PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4144, 24 November 1870, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23. The Speaker took the chair at 3 o'clock. PETITIONS RECEIVED* Mr. Kerr presented a petition from the ratepayers in Pakuranga, Howick, Maraefcai, &c, complaining against the amount of tolls levied at the Tamaki Bridge, and praying that they be made the same as those levied at the Ofcahuhu and Newmarket toll-gates. Captain .Freer presented a petition from Mary Brady, formerly Mary Miller, whose deceased husband came here in 1853, and joined the Fencible Force, but died about seven years ago. Sha prayed for relief. Mr. Creighton presented a petition from William Hill, formerly of the Royal Engineers, praying for a grant of land. Captain Freeh presented a petition from Jamea McCabe, praying for relief on the behalf of some relatives, whose passages he had paid to bring them out to this province. PATENT SLIP FOR AUCKLAND. The Provincial Secretary laid on the tab]©, by direction of the Superintendent, report, &c, relative to the erection of a patent slip at Auckland, The papers were ordered to lie on the table, DISPOSAL OE VAUIOUS PETITIONS. On the motion of various members, the petitions of Hezekiah. Monks, James Keyb"rn > Charles Dundaa, Riohwd Turner, and Alexander Bonner, were Teferred to the Petitions and Private Grievance Committee. ■Kit ?? RTH 2tfW DIVISION PETITIONS. Mr. M'; S fc A y moved, " That the petitions ot^Vthern ■Division eleotorabe referred to a delect committee, to oonsist of Mr. Cadmani I Mr, Ellis, Mr. MoLeod, Dr. Nicholson, and i the mover." I Dr. Nicholson moved, as an amendment, , that his name be struck off the committee, as it waa impossible for him to attend, The amendment was carried. Mr, Murray moved that the name of Mr. Shepherd be added in the place of Dr. Nicholson, so that the committee might consist of five members. Motion agreed to. CONSTABLE FOSTER'S CASK. Dr. Sam moved, "That the time within which the select committee in Foster's case is to report be extended for 10 dajs." Motion agreed to. POLICE CONTROL AND DISCIPLINE. Mr. Cbeighton moved, "That it be an instruction to the Foster Petition Committee to inquire into and report upon the control, discipline, and cost of that portion of the Armod Constabulary force assumed to be under the control of the Provincial Government, since the incorporation of the Auckland Armed Police with the New Zealand Armed Constabulary." He said his object in moving this was to save a motion for an independent inquiry into the control and discipline of the police force serving in Auckland. If the motion were objected to, he should table an independent motion having [ that object in view. j Mr. Beveridge seconded the motion. I The Provincial Secretary would not 1 oppose the motion ; but he submitted to the hon. member for Newton whether the committee appointed to inquire into Foster's petition were competent for such extended duties as were contemplated in the motion before the House. He thought Mr. Creighton should add the names of aome gentlemen to that committee who would bo competent to conduct such an inquiry. If he did not do so he should move, at a future stage of the proceedings, additional names to be added to the committee. Dr. Sam agreed with the motion, and hoped it would be passed. Mr. Creighton replied, and stabed he had no intention to embarrass the Government, but, as there were (strange rumours flying about reapeoting the police force, he thought they should be thoroughly inquired into. He would make lio objection to any addition to the committee that the Executive should think fit to propose. He wished to save time, and, as Foster's Committee had not finished their inquiry, an opportunity was presented to have the double inquiry • carried out expeditiously. The motion was agreed to. ALBERT BARRACKS SITE. Mr. Gordon moved, "That the report of the Albert Barracks Committee be printed." : —Motion agreed to. MOUNT WELLINGTON HIGHWAY TRUSTEES. Mr. Hill moved (in the absence of Mr. Hurst), " That the petition presented on the 15th November from the Chairman of the Mount Wellington Highway Trustees be referred to a select committee ; committee to consist of Mr, May, Mr. Cadman, Mr. Creighton, Captain Freer, Mr. Kerr, Mr. Hay, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Keyburn, Dr. Sam, and and the mover." — The motion was agreed to. THE GIIAHAMSTOWN WHARF. Mr. Bevebidge moved, "That this Council do now resolve itself into committee of the whole to take into consideration the petition of residents in Grahamstown and Shortland, relating to Grahamstown wharf." The motion being agreed to, the Council went into committee of the whole upon the petition referred to : Mr. Hamlin in the