PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 791, 17 November 1865, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

THIS DAT. The Speaker took the chair at 2 o’clock. Mr Macandrew presented a petition from Archibald Fullarton, Port Chalmers, praying for the redress of certain alleged grievances. Mr Street presented a memorial from 300 owners and occupiers of land and residents in North East Valley, praying for the widening of a certain dangerous portion of the road. Mr Haggitt presented a petition, signed by 1500 residents in Dunedin, praying the Council to reconsider its decision respecting the conversion of the Exhibition building into an hospital. Mr Adams wished to know if this petition was brought forward by the lion, member as a member of the Government, or in bis private capacity as member for Dunedin. The Provincial Treasurer said the Government had’nothing whatever to do with it. The building was nearly finished, and they had declined to receive a similar petition. Mr Haggitt presented it as a private member. The Speaker reminded the House that Ministries do not present petitions ; they must come through private'members. Several notices of motion were made. The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table the Provincial Balance Sheet for the last half-year. A Bill to indemnify-the Supeiintendont for expenditure in excess of appropriations was read a first time, ordered to be printed, and the second reading made an order of the day for Monday. On the motion of Mr Hughes, a House Committee, composed of Messrs Lleyd, Burns, and the mover, was appointed. Mr Reynolds moved the appointment of a Printing Committee, consisting of Mr Speaker, and Messrs Blair, Mouat, Miller, and the mover —carried. The Provincial Secretary rose to move “That the question of the Band Resolutions be referred to a Select Committee, the said Committee to consist of Messrs Morris, Reynolds, Bell, Mount, Blair, Macandrew, and the mover.” He adverted to the circumstances which had rendered it necessary for the -Council again to deal with the laud question, and to decide whether; it would be better to reaffirm the last resolutions, or to alter them in any material degree so as to evade the objections against them in the Assembly. He thought a Select_ Committee was a more convenient mode of dealing with the matter, and would enable a distinct issue to be placed before the Council. Owing to the very imperfect manner in which the proceedings of the Assembly were reported, the Government was perfectly ignorant of the reasons which had led to the miscarriage of the Bill, and it was very inadvisable that after second legislation the Bill should be a second time returned. The three resolutions laid on the table pesberday would be also referred to the Select Committee. With regard to the first of those, the removal of all restrictions in a neighboring Province (Sonthland.) rendered it absolutely necessary that Otago should offer similar facilities for settlement, unless territorial revenue was to cease altogether. The proposed Committee included Messrs Reynolds and Macandrew, the former of whom had charge of the Bill in the Assembly, and the latter was understood to have been mainly instrumental in defeating it. They would thus be able to maturely consider the objections to the Bill, and to place a tangible issue before the Council. Mr Mouat strongly opposed the appointment of the Select Committee. The _ question had been considered before, and be believed tlie resolutions passed last Session were the best that could be devised. (“No, no.”) Speculators could not be excluded without a tax, and he believed if the tax had been insisted on, all would have been right. lie moved as an amendment that the question of the amended Land Resolutions be considered by a committee of the whole House. Mr Maddock could see no possible necessity for the Select Committee. The House was already in possession of all the evidence. He supported the amendment. Mr Lloyd would support the amendment. He considered that the Government ought to have informed themselves of all that it was necessary to know, and have had a Bill prepared, and stand or fall by it.

The Provincial Treasurer reminded the House that the Bill before them was the same as passed by the Council. The Government only desired fair discussion. The Bill was not a Government measure, nor did they contemplate making the Land question a Ministerial one. The proposed committee included representatives of every class interested in tne question, and the Government wished to avoid all party considerations.

Mr Vogel supported the amendment. ' The Government hair come forward at this early stage of the session with a timid po’icy, that invited opposition. die had no wish to disturb the present occupants of the Ministerial benches, for, although not a political Government, he believe;! it to be a very good departure Teal one, an I he would not wish to incommode them, at any rate, until after the next election. Put he sad it was absurd that after the House had been told, in his Honor’s speech, that the whole question would have to bo reconsidered, and other resolutions adopted, the Government should come to the House with such indefinite ideas. He could tell them why the Bill was defeated in the Assembly ; —it was mainly by the efforts of one or two of the Otago members themss’ves ; and also owing to a very free y and generally circulated nunor that the Oca-ro Government did not really desire the Bill to pass. Another reason was that Mr Reynolds brought in another new and extreme measure before tire other was defeated —a measure which did not emanate from the Council in any way. Mr Reynolds denied that the Government were divided on the'main principles of the Bill. He had said that he was aw r are there was a good deal of opposition in Otago to the Bill, and that

if it 'were not passed, he did not think the Provincial Government would bring it in again. He believed that if any Land Bill were passed one day, and submitted for a revision the next, an entirely fresh one would result. The Provinces were always changing the land laws. Mr John Cargill, Mr Adams, and Mr H. J. Miller supported the amendment. Mr J. G. S. Grant spoke in favor of the amendment in a moderate and sensible speech. The Provincial Secretary said the Government had no desire to press the motion against the wish of the House, and would withdraw it in favor of the amendment of Mr Mouat. [Our reporter left at half-past three o’clock.]