PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1155, 24 May 1870, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

THURSDAY, MAY 19. Financial Statement. The following is the speech delivered by the Superintendent in committee on YVava and Means, referred to in last Herald : — I propose to make my statement as little diffuse as possible, and my endeavour will be to euablo members to clearly understand the position of the provincial accounts, and of the different abstracts and returns in connection with them which I shall lay upon the table. I will take first the expenditure for the present year, aud I would point out that an objection to making a statement before the conclusion of the year is that estimates have to be made for which no accounts can bo rendered. I will lay upon the table a return showing the revenue realised to the 30th April, and the amount estimated to be realised by the 30th June* which, when compared with the estimates of revenue laid before you last session, shows an excess of about £3,400 on the: year's receipts. It is satisfactory that this excess is derived mainly from ordinary sources of revenue, and an examination of the comparative statements 1 lay upon the table will show that the increase is general, and not confined to one or two sources of revenue. There is one item of. the estimated, revenue of last! year which has not been realised ; I refer to the refnnd of the Immigration Promissory Notes. This has arisen from different causes, but as this question will be discussed, at a .later date, I will not , now delay you to explain it. To sum up the results of the receipts for this year, we shall have received on the 30th June £15,003 as against £11,600, the amount estimated, leaving an excess of actual receipts over estimated of £3,400. Now, ! with respect to the expenditure for the present year, I will lay on the table an abstract 'statement shewing the whole expenditure under its different heads. This shows a total sum. of £11,352 to be ex- '■■ pended by the 30th Juue, and of this amount a sum of £1,508 is a refund made this year out of ordinary revenue to the loan account, for a similar sum borrowed last year from ijliat account in aid of revenue. I also will lay on the table a comparative statement df expenditure, showing the amounts voted for each service, the amount expended oh each, and the unauthorised expenditure, and the unexpended balances.' An examination of thia return will show any member at a glance !how far the expenditure, of this year has ibeeri in accbrdanee with the votes. lam glad to be able to state that the unauthorised expenditure for the year amounts to only £129, and that in the cases in which unexpended balances remain, satisfactory explanations can, I believe, be given, why the services for which they were voted have not been carried out. The total rosults of the "year are, that a balance of £3,600 will be in the hands of the Provincial, Treasurer on the 30th of June. There are ihree items of special expenditure about which I will give a brief explanation, I will lay on the table a return showing the amount derived, during the present year, from the Education .Rate* and of ..the! expenditure against it; lam sorry to say that the Etjucation itatedoes not yield Biiiß,cisi»t funds for the proper education of .the youth of the province, and it is my intention to propose a vote out of the general revenue in aid of thp fun 4. During the present year, nothing has been available , for assisting the buijding of ; new schools,, and .up to the present time aply the ; head money, allowed by the Education, Action .the. scholars taught has beeu paid to the teachers. Ta,ere . ,will be> however, a sum available fqr-divUiou ainow#;j;he; musters as bonus ivheu all tlie Education iitife has been i collected. X hope to have, noxt year,

