PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Tuesday, May 11,

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 39, 15 May 1869, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Tuesday, May 11,

The Council assembled at five o'clock. All tho members present except Mr. Home and Mr. Thompson. SCAB INSPECTOR. Mr. Baioent presented a petition from Mr. Grovo, late Scab Inspector at Fox-hill. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL BILL. ' • The Provincial Solicitor moved, and Mr. Redwood seconded, " That tho Provincial Council Bill be read a third time." Mt. Doxne moved, av>d My. Reid seconded, that this motion bo adjourned. Upon a division the amendment was carried by 10 votes against 8. FLOATING DOCK BILL. On tho motion of the Provincial Solicitor, the Floating Dock Bill was read a third time and passed. REPRESENTATION OF CHARLESTON. Mr. Donne moved, "To insert in the Provincial Council Bill, after tho word Charleston, the figure 2 instead of 1 ;" this being for the purpose of securing two members for Charleston. Mr. Reid seconded the motion. Mr. Gibbs, in speaking to tho motion, said ho did so in order to lay before the Council the peculiar case of tho district of Golden Bay, which now had been reduced to but one member. Mr. C. Kelling said lie had voted for tho motion for reconsidering the bill, thinking that tho honourable member for Charleston might have somo new reason to urge, but as in this he had utterly failed ho Bhould now vote against the motion. Motion lost by 13 votes against 7. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL BILL. _ The Provincial Council Bill was then read a third timo and passed. REPLY TO SUPERINTENDENT'S ADDRESS, j Mr. Donne waa about to move, " That tho report of tho committee of tho Council upon the Reply to the Address of his Honour the Superintendent bo taken into consideration by the Council," when The Speaker said : Ho presumed it was already known that tho reply of tho Council had been forwarded by him to the Superintendent. He was bound by tho rules of the Council to do so, no notice for its consideration having been given at the time tho committee of tho whole Council had decided upon it. BOARD OF WORKS PETITION. Mr. Burn movod, and Dr. Irvine seconded, "That the petition of tho Nelson Board of Works be received." Carried. ACTS AND ORDINANCES. Mr. Wastney moved, and Dr. Irvine seconded, "That the Speaker be authorized to have the volumes of the Acts and Ordinances of tho General Legislature and of this province examined, with a view to distinguishing in some convenient and prominent manner, those which aro ropealed (either wholly or partially) by subsequent legislation, and those which nro still in operation." Motion carried. THE RAILWAY. Mr. Wastney moved, and Mr. Parker seconded, " That his Honour the Superintendent bo respectfully requested to furnish this Council with the reasons why Ihreo months wero allowed to elapse after tho passing of the ' Railway Amendment Act ' in tho General Assembly, before the necessary instructions wore forwarded to Mr. John Morrison, the Provincial Agent in England, to enable him to lay this very important question boforo capitalists in that country." The Provincial Secretary said that the Act was only received in Docembor, and was, within that month, sent to England ; by tho following mail instructions respecting it wero also sent to Mr. Morrison. Mr. Baigent thought tho explanation scarcely satisfactory. Tho Superintendent knew that the Act Lad been passed, and it might by him have been given to Mr. Morrison before leaving Wellington, but such had not boon dono ; indeed, when Mr. Morrison, who was about leaving Wellington, was asked if ho had roceivod any papers with reference to the Railway, he said " No ; and depond ou it Nelson will get no good by such conduot." Mr. Parker and Mr. Gibbs also did not agree ■with tho explanation offered by tho Provincial Secretary. Mr. Simmonds said, nothing had been done in the way of progress, although so much progress had been promised when tho Superintendent was elected. He did not agreo with the explanation offered. Mr. White suggested that honourable members should reserve their election specchos till after the dissolution of tho Council. Ho thought, if nothing •was dono with reference to the railway they would havo themselves to blamo, seeing it was they who continually decried it. Mr. Wastney replied to Mr. White, who, he said, upon every occasion was found ready to defend tho Government, nover mind what amount of blame might be duo to them. He then said Mr. Morrison, he had no doubt, had left Wellington disgusted at tho treatment ho had received from those whose duty it was to havo promoted tho railway. Motion adopted. CROWN LANDS LEASING ACT. Mr. Wigley moved, " That a select committee bo appointed to tako into consideration the petition of Thomas Carter and other leaseholders under the • Crown Lands (Nelson) Leasing Act, 1867 ;' such committee to consist of Mr. Edwards, Mr. F. Kelling, Mr. Roid, Mr. Redwood, Mr. Speaker, the Provincial Seorotary, and tho mover." On tho motion of Mr. Parker, this motion was adjourned till to-morrow. KARSTEN'S PETITION. Dr. Irvine moved, and Mr. F. Kelling seconded, " That a select conitnittoo be appointed to take into consideration tho petition of