MAYOR'S COURT.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2062, 14 December 1869, Page 2

MAYOR'S COURT.

Tins Day. (Before T. Birch, Esq., K.M., and Capt. Fraser, Esq., J.P.) DRUNK AND DISORDERLY, Samuel Farra and John Duff for this offence wepe each fined 10s or 24 hours’ impriaomuent. MINOR OFFKN ( CBL Samuel Crafts was charged on tfio information of Inspector Nimon. with permitting a nuisance on his premises, fined IQs .costs. James Hay for hawking without a license was fined ss. T. H. Townsend for hawking and selling milk without a license was discharged with a caution, and ordered to at once take out a license.

(Continued from Supplement.) they would have received every consideration. But the Government received from thorn an offei which the Provisional Committee acknowledge was very wide of the mark on which they directed the Provincial Solicitor to prepare their part of the condiditions ; and they reduced the amount of guarantee, as agreed upon between the Provisional Committee and the Government. Thera were other conditions proposed which were very likely legal and usual In such docAments. Had the Provisional Committee been anxious to carry out the work, it was for them to have offered modifications of those terms, instead of which they passed a resolution couched in very strong teims. He would not say there was anything beyond what appeared on the surface. Ho was of opinion there was; hut as soon as it went abroad they had rejected the terms offered by the Government they received other offers. If the Government had refused their offers, if they would have said the Government had offered terms to the Provisional Committee, which they had rejected and they had offered other terms. What would they then have said, “ There’s your Government, what confidence can yon have in them ?” There was no reason to believe that the pending negotiations wonld fall through. A little delay was required before the agreement could be prepared, but ho had no doubt when prepared It wonld be carried out to the satisfaction of the Province. But if the Government did not receive such terms as were fair to the Province they would treat it in the same way aa they had done the proposals of the Provisional Committee, popular or unpopular, so long as they had the confidence of the Council and the Country, he would see and do what was right to the Province It might have been very grievous to the Provisional Committee to have their proposals rejected, although they themselves were nervous where to find funds to carry out the work. It would have bowi a very serious thing to find it was not carried through. Ho had heard that some had said they were very glad so long as it was carried through who carried it out. The members of the Council were not very particular, so long as it was done, who carried out the work. Ho believed there were two amendments before the House. The Reply had been called a milk-and-water one, and one hoa. member said it contained mors water than milk. He thought the address as prepared was quite as intelligible as if it contained the interpolations of ths hon. member for Waikari. Ho found fault tfiat anything should bs said that the House wj>s pleased to hear of the propositions for re-union with Southland, and that the Commissioners had agreed in preparing that report. He did not see any harm in expressing an opinion to that effect. The Council agreed almost unanimously that a Commission should bo appointed. What objection could there bs to saying that they had agreed! Suppose they had not agreed, should they say they were pleased at that ? The Reply did not bind fion. member# to anything when the question eam« before the Honse. It was something to be pleased about that the Commissioners agreed, and there was no harm in expressing it. There had been some little dodging abent the Reply, which lie need hardly take up. The hon. member for Oaraaru took exception that there was no mention in it of Martin’s Bay. He would point out the means by which the hon. member could obtain his wishes. He did not think that he would be acting candidly to the Council it he failed to point out that the revenue for the year was appropriated at the ordinary session; and if it were placed at the dispo-al of the Government, the moneyasked might be available; but ib must bs remembered that having no means for carrying pat |ho work, the old votes might be effected if the money were expended. It was a very simple matter to plaue the amount on the Estimates, and there would be very great pressure brought to bear in order to have it expended. He would remind the hon. member that he hid opportunity of placing it before the House at any time ho thought proper, and of accepting its decision upon it. Mr BURNS took exception to the statemeat of Mr Turnbull, that it was in a moment of weakness the resolution accepting the offer of the Government was passed by the Provisional Committee. There was not the alightest weakness. Every member present readily concurred in it with the exception of the hon, member for Dunedin, who was not present. He and the ho». member for Dunedin happened to differ on the question, and ho was sorry he was not present that ho might have agreed on the matter. It was no use discussing the question. The plain fact was, he could not help thinking in his own mind that the c mmittce were sticking at straws, and he said bo them the best way was to dissolve, and let others carry it through. He knew it could bo carried out for L 70.000. He said so over and over again. But ho saw a minute by the engineer which stated it would cost LBO,OOO or L 90,000. Yet any man was perfectly safe to take a guarantee on L 70,000 and go into it, and there was no need of hesitation in it. He was over-ruled, but he demurred to the statement that the resolution was passed in a moment of weakness. He believed there were three cheers given when it was carried, and the hon. member for North Harbor cheered the loudest. Two or three days afterwards he met their solicitor and went over the agreement a second time, and they were prepared to submit certain modifications to the Government; but, in the meantime, they thought the resolution was decisive, and there was an end of it. There was no question the argument was a one-sided one ; but if they could not agree with the Government, there was an end of it; but ho thought it would be well if the Government would see for themselves that they were going to got a bona fde transaction ; for there wa# no disguising it, they were in a very ticklish position, and ho hoped it wonld be carried out for the benefit of the Province. He thought it one of the best speculations ever entered into in the Province, so much «o that he had not the slightest fear it would pay fifteen per cent, within the first three years. Thus so far from being a burden on the Province, it would be a profit. With regard to the matters before them, there was no necessity for any remarks. Ho coincided with a good deal in the Address. On the first point he might have something to say. He would bo delighted if before the next six months the Government could come before the fjquso, and say they were prepared to bring in $ Bill fqr tfio re-union of Otago and Southland. ' With regard to the West Coast, it would fip in the recollection qf naany members that the Superintendent attempted to get a Bill passed in 1868 to deal with the W cst Coast lands, but it met with great opposition. Perhaps it had been thought over

