PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4197, 26 January 1871, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25.

The Speaker took his seat in the chair at 3 o'clock. INCREASE TO SALARIES OF CLERKS. Mr. Dybr moved, " Th»t a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to recommend this Council to appropriate the sum of £25 as an addition to the Salary of the Clerk of Records under the head of Executive, on the 32stimate«, and a like sum as an addition to the salary of the Clerk of Kecoids under the head of Waste Lands." — The motion was carried upon the voices.

MR. MURRAY AGAIN. Mr. Murray moved, "That a respectful address be presented to hiu Honor the Superintendent, requesting that his Honor's assent be withheld from the City Loan Act Repeal Act until » distinct pledge be given by the city authorities for the carrying out of the honourable understanding between them and the various members of this Council, viz., th*t steps would be taken by the City Board for the erection of a market* house on the Market Reserve." He thought, from the appearance of the City Board, the city was just as far from having a corporation as it was a yeir ago. Were the city members to give an expression of opinion upon this subject he would not press the motion. Mr. Shepherd seconded the motion. Mr. Philips said he was not much surprised at such a motion coming from Mr. Murray. The city members had not relaxed in their desire and efforts in obtaining a market for the city of Auckland. The city members were at all times willing to afford every explanation to country members respecting this matter. The motion was false in bo far a3 it stated an "honourable understanding " had not been carried out. There was no such pledge given by city members or himself. Besides, the Superintendent would not ao far ignore the voice of tlia Council as to refuse his assent to the Oifcy Loan Act Repeal Act. A corporation could very soon be established in Auckland. The bill was ready, and only waited the assent of the Superintendent. He would not refuse his assent to that bill, which was now in his hands. If the assent was given to the bill within thirty days, it would then be advertised sixty days in the Gazette, when the bill could become law. The mem bers of the City Board, in office when the Corporation Bill became law, would then ba the first councillors, and thus they would be in a position to fully carry out the understanding come to when the Repeal Act was passed. At present the city could not borrow money for the purpose of erecting a market ; but, when the Corporation Bill became law, they would be in a position to borrow money for that purpose. The city members only awaited the assent of his Houor the Superintendent to take active steps in pushing on the erection of a market. At present they were doing all they could by filling up the market-place as fast as they had material to do so. Mr. Dignan repudiated the idea of such a pledge being given by the city members a3 Mr. Murray implied. The motion was imperfciueafc, and one the Superintendent would pay no attention to. It was dictating to him what bis duty was. There waa^ no pledge given by the city members save promising to ask for no more money from the general revenue of the province for making or repairing streets of the city if the Loan Repeal Act were agreed to. Mr. Murray was a man who was always endeavouring to have provincial institutions abolished, and now he came forward to ask the Council to desire the Superintendent to withhold his assent from an Act agreed upon in the Council. He would ask Mr. Murray to withdraw the motion^ Mr. Ellis spoke in a similar strain. Mr. Dyer agreed with Mr. Philips that no such promise or pledge was given by the city members as had been referred to in the motion. He had fought against the passing of the Repeal Act ; but, now that it was passed, lie thought Mr, Murray toW act ! wisely ia withdrawing flue motion. Ise | would vote against it. Mr. Swanson spoke at some length on the subject, and urged Mr. Murray to withdraw the motion. Mr. Macready also spoke against the motion. He stated that the City Board were doing as much as they could to prepare the Market-place for building. Within the last three months some 5,000 yards of filling-in had been made at that place. Were the matter hurried, the cost would be much greater. He thought the motion should never have been put on the notice paper. Mr. Murray replied, and obtained leave to withdraw the objectionable motion. BRIDGES AND WORKS IN THE NORTH. Mr. Lundon moved, " That a respectful I address be presented to his Honor the Supmnfcendenfc, requesting him to mako pro« vision for the following public works ia tee Mangonui district out of the sum of £1,000, set apart by resolution of the Council for works in districts in which no highway boards have been formed (being part of the appropriation of the General Assembly for highway purposes) ; viz. , £30 for a bridge at Purapura, £20 for one at Maungatete, and £50 for a bridge and approaches at i Waitui." The Provincial Secretary drew the attention of the mover to the fact that the £1,000 referred to was set apart to aid those districts in |which highway 'boards might be formed during the year, and not as in the wording of the motion. Mr. Murray moved, as an amendment, "That all the words between 'sum' and 'viz.' be struck out, and the following inserted in lieu thereof, ' vote of £3,500 in aid of roads and works north of Auckland.' " The motion, as amended, was agreed to. EDUCATION ACT. Dr. Nicholson asked the Provincial Secretary, without notice, " Are we to have an Education Act brought before the Council this session?" The Provincial Secretary slated they had one before the Council at present. The reason why there was a delay in going on with this bill was that some alterations had to be made in it to make it suitable to the present Executive, and some time was occupied in making those alterations. Those alterations had now been made, and he saw no reason why the bill should not be again considered. It was the intention of the Government to go on with that measure. HARBOUR BOARD BILL. Mr. Philips asked the Provincial Secretary, without-notice — Is it the intention of the Government to proceed with the Har bour Board Bill this session ? He always observed that this order of the day was placed at the bottom of the list. The Provincial Secretary replied that the Harbour Board Bill chanced to be near the bottom of the list to-day, but that was by mere chance. There was no intention on the part of the Government to shelve this question this session. . Mr. Philips expressed himself satisfied with the assurance of * fle Government. THJI QA.^ °* MMA - y HOOHE. Mr. MAY-ai° ve d» "That this Council doth concur * a * no recommendation contained in jnterim Report ISlo. 41 of the Petitions and Private Grievance Committee on the case of Mary Roche." — The motion, was agreed to. VSEPUL INDUSTRIES. 4 Mr, Ellis moved^ " Thau this Council do now resolve itself into a committee of the whole to take into consideration the report of the Select Committee on Useful Industries." — The motion was agreed to. I The Council went into committee, Mr. Gordon la the chair. Tso discussion emnetl, \ and tho following resolution was adopted : j — Moved- by Mr. Ellis, "That this committee doth concur in the recommendation contained in the report of the Committee on Useful Industries. The Council resumed, progress was reported,, and the resolution of the committee was adopted by the Council. On the motion of Mr. Ellis the usual address to the Superintendent, asking him to give effect to the same, was adopted without opposition. , THK WAOITAHI HIGHWAY TRUSTEES. Mr. Bevwbidgk moved, " That the memorial of the Trustees of the Waiotahi High* wg Btatritf* pwawitod on tto 23rd jiuton^

