The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1867. NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 21, 25 January 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1867. NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tbuks-av, Jaktjahy 24. The Speaker took the chair at five o'clock p.m. The following memberwere present : — The Provincial Secretary, Provincial Solicitor, Messrs. Curtis, C. Kelling, Kingdon, Gibbs, Thompson, Akersten, Burn, Simmonds, M'Mahon, Parker, Baigent, and Beit. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. C. Kelling asked the Provincial Solicitor -whether the exceptions in the use of stamps under the Stamp Act, for and on behalf of Her Majesty, apply also to the different Road Boards. The Provincial Solicitor suggested that the Road Board should consult their own solicitor on a subject •which admitted of considerable doubt. Mr. Burn moved, that the Report of the Select Committee appointed to prepare a reply to his Honor the Superintendent's address be adopted. Mr. Kingdon seconded the motion. Motion passed. Mr. Burn moved that the sum of £250 he placed upon the Estimates, to enable tbe Government to purchase an acre of land, adjoiuing the Taranaki Buildings, to complete the block. He showed that au acre of land was now available, aud on highly advantageous terms. Motion passed. MESSAGE FROM TIIE SUPERINTENDENT. Message No. 5 transmitted a return of the moneys and documents called for by the motion of Mr. Curtis at last meeting. Mr. Baigent thought some further explanation should be given in reference to the acre of land. The Provincial Secretary explained the nature of the land in question, and said it was offered at a fair price. Mr. Burn's motion was put and carried. Mr. M'Mahon moved, that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place the sum of £60 on the Supplementary Estimates for the purpose of repairing the damage done on the Mill Road, Riwaka, by the overflowing of the Motueka River. He showed that the road was of great importance to the district. Mr. Parker seconded. The Provincial Solicitor thought .such sums should be left for another year, for the general estimates. The sums now voted should be confined to objects of an imperative character. Mr. Baigent supported the motion on the ground, that this was the proper time of the year to do the work. Mr. Simmonds thought fuller information should be given as to the road in question, and that the opinion of the Provincial Engineer should be taken. Mr. Kingdon hinted at the danger of delay, and suggested that the grant at the present time might save expense in future. Mr. M'Mahon said that the grant was indispensable to prevent communication from being cut off, and urged the Council to adopt his motion. The motion was put and carried. The Provincial Solicitor moved the second reading of the Auctioneers' Licensing Bill, and the second reading of the Publicans' Licensing Bill. Mr. Parker called the attention of the Provincial Solicitor to the heavy taxes publicans were compelled to pay, and thought the present licensing ordinance was susceptible of great improvement in many respects. The Provincial Solicitor concurred in the observations of the previous speaker, in reference to the amendments required in the Publicans' Bill, hut the present

measure was required on the Gold-fields, and delay would be inconvenient. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor the Council went into committee to consider both bills. Mr. Parker in the' chair. The Chairman reported the two bills without amendments, and the house resumed. The Provincial Secretary moved the second reading of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill. Mr. Burn seconded. Motion carried. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary, the house went into committee to consider the bill, Mr. Kingdon in the chair. Mr. Curtis moved an amendment on the sum of £1,000 for a Raihvay report. As the present Superintendent was going out of office, he thought it best to leave the question to his successor. He did not think a stranger, such as Mr. Ogiivie, was the best person to be selected, or that his being in the employ of an eminent contractor was a recommendation in his favor. It was a question that should be left with the Executive, with a larger sum at their disposal than that recommended. He proposed the sum be raised from £1,000 to £5,000. It was a large sum *of money, but it did not follow it would be all expended, aud if it were it was for the benefit of a district, which was contributing a large sum to the public treasury. The Provincial Secretary explained that Mr. Ogiivie had experience in Queensland, and stated that £1,000 would, jn his opinion, be ample to put tbe question at rest. It was remarkable that the Council who had not seen the country should differ in opinion, in the reply to the address. It was a question that should be left to future executives. Mr. Barnicoat said he had seen the land as well as the Superintendent aud there could