cbair. Mr. Beveridge, after the petition was read, urged the prayer of the petition upon the attention of the Council. Sinoe the ereotion of the Grahamstown wharf the increase of mud had considerably diminished the usefulness of that erection. The wharf that had been erected at Tararu was really unsafe — in fact, landing passengers there was frequently dangerous ; it was altogether unfitted for the purpose of passenger traffic. He stated that the inhabitants of Grahamstown and Shortland were more in favour of the present wharf being extended 300 yards than to have an extension of the Tararu wharf. He therefore moved, "That a respectful addreßß be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, praying for an extension of the Grahamstown wharf, in the terms of the petition, for a distance of 300 yards," Dr. Sam seconded the motion. Mr. Hurst said the motion before the House was one of those "fancy motions" which had been so muoh talked about ia the former part of the present session. He had it from good nautical authority that, suppose the wharf at Grahamstown were extended 300 yards, it would only give steamers half • an-hour'g additional time, an advantage which certainly would not compensate for the extra expense. Mr. J. McLeod warmly supported the motion. Mr. Cadman stated that,if 300 yards were added to the length of the present wharf at Grahamstown, an additional depth of lft. 9in. to 2ft. would be obtained, which would enable steamers to get in and out from the j wharf at a much earlier state of the tide j than they could do at present. j The Provincial Secretary did not agree j with the statement made by Mr. Cadman. j From surveys made by the Government it ; was found that nothing like the extra depth would be got which Mr. Cadman stated. ' He understood there was a sort of bank j about 1,200 yards out from the end of the present wharf, over which a depth of 2ft. was barely got. The place where the wharf was constructed was rapidly silting up, and from the large amount of debris coming \ down the various creeks from the different machines it would continue to get more r*pidly silted up as the wharf was extended. Although it was extended nearly to the ; other side, it would not be thoroughly serviceable. As to the inconvenience of travelling the distance from ,Tararu to Grahamatown, ho believed that would soon be oveicome by the construction of a tramway from that wharf to Grahamstown. Besides, this Grahamstown Wharf was going rapidly into a state of decay. It was 'leased at present for a twelvemonth, and if the resolution were agreed to there would be aome difficulty in this matter. He had heard that a private company was about to construct a wharf at the end of Abrahamstreet, which would be free from the danger of silting up, which the present wharf was liable to. Be believed there was another difficulty. At, a distance of about 1,400 yards from the end of the present wharf at Grahanutown was a large, horseshoe hank. Iwidt that bank there was the depth of

water which ho had formerly mentioned. On the top of the bank there was not a greaterjdepthof water than at the end of the wharf; and this bank must be crossed by every vessel leaving and coifaing to 1 the wharf. His authorities for' this statement were Captain Wall, of the p. a. * Williams,' and Captain Fatquhar, of the p.s. * Royal Alfred/ j Mr. Mitchell supported the motion. By | the action of the Provincial Government certain vested interests had grown up by the wharf being erected there. Had it not been for Mr. Graham being permitted to erect his wharf there, the landing-place for the Thames would have been in a different place from either the present wharf or the Tararu wharf, fle admitted that what was called the Tararu wharf, or what should be called " New London," would be always the proper deep-water landing-place for the Thames. The Government ought never to have allowed the flat thete to be obtained by private individuals afteif the Thames had been declared a goldfield. Mi*. SwANSon hoped there would be an estimate given of the great works asked for by the Thames members. Nine hundred feet added to the end of the Grahamstown Wharf was a great work. The reclaiming work which had been referred to might be very valuable, but he thought the committee should hesitate before committing themselves to such an uncertain amount of expenditure. On the suggestion of Mr. Lundon, Mr. BjBVBRinaE by leave withdrew his motion. The Counoil resumed. THE NORTH SHORE WHARVES. Captain Freer moved, " That the petition of certain electors of the Northern Division, praying that no time be lost in putting the question of the repairs and maintenance of the wharves at the North Shore upon a satiafaotoryand permanent footing, be referred to a select