PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, 14 June 1859, Page 1

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Friday, June 10. The council met, pursuant to adjournment. Education Act. The Education Act, as amended in ' committee, on the motion of Mr. Colenso was read a third time and passed. Report on Survey Department The council went into committee upon the report, which we subjoin, of the select committee on the Survey Department. Report of a select committee appointed on 19th May on motion of Mr. T. H. FitzGerald to enquire into the state of the Survey Department in this Province, and the practicability of executing Surveys by Contract. Members: Messrs. Rhodes, Carter, Hitchings, Tucker and mover. Your Committee having carefully investigated the subject entrusted to them to examine and report on, beg to state that as far as they can ascertain, great changes are necessary to ensure the efficient conduct of the business of the Survey Department for the future. They fully recognize the difficulty the Chief Surveyor was placed in from the time of Separation being determined on. Many other duties were thrown on his hand, and that prevented him; taking steps for the proper organization of the Department, of which he then became the head in the New Province. The Committee beg to make the following practical recommendations. 1. That the trigonometrical Survey be continued from its present limits northward, to the extremity of the Province, during the ensuing summer. 2. That all arrears of ordinary surveys should be cleared up if possible during the ensuing half year, so that no difficulty may remain in the way of the introduction in full of the contract system atthe beginning of 1860, should it be found expedient at the next meeting of the Council to adopt it, — and consequently that the officers composing the present survey staff should receive notice that the Government do not pledge themselves to continue them in the offices they now hold beyond the 31st. Dec. next. 3. That, as soon as practicable, specific rules for the guidance of the officers of the Survey Department and their conduct in the field, should be i drawn up and approved of by the Superintendent, with the advice and consent of Executive Council, and- that strict compliance with them should in every case be enforced. 4. That a liberal field allowance should be granted to Surveyors when engaged in Surveying at a distance from their ordinary places of abode, on a scale containing several rates approved of by the Superintendent with advice and consent of Executive Council, and to be awarded at the end of j each quarter in proportion to the nature and extent of the work actually performed by the officers entitled to a field allowance for Surveys made during the quarter. Clause one having been read, the Chairman said that the committee, before they resolved on recommending that the trigonometrical survey be concluded, should first have ascertained whether this was possible. For although permission was originally given by the native chiefs, that permission had been withdrawn at the time of the native disturbances, and its renewal since positively refused. They had absolutely resisted the efforts of Mr Fitzgerald, when engaged on the work. Mr. Colenso moved as an amendment the introduction of the words "if possible." '•''■•: j<j . . The Superintendent said that $ris j was not necessary, as of course the recommendation would go for nothing if it could not be carried out. And it was not, impossible that the consent of the chiefs might yet be obtained. Mr. Colenso withdrew his amendment. He would take occasion to remark that the opposition of the natives

arose from, the want of understanding. They were under the belief that when the surveyors fixed their posts on the tops of the hills, they were taking possession of the land — a belief strengthened by the fact, as it so happened, that many of the hills were native reserves. Clauses one and two were adopted. On clause three being put, — Mr. Colenso asked whether the regulations referred to were applicable for the remainder of the year ; if so, he thought the sooner they were drawn up the better. Mr. Tiffen said that no time would be unnecessarily lost in framing them. — Clause adopted. With reference to the last clause, the Superintendent explained that the travelling, expenses of "the surveyors were so heavy that their salarie sbecame adequate to little more than a bare subsistence. There was, in fact, no inducement for them to continue in the service. It was therefore proposed to make them an extra allowance while in the field — say from 4s. to 7s. per diem, the higher sum to be paid to those who did their duty best. Clause adopted, the Chairman reported progress, and the report, as a whole, adopted by the council. Estimates. The council went into committee upon the estimates — lio consider postponed and additional items. Resident Magistrate's Court, £250, Registrar's Office, £17 5. — Struck off, as being included in a larger sum to be brought forward. Government Offices including Resident Magistrate's Court and office for Registrar of Deeds, £1700. — Agreed to. Survey Department, salaries to 31st December £800 ; labor, £549 75. ; contingencies, £88, Is 5d. — Agreed to. On the motion of the Superintendent, the sum of £400 was added to cover the increased allowances sanctioned by the council. Inland Mails to Porangahau weekly, and Wairoa fortnightly, £200. The Superintendent said that this sum was to supply this service temporarily, until the General Government could make permanent arrangements. Tenders for both routes were already in, and he hoped that the first mails would start in a few days. Native Hostelry, Building and contingencies, £150.- The Superintendent said that the sum originally mentioned for this object was £50, but a building erected for this amount would be too small and inefficient — a mere box. Some articles of furniture would also be required. He might mention that Mr. McLean, the Chief Land Purchase Commissioner, had been much gratified at this step having been taken, but thought it should be done in such a way as not to give offence to chiefs at a distance. — Mr. Colenso would oppose this motion on the same principle as he did before. Such buildings always had been, and always would be, sinks of iniquity. — The Superintendent thought that this might be avoided under proper management. Mr. Colenso said that the expectation was futile, as no European would be found to keep a native house in order. — Motion agreed to. Purchase of Waipureku Ferry, £300. The Superintendent said that the punt had been established by private subscription, and was entirely under the management of the shareholders. It was highly desirable in many respects that it should become Government property. The rates charged were no doubt proper at the time the punt was opened, but they, were far too high now. Next summer an immense amount , of traffic would pass over it, and it was highly necessary that tlie charges shqujd be lessened. The shareholders ha^'in point of fact, lent their,', money for the good of the public; and the present proposal was simply to reimburse them. Mr. Colenso would rejoice, to see all ferries in the hands of government ; but he would ask whether, in this case, the punt was not nearly done, ariel whether, were it not so, the shareholders would

