PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XIII, Issue 1770, 14 December 1868, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Saturday, December 12. The Council met at two p.m. Prayers were read by tho Chaplain. The minutes of the last sitting were read and confirmed. THE THISTLE NUISANCE. ' In reply to a question from Mr Wilson, Tho Provincial Solicitob said that in case of the owner or occupier of land allowing thistles to grow thereon, it was open to any one who choso to do so to lay an information against him. suspension op standing OBDEBS. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary the Standing Orders were suspended to allow the Appropriation Act to be carried through all its stages at that sitting. 081-HAN ASYLUM. Mr Moobe asked if the Government would arrange with the managers of the Orphan Asylum for a quarterly inspection of the children by tho Government Inspector. The PfiOVlNClAli Secretary said that the Government must first get the consent of tho managers. They however were always ready to allow inspection, and the Government would act as the lion, member had suggested. CHITBCH RESERVeS. Mr Moore asked if tho reserves that have been made for purposes in connection with the Church of England had been conveyed by his Honor to the Church Trustees. The Provincial Secbetary said it was a matter of time to prepare the conveyance, but it was now in the Secretary's offico, and as soon as his Honor the Superinendent had time to look through it, it would be executed. .-:_:-. .- ■ M: ? HABOBEAVJBS' STOBE. - Mr Peacock asked if any arrangement had been made in respect to the damage said to be done to Mr Hargreave.' store at Lyttelton. The Provincial Secbetary said that tho Government had made no arrangement. Mr Peacock then asked whether the Govhad determined to pay Mr Hargreaves, and then pull the buildings down. Mr Montgomeby said he was surprised at this question. The Government would not do so foolish a thing as to pay for buildings and pull them down. Mr Peacock said he had heard a report to that effect and thought it his duty to ask the question. j GRANT TO ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL. Mr W. Wilson moved that the Council do resolve itself into a committee of the whole House to consider the following resolution, | viz.—"That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place upon the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £75 in aid of the cost of construction of the .choolhouse belonging to the parish of St. John's Church." He had been induced to bring this l matter before the Council because St. John's wa-t the only parish school in Christchurch to which assistance had not been afforded by the Board of Education or by the Government. The school was one of the most successful in Christchurch, numbering about 150 scholars, and if relieved from the debt on it would be in a very prosperous condition. He was asking for it no more than had been done for other schools. Application for aid had been made to the Board of Education twelve months ago, and a partial promise had been made. An impression seemed to prevail that this school was less deserving of support from its having reduced the school fees to half the amount of those of the other schools, but this was not the fact. He had the best authority for stating that no such reduction had been made, and that the fees of St. John's school were at the same rate as those at St. Michael's and St. Luke's. Mr Montgomeby s;ud that he understood this grant was asked, not for the maintenance of the school, but to pay off a debt incurred for its erection. The Board of Education could graut assistance to tho school if they thought fit, but it must be borne in mind that if the school had, as stated, 150 echola-.-., it had drawn away a great many faom other schools, to whom therefore it was only a change in the place where they received education, and not a means of giving education where none was given before. He objected to the Council's going into committee, as it would be an interference with the Board of Education, by whom the matter had been carefully considered, and the Council had no evidence before ft that the Board had not done what was right. Mr Wilson hoped the Council would go into committee to give the Chairman of the Board of Education (the Speaker) an opportunity of giving the Council some explanation on the subject, j The motion was put and negatived. EDUCATION ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BILL. The above Bill was committed. Its object was to remove a defect in the origin_l Act, which did not provide for tho substitution, if the inhabitants desire, oi school committees annually elected in place of the permanent committees which when the Act camo into operation had been appointed in some districts. The Bill passed through committee and was reported to the Houße. It was theu read a third time and passed.

HOADS OKDIKAXC!-: AMI:>'DMEST'BILL This r.i'.l w-is ro;ul :v third timo and pnqs-rd The Council thou adjourned for a short tim as the Appropriation Act was not ready. APrnOFRIATION' ACT. On resuming, The Appropriation Act was brought ia and passed through all its stage.-?. ' v PROROGATION. His Honor tho tl entered the chamb.'r and prorogued iV*"*Council in tho following address : „i,,^ iVltt Speaker and Gkntlemkn,— In closing the present cession, I l, ave t thank you for the close attention you }, bestowed upon tho business which has b submitted to you. en I urn advised that there aro objections t I the Fencing Ordinance and tho Trespass r Cattle Ordinance, which render it necessary that I should for tho present withhold v I assent from those Bills. I propose, howevJ Ito bring under your attention tho subject! t' which they refer, as well as the suggestion. °f the Select Committee on the Roads Ordinance prior to the sitting of the General Assembly of the colony. J I think that this opportunity of _ special sitting of tho Provincial Council will bo fitting one on which to express your opini 0n ! on any constitutional changes which you may consider advisable, or which there ia reason to believe are contemplated by tho Colouial Government. I may state that in tho meantime, among other subjects, my own attention will bo dh-ected to what I believe to bo urgently required, a readjustment of tho representation of tho province, with an especial view of doing justice to tho claims of the increasing population in the outlying districta. The supplies which you have voted shall be carefully and economically expended. The Government will give itnmodiato attention to carrying out your wishes in respect of the expenditure of the balance of the loan. It is a great gratification to mo that you have so readily assented to tho proposal for the erection of a bridgo over tho Rakaia. Tho work iB one which has long been required and will greatly facilitate the trullic of a large extent of country, and will open up for agricultural purposes lands which would otherwise have remained uncultivated. I have reserved for his Excellency's assent The Municipal Corvoration's Reserves Ordinance, 1868. I have assontod on behalf of his Excellency to the following Bills :— The Diversion of Roads Special Ordinance, 1868. Tho Reserve No. 251 Ordinance. The Education Bate in Aid Ordinance, 1868, Ropeal Ordinance. Tho Eaiapoi Bridgo Ordinance, 1868. Tho Railway Tolls and Management Ordi« nance, 1867, Amendment Ordinance, 1868. The Rakaia Bridge Ordinance. The Diversion of Roads on Great Southern Railway Special Ordinance Ko. 2,1868. The Education Ordinance, 1864*, and the Education Ordinance Amondment Ordinanco, 1865, Amendment Ordinance, 1868. The Roads Ordinance, 1884, Amendment Ordinance, 1868. The Appropriation Ordinance No. 8, 1868. I now declare this Council prorogued to tho 12th day of March, 1869. W. Rolleston, Superintendent Canterbury.