committee ; committee to consist of Mr. Creighton, Mr. May, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Sheehan, and the mover j to bring up a report on Tuesday." Mr. Philips moved as an amendment that the names of Mr. Brookfield and Mr Ellis be added to the committee. The amendment was agreed to. The Provincial Secretary moved, as a further amendment, that the words, "and that the committee be instructed to consider his Honor's Message No. 23," be added. The motion was agreed to in its amended form. THE HOUSE COMMITTEE'S REPOHT. Captain Freer moved, "That Interim Eeport No. 1 of the House Committee be now taken into consideration." He read the report showing the improvements which were recommended. Mr. Cadman hoped something would be done for the better ventilation of the Council Chamber. At present the members had to go out every half-hour or so to get f reah air. Captain Freer said he would call the committee together again to consider that question, which had been talked about at the former sittings of the committee. Some discussion arose as to the propriety ' of laying on gas for the Council Chamber, j but the report of thecommittee was ultimately \ adopted by the Council. PRIVATE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE. | Captain Freer moved, "That Mr. | Mitchell and Dr. Sam be added to the j Petitions and Private Grievance Committee." After debate, Mr. May moved as au amendment, "That Mr. Shepherd and Mr. M. McLeod be added to tho or>mmittee." The amendment to the motion was agreed to. ; THE MINERS' HIQHTS CORRESPONDENCE. , Mr. Bevebidob moved, "That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to send down | to this Council all correspondence between \ his Honor and the General Government on the subject of rights since the Ist September, 1870."— Agreed to. A MINISTER'S MANSE. Mr. Lusk moved, "That the petition of D. H. Lusk and Joseph Crispe be referred to the Petitions and Private Grievance Com- • mittee." — Agreed to. REPORT ON OPAHEKE ROAD BILL. Mr. Cretghton brought up the report of the committee appointed to inquire into the Opaheke Road Bill, 1870. The report was received, and was ordered to lie on the table. THE ESTIMATES. The Provincial Secretary stated that he must crave the indulgence of the Council for not having brought down the Estimates sooner, but owing to sickness he had not been able to have them fully completed. However, he should make his financial statement on Friday afternoon, and have the debate on the Estimates adjourned until Tuesday : the Estimates to be printed and i circulated amongst the members before j Friday afternoon. HOUR OV ADJOURNMENT. ! Mr. Lusk moved, " 1. That the resolution passed on the 3rd November instant — that Mr. Speaker or the Chairman of Committees, 1 as the case may be, do, without question put, leave the chair at six o'clock p.m., and resume the same at seven p.m. -be rescinded. 2. That this Council shall, on each sittingday, meet for the despatch of business at three o'clock p.m., and that at nine o'clock p.m., unloas otherwise ordered, the Council shall adjourn." Mr. Mitchell moved as an amendment, " That the Council meet each day for the despatch of business at ten o'clock a.m." The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. Mr. Hay moved, as an amendment, "That the Council meet at two o'clock each day, adjourn for half-an*hour at six o'clock, and finally adjourn at nine o'clook." Mr. Gordon moved, as an addition to Mr. Hay's amendment, " And that the duration of each session of the Council shall not extend beyond twenty-one days, inclusive." The amendment was negatived. Mr. Reyburn moved, as an amendment, " And that the following words be added : That the duration of this Council shall not extend beyond twenty-one days from the day of opening, inclusive." After a long debate, Mr. Lusk asked leave to withdraw the motion. Leave was granted, and the amendment aud original motion were withdrawn. BEACH BOAD TO PARNELL. Mr, LuaK moved, " That an .address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to procure and to furnish this Council with an estimate of the probable cost of the construction of a road from Point Britomart across Mechanics' Bay to the foot of Parnell Hill, at a point on the seaward side of the site of the factory of the Sash and Door Company." The motion was agreed to. PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC LIBRARY. The adjourned debate on the following motion, moved by Mr. Boylan, was resumed: "That this Council is of opinion that the Provincial Government should take steps for the encouragement of free public libraries through >ut the highway districts of the province. That, -with that view, the Council recommends the Superintendent to reserve a portion of