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Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 736, 26 November 1859, Page 4

, v .. • \ /Thursday, Nov. 24.' The Speakertook the chair at 5.30; p.m. Present—The Speaker, Messrs. Bishop, Cass, Davis; Dobbs,Fooks, Fyfe, Hannan.Lbokhart, Miln, . Hlg&ins» Ollivior, Packer, Potts, Rhodes, Templer, and W ar d. . were read by the Chaplain, and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

»■ Mr. Potts presented a petition from certain of the agricultural , settlers in the Port > Victoria District, praying that tho district should not bo divided as proposed by the Trespass of Cattle" Amendment Ordinance Amendment Act. > COMMITTEE DP SUPPLY. On the motion of Mr. Oluvier, the House went into committee of supply ,~-Mr. Fooics in tho chair. The various items comprising the permanent government expenditure were severally passed, with little alteration, as shewn on the estimates. Tho vote in aid of building churches was reconsidered, and altered from £7550, as already passed, to £5000. On the item of £400 as salary for the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Packer asked the acting Provincial Secretary what were the intentions of the Government regarding this office; and whether the officer to be appointed was to be a member of Council and a responsible officer or not ? He would move that the consideration of this vote do stand over till some idea on this subject be arrived at. Mr. Ollivieb pressed the vote.. In reply, he stated that he had no knowledge whatever of any intention on the part of the Superintendent.to disturb^ the existing state of things. The vote would not be drawn upon till some gentleman should1 be found by His Honor to accept the office.1 - The vo^e was passed. On the- item of £1,119 ss. for the Gaol department, in reply to a question by Mr. Ward, Mr. Ollivieb stated that no definite decision had been arrived at touchiug the formation of a central Convict Establishment -for the colony, though' correspondence had taken place with the.General Government on the subject: further, that the General Government were now making arrangements, for the establishment at Nelson of a central lunatic asylum. The .Vote for the Harbor department was deferred on the motion of Mr. Ward, .till the copies of correspondence on this subject some time back asked for by that gentleman should be produced. On the item of £84 for the hospital nurse, Mr. Davis proposed that the sura should be raised to £100.. He as well as several other members spoke in the highest terms of the efficiency and indefatigable kindness ,of the nurse. The vote was however passed as it istood, on the suggestion by Mr. Bow'en that an addition so well merited would come better in the form of a 1 special gratuity;, and the • hon. member gave notice that he would move'the placing on the estimates,of the sum: of £20 for this purpose. . - : The vote for immigration was reduced from £15,000, as shown on the first presented estimates, to £10,000. Mr. Ollivieb said that a new system was proposed to be adopted: Instructions would be issued to the Immigration Agent, authorizing him to draw at the rate of £1,000 per month. It was proposed that a ship should be despatched once in every two months. A further sum would accrue in England from intending .immigrants. Further, that the agent had been instructed'to exercise great care in the future selection of immigrants, especially females ? none of whom were to be taken, as heretofore, from the reformatory establishments in and around London. L ■ . ' : •

Mr. Miln suggested that some of the ships should .be: despatched from Liverpool. V ' Mr. Olijveeb said that instructions to this effect .had. also beenjssuedtothe, agent. l ■.■ Some slight discussion ensued on the vote of £100 for a Queen's, Plate, which, however, was passed. '. - - ..-. :■ - -' : i-.-',.-,.-; ■„'<■ ■.';.:> :•: On;the .vote .of*;£2o,Q;for a fire engine,;. Mr. Davis asked why there was no sum on the estimates.fpr an engine for:Ly.ttelton t ■ Mr. OtHYrEE said that this engine,; though it would., be available,. ,if-required,, Tor, the -town-- of: Christchurch, was? intended specially for the pro-; tection of the > Government buildings^ which had 1 cost about £12,000. - :;- ; H 7. :.- r In reply to a question by Mr. Ward, Mr. OiliTIES .also said that it was proposed to work the engine by a volunteer brigade, in the raising of which' ihe- anticipated no ■ difficulty.' The vote was passed. : The Chairman here reported progress, asking leave to sit again. The House resumed. ; ■; Mr. Rhodes moved an address to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting.;that he will place on the estimates a sum not exceeding £100 for the purposeof connecting the road over M?Quin's pass with the road over; Gibbie's pass. This sum would be sufficient to">make this a good cart. road, on ; which when made he would .undertake 'with six bullocks to take a ton weight. ; Mr. Potts seconded the motion. :

Mr. Packer was astonished;: at the indiscriminate way in which hon;- members asked for votes of £100 here and £100 'there, when it was well known that the province was in difficulties. Mr. Davis thought the,opposition of the hon. member unreasonable. , ;

Mr. Olliviee asked to. haye;the motion postponed till to-morrowyin "order that, he might be enabled to take the Engineer's opinion on the subject. The request seemed to him to be a perfectly reasonable one.

Mr. Rhodes agreed to the postponement, at the same time remarking that this was the first time any money had-been voted for this district, a { request of his for such having the other night been refused. Motion deferred.'- • ;" - - •

After notices of motion the House adjourned at 8.30 p.m., to to-morrow' (Friday) 25th inst. at the uaual.hour. :',',■,;■.'■'■■"■■■■' '■ '■'- -■■'> '■'} ■■-•>■•.