be no objection to the report of Mr. Ogiivie, whose authority would no doubt be respected, but he could not be regarded as a competent authority on the value of the land. The Council was obliged to reply to the address as it did, or it would have contradicted its previous resolutions. He preferred, himself, to vote for the sum as it stood, which was sufficient to obtain a reliable report, for the present at least. The Provincial Solicitor said the object was to furnish information to capitalists and not the Council, and the report of such a man as Mr. Ogiivie must tend to represent the matter properly in the English money market as he was in the country, and was a reliable engineer, and free from local prejudices, there was a propriety in employing him in making the survey. It would not be wise to largely increase the amount now placed on the estimates. Mr. Curtis said if it was the'wish of the Council only to have a rough survey, he would be contented with the smaller sum ; but if an opinion of the value of the land was desired, such a person as Mr. Ogiivie could not give it. The opinion of practical explorers was of more importance as to the value of the land than that of an engineer. If it was simply to report on the practicability of a survey, he would be content with the £1000. Mr. Parker could not see why an engineer, in going over the land, was not competent to pronounce an opinion on the land. He did not think any number of explorers would satisfy contractors, who would take care to understand the matter before expending a large sum of money. It was not desirable, therefore, to spend too large a sum at the present time, and in a mere preliminary survey. It was competent for the Council to increase the sum at a future time, but it was not desirable to spend more than £1000 now. Mr. Baigent said it was impossible for the Superintendent to judge of the country, passing through it as rapidly as he did. He doubted if £1000 was sufficient for the purpose. Mr. Sparrow had no objection to a rough survey ; and if a more complete examination was attempted, the present was the time to spend money. He inclined to the amendment. Mr. Simmonds felt difficulty in expressing a decided opinion on the subject, and. would not commit himself to the question as to whether there was available land. The members who had not seen the country were inadifficult position. It would be wise to leave the question till the fact was ascertained as to whether the land was really remunerative or not. Probably £1000 would be sufficient to furnish a reliable report.

Mr. Buru said the question could only be set at rest by the report of a competent judge. If it Avas proved that a line was practicable, contractors would take care to examine the land for themselves. It was the duty of the Council to establish the fact as to the practicability of a railway, and £1000 ought to be ample for this purpose. Mr. Barnicoat said a surveyor would be able to give some opinion as to the value of the land, but he protested against its being authoritative. Increased knowledge had cause this land to rise m public estimation, and there was reason to hope that the laud in question would improve in value, and be an adequate remuneration to contractors who wished to invest their capital. Mr. Curtis said after the expression of opinion on the part of the Council, he would withdraw his amendment, it being understood that the opinion of Mr. Ogiivie should be confined to engineering matters. The Provincial Solicitor said Mr. Ogiivie would be able to give some general idea of the country to foreign capitalists ; he was not required to go into detail as to the value of the land. A general report from independent sources would alone satisfy the English capitalists. Mr. Parker combatted the idea of setting any value on the land ; it should be left to the contractors to form their own opinions. If the Provincial Government did not take care they would fall into a mistake, similar to that into which the Wellington Government had fallen in refereuce to the Patent Slip. Mr. Curtis, by the consent of the Council, withdrew his amendment, and the Act passed without any further discussion. The chairman reported the bill without amendments, aud the House resumed. Mr. Baigent moved, that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates the sum of £60, to repair the road from Messrs. Rod and Hounsell's mill to the Wairoa Gorge. Mr. M'Mahon seconded. Mr. Buru opposed the motion. Mr. Simmonds thought the last speaker inconsistent in opposing this motion and supporting a grant of £350, for climbing greasy poles or something of the kind (laughter). He supported the motion. The motion passed. Mr. C. Kelling moved, that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates the sum of £30, for the purpose of opening the company's ditch in the Moutere Valley. The motion, seconded by Mr. Kingdon, passed. The Committee appointed to report on the manner in which the £350 moved by Mr. Burn, for the Anniversary Festival, should be expended, recommended it should be appropriated as follows : Nelson £200 ; Waimea, East aud West, £50 ; Waimea South, £50 ; and Motueka, £50. At quarter to 7, the Council adjourned till 11 o'clock, on Friday. This Day. The Speaker took his seat at 11 o'clock. The following members were present : — The Provincial Secretary, the Provincial Solicitor, Messrs. Baigent, M'Mahon, Parker, Burn, Simmonds, Akersten, Thompson, Beit, Gibbs, Kingdon, C. Kelling. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Parker moved, that a Printing Committee be appointed, to consist of the Speaker, Mr. Greenfield, and the mover. Mr. Burn seconded. Motion passed. The Auctioneers' Licensing Bill, the • Publicans' Licensing Bill, and the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, were read a third time and passed. Mr. Akersten asked the Provincial Secretary whether it is the intention of the Government to erect the Boat-landing at the Port. A sum of money had been voted for the purpose, and accidents were continually happening. The Provincial Secretary said it was the intention of the Government to do the work. Mr. Akersten asked the Provincial Secretary whether the public baths and the ground on which they stand are the property of the Government, aud if so what rent is received for the same. The Provincial Secretary replied that the building belonged to Mr. Barraclough, the public swiming bath was the property of the Government, and no rent Was to be charged for one year. Mr. Parker moved that the report of the Select Committee appointed by the

Council to recommend in what manner the sum of £350 voted by the Council should be apportioned, be adopted. Mr. McMahon seconded. The Council divided, with the following results, Ayes 1 1, Nos 3. The motion was carried. Mr. Parker moved that this Council resolve itself into committee to take into consideration the Provincial Auditor's Report. The Auditor was appointed by the General Government, and assumed powers thafc did not belong to him. It was an attempt to curtail the privileges of the Provincial Government, and the Council ought to pronounce au opinion on this unauthorised attempt to interfere with its privileges. The report alluded to matter that the Auditor had nothing to do with, and if he intended to assume these powers, it would be well to advise with the Superintendent previous to the meeting of Council, to prevent their speeches clashing with each other. It appeared to be no part of the duties of the Auditor to inform the Council that the Government officers were overworked. It was the duty of the Council to put a stop to this abuse of power, to prevent it from increasing to a disagreeable extent. If he had opinions to offer, they should be given privately to the Superintendent, and not to the Council. Mr. M'Mahon seconded the motion. The house went into committee, Mr. Greenfield in the chair. Mr. Parker moved that it be an instruction to the Printing Committee, in printing the votes and proceedings, to print only the paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 7, and 9. Mr. Simmonds thought some reason should be assigned why any portion of the report should be omitted. The Provincial Solicitor, whilst agreeing that the Auditor had travelled beyond his powers, thought the wisest course was to take no notice of the matter, Mr. Gibbs thought the objectionable paragraphs should be specified. Mr. Parker did not agree with the Provincial Solicitor that the matter might be passed over. He would alter the motion that such paragraphs should be printed only as referred to the auditor's official duties. Mr. M'Mahon moved an amendment, that the Provincial Auditor had exceeded his duties, in reporting on the subjects belonging to the executive. The last amendment passed as well as the motion specifying the paragraphs that should be published. The Chairman reported progress, aud the Council resumed. MESSAGE FROM TIIE SUPERINTENDENT. Message No. 6 contained certain alterations and amendments in the bills passed by the Council, and the supplementary estimates. The House went into committee, Mr. Kingdon in the chair, to consider the message. The estimate now stood as £15,768. Mr. Gibbs protested against the waste of public money, on the anniversary festival, and moved that item be struck out. Mr. Akersten recorded his dissent also, aud explained that he had voted for the motion by mistake. Mr. Simmonds protested against the vote, and condemned tbe thing in toto. Mr. Parker taunted the last speakers with having changed their opinions, they having on a former occasion supported a similar vote. The outlay of 3d. per head was not a very exorbitant one. The Council agreed that the items and figures should stand as proposed in the message. The house resumed, and the chairman reported progress. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary, the Council was adjourned till Tues- | day week next, at 11 o'clock. Should I there be no business on that day, the Council will be prorogued by proclamation in the (gazette.