PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2814, 9 May 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, May 8, 1872. The Speaker took the chair at 5 p.m LETTER FROM HIS HONOR.

The Speaker announced that he had received a letter from his Honor the Superintendent, enclosing several papers to be laid on the table.

Mr Brown said he should like to know from the Government whether the papers just laid on the table were the whole, or only fragmentary 2 [" Hear, hear," from Mr Knight.] The Provincial Secretary—Unless I have the papers in my hand I hardly know what they are. ["Hear, hear," from Mr Knight.] I shall look at them. This is a telegram which came only ten minutes ago, from the Superintendent of Nelson, and which I alone, of the members of the Executive, have had an opportunity of seeing. It is in reference to the Hurunui bridge, and states that the Provincial Council of Nelson had voted half the cost of the bridge. [ Hear, hear.] With regard to the other papers, I do not know what they are, as I have not had an opportunity of seeing them. The Executive are not responsible for either of those papers laid on the table. [Hear, hear, aud laughter.] ROLLESTON AND SOUTHBRIDGE LINE. Hod. Colonel Brett asked the Provincial Secretary to state the actual route the above line was intended to take. There seemedto be some doubt on the question, and he wished the question to be distinctly answered for the sake of his constituents. The Provincial Secretary explained that the General Government decided to make the line A, the line which went round by the Springs' district, and no other. The reporters in the morning papers stated that the Southbridge line communicated with the A and B lines ; it should have been, "is common to these lines." THE CLERK OP THE HOUSE. The Speaker read a letter from the Clerk expressing his regret that circumstances prevented his usual attendance at the commencement of the sitting of the House on the previous day. WATER FRONTAGES, LYTTELTON. Mr Inglis asked the Provincial Secretary if he would lay on the table all correspondence of the Government with Messrs Hanmer and Harper, Matheson's Agency, and others, on the subject of water frontage in Lyttelton. The Provincial Secretary replied that as there were certain legal proceedings going '<ra with regard to the abbve matter, he did not think it expedient that papers'should be laid on the table of the House at that juncture. - WAIIIAKARIRT RAILWAY BRIDGE. Mr Maskell asked" who was responsible for the safety from the action of the river, of the railway bridge over the south branch of the Waimakariri. It did not seem to him that the matter was within the province of the Board of Conservators, because if so they would have to levy a rate on the district adjoining, and it was not right that those two districts should be rated to pay for the protection of a Government work, and which was carried out without their having a voice in the matter. The Provincial Secretary said that under the arrangement which the Council had come to with the General Government it was provided that the maintenance of the line should be carried out by the Provincial Government, who were therefore presumed to be responsible for the safety of the bridge. They could hardly expect the Board of Conservators to do it, and besides it might end possibly in very great injury to the bridge. Mr Maskell —Do I understand that the Government will look to the matter ? The Provincial Secretary—Now that the work is in our hands, of course the Provincial Engineer is perfectly aware of the danger, and he is taking steps to avert it. RAILWAY TIME TABLE. Mr Peacock asked the Provincial Secretary "If the Government will arrange the Railway Time Table so that the residents of Lyttelton may have the advantage of going to and returning from Kaiapoi at least once a day, and allow sufficient time for the transaction of business, which at present they have not." The Provincial Secretary replied that the Government quite agreed with the hon. member as to the importance of affording the accommodation asked for, and so far as they were concerned they would do their utmost to arrange the time table so that the inhabitants of both Lyttelton and Kaiapoi would benefit by the change. LOCKING RAILWAY CARRIAGES. Mr Maskell moved —'• That in the opinion of this Council there is no necessity for locking both doors of the carriages on the Northern and Southern Railways, and that the Provincial Solicitor be requested to bring in a Bill to repeal the Bailway Tolls and Management Ordinance, 1872. so far as it relates to this matter." He said that in England the change was lately effected of having only one door locked in the carriages. Mr Delamain seconded the motion. The Provincial Secretary said that the Government so far as they knew of the matter had no objection to the motion, and personally he agreed with the hon. member. He had received a memo, from the manager on the point, in which he remarked that were all the stations along the line on the same side, the doors might be left unlocked on one side. As it was, either both sides of the carriages should be locked or neither side. The manager also stated that were the doors to be left unlocked, special legislation would be needed to render the railway not > liable for damages in case of accidents.

