PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3831, 4 June 1875, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, June 3. In answer to questions, the Government stated (1) that no steps had been taken to survey lands applied for by the residents on Stewart’s Island ; but the matter had not been overlooked, and the work would be attended to as soon as possible. (2.) The Government were ® < jtin a position to say how much of the 1,000 acres, annual grant of land allowed by the Southland Waste Lands Act, 1865, for road-making purposes, had been allotted or exSnded since the re-union of the two Provinces, ley tried the system of paj ment in land, and found the result rather unsatisfactory. They could get works done 25 per cent, lower in cash •'ban in land payments. They were not aware what had been done under the system except the payment for the railway works in Si oathland some years ago. (3.) The Government . obtain the opinion ©f the Provincial Solicitor as to whether they were legally entitled to charge tolls on roads within the Town Belt of Dunedin. On Mr Allan’s motion (which was carried) affiraungthe desirability of a Grammar School at the Taieri, the Provincial Secretary said rt would be for the Secretary of the Education Board to report whether it was desirable to nave the school at the Taieri commenced dur mg the present year. It was one of the many districts in the Province that should have a Grammar School. An amendment moved by Mr Browne— “ That several of the Grammar Schools, as reported by the School Inspector, being in no way _ superior to the District Schools,-this Council objects to any further extension of Grammar Schools until better results are arrived at from those already established”—was negatived. .Mr Turnbull’s motion—“ That this Council desires to express its deep regret at the loss by death of one of its members—the late Mr John Gumming, the representative for the Aparima district—and accords its high appreciation of his honorable and patriotic conduct during the period he took part in its deliberations. That a copy of this resolution be trans nutted by Mr Speaker to the late Mr Cumnung’s relatives ” —was unanimously agreed to ■Mr Daniel’s motion—which, after a lengthy preamble affirming that volunteers who had completed five years’ service were entitled to land certificates, went on to ask that there should be placed on the Supplementary Estimates “such sums as will be sufficient to pay to such volunteers who have completed, to the 31st March last, five years’ service, as per the returns forwarded by the various commanding officers, at the rate of £ per head. Also to pay to all such volunteers as shall have served up to the said 31st March last, one or more years (being less than five years) pro rata , viz., one-fifth for each year of such service; commanding officers of districts to be notified that claims for all volunteers, in their respective command, the term of service claimed for, must be sent in to the Provincial Treasurer on or before the Ist day of January, 1876. .Resolved further, that, after satisfying such claims, no further grants will be made to any individual volunteer in respect of his services ” —was lost on a division as follows Ayes. 8: Hoes, 17. ’

At the evening sitting considerable progress was made with the Estimates, and all the items down to “railways” were passed as printed. There mas a long and bitter debate on the item “Goldfields Secretary, L 400,” many of the goldfields and other members urging that that official’s head quarters should be in Dunedin. A motion to reduce the item by L 125 was negatived by 21 against 18 ; mid, after three hours’ debate, it was carried (as brought down) by 21 to 13. It was rpsolved that the items “Provincial Solicitor, L 400,” and “ Non-official Members, L 250,” should be increased in the Supplementary Estimates, as they were quite inadequate to the work expected. On the item “ Clerk to the Provincial Council,” Dr Menzies brought under the notice of the Council the valuable services rendered by Mr Sessions in completing and arranging the Southland Papers 1 and suggested that those services should be acknowledged by a substantial vote. Ihe Speaker and several other members endorsed what fell from the member for Mataura, and it was understood that the Government would give effect on the Supplementary Estimates to the wishes of the Council. On the item “Railway Manager,” the Provincial Secretary intimated that the General Government intended to carry out the arrangement entered into with Mr Conyers by the late Government to secure that gentleman’s services as, general manager of railways. It would be imperatively necessary, however, that he must not be interested in any private firm on any account whatever; the Government would insist upon that.

Friday, June 4. A number of petitions and reports were presented. In answer to questions, the Government stated (1.) That in the Kaitangata Kailway Bill provision would _be made, if not already done, to give the right to the Government or to any other company that might be formed _ to extend that line, to use a portion of it on equitable terms. The Government did not intend to introduce theOutram Railway Bill, the chief reason for their refusal being that the line, if constructed, would compete with one which was intended by the Council to be constructed, and which was the only line that could be looked upon as for the b»nefit of the people living in the district and of those residing beyond it. At the same time, it had been intimated to a gentleman who took a great interest in this mutter that if the company only required power to carry upon their line the traffic of their own side of the district, and not to tap any part of the une that would be most advantageous to the district, there would be no objection to taking up the Bill; but the gentleman demurred to that proposition, and consequently /o v government would not take charge of it. f hat they did not instruct Captain Hut?fP or J IDg ?P on tbe lignite deposit on run 369 to travel beyond the limits of science ;W ? gl m 0f they were sure that that officer had no intention of giving off« nee in so reporting. 6 ®scon d reading of the Immigration amLßntish Agent Bill, the discussion, though snort, was very decisive. While Mr and^ r , Moody urged the appointment of a man who knew something about the Province, Mr Reeves advocated the encouragement of Irish emigration, and drew a picture of some of the good results that would now therefrom, particularising the manufactures of Irish butter and of Irish bacon. The Bill passed. The consideration of the Estimates was resumed, and the whole of the departmental expenditure quickly passed with very little discussion. On the item “goods traffic manS a at , L 2 5°.” Mr Fish intimated that the late Government had been led to believe such an officer would be unnecessary if Mr Conyers resumed the general management; and the Provincial Secretary was understood to say that such would be the case. On the item Provincial Engineer, L 600,” Mr DeLautour asked for an explanation of the ground for Mr Arthur’s appointment to tbe post, and how men years in the service had apparently been overlooked. To this inquiry the Proving cal Secretary replied that they considered the| appointment , 0116 that could have been made in the interests of the Province. Mr Arthm had been in the employ of the Government for ten or eleven years, and had always been found thoroughly accurate. He was a surveyor of high scientific attainments, “Vf always thoroughly trustworthy and reliable. He had resigned his appointment oi surveyor because of the insufficiency of the oitro + QeD a. bad received the compensation and c f? s 9 n retiring from the service, in «* ie - cot >ntry, where he engaged theoreLK 68810 ? of ciTil engineer, in the educated br T hea . of which he had been but It "? v trained in his y°* tb ’ freedom^+l,f #e i. ne Batisfied with the Colonv r mm e p ? country, he returned to the s? r£iss £ •? engineer for the Southed distort St the Government had to deal vrtth thk

tioally and not theoretically. Mr Arthur’s ability and integrity were above suspicion—(hear); his scientific attainments were equal to anyone’s, and his previous career and their experience of him justified the Government in_ concluding that he would give every satisfaction to .the Province. The item “ Dunedin Hospital ” gave rise to an interesting discussion, in the course of which many members urged the necessity for placing that institution on a better footing. The Provincial Solicitor ad mitted that by reason of the establishment here of a medical school, it became absolutely necessary that the Government should give the matter their consideration, and that they should confer with the University Council as to how best to carry out the alterations. Probably throe or four lecturers would have to be appointed; and next year should see different arrangements at the hospital. So far as the management was concerned, it was as well managed as any similar institution in the Colony—(hear)—and the head of the staff was not to be equalled in the Colony. Dr Menzies, who had before spoken, said he would make his remarks plainer. What was most required—in the interests of the medicai school—was that the hospital should be thrown open to the medical men in the City ; and lie deprecated the management of the hospital by a single medical officer. Such management would not give those facilities for chemical instruction, as the creation of four wards and the throwing open of the institution to the profession. [Left sitting.]