the provincial revenue of the ensuing year to aid in, the creation of such libraries. That the Superintendent be invited to recommend the Council to appropriate a sufficient sum of money to enable him to contribute an equal amount to that raised by Highway Boards under the Public Libraries Act, 1869 : provided that during the ensuing year the contribution from the Provincial Treasury to any one "Board shall not exceed £100. , That, with the view of establishing a Free Public Library in the city of Auckland, the Superintendent should invite the City Board to co-operate with the Provincial Government. That this Council suggest the following icheme for the establishment qf such a library ■, in the City :r~ That the Provkoial Government do dedicate the old Supreme Court-house site for the undermentioned purposes :— A site for ar Town Hall, and Public Library, and- Museum, conjointly with a lite for ' a Provincial > Council Chamber and Provincial Government Offices^ That for the erection of the buildings aboye •pacified the' sum- of .r. r be provided as follows t^jOne moiety to r be iborrowgd^b^ the City Board for the creation of th© Town Hftll* Libtwft and -, MvdMitt '^QHTmtiSi

moiety' to be contributed by the province for the erection of the Provincial Council Chamber and Provincial Government Offices. That the" Provincial Government contribution of bhe-Half to the ejection of iti share of the proposed buildings be re-couped to the Provincial Treasury by the sale of <the allotment on which the present Provincial' Council Chamber stands, and the old Podt-office site in Princes-street, or such other provincial property within the city as may be at tho disposal of and not required by the Government. That with the view to the establishment of a free Public Library the City Board should be invited, under the powers conferred on them by the Public libraries Act, 1869, to levy a rate for the creation of a Library, the Council believing that a rate of one penny in the pound would yield a sum of £300 J)er annum. That* so soon a8 the City Board shall have raised a sum oi £600 for the establishment of a public libraiy, the library of the ProTiucial Council shall be placed in the building provided by the City Board, under the proposed arrangement. That, so soon as the City Board shall have expended £1,200 on the proposed library, the whole Provincial Council Libiary, with the exception of Parliamentary worka, shall become the property of the City Board' for the purposes of a public library. That, in the management, of the library proposed to be established, the Superintendent of the province and the Speaker of the Provincial Council be members ex officio of any committee appointed to manage the library. That, in the measure to give effect to this scheme, power should be taken to enable the present Mechanics'' Institute and Auckland Institute to amalgamate with the proposed public library and Museum on such terms as may be agreed on between those bodies, and the City Board or the managing committee appointed by the Board for the purposes of a library." The Speaker stated the question, when Mr, Boylan moved that the motion standing in his name be considered in committee of the whole Council. The motion was agreed to, and the Council went into committee, Mr. Hurst in the chftir, Mr. Boylan mored the adoption of the first portion of his motion, ending with the word " £100." After a debate, The Provincial Secretary stated that if Mr. Boylan withdrew his motion he would be prepared to move in committee, when considering the Education Bill, that clause 40 of the Common Schools Act, relative to the establishment of public libraries, should be incorporated in the new Education Bill. This would accomplish the same object sought by the hon. member for City West, and, he thought, in a much better manner than by the motion now before the committee. „ The first portion was agreed to. Mr. Boylan" then moved the adoption of the second portion of his motion. With moat of the details on the plans he agreed, but the hotel portion of them he disapproved of. The estimated cost of the whole proposed buildings was £35,000, unless there should be some unforeseen difficulty about the foundation. For this expenditure they would have ten shops facing Queen-street, besides some half-dozen others in less-im-portant situations. It would bo necessary to guarantee interest upon the expenditure, say to the extent of 6 per cent. He would show the amount of capital the rents of the shops, &c, would represent. He estimated the rents which would be got from the shops to be £30 per week, although some he had spoken to about the matter had estimated the rents as high! as £36 per week. This would pay interest at six per cent, upon a capital of £35,000. If the Provincial Council removed from the present buildings they now occupied, they could not get buildings sufficient to accommodate them, without an expenditure of £3,000 at least. These accommodations were provided for in the proposed building. The Kre* Brigade, the City Board, the Harbour Board, District Court, &c, could all be accommodated in the proposed building, which would altogether pay interest upon a gross capital of £43,700. Besides these, there would be room for the town hall, public library, and other accommodations, all free. He referred to the Public Library in Melbourne, and hoped the committee would do their utmost to carry out his proposals. He urged the Government not on any account to '"part with the allotment of land which he proposed to utilise j for, if they did so, they would never get such another valuable allotment in the city of Auckland. I Mr, Brookfield opposed the motion. The situation was not healthy, as it would be situated over that "abomination of aboini- j nations," the Ligar Canal. The proposed j site was noisy, which was not suitable for a | place for study. There was provision made j in the Supreme Court for a District Court- [ house ou the upper floor, but for want of money it was never finished. But he understood that about £1,500 or £2,000 would finish everything that was required to complete the Supreme Court, and thus some of the accommodation provided for \>y Mr. Boylan's motion would be useless. The site of the Auckland Institute in Princes-street was much better adapted for the purpose of a free public library than the proposed site in Queen-street. Mr. Swanson warmly supported the motion of Mr. Boylan. He considered it necessary to have ail the public ofneea near to each other. It might be very desirable for the members of the Auckland Institute to have a quiet place to study in Princos-street, but it would never do to have the Mechanics' ; Institute there. Working men would never consent to climb the hill in a wet day to the old Post-office site. If the Mechanics' Institute joined with the Auckland Institute he was afraid the Mechanics' Institute would become absorbed in it, and thereby become lost, Mr. Philips thought the thanks of the Council were due to Mr. Boylan for bringing such a motion forward. He was afraid it would fall through on account of its largeness. Mr, May opposed the motion, and thought it would be quite time to consider it six months hence. Mr. Mitchell approved of the motion, and hoped to see a library established | such as was established ' years ago in Melbourne. If the Auckland aud Mechanics' Institutes were amalgamated, ha felt sure they would never work well. He saw no difficulty in raising tho money for the proposed buildings. They could borrow for it as for other purposes. He would support the motion. Mr. Hiiiii looked upon the motion as the most important that had been yet introduced for the consideration of the Provincial Council, He held that, besides the offices mentioned by Mr. Boylan, there should also be the Superintendent's offices, a central police-atation, and an infirmary or general hospital. He was sure that, if the scheme were carried, it would pay handsome returns upon the outlay. There could bo a great many more shops erected than the number mentioned by Mr. Boylan. He would like two ai-cades running through the proposed block of buildings, giving a greater nuriiber of shops, and thus a large amount of rent a3 income. , , After several other members had spoken to the question, ,the motion was at last agreed to. ' The Council resumed, and- adopted the motions agreed to in committee. , CITY BOATII) LOAN AqTS REEEAt. BILL. Mir. Oreiohtok moved the second reading of the City Board Loan Aots Rej|eal\Bill He did so believing that the proVinciaK institutions were things tpassing ayray, and these Loan Acts should' be swept out o! existence before the General Goyejrnmeijt took ,th« management of provincial afffutis. ■'" The debt altogether amounted to some £35,000, so;far as he understood. •» v >'; ',";'.' ~ * ; AMebate followed, after wTxicli ', ' ; -' The Provincial SKSKBTASY (i moYed as. wt Amendment, '« That the bill hetesd this day. aix;mopths.»- ** : sr>ikK£*>?-: y j\ a : *'^Thp '-"amendment wa^'seco?iaeq[j t :i/ ,'<■ f, Mr) JMAY* moved * the 'of; i the ?deß»te until the iiext v »it%^4*y' '< V ] ' . Th«» Council « diyi(U4

14. Tke motion for adjournment was therefore carried. AUDI* COMMUTES S HEPORT. The' P&oviNe'iAii Secretary laid on the tablfe the report of the Audit Committee, and promised to lay on the table on the following day a copy of the Estimates for 1871. The report was read and ordered to lie on the tahle. The Council at 11.15 p.m. adjourned until 3 o'clock next aitting-day (Thursday).