be so willing to part with it. — ; Mr. Rhodes said that the punt was built by private subscription, when it ought to have been built by government. The shareholders had not got 6d. from it There were now some £15 or £20 to the credit of the fund, which would be required to recaulk and otherwise repair the punt. It would then, he believed, be in as good a state as when it was launched. A few shareholders had lent their capital for the use of the many, and he could not imagine why a doubt should arise as to their right to reimbursement. — After some few words between Messrs Colenso and Rhodes in which the latter denied emphatically the truth of a report which the former said he had heard, viz. that Mr. Rhodes, as a shareholder, had benefitted by crossing, free of toll, the item was passed. Refund to Mr. Henry Russell of money paid on account of the inland mail, £50 13 4d. — Mr. Colenso asked whether there were any vouchers in support of this claim — whether the amount was paid in money or goods. — The Superintendent said that the only question was whether the expense of this mail had been authorised by the Wellington government ; and whether, acting on that authority, Mr Russell had not out of his own pocket, disbursed that sum. It was no matter in what way it might have been paid. — Mr^ Colenso said that one of the natives engaged in carrying the inland mail — the best and strongest man that had been employed in that service — had often told him (Mr Colenso) that he never could get money from Mr. Russell — that he was obliged to take his wages out in goods. Hence that, although ostensibly paid by the week, he was in debt everywhere. The man was since dead, and the present claim looked very much like one for a native debt. — Mr. Rhodes said that this was an illustration of the adage that two of a trade could never agree . But the matter introduced was wholly irrelevant. If the member for Napier wanted vouchers, that was very well ; but to ask whether the sum was paid in money or goods was absurd. — Mr. Tucker said that, in whatever way the money was paid, great credit was due to Mr. Henry Russell for having originated and carried out a service so indispensably necessary to the convenience of the settlers. The liberality of the new province was surely not to be exhibited in cavilling at a small sum that had been already expended, and for such a purpose. — After some more words, in which it transpired that the claim in question was for the services of a European carrier, Mr. Colenso withdrew his opposition, and the motion was carried. Total, £25,974 3s. lid.— The Superintendent said that this amount shewed an apparent excess over the income ; but that several items were included which could not be expended within the year, so that, at the end of the twelve months, instead of a deficiency there would be an overplup. The Chairman then reported progress. Appropriation Bill. On the motion of Mr. Colenso, the Appropriation Bill was read a first and second time; it was then considered in committee, read a third time and passed. New Provinces Act. Mr. Rhodes gave notice of his intention to move on the following day a series of resolutions, based upon the rumoured withholding of Her Majesty's assent from this Act. The council then adjourned.

Saturday, June *Mk— — * ff The council met, pursuant to adjournment from Friday. < ; i ''■" ;■•■•■• New Provinces AcL * ::( : The series of resolutions of which Mr. Ehodes had given notice, founded upon the report that Her Majesty's assent to the New Provinces Bill would be withheld, were permitted to lapse- — P private arrangement, it was vm--3od 5 among tniijnembers.

Prorogation. The Superintendent rose in Ms place and addressed the council to the following effect,: — Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council, — By the next mail for Auckland I shall transmit to His Excellency the Governor, the Executive, Education, and Appropriation Acts, passed by you this session, with a request that he will be pleased to give his assent to them, as required by one of the clauses of the Act by which the Province has been called into existence. I have to thank you sincerely, not only for realizing the anticipation I had formed that your general conduct would fully justify the claims advanced by the people of Hawke's Bay for local self-government, — but also for the very, practical and business-like manner with which you have treated many important matters that have engaged your attention. I accept with cheerfulness the Executive Act you have thought fit to adopt — regretting only that by limiting the number of the Executive Council to two members, the utility of the measure has been somewhat endangered. The Education Act I believe to be one that will meet . with general approval, — that will be largely taken advantage of, — and that will effect much good within the Province. During the time that will elapse between this and our next meeting, my best attention shall be given to see that your wishes are faithfully carried out in regard to the very liberal appropriations you have made for public buildings, roads, bridges, and immigration ; and, with the advice of the Executive Council, will use every endeavour to put the Survey Department into a thoroughly efficient and satisfactory state. The propriety of deferring action on any of the alterations of the land regulations suggested in my late address to you, till the next meeting of the council, must be apparent to all who are aware of the present state of things, and the fact that, Her Majesty's assent having been withheld from the Waste Lands Act of 1858, the whole subject will have to be dealt with anew at the next meeting of the General Assembly. But the subject is one that I shall not fail to call your attention to next session, before the meeting of the General Assembly, and with, I hope, satisfactory results. I have only again to tender my sincerest acknowledgements for the fair, moderate, and earnest manner in which you have conducted the business of this session, and for your evident desire to assist me in every way possible to discharge the duties you have been pleased to impose on me. I now declare that the first session of the Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay has terminated, and that this council stands prorogued. T. H. FitzGerald, Superintendent.