considered. The line might be divided into two parts —viz., where tho reserves begin, and the line between Christchureh and the reserves. With regard to the latter portion, the Government would, of course, be guided entirely by circumstances; j whereas, in the former case they would probably not be disposed to make any great alteration. The resolutions were then passed and reported to the House. PROROGATION. His Honor the Superintendent was shortly afterwards announced. His Honor then read the following address :— Mb. Speaker and Gentlemen of tub Council, The present session having drawn to a close, I take the opportunity of thanking you for the very patient consideration which you have shown to the business which has been submitted to you. I congratulate the province upon the fact that important questions, which have occupied the Council in previous sessions, have vow been placed upon a footing so far satisfactory as to ensure the

solution of those difficulties which have hitherto surrounded them.

I allude specially to the measures ■which, you have been pleased to pass for organizing tho Road Boards, and I fully appreciate the readiness which I am aware the public evince to enter upon this new system. I also advett to the fact that the Board of Education Ordinance, although a measure of a temporary nature, promises to result in such permanent arrangements as will undoubtedly prove beneficial to this rapidly increasing population. The utmost celerity will be used in collecting the necessary details for the proposed extension of the railways to the north and south, and I take this opportunity of stating that the Council have shown a wise discretion in concurring with mv opinion, that in the selection of the routes it is not absolutely incumbent to follow those already projected when it appears that a prudent deviation may possibly be the means of saving the province a largo outlay in the extinction of title to private property. Tlie harbor improvements will occupy a prominent part of my attention during the recess, and no time will be lost in carrying out the decision which the Council have arrived at, contained in the resolutions upon this subject. I have assented on behalf of His Excellency the Governor to the following Bills : — The Superintendent's Corporate Powers Bill, 1863. The Kaiapoi Bridge Bill, 1863. The Waimakariri Bridge Bill, 1863. The Superintendent's Salary Bill, 1863. The Provincial Auditor and Deputy Auditor's Salaries Bill, 1863. The Board of Education Bill, 1863. The Public House Bill, 1863. The Ferrymead Railway and Wharfs Bills, 1863. The Diversion of Roads Special Bill, 1863. The Cattle Driving Bill, 1863. The Stage Carriages Bill, 1863. The Fencing Bill, 1863. The Bush Fires Bill. Tlie Christchureh Hospital Bill, 1863, and Tho Appropriation Bill. I have reserved for the signification of His Excellency the Governor's pleasure thereon, The Canterbury Marine Boards Bill, 1863. The Canterbury Loan Ordinance Amendment Bill The Christchureh City Council Bill. Road Districts Bill. The Peacock Jetty Extension Bill. The Road Districts Bill, No 2. The Lyttelton Municipal Council Bill, 1863. The Sheep Ordinance I shall be prepared to assent to shortly, and I at present reserve my decision upon the Passenger Ordinance. The supplies which you have voted during this session will be carefully and economically dealt with. I now declare that this Council stands prorogued until Thursday, the thirtieth day of June, 1864. S. Bealet, Sup erintendent.