J. C. M. Karston ; buuli committco to consist of tho Provincial Secretary, Mr. Luckio, Mr. Edwards, and tho mover." Mr. Burn opposed the motion, saying that Kavston luul lost nothing'; his property was mortgaged to tho Building Society, and thoy wero the losers. Motion rejected. MR. LIGHTBAND'S CLAIM. Mr. Donne moved, " That Mr. Lightband's claim for compensation bo discharged." Upon v division the motion was rejected. Ayes, 4 ; Noos, 14. CHARLESTON TOWN SECTIONS. Mr. Hen-nelly moved, " That, in tho opinion of this Council, it is dosirablo to havo tho town of Charleston ro-survoyed, us occupied, in sections and portions of soctions, and submit the same by public auction ; such eale to bo held in Charleston. Ho said that, if this were clone, it would be a great boon to the residents of Charleston." Mr. Donne seconded tho motion, which was rejected. ESTIMATES. Mr. Luckie, in moving that tho Council do now go into comniittoo on the Estimates, said his reaboii for moving tho adjournment of tho dobato on tho previous evening was with tho view of members considering somo of tho questions embraced by the Estimates, so that loss timo of the Council might bo tukon up in debate if tho general opinions of each could bo previously ascertained. Tho Provincial Secretary might take exception to that, ho may preBuuio that our minds wero hastily made up, and that all hia arguments will bo thrown away. Ho (Mr. Luckie) did not, however, think that such arguments would avail with men who had no wish to bo factious to tho sound proposals of the Government. At least ho would say that their previous talk over the Estimates and making up their minds with respect to them would savo the timo of the Council. There wero several standing monuments of Government failuro— tho railway, for instance, was cradled in vermilion, but now hnstily approached its grave, for the wholo preliminary expense for tbia during Hie current yew was but £110. The dock, again, had vanished,

and in its place appeared a Slip. Tho hospital was finished at au expense of some £8,000, and was another instance of the extreme schemes which did in somo way receive temporary popularity. If this hospital had provided one-quarter of the accommodation which it now afforded, it would hare been j ample. It was true that the plans were approved and sanctioned before the present Superintendent came into office, but still it was built under his control, and that in epite of a declining revenue and a declining damand for hospital accommodation on the part of the West Coast. Mr. F. Kelling- said he did not blame the Government that it had nofc carried out all the works which had been contemplated. The Council should rather tako Maine to itself in having voted more for public works than the revenue would admit of being executed. Mr. Simmonds said that there was an item of £650 for the Provincial Engineer, which was excessive — unless it was for the purpose of increasing the salary of the Superintendent to £800. He thought, however, that £600 was too much to pay their Superintendent. If their previous Chief Magistrate could be satisfied with £500, so should the present holder of that office. , It was the duty of the Council to clip the salaries of all their officers, but at the same time to bo careful they they did no act of injustice. When the Engineer first took office his salary was £150, yet now, with the engineering wants of the province much reduced, his name ajipeared on the Estimates for £650. lie fully expected to be told that unless a good salary were voted the province would lose Mr. Blackett's services. He, however, could not help that, and should do his duty to his constituents by voting for a reduction. There were plenty who would be quite willing to fill the office. The Provincial Secretary said, Mr. Gibb3 had told them that the proposed saving was not, after all, so great as had besn stated, because much had already been saved by the Executive before coming to the Council. Mr. Wastney also had said he should like to know why the departmental expenditureoflß67 was leas than that now proposed. The answer to that was that a second, or special session had been held in consequence of the development of the south-west gold-fields, especially to vole additional sums for that year. He (the Provincial Secretary) had not intended to say anything about the reasons alleged for the Council adjourning so early on Monday evening last, but, as Mr. Luckie had alluded to it, he would say that ho thought it extremely unfair of members of the Council to meet privately and decide how they would vote. Such surely was not fit conduct for representatives of the people ; it was their plain duty to meet openly, discuss, and vote openly, with regard to any proposition before the Council. Members should not pledge themselves to vote in any particular manner until they had heard all the arguments. He would again say that it was a most one sided and unfair way for them to decide how they would vote until they hal heard what arguments would be brought forward for any particular item. Some honourable members sought to reduce salaries without any regard to the reasons which existed and still exist for fixing them at their present amount. Was there no allowance to be made for long and faithfully performed services? Ho would say no more, seeing