Probincial Council

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue 15, 20 May 1857, Page 4

Probincial Council

Thursday, May 14. The Council met at five o'clock ; the Speaker in the chair. All the members present except Messrs. Muller, Hough, Bush, Fearon. Joseph Ward, Cautley, and Baird. REPORT ON HARBOUR LiaiTT. Mr. Elliott brought up the following report, which was read and received :—: — Report or Select Committee o.\ llaeboub Light. The select committee of the Provincial Council, appointed April 21, "to inquire and report upon an efficient light for the harbour of Nelson, the better to ensure the safety of shipping resorting to this port," bog to present the following report : — The first step which your committee considered it advisable to take, was to ascertain the true character of the light required for the hirbour of Nelson, and whether the present light was so ill adapted for the purpose as to be of little or uo service, and incapable of the requisite improvement. Tn pursuance of this inquiry, your committee summoned before them a number of sea-faring persons well acquainted with Blind Bay and the harbour of Nelson, and by this mams obtained a considerable amount of evidence on the subject, which will be found annexed to thi3 report. By a reference to this evidence it will be seen that the existing light is universally condemned, as being of little or no service, while a really efficient light for the ha.bour is admitted on all hands to be little short of an absolute necessity, if the safety of the lives and property embarked in the shipping resorting to the port of Nelson is to be regarded. Your committee, after mature deliberation, and considering the sacrifices of life and property which may bo apprehended if a proper and efficient light is not provided for the harbour, would recommend that such a light should be set up on the Boulder Bank, on the 3pot indicated by the Harbour Master and others, in the evidence attached, and your committee are of opinion that the necessary apparatus for this light should at once be obtained from England. Your committee, after coming to this decision, proceeded to enquire what kind of light was best calculated for the harbour of Nelson, the cost of erecting such a light, and its probable annual charge. On the first inquiry, your committee have received material assistance from a work entitled " Description and plans of Light, on the Catadioptic System," a work which contains plans for lights of various descriptions, both fixed and otherwise, with the prices attached to each. The light which your committee have selected as well adapted for the harbour of Nelson is one of very moderate cost, and will bo found described in the above-named work, page 34, It is a fixed light, of the fourth order, with a range of 15 miles, and illuminating 180 degrees of the horizon. The cost of this light at tho manufacturers (llessrs. Chance, Brothers, Glass Works, near Birmingham), is £268, to which must be added £13 for package and delivery at the port of London, making a total cost of £281 ; so that if the last-named sum was remitted to Messrs. Chance, Brothers, the only additional charge for tho attDaratus would be the freight to the colony, and other sbioping charges, which could not make the entire cost more than £350 when landed in Nelson. There would then remain to be erected a building 40 feet high, to carry the light, containing a dwelling for the keeper, which might bo put up for about £400, making the total cost of a lighthouse, £750. As it is, however, impossible that your committee can, without plans or specifications, estimate the exact cost of erecting the necessary building, and as it is considered likewise desirable to maintain a small light at the mouth of tho harbour, or to fix a bell on the white buoy to indicate its position, so as to direct boats how to steer for tho harbour when the night is dark, it was determined by them to recommend thai, the sum of £1,000 should be put upon the Estimates, which they ecusider fully adequate for all purposes, and would furnish a light which would serve to warn in all weathers against danger, and to direct coasters to shelter and safety. After the erection of the lighthouse there would remain the annual cost of maintaining the light to be provided for ; but your committee are of opinion that this would, in the way of labour, require only the service of one additional hand on the harbour establishment, as tho service of the signal-man might in part be made use of. C. Eiuott, Chairman. Council Chamber, May 14, 1857. PETITION OF T. P. CALDWELL. Mr. Elliott, pursuant to notice, moved for the appointment of a select committee to take into consideration the memorial of Mr. T. P. Caldwell for compensation ; such committee to consist of Messrs. Wells, Monro, Saunders, the Provincial Solicitor, and the mover. The committee to report on Wednesday next. Mr. John Ward seconded the motion. Agreed to. COUNTRY LIBRARIES. Mr. Parker moved, "That the Superintendent be requested to place the sum of £\7O on the estimates for the purchase of books of a useful and instructive character for the country libraries now established, viz. Motueka, Riwaka, Richmond, Waimea West, Waitnea South, Hope, Suburban North, and. Spring Grove." Mr. Wastney seconded the motion. After some remarks from the Provincial Solicitor and Mr. Kelling, the latter of whom thought that while it was beneficial to vote public money for such a purpose, ' k it was nothing but fair that the Council should be furnished with some account of the rules or constitution of such libraries, — The question was put and agreed to. THE ESTIMATES. Mr. Poynter moved the suspension of the Standing Orders, in order that the Council might go into committee upon the estimates. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. Agreed to. The Council went into committee; Mr. Wells in the chair. The item, "District Constables, 36170," was, on the motion of Mr. Poynter, increased to ";£220." The item "New Zealand Company's Debt a 62,000," was also, on the motion of the same gentleman, increased to in order to provide for the payment of the quarter which would fall due on the Ist January next. The items under the head "Public Puposes" from "Existing Contracts" down to " Commission of Inquiry &c. " were agreed to without amendment. The item relating to " Education," and those under the head " Debenture Bill," were postponed until the reports of some of the Select Committees had been received. The Council then resumed, and the Chairman reported progress, and asked leave to sit again. ° ADJOURNMENT. On the question of adjournment being put. Mr. Wastney moved as an amendment, that in consequence of the shortness of time for the consideration of the proposed amendments in the Waste Lands Bill, the Council adjourned till 5 o'clock on the following day instead of 1 1 . Mr. Wells seconded the amendment. The Council divided : —

