Provincial Council.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 215, 22 November 1854, Page 5

Provincial Council.

Tuesday, Nov. 13th. Present — Messrs. Hall, Bealey, Cookson, Packer, Cuss, Khodes, and Hamilton. Mr. Bo wen in the chair. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL EXTENSION BILL. Mr. Hall, in rising; to move the 3rd reading of the Provincial Council Extension Bill, said that in order to make a trivial alteration in the Bill, he would move that the house resolve itself into Committee ; which, having been agreed to, he said the alteration he had to suggest was in the Schedule, and had reference to the description of the South Christchurch Boundary. Mr. Bealey having seconded the amendment, Mr. Cass said that he thought the alteration a very proper one ; it defined more clearly the nature of the boundary. The motion having been agreed to, Mr. Hall suggested another verbal alteration in the next clause, which was also agreed to. SCAB AND CATARRH ORDINANCE. The house then resumed, but again went into Committee to consider the Scab and Catarrh Ordinance. A.ll the clauses with the exception of Nos. 2, 9, 12, 14, and 24, having been agreed to, Mr. Hall proposed to leave the others for the consideration of lion, members until Thursday next. The House then resumed. AVON BRIDGES. Mr. Cass presented a petition from several inhabitants of Christchurch and its vicinity, praying for repairs to the bridges across the river Avon. The bridges were originally constructed at the private cost of the inhabitants, but since that time great traffic had sprung up on the road, and they were now in a very dilapidated and dangerous condition. He would move that the petition do lie on the table. Mr.HALL seconded the proposition, and stated that it was the intention of the Government to propose a vote of £50 for the purpose, leaving the inhabitants to finish the remainder, which would probably amount to £30. SUPERINTENDENT OF WORKS. Mr. Hamilton: Before the house resolved itself into Committee of supply he would move that a valuable paper which had been laid before them, written by Mr. Torlesse, be read. The whole subject of road making was a very important one to this Province. Koads had hitherto been laid out without reference to general levels, or the possibility of making them subservient to arterial drainage. He had in his hand a valuable paper on the subject from a gentleman of practical experience, whose name he would not mention : he would read a few brief extracts. Mr. Hamilton said that he had intended to give notice to move a resolution on the necessity of the appointment permanently of a competent officer, upon whom should devolve the responsibility of planning and superintending all public works. He thought that before going to the expenditure of a sun/ of £1,900, which would be proposed to the house, the expediency of such an appointment ought to te discussed. An efficient officer well paid for the time he would be required to devote to his duties, would be a gain to the Province, and he thought a salary even of £400 a year would not be too much for an able professional man. He should most reluctantly vote the sums asked for,

unless a guarantee were given that the subject would have the fullest attention from the Government. It might be said that he had had the opportunity when in office of bringing thi3 question under the notice of the house, and he would confess that the arrangement had always been unsatisfactory to him, especially the remuneration by per centage on outlay ; It should be remembered, however, that the Government at that time, from considerations of economy, having very little to expend, was unable to guarantee to any professional man employment of any duration.

Mr. Cass would add a few words in support of the views entertained by the hon. gentleman. He thought it was high time to consider the propriety of such an appointment. The system at present was not one by which there was any responsibility on the part of the gentleman undertaking the duty. He believed that there would be a gain in the appointment of an officer at a salary of even £500 a year. The duties of the officers of the Land Office do not comprise those of laying out roads, and he believed there would be no objection on the part of the Commissioner of Crown Lands to the use of the maps, arid, indeed, of the instruments in the office, and that every facility would be given in his power to give effect to the labours of the office. The only difficulty would be to find a competent officer.

Mr. Dampieb said it seemed to him absurd that they should be asked to expend public money without the recommendation of such an officer, and he was at a loss to know to what to attribute the proposed grants of money for the several works named on the list before the house. He supposed it could only emanate from the petitions which had been laid on the table, and not based upon any professional opinion of their necessity. _

Mr. Packeb was of the same opinion, and he desired to ask why, if roads were essential in certain places, the inhabitants in those places were to be taxed to find labour in part or money in aid; if the road was needed as a public good, he thought that there should be no mixed system in the grant.