Mr Brown said that during a previous session the hon. member for Christ church (Mr llawkes) moved a similar resolution. The manager, on that occasion, reported it was absolutely necessary that the doors of carriages passing through the tunnel should be locked, but nowhere else. He (Mr Brown) agreed with the manager as far as regarded the tunnel, but he could not see the necessity of locking carriage doors along either the Northern or Southern lines. He was not aware that in America the doors were locked on aDj Une, even ■when the trains were passing through tunnels. Hon. Colonel Brett—lf 1 am not irregnlar, I should like to hear the opinion of the hon. member Mr Richardson on this subject. [Laughter and hear.J Mr BICHARDBOX said that as bis opinion

was asked he begged to state that it was a very decided oue. He agreed with the manager as to the necessity of having the carriage doors locked when the trains passed through the tunnel, but no reason whatever existed for having them locked on the other lines, which were all single lines. In England it was necessary that the doors on one side should be locked, as the lines were so close that if the doors of the carriages happened to open when two trains were passing the result might be very disastrous. Mr Maskell—l do not care to leave this matter entirely to the discretion of the Government —[hear, hear]—and therefore I should like the House to express an opinion on it.

Mr Knight rose to speak on the point, but was ruled out of order.

The motion was carried on the voices. RANGIORA SWAMP.

Mr HIGGINS moved the House into committee to consider the following :—That his Honor the iSuperiutendcut be respectfully requested to have placed on the Estimates a sum of not less than dS.">OO, in order to complete the drainage of the Mandeville and Rangiora swamp, the money so appropriated to be supplemented by an equal amount by the Mandeville and Rangiora Road District. The system of drainage which was sketched out was not likely to be carried out for want of means, aud he therefore put the motion on the notice paper asking for assistance. Mr Dixox seconded the motion. The motiou that the House do go into committee was then put and carried on a division. Ayes, 21 ; noes, 8. The House then went into committee. A long and lively discussion took place, during which sundry amendments were proposed. Ultimately the resolution was passed in the following form, reported to the House and adopted, " That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to have placed on the estimates a sum not exceeding £300, in order to complete the drainage of the Mandeville and Raugiora swamp ; the money so appropriated to be supplemented by equal amounts provided by the Mandeville and Kangiora road district and the General Government; the amount so contributed by the above road districts to be raised by special rating for that purpose." RAKAIA BRIDGE. The following motion standing in the name of Mr Perry—To ask the. Secretary _for Public Works, if the contractor for the continuation of the bridge over the River Kakaia is limited to any, and if any, what time, for the completion of his contract," lapsed in consequence of the absence of the hon. member. SALE OF LANDS. Mr Buckley moved that there be laid upon the table a return of the amounts received each month for the sale of land within the several Road Board districts of the province during the period from Ist October, 1871, to 30th April, 1872. The motion was carried. IRRIGATION OF THE PLAINS. Colonel Brett moved that the survey re • port regarding the irrigation of the Waste Lands between the Waima'kariri and Rolleston, which was placed on the table of the House last session, be printed. He intended to bring forward a motion on the subject next week, but before doing so he thought it better that the survey report should be printed. The motion was carried. LAND ON DEFERRED PAYMENTS. Mr Brown moved that his motion on the order paper for Thursday next, with reference to the sale of Waste Lands on deferred payments, be made an order of the day for Thursday, 16th instant. The hon member explained that owing to Thursday being a dies non his motion could not be brought forward, and as he could not be in attendance on Friday, he wished the motion to be postponed till the 16th inst. The motion -was carried. BILLS ADVANCED. The House then resolved itself into committee, when the following Bills were advanced a stage : —The Education Ordinance, 1871, Amendment Ordinance, 1872, No. 2. The Canterbury Fencing Ordinance, 1872. Notices of motion having been given, the House adjourned till Friday, at 12 o'clock.