Ayes, 8. Noes, 8Mr. Wastney Mr. John Ward Mr. "Wells Mr. Barnicoat Dr. Monro Mr. Saunders Dr. Rcmvick Mr. Baigent Mr. Elliott Mr. Kelling Mr. Saxton Mr. Butler Mr. Parker Mr. Jacka The Provincial Solicitor Mr. Poynter The numbers being equal, the Speaker gave his casting vote in favour of the amendment, which was accordingly carried. Mr. Poynter moved a further amendment that the Conncil adjourn until Tuesday next, at five o'clock. Mr. Barnicoat seconded the amendment. The question was put. The Council divided : — Ayes, 7- Noes, 9. Mr. "Poynter. The Provincial Solicitor Mr. Bu'ller Mr. Parker Mr. Baigent Mr. Jneka Mr. Barnicoat Mr. Saxton Mr. Elliott Mr. Kelling Dr. Renwiek Mr. Saundcrs Mr. Wells Mr. John Ward Dr. Monro Mr. Wastney The amendment was lost. The Council accordingly adjourned at seven o'clock, until five o'clock on the following day. Friday, May 15, 1857. The Council met at five o'clock ; the Speaker in the chair. All the members present except Messrs. Hough, Bush, Fearon, Cautley, and Baird. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HARBOUE LIGHT. Mr. Elliott, pursuant to notice, moved that the Report of the Select Committee on the Harbour Light be adopted by the Council. Mr. Wells seconded the motion. Agreed to. EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. Wastney moved, That a respectful address be presented to his Honour the Superintendent, requesting him to instruct the Provincial Solicitor to prepare and bring in a bill to amend the Education Act, agreeably to the report of the committee appointed to inquire into the working of that act. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. Agreed to. COUNTRY ROADS AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. Barnicoat moved, That a respectful address be presented to his Honour the Superintendent, requesting him to instruct the Provincial Solicitor to prepare and bting in a bill in accordance with, the recommendations of the Country Roads Amendment Act Committee. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. Mr. JoHiv Ward opposed the motion. Question put and agreed to. GOVERNMENT GRANTS TO LIBRARIES. Mr. Kelling, pursuant to notice, moved, That no library shall receive any Government grants for books unless they are constituted as public libraries, and that the annual subscription for each member does not exceed ten shillings. The honourable member added that his chief object in bringing forward the motiou was in order that the Council should have some knowledge of the rules and constitution of those societies or libraries which accepted Government aid; and he contended that a public library should have an existence, and not merely a name, which latter was the case in some instances. Mr. Saxton seconded the motion, and remarked that the Council was not bound to give public money to any society that did not stand in need of such assistance; and he thought that when public money was voted to any library, the subscription to such library should be so low that all who chose could avail themselves of its benefits. The Provincial Solicitor opposed the motion, and contended that the amount of subscription should be in proportion to the benefit received. Mr. Satjnders supported the motion. Mr. Kelling replied, and thought that a low rate of subscription would tend to gain a larger number of subscribers, and consequently a larger revenue, to any society ; and instanced the large increase in the revenue of the Post Office which had taken place since the introduction of the penny postage. The motion was put. The Council divided :—: — Ayes, 11. Noes, 6. Dr. Monro Mr. Elliott Mr. John Ward Mr. Wastney Mr. Barnicoat Mr. Wells Mr. Saunders Mr. Poynter Mr. Baigent The Provincial Solicitor Mr. Kelling Mr. Muller. Mr. Butler Mr. Saxton Mr. Jacka Mr. Parker Mr. Joseph Ward. The motion was agreed to. NELSON LITERARY INSTITUTION. Dr. Renwick, pursuant to notice, moved That his Honour the Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates the sum of .£5O for the Library of the Nelson Literary Institution. Mr. Wells seconded the motion. The question was put. The Council divided :—: — Ayes, 11. Noes, 7. Mr. Muller Mr. Joseph Ward The Provincial Solicitor Mr. Jacka Mr. Poynter Mr. Saxton Mr. Parker Mr. Kelling Mr. Butler Mr. Saunders Mr. Baigent Mr. John Ward .• Mr. Barnicoat Dr. Monro. Dr. Renwick Mr. Wells Mr. Wastney. Mr. Elliott. The motion was agreed to. READING- ROOMS. Mr. Barnicoat moved That his Honour the Superintendent be requested to place the sum of .£2OO on the Estimates for the establishment of Reading Rooms, to meet equivalent subscriptions. The honourable member added that as the Council had on the previous evening voted a sum of money for libraries in country districts, the vote he moved for was a necessary supplement, to provide suitable rooms for the : reception of the books. ! Mr. Poynter explained that no sum had ]

been placed on the estimates for the purpose, t as it was thought that the school-houses which i it was proposed to build might, out of school- t hours, be made available tor reading-rooms. I Dr. Monro opposed the motion, principally on the ground of economy, and considering \ the state of the provincial exchequer; and t also because he thought that, as the Council i had voted a sum for the purchase of books, the inhabitants of the various districts could, 1 by a little stretch of ingenuity, find a room < wherein the books might be safely deposited. ] Mr. Barnicoat, in reply, stated that while < thousands of pounds were being voted for I roads and bridges, he hoped the Council would < vote so trifling a sum as £200 for so grand an 1 object. ( TLe motion was put. ' I The Council divided:— ] Ayes, 12. Noes, 6. Mr. Elliott Dr. Monro Mr. Wastney Dr. Renwick ' Mr. Wells Mr. Kelling Mr. John Ward Mr. Joseph Ward Mr. Barnicoat Mr. Poynter Mr. Saunders The Provincial Solicitor. Mr. Baigent Mr. Butler Mr. Saxton Mr. Jacka Mr. Parker Mr. Muller. The motion was carried. [For continuation, see inner page."]