Mr. Hall said the subject was a very important one, and there was no difference of opinion upon its merits ; but before he was in office, he remembered that economy was always considered to have a prior claim upon the Government. If they required a professional officer of Public Works, whose whole time was to be devoted to the duties of his office, they must be prepared to offer a high salary. The Executive had been so short a time in office that they had really not had opportunity to consider the subject; but if the house thought the course desirable they would do so. The Province at present had no control over the Land-office, and the Commissioner does not consider it his duty to lay out roads. Professional estimates had not certainly been obtained for all the works under their consideration, but it was not intended to expend these monies irrespective of professional supervision, and the sums proposed to be voted, were not the entire amounts needed for the roads in question, they were rather grants in aid. Mr. Hamilton hoped that in any steps that might be taken by the Government, every effort would be made to bring about an arrangement between the General Government and the Provincial Government, in order that there might be no misunderstanding as to the duties of the Commissioner of Crown Lands and of the chief Surveyor. COMMITTEE OF SUPLLV. The house then went into Committee of Supply. Mr. Bowen in the chair. Mr. Hall proposed a vote of £100 for the Papanni and Harewood road, on the condition of the neighbouring population fnuiing; labour. Mr. Bealet, in seconding the vote, said that the road was needed, but it was only in part a public work, and it was therefore in order to enable those who had property to improve the access to it, that the principle was laid duw.i us a grant in aid.—Carried. Mr. Hall next proposed a vote of £-100 for the north road. It would be sufKciem u> do the necessary repairs to the road so as to render it passable. It was not at present proposed to bridge over the Salt Water Creek. Mr. Bealey said, in seconding this vote, he begged to say that the road would, as at present proposed, be"shortened 15 miles. Mr. Hamilton hoped the Government would not undertake the construction of the hrulge over the Salt Water Cretk until :u> ..:V.u' of public works had been appointed, it wcuui be

absurd to bridge the Creek at a point where an expensive bridge was required; he had often traversed thai road, and crossed the creek higher up at a flying leap. Mr. Cass thought the ford might be improved by the addition of a line of poles along the ridge of gravel. He had twice got off the ford aud had to swim for it. The poles should be marked with the water depth. He hoped to see the creek bridged; it was the great road to Nelson, and ought to receive their attention. He especially noticed the river when there a few days ago with the intention of giving the house the result of his observations.—Carried. Mr. Hall proposed a vote of £200 for the repair of the road from Papanui to the Purakanui. It was intended to be used in the completion of the drainage on the road, which was most esseutial. Mr. Bealey seconded the vote.—Carried. Mr. Hall: The nest vote was for the Lincoln Road. It was not solely for the residents along that road, but it was intended to open up the whole of that valuable agricultural district. The sum proposed was not sufficient for the purpose of its completion. He would propose a vote of £400 for that road. Mr. Bealet seconded the vote. —Agreed to : but the amount was subsequently reduced to £300. Mr. Hall would next propose a vote of £300 for the Akaroa Bridle Path. Mr. Rhodes rose to second the proposal. He had walked over the road, and could bear testimony to the propriety of the vote.- —Carried. Mr. Hall proposed a vote of £200 for the Port Victoria Bridle path. He said that at some future time, by this road a communication could be opened up at the. head of Port Cooper to the Plains. Mr. Dampier thought the vote much too small for the construction of the road. He hoped the house would consider the capabilities of this road as a dray road and not treat it as a Bridle path. Mr. Cass believed the road would be ultimately a very important one, leading as it did to Akaroa and the Plains, and opening up a rich district. Mr. Hall said he should be very glad to comply with the appeal of the hon. member for Lyttelton, but they had already exceeded their funds. The Government Lad "not lost sight of the value of the road or ofits capabilities. Mr. Hamilton would like to see a larger sum voted for the road in question. At present the inhabitants were dependent upon water communication, and that was very uncertain. It was as important in an agricultural point of view as the Liucoln Road, and he should be glad if £100 was taken from the grant to. that road and given to the one under consideration. Mr. Packed suggested that the inhabitants of Lyttelton should subscribe the remaining £200. Mr. Dampier objected to that view of the case. The Lyttelton people declined to accept money for making roads with such'a condition attached to it. He thought that great good would result from the increase of the grant; it would open a road which would be of great benefit to all classes, not alone to those of the Port town. Mr. Hall said be wished they could extend the public purse-strings. Hereafter he hoped they should be in a condition to improve the ! road, but he was sure the agricultural importance of the Lincoln road fully justified the vote they ij:ul come to. Mr. Hamilton said he should move the reconsideration of the grant to the Lincoln road. Tli3 Government had not made out a special case for it. He knew nothing about the necessity for that road, but did know a great deal of ihe ro.<d line under their consideration, and he tuought it of the greatest importance that the vicinity of the port should be opened up. lie. would move thai the vote to the Lincoln road be reduced to £300, aud the vote to the Port Victoria bridle road lie increased to £300. Mr. Hall said he thought the house ought to pause before it agreed to a vote of the character Just proposed. The Government had carefully considered the documents before them, aii.-l these justifio'.i the sums they had put on the Esumites. Tiie course was an unusual one and it would be a bad precedent for the future! Hon. gentlemen might master strong for particular districts in support of their individual requirements, and there might be a scramble for the funds at the disposal of the Government. Mr. Bealky took ihe same course, and he thought the house should remember the statement the hon. gentleman had made that he knew nothing of the Lincoln road.

