PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3520, 27 April 1872, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

OPENING OF THE SESSION. The thirty-sixth session of the Provincial Council, was opened at 2 p.m. yesterday. The attendance in the strangers’ gallery was very thin ; and there were only a few ladies in the Speaker’s gallery. The following members were present u Messrs Peacock, Brett, Macdonald, Fisher, Sawtoll, Joynt, Eichardson, Knight, Ehodes, Inglis, Tosswill, Enys, Studholme, Webb, Cowlishaw, Duncan, Westcnra, Bcswick, Kennaway, and Hawkes. Prayers were read by the Very Eev. the Dean of Christchurch. His Honor the Superintendent, attended by the members of the Executive Council, entered the Council Chamber, and delivered the following address : “ Mr Speaker and Gentlemen, — “ In accordance with the wish expressed by you at your last session, I have summoned you at what I trust will be a convenient time of the year for the full consideration of the measures which are rendered necessary hy the provisions of the Provincial Acts Validation Act, 1871. “ Bills have been prepared, and will be submitted to you by my Executive Council, to take the place of the Eoads Ordinance, the Cattle Trespass Ordinance, the Fencing Ordinance, and the Sheep Ordinance, which, for different reasons, will shortly cease to be valid. “ A bill will bo submitted to you for the purpose of introducing certain amendments which further experience has shewn, to be necessary in the Educational Ordinance, 1871. “You will be gratified to learn that the country has largely availed itself of the provision made by you under that Ordinance for the erection of new schools, no less than 18 new districts having been formed since the month of September last. Liberal as your votes were for this purpose, I find it necessary, at the instance of the Board of Education, to recommend further appropriations during your present session. “ I shall again ask your consideration of a bill for vesting the educational reserves in the Board of Education. “In accordance with the resolution passed by you last session, recommending the reseiwation of 100,000 acres of pastoral country for the pui’poses of a school of technical science, you will be asked to consider the specific reserves which you may deem it advisable to make. “The proposal is one the desirableness of which is, I think, open to grave doubts. As I am advised, the legal rights of the pastoral tenants would absolutely cease on the reservation of land held by them; and without express sanction of law it would not, I think, be proper to deal with reserves made for educational purposes otherwise than so as to promote to the utmost the objects of the trust. As I understand the resolution forwarded by you to me, you consider, and I think rightly, that the pastoral tenant would not be fairly dealt with if action were taken to destroy his tenure, and allow of competition in respect of grazing rights during the term of his holding, and you propose, so soon as the land is Crown-granted to the province, to make legal provision against such a course. Before you were enabled to deal with the land by Ordinance, a period might elapse during which there would be no law to prevent that being done which you would consider unfair to the present holder, and it would be open for that to be done which might be detrimental to the settlement of the country. Much land that is not now considered unavailable for settlement may become so by greater facilities of communication and other circumstances. Already the discovery of considerable seams of coal in various parts of the province leads us to hope that further industries may shortly be developed, and greater inducement for settlement may be created. The whole question, in all its bearings, will no doubt have your most careful attention.

