The Hawke's Bay Herald. NAPIER, MARCH 31, 1860. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 3, Issue 132, 31 March 1860, Page 4

The Hawke's Bay Herald. NAPIER, MARCH 31, 1860. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

I Although we this morning furnish our! readers with eleven closely-printed, columns of Council proceedings, we have not been able to get beyond Friday, the 23rd inst. ; but, the Council being now prorogued, we shall find no difficulty in bringing up arrears in next issue. "Meanwhile, a few- words by way of summary may not be inappropriate. On Saturday some discussion arose upon the Superintendent having asked Mr.

Ormond for " an explanation of a statement made by him on the 22nd inst., that he considered the Superintendent should consult the members of council more than he does on the appointment of persons to offices in the province." — Mr. Ormond was of opinion that it was desirable to do so in all cases of important appointments ; and Mr. FitzGerald said that he had generally done so, except when the absence of members prevented him. — Mr. Alexander, after the business was over, said that the Chief Tareha had requested him to express to that Council his desire to remain on good terms "v^ith the Europeans. On Monday, owing to the report of the Finance .Committee not being ready, scarcely anything was done. On Tuesday, the report of the Finance Committee was brought up. It acknowledged the correctness of the accounts for the past year, shewing a balance to the credit of the province on the Ist January of £7442, and made some suggestions on the future management of the accounts ; among otherSj that two auditors should be appointed by the Council. The second reading of the Audit Act was then moved, and a discussion ensued, which was ultimately adjourned till Wednesday. On Wednesday, the discussion on the second reading of the Audit Bill was renewed ; but the Bill was ultimately shelved on an amendment by Mr. Riddell, which ensured for the time being the objects aimed at, and which was agreed to. The estimates were then completed — the only material alterations being a unanimous vote of £300 for the salary of Auditor and Interpreter ; also a vote for two Inspectors of Sheep, instead of one, at £125 each —it being believed that this amount would be covered by the assessment. A sum. of £50 was also added for a Pound at Napier, and £200 as a grant in aid to the Napier Athenaeum. On Thursday, the Ajjpropriation Act was read a Ist, 2nd, and 3rd time, and passed. A petition was received from Mr. Yillers, of Petane, complaining of injustice in the laying out of a section purchased by him. A debate ensued upon the merits of the case, resulting in a resolution to the effect that the Superintendent be requested to keep back the deed of grant of an adjoining section, until the case shall have been investigated by himself and the Executive Council. Mr. Colenso brought up the report of the sele ;t committee appointed to prepare a memorial to the House of Representatives for an increase of representation. The memorial was adopted by the Council, and ordered to be forwarded. The Superintendent then read the following Address : — Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council, — This day's proceedings being finished, there is no longer reason for keeping you away from your different avocations, or asking you to sacrifice' more time for the consideration of Public affairs than that you have so willingly given since the commencement of the present Session. I have to regret that, from want of proper office accommodation, and especially of Committee Rooms, more time has been expended onthepresentoccasion than would have been necessary under more favorable circumstances ; but by the erection of the new offices, which will shortly be completed, obstructions of this nature are not likely to occur again. .... Acting on the liberal appropriation you made for Harbour improvements at Port Napier in November last, an efficient Steam Dredge has been purchased at Sydney, and may be expected to arrive here in a few days. Preparations having been made for carrying on the work of deepening the Harbour and reclaiming some of the shallow mud flats in its vicinity, we may reasonably hope that, on the occasion of your next meeting, it can be reported to you that satisfactory progress has been made in these important works, and that you will have every reason to be satisfied with the result. I anticipate that much good will arise from your deliberations during the Session just now about to close ; and although it may be regretted by many that the Local Improvements Bill was rejected by you after having passed through the first two stages, still you have compensated for it for the present by your appropriations of £200 each for Milton-road and Carlylestreet, the only places in regard of which it was likely to be immediately brought into operation. It will be necessary,

however, to reconsider the proposedUßill,. or some other like measure, dt the^iext sitting of this Council — as, in consequence of the pledge given by me on passing the votes above referred to, no sums for town roads or streets like the above can in future be placed on Estimates to be presented to this Council. The separation of the Land and Survey Departments, which "you have agreed to, will no doubt tend, when it can be judiciously effected, to make the working of these departments much more efficient, and remove many of the grounds of complaint which have been made from time to time since the formation of this Province against both departments. The Supplementary Land Regulations which you have proposed for adoption by the General Assembly, will, if carried through that body, tend in a great measure to set at rest, I believe, the different questions relating to the Waste Lands that have agitated the public mind in this Province for some time past ; and, while doing justice to all classes of the community, would be the means of providing a very considerable permanent revenue from the hilly or more agricultural land, a source up to the present time almost unproductive — whilst no alienation would take place of the Public domain, by rights of pre-emp-tion to any extent that could be considered unfair or injudicious. The Census Act passed by you, and to which the Governor's assent will probably be received by the next mail, will, I have no doubt, put us in a position to prove that the claims we have advanced for increased representation in the General Assembly are not only fair but most just and fitting ; and there can scarcely be a question but that they will receive due consideration from the Parliament of New Zealand. All the substantial points involved in the proposed alteration of the present Audit Act have been secured by the resolution of the Couucil, that two gentlemen named by them should, with the present Auditor, form a Board of Audit for the quarterly examination of the Public Accounts of the Province, in which I have cordially . agreed — leaving it to the next Session to make such formal alterations in the present Act as may be found necessary to secure the continuation of a system that I have no doubt will be found to work well, and give satisfaction to the public. The increase of yearly subsidy to be paid the masters or mistresses of Country Schools from 28s. to 425. per head for the scholars educated by them, will doubtless be looked upon as an evidence of your sincere desire to promote the cause of education throughout the Province, and will be especially grateful to the inhabitants of the outlying districts. The large votes you have lately sanctioned for Country Roads and Public Works, cannot but have a most important effect in promoting the prosperity and rapid development of the resources of this Province, which have already since its separation from Wellington so remarkably been seen. The only cause of anxiety that we can have is in reference to our former connexion with the Province just named, and in the adjustment of the debt question which will come before the General Assembly at its ensuing Session ; but which, I have every confidence, will be judged by its members in that spirit of equity which we may reasonably expect His Excellency's present advisers will endeavour to promote. At the next meeting of this Council it will, I think, be readily admitted that we shall have to make some alterations in the electoral districts of the Province, and to provide for an addition to the number of members now composing the Council, so as to give that increased representation in the subsequent Session that the great accession of population in different parts of the Province renders absolutely necessary ; and to your serious consideration during the recess I would recommend this important matter, so that the best steps may be taken without much delay on our next meeting to effect the object in view. I have only now to express nay best thanks to you for the care and consideration you have given to the Public business of the Province that has been brought before you, and for the desire you have evinced to promote the prosperity of the Province by all means in your power, as well as the courteous treatment I have personally received at your hands. I now declare that the Second Session

has terminated, and that this Council do stand prorogued. T. H. FITZGERALD, Superintendent. Council Room, 29th.March, 1860. His Honor, on finishing his speech, was greeted with loud cheers.