PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2606, 12 May 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, Mat 11, The Speaker took the chair at 5 o’clock. The following members were present Messrs Montgomery, Jollie, Lee, W. Williams, Wilson, Studholme, T. S. Duncan, Aynsley, Garrick, Macpherson, Brown, J. S, Williams, Rhodes, Potts, Buchanan, Hawkes, Hornbrook,’A. Duncan, Hall, Matson, Ormsby, Moore, Peacock, Gray, Hiilyard, Knight, Hargreaves, Kennaway, and Dixon. PAPERS. Mr Jollie laid the following papers on the table:— Correspondence in reference to the report of the Railway Engineer on the exiiting state of the tunnel, dated 3rd May, 1869. Remarks by the Railway Engineer on Mr Dobson’s report of the state of the Canterbury railways, on Ist December, 1868, dated Cth May, 1869. Return of land sold, and reserves, &c., in the various Road Board districts. COUNCIL PAPERS. Mr J. S. Williams, before the Conncil proceeded to the business of the day, desired to ask a question in reference to a paragraph which had appeared in the Press newspaper of that morning, to the effect that the representatives of the different newspapers were not permitted to copy, for the information of the public, papers which were laid on the table of the House. Might he ask what was the rule in this ease, and if there was any objection to papers being printed by the newspapers for the information of the public ? The Speaker said that the clerk had misunderstood his instructions. It had occurred several times that papers had been used by agents of the press, and had not been returned. The representatives of the press would not be prevented from copying the papers; the instructions he had given to the clerk were that they were not to be taken away. Mr Williams expressed bis satisfaction with the Speaker’s reply, and the matter dropped, SHEEP ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Wynn Williams moved for leave to bring in the Sheep Ordinance, 1864, Amendment Bill, 1869. Leave was given, and the bill was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. TRESPASS OF CATTLE BILL. Mr Wynn Williams moved for leave to bring in the Trespass of Cattle Bill, i 869. The bill was brought in accordance with the previous resolution of the House that all bills of this nature should be brought in at this session, in order that an Act might be passed by the General Assembly validating the whole of them. Leave was given, and the bill was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. FENCINO BILL. Mr Wynn Williams moved for leave to bring in the Fencing Bill, 1869. Leave was given, and the bill was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. BOADS BILL. Mr Wynn Williams moved for leave to bring in the Roads Bill, 1869. As in the case of the previous bills, an Act of the General Assembly would be required to validate this one. He had endeavoured as far as possible to carry out the recommendations of the Select Committee in framing the bill. Mr Hall said be would like to hear some explanation from the hon. member respecting the principle of the bill. Mr Williams said be was quite willing to give the explanation asked for, but he understood it as being the general rule to give explanations on second reading. Leave was given to bring in the bill, which was read a first time and ordered to be printed. SECOND READINGS. The second reading of the foregoing bills was made an order of the day for Wednesday. MESSRS. HOLMES AND CO.’S REPLY. Mr Wilson moved, “ That the reply of Messrs Holmes and Co. to the report of the Railway Commissioners be laid upon the table of the House.” In asking the question,

he begged to say that he was actuated by a desire that hon. members and the public should he placed in possession of the fullest information concerning this matter. A very full report had been laid on the table by the commissioners and had been published in the newspapers. If the reply to that report w-re also laid on the table and printed, hon. members and the public would be in a better position to form an opinion on the subject. He bad no reason to doubt that the Government would comply with bis request. Mr Jollie said the Government had no objection to lay the reply before the House. They would have done so last session, but it would be recollected that the report came in just before the rising of the Council. The document was here laid upon the table. Mr Wilsoh hoped the same publicity would be given to the reply as had been given to the report of the commissioners. Would the hon. member assure the House that this reply would be made as public as the report had been ? Mr Jollie said that the paper was now the property of the House, which could do whatever it pleased with it. The Government did not feel inclined to move further in the matter. Mr Wiuoir moved that the document be printed. The motion was agreed to. LITTLE RIVKR RESERVES. Mr Jollie moved for leave to bring in a bill intituled “The Little River Reserves Sales Bill, 1869.” Leave was given, and the bill was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. The second reading was made an order of the day for Wednesday. RBPLT TO HIB BOMOR’s SPEECH. Mr Stddholmb moved the following reply to the address with which his Honor the Superintendent opened the Council :—“ The Council thanks your Honor for the address with which this special session has been opened, and will give its beat consideration to the several measures which will be brought before it.” The hoo. member said he was glad to find his Honor and his Executive giving such prominence to the question of immigration, as he believe 1 that it was only by a careful, steady, and well-devised system of immigration that the resources of the country could be properly developed. Amongst other things mentioned in his Honor’s speech, he thought that the amendments to the Sheep Ordinance would be favourably received. Mr Macpbebsoh seconded the address. The first noticeable feature in his Honor’s address was that whereia he referred to the advantage of reducing the present number of members, and as far as he could learn, he thought the House would cordially agree with His Honor