; funds sufficient to assist buildings where fresli schools are required ; and also funds for the purchase of books, which are much required. My time has been so fully occupied that I have been unable to devote the time necessary for drafting a new Education Act, but I am glad to say that Mr. Ferard, the member for the town, has ■ kindly Undertaken to assist me by doing so, and that the basis of the Act he is preparing is to localise the management of the schools. The expendjt^r^ujujer the Toll-Gate Act is another" special e'ervice provided for by Act, and I will lay on the table a return of the expenditure under it. With respect to the rents derived from the Harbor Eeserves, I have only to state that a balance remains in hand available for the ensuing year. In connection with the accounts of the present year is a part of the expenditure under the Loan Act Amendment Act, 1863. I will lay on the table an abstract ■of the expenditure for the year, abstract of the wtiole expenditure since the Ist July, 1868, and a comparative statement showing the expenditure on each service, and how far the loan has been spent in accordance with the votes. An examination of these returns will show that the whole of the money is gone with the exception of a balance of £1084 ; and of this amount, £l2o is appropriated for obtaining alight for Napier Port, and £ 964 is to the credit of immigration. This last amount has been anticipated, and will be required to meet liabilities which are being incurred, so that the loan may be said to be exhausted with the exception of £120 for the light for Port Napier, which 1 have mentioned before. Leaving the accounts of the past, I now go to the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the ensuing year. I will lay on the table an Estimateof Revenue for the year ending the 30th June, 1871, which I think can be relied on ; and I estimate a total sum available for appropriation of £13,531. This is, of course, independent of the amount required to meet the Provincial charges voted by the General Assembly, and the interest on loans, which may be put down at about £14,000 more. I have excluded any estimate for refund of immigrants promissory notes, as I intend to ask you to devote the fuuds derived from that source to the purposes of immigration, under special conditions. I will not now discuss the items of tho estimated Revenue, as that will be fully done by the committee when the Estimates are considered. I have only further to refer to the Estimates of Expenditure, which I have framed with care, and a*. desire to provide — so far as the fuuds will permit — for the wants of all parts of the province. I have endeavored to see my way to further departmental reductions ; but, after full consideration, I am unable to do so. I am glad that the amount I am able to propose for expenditure on public works and roads is considerably in excess of what was available last year, and will, I think, with careful outlay, meet the necessities of the different districts. 1 will defer more detailed explanation until the items are considered by the Committee of Supply, and will only state, in conclusion, that 1 propose a total sum of £13,517 for appropriation, which will, if sanctioned, absorb the estimated Revenue. I now lay on the table the Estimates of .Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending 30th June, 1871, and tae various returns and statements I have referred to.

FRIDAY, MAY 20.

The Speaker took the chair at 3 o'clock. Present, Messrs. Orraond, Suttun, Newton, Kennedy, Parsons, Dolbel, Wood, Buehauan, A'Deane, Cupt. Russell, and Col. Lambert. Thanhs to Captain Fairchild. Mr. Kennedy, pursuant to notice, moved — Thut the thanks of thin Council be conveyed to .Capt. Fiiiroluld, for the important service he haa rendered to Hiia province in recovering and removing tho moorings in the roadstead, lost at the time of tho wreck of the strip Ida Zeigier. —He thought all the members were aware of the great services rendered by Captain Fairchild. The question of purchasing new moorings was discussed at the last sitting of the Council, but Capt. Fairchild, by perseverance and energy, had raised the ones and saved the province a very large sum. He should have moved for a more substantial acknowledgment of Capt. Fairchild's services, but was given to understand that that gentleman would not receive any gift. The motion was seconded by Mr. Newton and unanimously agreed to. Immigration Money. Mr. Pabsons, pursuant to notice, moved— For a return of all money to the Provincial Government on account of Emigration, with tho names of parties owing the same ; also, the names of their sureties, and that the same be printed. — He asked for the return in consequence of the inconsiderable sum which had been collected since last sitting of the Council, shewing that strong measures were necessary for the recovery of the same. Impounding Act. Mr. Dolbel, pursuant to notice — Asked his Honor tho Superintendent whether it is his intention to briritf in an Im. pounding Amendment Act this session, Mr. Obmond, in reply, said that the member for Mobstka had explained to him some of the amend ments which he thought I desirable. He (Mr. Ormond) had not intended to bring in a Bill, this being a big \ question, which, if once opened up, would require a great deal of attention. If, however, the bon. gentleman thought the amendments necessary, he might himself bring in a short bill embodying them. Immigrants' Passage Money. Colonel Lambeet, pursuant to notice, moved — That his Honor the Superintendent will be pleased to cauue to be laid on the table a return showing the amount of money received tdnca the Ist June, 1869, to the 30ih of April last on account due from immigrants for assisted passages. —He did not think it necessary to make remarks at any length. The member for Petane had almost anticipated him in the return he had asked. He did not care to go back to the negligence shewu for the last 4 or 5 years. He had no faith in the Emigration Board, lately established. The object of his motion was to strengthen the hands of bis Honor. He should like the Council to take steps to enforce payment. Mr. Ormond said the papers would be laid on the table. He would take this opportunity to explain that he' hud taken some action in this matter, and set machinery to work to recover the several amounts, but it was suggested to him that more time should be given. He got Mr. Peacock to take the matter in hand, who had been partially successful, having got several promises of payment ; but his time ■ ■• had been &o much occupied lately, that he | ; had been unable to proceed with the work. „ . Some of the parties thought themselves free , ■ from lapse of time, but a good deal might