Mr. Hamilton thought it was more important to get the road round Port Victoria opened up than to improve the Lincoln road. He should not have pursued the course he had done had the estimates been framed on the report of professional men.

Mr. Dampier should support the amendment, although the hon. gentleman (Mr. Hall) had adduced strong reasons against the course, the importance of which he admitted; yet he should vote for the amendment, in order to bring under the notice of the house the claim of this road to consideration.

Mr. Packer said he was surprised at the course taken by the hon. members for Lyttel* ton. It seemed they had suddenly become aware of the great importance of the' Port Victoria bridle path, but they lost sight of the fact that on the Lincoln road there was a large amount of produce to be brought to market, while on the Port Victoria road there was comparatively but little.

Mr. Bkaley said the chief object of the Government should be to open up the available resources of the colony. On the Port Victoria bridle path it was said that 6, or 700 acres could be opened up, but on the Lincoln road there were many thousands of acres to be benefited by the road in question. On a division the numbers being equal, the Chairman gave his casting-vote in favour of the amendment. Messrs. Packer, Cass, Bealey and Hall, voting against, and Messrs. Dampier, Cookson, Hamilton and Rhodes, in favour of it. Mr. Hall next proposed a vote of £100 to be met by another sum of £100 from the inhabitants for a road to the South of Ohristchurch. Mr. Dampter said this was an occupation road, and the hon. gentleman seemed to think that he was justified in making this grant, because of the offer of a corresponding sum of the occupiers of land on the road.

Mr. Hall said this district was of far gf' eatmf importance than hon. gentlemen knew of. There were 1650 acres already occupied, and it was not the less deserving of support because it was a bye-road.

Mr. Hamilton would rote for the grant; he was aware that the present owners of land were obliged to depend upon sufferance for the means of ingress and egress to their own land.—Carried. On the motion of Mr. Halt, a vote of £100 for a road under the hills ; a grant of £100 for tie opening- of the Great South road, in aid of the construction of a dray road for the carriage of wool: a vote of £126 13s. lid. for the Hospital at Lyttelton ; and a vote of £40 for the repairs of the two bridges over the Avon, were agreed to without discussion. The House resumed. Mr. Hamilton moved that the Auctioneers' 'License Bill be read a second time, and committed to-morrow. Mr. Cookson seconded the motion. Carried. Mr. Hamilton moved for the production of any correspondence between the General Government and the Superintendent which had reference to a free grant of any portion of the Public Reserves. The House then adjourned till JThursday. Thursday, Nov. 17. Present,—Messrs. Packer, Flj.ll, Bowen, Khodes, Hamilton, and Bealey. Mr. Cookson in the chair. Mr. Hall presented a return from the Inspector of sheep ; arid also additional papers on the sunject of the roads ; as well as further correspondence in reference to the office of ile^istrar of Deeds. ° Mr. Hall moved the third reading of the Provincial Council Extension Bill. Mr. Hamilton moved that the bill he recommitted, he objected to the construction of one of the districts, and particularly alluded to some difficulties that would arise from the deviation from those laul down for the Registry of Births, &c. llie house having resolved itself into committee Mr. Hamilton suggested an alteration to the boundary line in clause 6 of the Schedule. Mr. Hall assented to the alteration. 1 he house then resumed, but again resolved itself int.. Committee to consider the Scab and Catarrh Bill. Mr. Bowen in the chair. Mr. Hall said he would take the clauses left over on Friday last. The first was clause 2, and had reference to the dressing of sheep Mr. Rrxomcs rose to second the adoption of the clause. He had known instances of sheep being dressed while on the journey, and the clause woald meet the objection by' extending the time to 2 months. Mr. Hamilton would like to know what necessity there was for so long a time as 2 mouths.