that they had already privately met and decided what reduction they would make, but would move that the Council do now go into Committee on the Estimates, with Mr. Simmonds in the chair. After somo further discussion, it was ultimately resolved that Mr. Edwards should occupy the chair. IN COMMITTEE. " Superintendent, £600." Mr. Simmonds moved that this item be made £500. The PROVINCIAL Solicitor said ho should like to hear some argument for this. The revenue, he maintained, was not falling off. The population had much increased, and was scattered much move widely than formerly, thus giving the Superintendent much more anxiety in the discharge of his duties. Mr. Gibbs regretted that this item was sought to be interfered with. Next year he should, if he had a seat in the Council, certninly move to reduce it to £500. After somo furthor discussion, in which Mr. Donne opposed the amendment, the original item was carried. " Provincial Secretary, £400." Mr. F. Kelling moved, as an amendment, to insert the words, " also Commissioner of Crown Lands (six months)." He said he was sorry to do so, as the present Commissioner was an old servant, yet if that officer could be dispensed with the Council should so vote, irrespective of personal feeling. The Provincial Secretary : The Council has no power to remove the Land Commissioner, who is a General Government officer. Neither Mr. Richmond nor Mr. Domett actually acted as Provincial Secretary j it was myself, and I do assure the Council that the duties of the two offices could not be properly discharged by one person. Mr. Gibbs instanced the conduct of the Superintendent of Wellington in reducing expenditure; and said, if the Provincial Secretary cannot act as Land Commissioner, perhaps the Land Commissoner will be got to act as Provincial Secretary. The Speaker : Perhaps, from my position as a member of the Waste Lands Board, 1 am better prepared to speak than any other member as to the duties of the Land Commissioner. Ho is fully employed, and so, to the best of my belief, is the Provincial Secretary, I think that no one man could perform the duties of both offices. Mr. Luckie said the instances adduced "by the Provincial Secretary were unfortunate, because both of the gentlemen named performed literury work in addition to the duties of their offices, and he (Mr. Luckie) well knew what amount of time and labour that required. He thought the two offices might be conjoined. A division upon the motion resulted in its being carried by 14 against 8. Ayes, 14: Messrs. Wasfcney, Baigent, Parker, Simmonds, Burn, M'Dowell, Reid, White, Beitt, F. Kelliug, Donne, Luckie, Sparrow, Gibbs. Noes, S : The Provincial Solicitor, the Provincial Secretaiy, Messrs. Redwood, C. Kelling, Hennelly, Dr. Irvine, and the Speaker. Some amusement was created by this, because the amendment, sis. adopted, really gave a salary of £800 to the Provincial Secretary and Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Speaker: I would suggest that the Estimates bo re-committed if the motion, as carried, doe 3 not express tho mind of the committee. The other items were carried until " Clerical Assistanco to Provincial Treasurer " was arrived at. Mr. Gibbs moved, but ineffectually, that this item bo struck out. " Commissioner of Crown Lands £100." Mi*. Kelling moved to strike out these figures and insert £200, with the addition of the words " for six months." Motion carried. The Provincial Secretary said, when the item " Chief Surveyor " was read, that it was the intention of Govern meut to abolish the office of Chief Surveyor, and to appoint tho present holder to the office of Consulting Surveyor, at a reduced salary. " Provincial Engineer, including expenses, £650." Mr. Gibbs moved that the words, " including expenses," be struck out. He said if it were struck out he should subsequently move that the item be made " £450." The Provincial Secretary said he should opposo this motion, seeing that the Engineer's office was already reduced as low as possible. Motion for striking out the words carried ; ayes 14, noes 5. Mr. Gibbs moved, "That the figures £650 be struck out and £150 inserted." Ho said his first idea was to have the whole item struck out, as there really were no largo public works to be carried out during the present your. The Provincial Secretary opposed, saying that tho salary now proposed was simply absurd. Mr. Redwood also opposed the amendment. After some further discussion, and on a division, the figures £650 were struck out. Ayes 16, noes 4. Dr. Irvine moved to insert the figures £550. Mr. Donxe moved to insert tho figures " £400." A division wus called for on the latter motion, and resulted in Ayes 6, Noes 12. Tho figures £i&o were then put, and a division

being called for, resulted in Ayes 12, Noes 7. Motion carried. Item on amendment carried. " Temporary assistance, £75." Mr. Gibbs moved that this be struck out. Mr. Luckie thought that so doing would be a mistake. Item, on division, struck out. " Contingencies, £25." The Speaker moved that the figures be struck out, and "£150" be inserted. Mr. Luckie moved that the figures be made £100. Tho Provincial Secretary moved to make the item £125. Mr. Donne moved that the item be made £50. The motion to increase it to £100 was carried. The Council then resumed and adjourned.