“ The high price that has been commanded by wool in the English market, the absence of speculation, and the steady prosecution of the existing industries of the country, have brought about a period of sound prosperity in the province, which is a subject for great congratulation. A natural consequence has been a considerable increase of the revenue derived from the sales of waste lands. Since the Ist of October, the commencement of the financial year, they have amounted to nearly £45,000, a sum considerably in excess of what was anticipated as the amount for the whole year. Under these circumstances I shall recommend to you several appropriations in addition to those made by the Appropriation Ordinance of January last. “ Among •thers, I am of opinion that, having in view the increased traffic which will be brought over the railway into the harbour of Lyttelton, it is desirable that further jetty accommodation should be provided, to facilitate the export of grain and other produce. “ I shall propose to you to appropriate a subsidy towards making a water-race to bring a stream from the Pareora or the Opihi river to the town of Timaru This work, if successfully executed, will be productive of advantages beyond those of a water supply to the inhabitants of the borough. “ I shall also'ask you to vote'.a further sum towards the completion of the main roads to Akaroa, including a portion not hitherto open through the Taitapu district. “ Various other appropriations will be recommended to you for works which on many accounts can advantageously be pressed on during the winter months. “ I have to congratulate you on the completion of the Northern Railway as far as Kaiapoi, which will be open for passenger traffic in a few days. The line has been laid down in a most substantial manner, with bridges, culverts, and other works of a permanent character. I am only doing justice to the members of my Government, who cordially co-operated with me in initiating this railway, and to those officers of the Provincial Government who have given their zealous and unremitting attention to the execution of the work, in taking this opportunity of recording the high sense I entertain of the services rendered by them. . « The total cost of the line to Rangiora will, when complete, amount to about £76,000, exclusive of the purchase of land, or at a rate slightly in excess of £4OOO per mile 7 “ The economical and efficient manner in which this work has been devised and executed, is, in my opinion, an example of the advantage to be derived from the employment by the colony of local management in the execution of works provided for by borrowed moneys. “ I cannot but think that further experience will tend in the same direction. «In this province, the existing railways enable it to construct and administer further lines at a less cost than any other portion of the colony. . “ The attempt of recent legislation to bring under one central administration these works and colonising operations which have hitherto been carried out more immediately with the sympathy of, and under the supervision and direction, of those by whose taxation the funds are supplied, will, I think, prove a costly experiment, if a double machinery for the same objects is to be maintained. “ The impossibility of administering works and immigration in this island from Wellington appears to have been already admitted by the appointment of a member of the Colonial Ministry for this purpose to reside in Cantertaxpayers of the colony will not long admit of the continuance of an unnecessary complication of Government. “ Either the step already taken by the Colonial Government is but preliminary to a separate system of administration and finance in

either island, or to a change in the position of the provinces. If the latter, the change must shortly take the form of the definition of powers of the provinces, and a utilisation of them ns agents in the promotion of colonisation and public works, or it must issue in their abolition.

