AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2678, 15 February 1866, Page 6

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14.

Tnn Speaker took the chair at fifteen rainutea past 3 o'clock, at which time there were twelve members

present. | TBTITIONS. Four petitions were presented by "Mr. Newman and Captain Cooper, from persons claiming laud grants. The petitions were received. Mr. CARLETON said he held in his "hand a petition from unemployed persons of Auckland; but owing to \ an irregularity in drawing up and signing the petition he could not present it. Many of the names were apparently in the same handwriting, but as he had n<> means of communicating with the petitioners be could not rectify the omission in order to present

the petition that day. THK KA.WAKA.WA. COALFIELDS. Mr Cadman moved, "That the message sent down by his Honor the Superintendent on the Kawakawa coalfields be printed."— Agreed to.

MOTION LAPSED. Mr Cabman said he had been requested by the hon. member for Newton to request the Council t«> permit hia motion to be postponed until Friday, ihe hon. member was too unwell personally to attend to move the resolution, which was to the following effect : "Mr Creighton to move, ' (1.) That, id the opinion of this Council, it is desirable to afford every facility to private individuals and public companies to undertake and complete works of public utility. (2.) lhat this Council is of opinion that the cheapest and most expeditious mode of uniting the Kaipara country I with Auckland, and opening up to beneficial occupation the no. th-west districts of the province, is by constructing * canal to connect the head w^cer* of the Waitemata. at or near the point wherethe navicition ceases, with the hend waters of theTCaipara ; and is prepared to recommend to his Honor the Superintendent that the followiug terms be offered to any public company which may hereafter be formed to carry out this undertaking :-First, the exclusive right to the navigation of the canal and tne enioyment of all tolls and dues, without charge or deduction for any purposes whatsoever, for a period of five years after the opening of the said canal for public purposes ; thence after to pay yearly, and year by year, a rental to the province of not more th«iu 2 percent, of the nett annual revenue derived from the canal, to be computed on the ascertained average profits of the company for the first five years. Second, that the company shall likewise be banded over for its exclusive use aud benefit, that block of land'in the Kaipara district known as the Tauhoa block containing 45 000 acres more or les% on condition that it shall be fenced and brought into cultivated condition (swamps exceptfcd), in a petiod not exceeding five years, exclusive of forest reserves, the said reserves not to eyceed, in the whole, one-tenth of the entire block.' " • Captain Cooper said he had himself been speaking to the Provincial Secretary on the subject, and that hon. member was of opiuion that Wednesday next would be the best day on which to bring on the question, inasmuch as Friday was a Government day. . , r After a fow words from Mr. Carleton and Mr. OadMAK, the motion was allowed to lapse, on the understanding that it would appear on the order paper on Friday next.

PETITIONS REFERRED. Mr. Ball moved, "That the petition of John Ferguson and "William Adams be referred to the Private Gnevauce Committee."— Agreed to. Mr. CADMANmoved, " That the petition of Charles X Roskruge be referred -.to the Private Grievance

Committee." — Carried. . . Captain Fraser moved, " That the petition of Margaret Scott and Janet Litter be referred to the Private Grievance Committee."— Agreed to.

THK AUCKLAND MUNICIPAL POLICE BICL. The Council went into committee on this bill. Clauses 1 and 2 were agreed to ; and considerable discussion arose on clanae 3, empowering the Superintendent to deßne the limits of cities, towns, and other places for the purposes of the Act. Mr. Capstan did not intend to oppose the bill, bub would give the Government his support. He could not, however, see how they conld consistently punish persons under sub-section 12, for neglecting to clean yards ways, and passages, which might cause a nuisance, whilst the Governmentthemselves or the City Board permitted such a nuisance as the drain at the foot of Cook-street. Mr. Bain thought there were many clauses which, under the present circumstances of the town, could be very advantageously omitted. He believed the boundary under the Act, and the City Board boundary, from being different in extent, would create great confusion. Mr. Howe said there conld be no doubt an Ace well suited to meet the wants of the city would not be so well suited for the country ; because it was possible those things which >would be nuisances m the city would not necessarily be nuisances in the country. The discussion was continued by Mr. DIGtfAN, Mr. Bain, Mr. SWANSOtf, and Mr. CA.RLBTON. The clause was agreed to, and clause i was moved, empowering the Superintendent to appoint a person or public body to be the local authority to carry out tho Act. Mr. Bai>t moved, as an amendment, that the words be added, "Except in such caaes where an officer is already appointed." Mr. Carleton said the hon. member had certainly touched the weak point in the clause ; but a difficulty aroae in deciding as to the limits of the City Board boundary and that of the Act. It might, therefore, be possible that if a nuisance existed within the Municipal Police Act boundary it might be beyond the City Board boundary ; and, therefore, another officer would be required to be appointed. Mr. Swastson said the difficulty would be got over if, as he had before suggested, the Act were carried ont under the authority of the police. He would suggest that the words " or public body should be struck out. Mr. Carlkton feared, if that were done, the Superintendent might appoint the Chairman of the City Board as Inspector of Nuisances. (Laughter.) Mr. Swanson thought, from the duties to be performed, the Provincial Secretary would be about the best man that could be appointed as Inspector of Nuisances. (Great laughter.) He would only add one word, that it would be most unjust to thrust any work under the Act upon the City Board, because they had more on hand at present than they could attend to. The clause was ultimately carried as printed. The remaining clauses and sub-sections up to the Bth clause were passed with verbal amendment*, with the exception of the sth clause, which was postponed, when progress was reported and leave granted to sit again.

REPORT. Mr. Williamson laid upon the table a report of the Select Committee on the Weeds and Watercourses Bill. , ' The Council adjourned at ten minutes to eleven o'clock.