PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2608, 14 May 1869, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursdat, May 13. The Speaker took the chair at five o’clock. The following members were present: — Messrs Jollie, W. Williams, Buckley, Hargreaves, Fyfe, Brown, Potts, Lee, Buchanan, Waeckerle, llornbrook, Rhodes, Moore, Matson, Masked. Knight, Ormsby, Kennaway, J. S. Williams, Lee, Dixon, Hawkes, Mall, Birch, Gray, Studholme, Wilson, and Hillyard. PAPER. Mr Jollie laid the following paper on the table : Return of Pasturage Licenses not held under “The Canterbury Waste Lands Act, 1864.” RECLAIMED LAND. Mr Hargreaves asked the Provincial Secretary what title the Government hold over the land reclaimed in Lyttelton Harbour, and whether the said land will be handed over to the Lyttelton Borough Council—which now forms part of the Borough, being within its southern boundary. The hon. member said he understood from the remarks of the Provincial Secretary on the previous night that the Superintendent had obtained a Crown Grant for the land. Consequently, all he required was an answer to the latter part of his question. Mr Jollie said he did not see what the Borough had to do with the ownership of the soil in question. The land was not reclaimed from the sea, at the time when the boundaries were made, and it could not therefore be included within the Borough boundary. The land belonged to the Government by Crown grant, and the Government did not see that the Boiough Council had any right to it any more than to the railway or any other Government property. It was not the intention of the Government to hand over the reclaimed land, or any portion of it, to the Lyttelton Borough Council. Mr Williams moved for leave to bring in a bill to empower the Superintendent to lease the reserves un the reclaimed land at Lyttelton. The hon. member said that in leasing the land, great care would be taken to reserve sufficient land for the purposes of the railway. Leave was given; the bill was read a second time and ordered to be printed. peacock’s wharf.

Mr W. Williams moved “That in the opinion of this Council the arrangement between the Provincial Government and the proprietors of Peacock’s Wharf with reference to a siding to be carried on to the said wharf should be concluded.”

The hon. member explained that the siding in question would afford greater facilities for the importation and exportation of goods, and would at the same time prevent the existence of anything like an exclusive monopoly of public property. The resolution was agreed to. WAIMAKARIKI BRIDGE.

Mr Jollie moved “ That in the opinion of this Council it is absolutely necessary that communication with the northern part of the province should be maintained, and that immediate steps should be taken by the Government to repair the present bridge over the Waimakariri river at Kaiapoi, or to build another at such place bn the river as may seem best adapted for public convenience.” The bridge in question had been handed over to the Municipality of Kaiapoi, who were to receive the tolls on the express understanding that they were to keep the bridge in repair. This the Borough Council had failed to do, and consequently the Government thought it desirable to gain possession of the bridge, and either repair it or build a new bridge. An offer had been received from a certain gentleman to repair the bridge, on the understanding that he should receive the tolls as security until the sum expended in repairs was refunded to him.

Mr Atnslet desired further information on the subject. The Council ought to be very careful how they took over the bridge, as by so doing, they might also take over no end of lawsuits. The Council was aware that an action was now subjudice. Mr Bucklet expressed a similar opinion. Mr J. S. Williams said that under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867, the control of bridges was vested in the Borough Council.

Mr Maskell was of opinion, that as the Borough Council had received the lolls, they should put (he bridge in order. Mr Hall agreed with the resolution. It was desirable, however, that it should be differently worded, so as to prevent the repairs being made a charge on the revenue. Although this was intimated by the Provincial Secretary, it was not sufficiently expressed in the res dution he had proposed. After some further discussion,

Mr W. Williams moved the addition of the following words—The coat of the erection of the same be paid out of the toils to be collected therefrom.” Mr Birch said that the Borough Council had neither the funds nor the powers to enable them to rebuild the bridge. These powers were vested only in the Superintendent. Mr Hawk.es supported the motion, remarking that in his opinion all great public works should be submitted to tender. Mr Brown supported the motion. He suggested the amendment of the motion by the insertion of words to the effect that the work should be submitted to tender. Mr Peacock proposed an amendment to this effect.