since, for there was no opposition last session, which proved that puolio opinion had changed. He trusted the resolutions of the Council would meet with the auocoss they deserved. He intended to Vote for the motion as it stood. Mr TAYLER felt bound to give his views of the matter. Ho would not trouble the special reporter with a long speech, but he could not understand what the grievance was about. He looked upon it in a bus ness point of view. They were endeavoring to agree with the Government to carry out a certain work. There were various modifications between the Provisional Committee and the Government, and at last the former fonnd unless the terms were altered they would give it np. That was a business view, and he thought the Government would be very blameabls if they did not ascept the terms from another party. Ha was very glad to get out of It, and there was an end of it. It seemed there was a party found bo do the work—who ought to find fault ? He thought it duo to the House to say that he did not think the Government had dealt unfairly with them. Mr HUTCHESON said that it had not been his intention to say on# word. Ha was, he believed, the only member who had opposed the Port Chalmers railway last session as he had always thought that railways should begin in the conntry. It, however, had been carried by a large majority, and he was surprised that the honorable member for Waikari should bring np his motion at the present time. There cenld he no doubt that the Government had acted with a view to the best intereots of the Province, and they deserved the thanks of everyone in the Province. The hon. member for Waikari had said that the Reply to the Address was a very milk-and-water one. He (Mr Hntoheson) rather thought that the Provisional Committee, and not the Government, were milk-and-water. They asked the Government to enter into sueh an arrangement as t> suib their wishes, but he was glad that wo had a government that would look after the interests of the Province. He had not the slightest doubt the Government meant honestly, and that in less than twelve months they would have the railway completed, Mr DRIVER.—I rise to a point of order. The hon. member has made a wrong statement. I never had any communication with the Provisional Committee; I never intended to be a shareholder, nor ever intended to have anything to do with it. Mr HUTCHESON remarked that, at all events, the hen. member seemed to have something to do with the Clutha Railway, and he took umbrage with regard to the Port Chalmers Railway, Why did ho not tender for that railway ? Possibly because the’eorapaay could net realise a large percentage, and they would not bo content with a smaller one. After the Committee had rejected the offer in a sneering manner, he said the Government had acted quite right, and the opposition was nothing out a factions one. After a few remarks by Mr SHAND, The amendments were put, and deelared lest on the voices.