reduction of the ctfj I . that on the amount anticipated for the X80f) months of the year was cause for ! r9t thr< * faction. Every reduction of sati • pendlture should receive buddom early ex - CTwy attempt at fnrthw f ’ r “ j * dl « •o long as these reductions rtf ( . Uctlon * ‘“Pair the public service. The n °t paid yearly was a very heavy bnrivf 81 tot * for that reason he thought the Hon^l anil hail with satisfaction any attempt at f| hould duction of the expenditure His K 1 le,rereferred to the difficulties wh c h h° rhad penenced in coming into more d munication with the Council, and madl=° ml? g Hiffl° n u f v r ° bviatiD « thiß difflcuftV 0 ® 6 was difficult for a young member to exn- 1 an op. non on the subject ; it was only f bers who were accustomed to F* “ m ' minutiae who could speak to it. but he th r , T* that everything would be done by thePn gbt m the best spirit to meet the 4w g C of U, £‘ l Honor. In the province there was a coni. ? call for increased immigration, and House would no doubt in a er 4t “ „ the strengthen His Honor’s hands in «ng to introduce a class of i m mj o ottN superior to those already brought believed that the class of irntniwl. 6 brought out to Otago was superioS ß introduced to this province, but he t™ that this would be the case no ll J Mted that His Honor would be strengt endeavours to bring out such immS^ 5 were required by the province. 3 nt * 83 The address was passed. THE REPRESENTATION. Mr J. S. Williams said that wbh •ion of the House, he would withdraw”!’ following notice cl motion for the presL ht That 10 the opinion of this CouncU it il" sirable that the following priociple shouldt adopted in any bill altering the {resent tern of representation, vi z „ that the num£ of members to be assigned to any one diZ* .ho. ,d u, whole eo„b., y o o ,“™£ of the Council as nearly as may be the sal proportion as the number of electors with;•uoh district shall bear to the whole number It electors within the province” It wo „u perhaps come on more appropriately or simni taneously with the second reading of ! 0 ‘ Representation Bill. [Mr W William 6

Leave was given as requested. Notices of motion having been giren th. Council adjourned at 5.40 until day (Wednesday). p '““

NOTICES OF MOTION. Wednesday, Mat 12. Mr Muhrat-Atnslet— To ask the S'ecretoy of Public Works if it is the intention of the Government to bring in a bill for land at the Lyttelton railway station or to build Government stores for goods and produce. * Mr Dixon—To move that a return be laid on the table of the House showing the number of cattle slaughtered on the Maori run, or that have died there from the effect of pleuropneumonia, and also of the number slaughtered for beef, and of the number still remaining on the Waimakariri. Mr Khioht—To more that a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent praying him to take immediate steps towards having that portion of the Kiver HalsweJl which is in the Little Rivet re d district cleared of watercress and other obstructions. ORDEB OP THE DAT. Second reading of Sheep Ordinance, 1864, Amendment Bill, 1869. Second reading of Trespass of Cattle Bill. 1869. Second reading of Fencing Bill, 1869. Second reading of Hoads Bill. 1889. Second reading of Little Rivet Reserves Sales Bill, 1869.