I Mr. Rhodes said that the inoculation re quired ten days to develop. itself. He thought that sheep that had heen infected, should never be placed with the clean stock, although cured by the dressing, under two or three months ; l, e ~' would not do so, at a shorter period thajj \ Wo months. , Clauses 9, 12, 14, 21, 23, 24, were read and agreed to. There were a few verbal alterations made in other clauses of the bill, when th e Chairman reported progress. The house then wont into Committee upon the Auctioneers' bill Mr. Hamilton suggested an amendment to the Preamble of the bill, and. an alteration to the Ist clause, which was agreed to. Clauses 2 and 3 were agreed to. Mr. Hamilton said, in reference to clause 4 he was at a loss to understand why these licenses should not be transferred in the same way as Publicans. The auction license had now to be taken out once a year, and might in case of death, the day after, be altogether sacrificed, and he therefore thought there should be such a power. Clause agreed to.—Clause 5 agreed to. Clause 6 being proposed, Mr. Hall said he would second the introduction of the amendment, but upon the understanding that if objection from out of doors should be made to the hours, he should be perfectly at liberty to propose its reconsideration. He could not understand why a limit should be made to the hours - of transacting auction business. He was glad to hear that the opinion of auctioneers would be sought on the subject. Mr. Packer had a very decided objeclion to the limitation of the hours; his experience in England convinced him that many very valuable properties were disposed of at evening sales. Mr. Hamilton said he should prefer that the clause stood for the present as amended, in order that the opinion of the public should be obtained upon the subject. The other clauses were then agreed to, and the Chairman reported progress. Mr. Hall gave notice of his intention to take the 3rd reading of the Provincial Council extension bill, on Tuesday; and the Scab and Catarrh Bill, to-morrow." Mr. Hamilton to -recommit the auctioneer bill on Tuesday, and to ask also if the Government are in possession of any information in regard to the appropriation of public reserves. The house then adjourned. Tuesday, Nov. 21. Present,—Messrs. Hall, Packer, Cass, and Cooksou. Mr. Bowen in the chair. Mr. Hall laid on the table plans of the works to be undertaken on the Lincoln road. The followingmessage from the Superintendent with the accompanying letter, was then read: — "His Honor,the Superintendent, forwards to the Provincial Council a letter which he has received from Mr. Blatchford in London, accompanying a number of Parliamentary Papers which Lord Lyttelton has presented for the use of the Province. "The Superintendent conceives that Lord Lyttelton's wish will be most fully complied with, by depositing the volume's in question in the library of the Provincial Council. He therefore forwards them along with this message. Jamks Edward Fitz Gkr.ald, Superintendent. " Mr. Blatchford writes :— I have, hy the direction of Lord Lytteltoi;, forwarded by the Norman Morrison, addressed to yoiij a box containing various Parliamentary Papers, which his Lordship requests you will have the goodness to consider as for the-publie use of the settlement. I have the honor to be, &c T. J. BXATCHFOKD. J. E. Fitz Gerald, Esq." Mr. Hall would move on Thursday a vole of thanks to Lord Lyttelton, in reply to the message from His Honor. Mr. Hall laid on the table papers relating to the laying out of roads generally. The house then went into Committee to consider the Scab bill. Mr. Bowen in the chair. On the motion of Mr. Hall some trifling amendments were adopted in clauses 14 and 22, and in Schedule A. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL EXTENSION BILL. The house having resumed, Mr. Hall proceeded according to notice to move the 3rd readingof the Provincial Council Extension BillMr. Packer seconded the 3rd reading, and the bill was carried. In consequence of the indisposition of the Collector of Customs, the notices on the paper in bis name were postponed until Thursday. Mr. Hall gave notice that he would on Thursday move for an allowance to the Speaker of the Provincial Council, but not to the members.