“ When I last met you, I indicated what I considered to be the points in the colonial legislation of last session which most pearly concerned us as a province, especially the power of interference with the administration of the waste lands and the conduct of immigration, independently of any expression of opinion on the part of the local legislatures. “ The changes which have been brought about have been effected in a Legislature in which the provinces, as such, have not been represented, and hitherto, so far as I am aware, without any expression of opinion as to their expediency by the several provincial legislatures. “ You will not think it out of place in me on the present occasion to have again called your attention to a subject of such large importance to this province. “ I have done so because great changes are obviously imminent, and because any expression of opinion on these matters on the part of the Council of this Province could not but be regarded as of considerable value. “ Whatever may be the solution of the political problem before us, it will be my continued endeavour, in all matters of administration, so to co-operate with the Government of the colony, as to promote the best interests of the people of this province. “ I now declare this Council open for the despatch of business.” His Honor then left the Chamber. papers. Mr Kennaway laid several papers and bills on the table. NORTHERN RAILWAY. Mr Kennaway : Sir, I have been requested by his Honor the Superintendent to announce that the Provincial Government intend to formally open the Northern railway on Monday next. A special train will start from Christchurch for Kaiapoi, at half-past 12 o’clock, and his Honor hopes that the members of the Provincial Council will accompany him in that train to Kaiapoi. (Hear, hear.) NOTICES OF MOTION. Tuesday, April 30. The following notices of motion were given ; The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ For leave to introduce a bill intituled the Canterbury Roads Ordinance, 1872.” The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ For leave to introduce a bill intituled the Canterbury Sheep Ordinance, 1872.” The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ For leave to introduce a bill intituled the Canterbury Fencing Ordinance, 1872.” The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ For leave to introduce a bill intituled the Canterbury Trespass of Cattle Ordinance, 1872.” The Provincial Secretary to move—- " For leave to introduce a bill intituled the Lyttelton Reclaimed Land Ordinance, 1872.” The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ For leave to introduce a bill intituled the Education Ordinance, 1871, Amendment Ordinance, 1872. No. 2.” The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, recommending to reserve for an endowment for the School of Technical Science, and other educational purposes, contemplated by the Canterbury Museum and Library Ordinance, 1870, the pieces of Waste Lands described below, being pasturage runs numbered as 543, 237, and 225, on the map of the Chief Surveyor of the Province.” Description of Run, No. 543.—53,000 acres more or less, commencing at the confluence of the Rangitata, with the Pott’s river, following up the latter river a distance of about 2 2- miles, thence following the southwestern boundary of runs No 181 and 189, to the southern branchof the river Ashburton, following the said branch in a south-easterly direction, to where it unites with a small stream forming part of the northern boundary of run No 553, following up the said stream a distance of about a mile and twelve chains, thence following a straight line bearing S. 23Jdeg W. (mag.,) to a tributary of the firstmentioned river, following the said tributary to the Rangitata, and thence returning along the same to the starting point. Description of Run 225.—20,000 acres, more or less, commencing on the eastern bank of the Waitangi river, at a point situate about 62 chains south-east of the southernmost corner of run No 186, thence following a line bearing S. 71deg 30min E. (mag.,) a distance of 3 miles 54 chains, to a stream thence south-easterly, following the said stream a distance measured in a straight line of about 3 miles 14 chains to the forks, thence southerly, following up the southern tributary of the said stream a distance measured in a direct line of 3j miles thence, N. 86 deg W. (mag.,) a distance of 6 miles 30 chains to the river above-men-tioned, and from thence returning along the same to the commencing point. Description of Run 237. —30,000 acres, more or less, situate east of the river Tekapo, commencing at the north-western corner of run No 225 on the eastern bank of the abovementioned river, thence following along the northern boundary of that run, and the northern tributary of the stream which forms part of the northern boundary thereof, a distance altogether of about 7 miles 26 chains, measured in a direct line, thence following a straight line a distance of 5 miles 76 chains to the south-west corner of run 296. following the western boundary of that run to the stream, being the south boundary of run 290, following the said stream to the aforesaid river, and from thence returning along the same to the commencing point. The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ For leave to introduce a bill, intituled The Municipal Council Ordinances Repeal Ordinance, 1872.” The Provincial Secretary, to move—- “ For leave to introduce a bill, intituled The Christchurch City Council Ordinances Repeal Ordinance, 1872.” The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ For leave to introduce a bill, intituled The Hospital and Charitable Aid Ordinance, 1864, Repeal Ordinance, 1872.” The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ For leave to introduce a bill, intituled The Fire Ordinances Repeal Ordinance, 1872.” The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ For leave to introduce a bill, intituled The Sheep Rating Ordinance, 1866, Amendment Ordinance, 1867, Repeal Ordinance, 1872.” The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ For leave to introduce a bill intituled The Hackney Carriage Ordinance 1864 Repeal Ordinance 1872.” Mr Hawkes to move—“ That a'respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, praying that a sum not exceeding £B3 be placed on the estimates to assist m defraying the expenses of the entertainment of the colonial representatives.” Colonel Brett— “To ask the Provincial Secretary whether he has any objection to lay on the table of the House a return, showing the number of rounds of ball ammunition for all arms of the service in reserve at Canterbury, including the ordnance of round shot and shell; a similar return of all arms and accoutrements in reserve, exclusive of the ammunition and arms at present in use. Mr Beswick —to move, “ That a select committee be appointed to enquire into the dispute pending between the Provincial Government and the trustees of Peacock’s wharf relative to the supply of certain rails and the right-of-way to the wharf, and to consider and report on the proposal for the settlement thereof made on behalf of the trustees, with power to call for persons and papers. The committee to consist of Messrs F. H. M. Walker, Parker, Healey, Sawtcll and the mover ; to report in a week.” The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ That a House Committee be appointed ; to consist of the Hon. Colonel Brett, Messrs Parker, Jollie, Ormsby, and the mover.’ The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ That the Council shall sit during the present session on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in each week, at nve o’clock p.m.” Mr Duncan to move—“ That a select committee be appointed to enquire into the general management of the railways, with power to call for persons and papers ; to report m ten days. The committee to consist ot tne

Hon. John Hall, Messrs Inglis, Buckley, Knight, Evans Brown, Matson, Jollie, and the mover., That it bo a special instruction to the committee to enquire into and report on the following matters: —l, The system obtaining with respect to the length of the working hours, and rate of pay of the railway employes. 2. The conduct of the General Manager ns regards carrying into effect the instructions of the Government. 3. The desirability or otherwise of a special inspection of the rolling stock being made by a competent person.” Friday, May 3. The Provincial Secretary to move—- “ That this Council hereby recommend his Honor the Superintendent, by proclamation, to be issued by him with the advice and consent of the Executive Council for the time being, to declare that all parts of The Highway Boards Empowering Act 1871, numbered two, three, four, five, six, and seven shall extend and apply to all the Road Districts constituted, or to bo constituted, under the Canterbury Roads Ordinance 1872, and to the inhabitants, ratepayers, and governing body of each such district upon such day as shall be fixed in and by such proclamation.” On the motion of Mr Kennaway, the Council adjourned until Tuesday next at 5 p.m.