The original motion was then put and carried.

This Dxr.

The Speaker took the chair at 2.3 o'clock. Tho minutes of the previous meeting were read. Mr Mosoly, before the motion was put, must take exception to the item in which he moved an amendment of the House. He did not intend to ask for any other adjournment than that of the debate. The Spcader said, as he understood them, the minutes were correct. The Secretary of Land and Work* was under the impression some misunderstanding had arisen, but of no material nature. Atfer a few other remarks from Mr Franco, the question was put, and the minutes as read were confirmed.

Mr Ashcrojt brought up a report of the Committee on Private Petitions, upon of Captain Howel', and gave notice of an intention to move that the recommendations contained be adopted. Mr Hughes asked the Secretary for Land and Works—“ If the opinion of the Provincial Solicitor was obtained as to the legality of selling the Island Block, Run 215, covenanted by the kssee to be given up for agricultural leasing, and if that opinion was acted on by the Government, and if such opinion was obtained, will the Government lay a copy on the table?" In asking this question, it was under the impression that some documents were wanting, essential to a fair consideration of the subject, and he hoped, if he way correct, the Government would not object to introduce them. The Secretary for Land and Works, in answer to the question would state, there was no opinion asked before the sale, but an opinion was asked and obtained, as to the proclamation, which was not laid upon the table, as no good results, he thought, would arise ; bnt he would do so when ordered by the House. He believed the sale and leasing legal Honorable members forgot that under the Goldfields Act the Government had full power to do what was done. Mr M'lmioe rose on a point of privilege, on a discussion as his being in order ; he then proposed to move the adjournment of the House in order to have the opportunity of pointing out the reason for asking for all tho correspondence. He pointed out that when he moved for the documents he intended it te include all, and he found one of tho most important character was not on the table. Mr Hughes al-o had felt groat disappointment that the document was not produced, and he would again solicit tho government to do so without necessitating a vote of the House to induce them. The Secretary for Land and Works in reply would remind hon. members that if they did not put their resolutions in a definite shape they had no right to charge tho Government with refusing to do what was asked. He maintained all the document* required by tho resolution had boon produced, and tho one now asked was of an anterior date, He considered the conduct of one member highly reprehensible. The hon. gentleman here became considerably energetic, and certainly somewhat severe. A scone was generally expected, but seeing the feeling of the House, he refrained from continuing the subject. After a few words from Mr MTndoo, the subject was allowed to drop. ORDERS OR THH DAT. Mr Mosblt, finding that the House was not disposed to allow an adjournment of the debate, b# wonld proceed to continue it. As an old settlor, he was 1b a position to place before them the tree position of the Province. He then commenced a lucid and evidently vqll-sjsudicd history of the settlement of the Province, from the earliest possible period, from the purchase of the

Province by the New Zealand Gomparty. and its resale td the early settlets, to the passing of the Otago Hundreds Act. He had gone into these particulars, he said, because they niust be known before judgment could be given upon the question. Ho considered the General Government were simply trustees. They had no right to interfere with the waste lauds of this Province. They had never attempted to do it before. He would never be a party to allowing the birthright of the rising generations of the Province to bo taken from them. If he did, he should be a traitor to them and his country. He looked npon the Act as destructive of progress, the handing the land over to the squatters; and what would they do ? drive the agriculturalist from the land, and make a gigantic sheepwalk of the Province. These squatters were called pioneers : a greater libel was never uttered. The settlers were the real and true pioneers ; and the time would never oome when the agricultural interest was allowed to be sacrificed to that of the squatters, he earnestly hoped. [Still speaking when reporter left.]