be now taken into consideration." Mr. Be vend ge spoke at some length on the question, and moved the following resolution : — "That a respctful address be presented to onHhisor the Superintendent, requesting him to send down to this Council a Fire Rate Bill for the town of Grahamstown." The motion was agreed to. MOUNT ST. JOHN RESERVE BILL. The Council went into committee to further consider this bill, Mr. Douglas in the chair. The Provincial Secetary moved that the Chairman do novr leave b\xe cbair, j Question put ; the Committee divided ; Ayes, 6 ; noes, 14. The motion was therefore lost. Various slight amendments were j made, when a motion was made to report j progress. Ihe Council resumed, progress was reported, and the third reading fixed for next sitting-day. IMMIGRATION AND PUBLIC WORKS. The Council went into committee to further consider his Honor's Message No. 31, respecting the Immigration and Public Works Act. — Mr. Lusic moved, ' ' That this Council recommends that the following railway works should be undertaken by the Colonial Government, in pursuance of Clause 6 of the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870 :— (1) A continuation of the line from Auckland to Waikato, by the valley of the Waikato to the frontier settlements of the Wtiikato delta. (2) A branch line to connect Waiuku and the adjacent settlements with the line from Auckland to the Waikato. (3) A railway from Mahurangi to Port lbert. And that when practicable they should be carried out under the guarantee by the colony of six per cent, upon the outlay." After a lengthy debate, motion was made to report progress. The Council resumed, progress was reported, and leave given to sit again on Friday next.

AUCTIONEERS LICENSING ACT AMENDMENT BILL. After a few remarks from the Provincial Secretary, the bill was read a second time ' without opposition. The Council went into committee of the whole to consider this bill, Mr. Douglas in the chair. The bill passed through comniii/tee, without amendment. The Council resumed : progress was reported. The bill was then read a third time, and passed.

HIGHWAYS BILL. On the motion of Mr. Siieehax, the third reading of this bill was adjourned until noxt sitting-day. THE APPROPRIATION BILL. The Council went into committee to further consider this bill, Mr. Haralin in the chair. The bill passed through committee, with amendments. The Council resumed, nd progress was reported. Mr. Shkehan moved that the bill be read a third time to-morrow. Dr. Njcholsov moved aa an amendment, " That the word 'to-morrow' be struck out, in order (o insert ' on Fnday next.' " Question put ; Council divided : .\yeg, 13 ; noes, 12. The amendment was consequently lost. RAILWAY RESERVE AT THE BAY OY ISLANDS. The adjourned debate on the question, "That, in pursuance of the Utli section of the Auckland Waste Lands Acfc, ISG7, hia II onor the Superintendent is hereby recommended to set apart; as a public reserve 1,280 acres of land, part of the Ruapekapeka block, at the Bay of Islands, and that such reserve | be dedicated to the purpose of constructing 1 and keeping in repair a railway from the said block to deep water at the Bay of Islands harbour, and a wharf at the deep-water terminus of the said railway," was called on ; but, on the motion of the Provincial Secretary, it was adjourned until ntxt sittingday.

THE LICENSING BILL. Oa tho motion of Mr. Sheehan the third reading of this bill was adjourned until the j next sitting-day.

THE EDUCATION BILL. The Couucil went into committee to further oonaidor tha Education Bill, Dr. Sam in the chair. — Mr. Shejekan explained that, during the time since this bill was last before the Council, he had made many alterations upon it, but the principle of the bill was still the same. — Mr. Creighton stated that the General Government would very likely introduce a general measure for the colony at next session of the Assembly. There was no necessity to proceed with the bill this session, and he therefore moved that the Chairman do now report progress. He moved this in order to give members time to consider the serious alterations that had beea made in the principle of the bill. — The motion to report progress was carried. The Council resumed ; progress was reported. Mr. Sheehan moved, " That the bill be further considered to-morrow." Mr. Bucicland moved as an amendment, "That tlia Vitl he further considered <?a Friday next." Some diacussion arose, when both the original motion and the amendment were withdrawn for the purpose of having the new bill brought to the Council by message from the Superintendent. The old bill was also withdruwn. MESSAGE PROM THE SUPERINTENDENT. The Speaker read Vlessage 48 from his Honor the Superintendent, transmittiig to Council the Education Bill, 1871. The t ill was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Friday. HARBOUR BOARD BILL. Upon the motion of Mr. Sheehan, the further consideration of the bill was postponed until next sitting-day. HAURAKI TOWN BOARD BILL. Upon the motion of Mr. Sheehan, this order of the day was dischai'ged from the order paper. At 9.55 p.m. the Council adjourned until 3 o'clock next sitting-day (Thursday).