yet be recovered. He had not taken any notice of this item, in the estimates, of revenue before the Council, because be intended to propose, that any sums which might arise from this source, should be put aside for future immigration purposes. Immigration. Colonel Lambeet, pursuant to notice, moved — That a Committee be appointed for tbe purpose of • investigating and reporting upon all sunns received and disbursed since the; appointment of the present clerk on account of immigration, and to ascertain the amount due to tlm Province, and the names of the persons from whom due; such Committee to conwii-t of Messrs. Newton, Russell, Sutton, Parsons, and the mover. — He thought it very desirable that the accounts should be gone into. The Board should be dissolved, and the management tall into the hands of the Superintendent. Toey were bound to press for money— not to press men who couid not pay, but those who could, and especially, those who might escape from lapse of time during the next twelve months. It would no doubt be hard on sureties to come upon them, but they knew what they were doing when they became such, and in all cases where they were able to pay, they should be made to do so. Mr. Parsons thought it a pity that the statement of Ilia Honor as regards the statute of limitations should go asroad. He considered that be should consult the Provincial Solicitor on the subject. He (Mr. Parsons) thought these claims did not come under that statute, they being breaches of trust. Mr. Ohmonxs said it was a mistake to suppose that the Immigration Board had anything to do with the matter. There was an amount appropriated under the Loan Act for immigration, and the Board was requested to superintend the disbursement of tbis money. That was all. It was understood that where friends t»ent for immigrants, promissory notes were to be taken for the full amount. But an exception had be«Jn mule by him, which tne Board sanctioned. The women coming out had not been sent for by friends, but were coming out on the understanding that they should pay half their passage money only. Motion agreed to. Leave of Absence. Mr. Obmond, pursuant to notice, moved — That leave of absence be giveu to the Member for Wairoa (.Mr. Kinross) until Tuea day next. —He stated that he was requested by telegram to apply for leave on day of meeting, but from inadvertency he had not done so. Agreed to. Licenses. Mr. Obmond, pursuant to notice, moved—That a select committee be appointed to enquire into the position of those runs the licenses for which expire at the close of the present year, and to make recommendations for their future disposal ; such committee to consist of Messrs. Newton, Lambert, Kbodes, Russell, Tauner, and Parsons, and have power to call for the production of papers and attendance of witnesses. Keport to be brought up this day week. — He would ask members to go through several Acts in force in other Provinces, which he had procured for that purpose. —•The licenses of 104, 343 acres would determine on the 3 1st December next, and it was important that steps should be taken to meet the circumstances. He hoped that any Act passed by the Council would apply also to lands which will fall in in next, and the following year. In the selection of members for the committee he had done so keeping in view both the interests of the province and the holders concerned. • Motion agreed to. Waitaha Bridge. Mr. Doi/bel asked His Honor the Superintendent — Whether the iron bridge, ordered by the Government last year to bridge the Waitaha Creek, in the district of Mohaka, has arrived, and, if so, what has caused the delay from being erected over the said Creek. — He said this was the fifth time he had brought this matter before the Council and be hoped he would be more successful than he had been hitherto. Mr. Obmond said that his answer to the question was that when he became Superintendent there was no balance in hand for this work. It was one of the items for which money bad been voted and not applied. Mr. DoLnKi* thought the Council should re-fund. Mr. Ormond : The hon. gentleman has it in his power to make a motion trying to induce them to do so. Papers Laid on the Table, Mr. Obmond laid a return on the table, shewing runs for which the licenses expire on the 31st December, 1870. Return shewing how the sum of £48 3s. 9d., credited on account of duty under the "Native Lamls Act, 1867," is made up. Mr. Sutton moved that tho latter return be printed. There was a palpable mis>»ke in tbe amount said to have been collected. He knew personally that more money was paid in in the quarter in question. — Ordered to be printed. Toll Gate Act. Mr. Buchanan asked His Honor, the Superintendent whether it was his intention to apply the revenue received for the ensuing year, as directed by clause 13 of the Act. Mr. Obmond : Certainly. Oddfellows' Hall Bill. Mr. Sutton moved the second reading of this Bill. Motion agreed to ; Bill read a second time, and ordered to be committed next sitting day.