The Hon. O. L. Lee Mid that the araendment was unnecessary, as the Government intended to submit the work to public tender. The Speaker then put the resolution, as amended by the addition of the words proposed by Mr W. Williams. The motion was agreed to on the voices. THE REPRESENTATION. Mr W. Williams moved for leave to introduce “ The Provincial Council Representation Ordinance, 1869.” He would move the second reading on Tuesday next, when he would be prepared to state the provisions of the bills. Mr J. S. Williams moved, as an amendment, that the Bill be read a first time on Tuesday next. The dralt of the Bill was full of blanks, and it was impossible for anyone to understand what the intentions of the Goverowere. Mr Ormsbt seconded the amendment. Mr Brown, after some discussion on a point of order, suggested the advisability of moving that the bill be read a first time that day six months. By this course a good deal of time would be saved. Mr Montgomery said that if the present bill went into committee, it would come out iu a most unsatisfactory state. He thought it was for the interests of pure legislation, that tlie blanks should be filled up, in order to show hon. members what it was they were asked to pass. (Cheers.) He would entreat his colleague (Mr W. Williams) to postpone bis proposition for first reading until Tues lay next, and then come down prepared with a full and straightforward exposition of the principles of a bill of such vast importance as the one now brought in. (Cheers.) Mr Hawkes hoped the Government would not attempt to push the bill through during this extraordinary session. The amendment proposed by Mr J. S. Williams was then put and carried on a division. Ayes, 15—Messrs Montgomery, Dixon, J. S. Williams, Hillyard, Peacock, Brown, Knight, Hawkes, Buckley, Matson, Moore, A. Duncan, Fyfe, Waeckerle, and Ormsby. Noes, 13—Messrs Studholme, Maskell, Gray, Hall, Wilson, Buchanan, W. Williams, Jollie, Kennaway, Potts, Rhodes, Birch, and Lee. RIVER HALSWELL. Mr Knight moved, (1) “ Thata respectful address be presented to- his Honor the Superintendent, praying him to take immediate steps towards having that portion of the River Halswell, which is in the Little River Road District, cleared of watercress and other obstructions.” Mr Jollie said the Government were opposed to the resolution. If it were necessary, the work should be done by the people themselves. A similar application from the City Council had been refused. The motion was lost on the voices. EDUCATION ORDINANCE. Mr Maskell moved for leave to introduce s bill to amend the Education Ordinance, 1864. Leave was given ; the bill w,.s brought in, read a first time, and ordered to be printed. THE CANTERBURY RAILWAYS. Mr Knight moved “ That this Council is of opinion that the Canterbury Railways should be let for a term of years, and that tenders should be at once invited for leasing the same, so that they might be out of the hands of the Government by the end of this financial year.” (2.) “ That his Honor the Superintendent be hereby empowered to let the above, with the consent of his Executive, for a term not exceeding five years, and fix the maximum rate of tolls to be charged by the Lessees thirty per cent lower than in the Schedule to 1 The Railways Tolls and Management • rdinance, 1867, Amendment Ordinance, 1868.’ ” The hon. member bad no doubt that the Government had done their best, but they had signally failed in the management of the railways. Before the line was given into the handsof the Government, the labourers employed by Messrs Holmes and Co. worked at all hours when there was work for them to do. He believed that this system was carried out on most of the lines in England, parties paying for the necessary labour if goods were brought in after hours. He knew an instance here where a man had to wait overnight at the station before he could unload his dray. On the following morning, there were six men present, but he could not have his dray unloaded until a certain routine bad bsen gone through. Such a system as that carried on could not be expected to satisfy the public. The hon. member also remarked that farmers were now carting their grain to Christchurch, because they could find no trucks. Where had they gone to ? (Laughter.) Was this tire way to get the public to make use of the railway ? He thought he had said enough to prove that no '■iovernment was capable, or should be allowed to have the railways in their hands. He believed an amendment would be moved, proposing that the lines should be sold. Mr Potts seconded the motion. Mr Jollie said that the hon. member had proved no facts, and he would be prepared hereafter to produce documents in support of his assertion. The hon. member had contrasted the present with former management. Surely no member of the Council could expect a man to work ten or twelve hours for the pay which he received. If the after-hour system were adopted, the result would be that they would have to keep the railway working all night. The hon. member bad stated that there was an increase in the number of officials. He (Mr Jollie) was prepared to state that on the whole the number was less than before. The hon. member had said that the traffic on the Great Southern line was greater last year than this. Mr Knight said he did not say so. What he said was that he would like to know whether in any single week this year the traffic was greater than in any single week last year. Mr Jollie said that last season there were 6904 bushels of grain conveyed along the Great Southern Railway. During the past season the number of bushels was 23,784. Several threshing machines had been imported to the Soutli, and the cultivation of grain was carried on more extensively. The result was that 23,784 bushels were brought up by rail. The Government were taken by surprise, and had not sufficient accommodation to meet the increased requirements. Previously to the grain season, however, they had gone along the line, and stores were put up ;where it was considered they could he most required. The Government had not much money at their disposal, and they would not therefore do all perhaps that was required. He thought the Government did not destrve the blame which the hon. member tried to throw upon them. They were opposed to the letting of the railway, as they believed such a result would be productive of very injurious results. The lines required considerable repairs, and these might not be carriedoutsatisfactorily if they were let to private individuals. Besides, the Government might expect that at the end of the term the rollingstock would be handed over in very bad condition.,

After some remarks from Mr Aynsley, Mr Bbown moved, as an amendment, that the debate should be adjourned until a report on the subject be brought up. Mr Kennawat said he believed that as time proceeded it would be seen to be more beneficial to lease the railways. He did not mean to say that it was advisable to do ao just now. Mr Brown said that as it appeared to be desired that the debate should proceed, he would at once move, as an amendment, “ That this Council is of opinion that public tenders be invited for the purchase of the Canterbury Railways.” The hon. member said that he was constantly hearing complaints, some against the traffic manager and others against the goods’ clerks. He believed that if the railways were disposed of to a private company, public traffic would be facilitated, and the country opened up. For another reason, it was advisable that the railways should be disposed of. The day would certainly come when Provincial Government would be abolished; and the railways would be a constant bone of contention, if they were not previously handed over to a private company, who would come here with plenty of capital to enable them to carry them on. ’ Mr Hawkes moved that the debate be adjourned nntil Wednesday next. The motion was carried on the voices.

LITTLE RIVER RES KEYES BALES BILL, 1869. This bill was re-committed for the further consideration of clauses 2 and 3 ; reported to the House, and ordered to be read a third tine on Friday. The other orders of the day were postponed, and the Council adjourned at 9.20, until noon to-day (Friday). ORDERS OF THE DAY. Fbidat, Mat 14. The report of the Trespass of Cattle Bill Committee, to be brought up. Third reading of the Little River Reserves Sales Bill, 1869.