WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1840, 29 June 1874, Page 2

WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Friday, June 26. [from the westland beoister.] ' The Speaker read a message from his Honor the Superintendent acknowledging the receipt of a resolution ef the Council, I granting protection to Messrs Cheffing and Whitten for the Teremakau punt, and informing the Oonncil that he had received an offer from a person named M'Rae who was willing to construct a bridge over the Teremakau. His Honor did not wish to make any recommendation on the matter. PUBLIC WORKS. The Council went into Committee _° consider the Public Works scheme. "" • On the motion of the Provincial Secretary—ltem 9, •' For the purchase of existing rights to bridges, and the erection of other bridges, L 5000," was withdrawn. Item 4, Hokitika River Protection, estimated cost LIO,OOO, was, after some discussion—during which Mr Cuming informed the Council that Messrs Barrett, Lynch, and Hawkins, members of the Borough Council, had told him the Municipality had received an offer of a loan of L6OOO at six per cent — carried without dissent. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary, the following . motion was carried without dissent :— " That the Provincial Government be requested to prepare a Bill for introduction to the General Assembly, having foi its object power to raise a loan not exceeding L 105,500. Such loan to be expended in the construction of such works as set forth in schedule." The Provincial Secretary moved — "That a block or blocks of land, hot exceeding in the whole 200,000 acres, be set aside as special security for the repayment of the loan." After a long discussion the motion was carried without dissent. Progress was then reported, with leave to Bit atjain on the next sitting day of the Council. ESTIMATES. On the motion of the Provincial Secre.

tary, the Council went into Committee of the whole to consider the Estimates. Item No. 1, Secretary and Treasurer, I seven months, L 350, was read. Along and wearisome discussion ensued, protracted principally by the members of the late Executive, who attacked the Provincial Treasurer in violent terms. Ultimately, the item was carried on a division by 9 votes to 4. The Provincial Secretary moved— "That the sum of .LIOOO be voted for grants to Road Boards." He said the Government did not mean to apportion the money, but merely to give those who required it for the purpose of carrying on their functions. Mr Lahman wished to know if the Council intended to issue greenbacks. There was already a deficiency of some L7OOO in the revenue as compared with that estimate. Another thing was, had the Road Boards ever asked for this assistance 1 He would like to know from the Government whether that was the case or not ; if it was he had never heard of it. He considered it a very improper thing to ask for this amount with a deficit of L7OOO staring them in the face, and the revenue even then falling short of what it was estimated to be. H# considered the Treasurer, and not the Secretary, should have brought this matter before the council, and in doing so, give his reasons for the* sum being placed on the estimates. It might be that the Government was holding it out as a bait to the country, but if that were the case he could only say that the country could only say that the country could never receive it, as there was no means of paying such an amount. The Provincial Secretary explained that it was contemplated, during the early stages of the sesssion, to legislate upon the Road Board question ; that the Council had failed to. There was, as was well known, certain Road Boards, who were in financial difficulties, and the Road Board- question having fallen through, this sum had been placed on the Estimates, to meet any emergency that might arise, and enable such Boards to carry on their functions until the Council again met, when a definite scheme would be brought down. Mr Tabart said that, in the absence of any expressed wish on the part of Road Boards for such assistance, he would not support the vote, and thought it ought to be struck out. Mr Cuming considered that if the vote was expunged that something should be done for the Totara Road Board, and, as the business people of that district, had agreed to waive their right to the refund for business licenses, he considered that an equal amount should be given the Road Board in lieu thereof. He would state that the Totara and Paroa Road Boards had applied to his Honor the Superintendent for assistance. The Totara R'tad Board was placed in an exceptional position, as there was in that district a great many extra works to be carried on, and, owing to the dulness at present existing there, the rates hdd fallen off very materially ; but, at the same time, all rates had been struck in accordance with the Act. Assistance must either be given or the Board would resign in a body. Mr Lahman said, what the hon. member for Totara proposed could not be done by the Council, as the money he proposed to absorb for the purpose stated had been VOted fprq'"*- - -J«XWoti puvyi'Btt. Mr Robinson, as Chairman of the Road Board Committee, felt some surprise that this sum of LIOOO had been placed upon the Estimates. At the sittings of the Committee his Honor and the Provincial Secretary were both present and heard all the arguments in connection with the question of Road Boards, and he thought he (the Secretary) had felt the justice of not granting this sum. There was no doubt the Totara Road Board's case was exceptional, . as it took a considerable amount to keep all the works in repair ; but, even so, he would oppose the grant.

Mr Houlahan would also oppose it, as he was well aware with the rest of members the revenue was falling off below what was estimated, and already there was a deficiency of a considerable amount Mr M'Gaffin thought some special legislation should be made in respect to his district (Totara), and unless some aid was given, the Board would be unable to carry on. Re considered that a sum of L 350 for that district should be placed upon the Estimates as a special grant if the LIOOO were withdrawn. He failed to see that this could not be done considering that the holders of business licenses were agreed not to ask for the refund which had been voted them; Mr Seddou considered that the cry of the Totara Road Board resigning unless this aid was granted, was all butkum, if they did no doubt the ratepayers would put others in their place. It would be a fine thing to allow the grant of L3OO for business licenses to lapse, and if they could get this vote in by a side wind, afterwards come and demand the money granted for tho business licenses. The Provincial Secretary said it had never been the intention the Government to pay away this . money, unless, after strict inquiry, financial difficulty was shown. Their only object in placing the amount on the Estimates was to help any of the Boards out of difficulty should such occur. Mr Houlahan would like to have some explanation in reference to the statement made by Mr Robinson. The Provincial Secretary said he could not answer for his Honor, but, when he was preseut, nothing of the kind had been discussed. If the Council thought fit, they could expunge the amount. ; Mr Guinness said the Government had given no explanation of their views with respect to this grant. Did they intend to withdraw it or vote for it. At the Committee referred to, his Honor had agreed that no sura could be voted for that purpose. * After a long discussion, the item was struck out. Stationery, L 20 0; assistant nurse, Lunatic Asylum, L3O ; payment of members, L 30 0; were passed. Progress was then reported and the Council resumed. The Speaker read a message from his Honor, returning tho Education Bill with certain amendments, and requesting the concurrence of the Council to them.

Freemasonry is apparently making great strides in Britain. A home paper says there are 153 Freemasons in the present British Parliament — 55 in the Lords and 78 in the Commons. .