Wednesday, May 12.

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

Wednesday, May 12.

The Council met at five o'clock. Present: The Speaker, the Provincial Solicitor, the Provincial Secretary, Messrs. Redwood, Edwards, Gibbs, Sparrow, C. Kelling, Luckie, Hennelly, Wigley, Donne, F. Felling, Beitt, White, Reid, Dr. Irvine, M'Dowell, Burn, Simmonds, Parker, Baigent, M'Mahon, and Wastney. Tho minutes of the previous sitting were read and confirmed. COiST BRIDLE TRACK. Mr. Hennelly moved, " That his Honour the Superintendent be requested to authorize the survey of a bridle-track from the const-line, as convenient to Charleston as will bo found practicable inland, to the Little Grey, and to ascertain tho estimated cost of cutting and making such track." He said he did so with the conviction that, if such a track could be discovered, it would be invaluable, tho opinion of many being that gold would be found inland. It would also bring the different diggings together, and would open up much available land. Mr. Donne seconded the motion, which was adopted. SUPERINTENDENT'S OPENING ADDRESS. On tho motion of Mr. Donne, the Council resolved itself into committee, "to consider and report upon paragraph No. 9 of his Honour the Superintendent's speech, of April 27, 1869," with Mr. Gibbs in the chair. Mr. Donne moved, " That his Honour tho Superintendent bo requested to transfer the patients in the old hospital to the now building, only a certain portion of it being occupied." The Speaker supported the motion. He said tho sick in the hospital wero at present very fairly treated, but the accommodation was much less than would be afforded at the now hospital. The building at present occupied was not a desirabio one, it being in a state of decay, in fact, as ho had recently noticed, it was in quite a dangerous condition. As a member of tho Hospital Committee he had reported that some cases had actually been turned away through want of accommodation, and had urged that the hospital should be opened, but hitherto ineffectually. The Provincial Secretary : Have the Hospital Committee ever represented that the new building is unsafe? The Speaker : No. I have said that it is only recently I have noticed it. The Provincial Secretary : Such being tho ease there can of course be no longer any hesitation in at once using the new hospital. Messrs. F. Killing, Simmonds, and Burn, supported Iho motion, saying that tho now building would bo better cared for if occupied. The Speaker : I hope 1 have sufficiently guarded myself against being thought to complain of his Honour the Superintendent with reference to the hospital, against whom no complaint can be made. But I thought it my duty to state the position of the building, Motion adopted. AMURI LEASEHOLDERS. Mr. Wigley, moved " That a Select Committee be appointed to take into consideration the petition of Thomas Carter and of her leaseholders under the { Crown Lands (Nelson) Leasing Act, 1867 ;' auch committee to consist of Mr. Edwards, Mr. F. Kelling, Mr. Reid, Mr. Redwood, the Speaker, the Provincial Solicitor, Mr. Baigent, M". Parker, and tho mover." Motion carried. JAMES GROVE'S PETITION. On the motion of Mr. Baigent, the petition of James Grove was received and referred to a select committee, consisting of the Speaker, the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Wastney, Mr. Simmonds, Mr. Wigley, Mr. Donne, Mr. White, and the mover. CROWN GRANTS OF NATIVE RESERVES. Mr. Parker moved, "That his Honour the Superintendent be requested to procure for this Council, copies of grants of Native Reserves and lands of the Crown, which were made by his Excellency Sir George Grey to the Bishop of New Zealand, dated respectively the 25th of July, and 4th of August, 1853, for the purpose of founding an Industrial School at Motueka." He said that thinking this was a matter which should appear before the public, was his reason for moviug for the production of the Trust Deed. Motion adopted. ESTIMATES. Tho Council went into committee to further consider the Estimates, with Mr. Edwards in tho chair. " Police— lnspector £260." Mr. Wastney moved That the words " Collector of Education Rate and Dog Tax " be added to this item. Mr. Luckie thought the whole of our police force was far too expensive. There was less crime to be seen here than in any city in New Zealand. He also thought that the system of having an Inspector of the whole police of tho province to be resident in the city of Nelson was unnecessary. Mr. Donne thought such an oflicer might be dispensed with altogether ; and that the Provincial Secretary or Superintendent should be the recognized head of the police. Mr. Burn opposed tho motion, which, on a division, was, however, carried by 13 votes against 10. The Provincial Secretary moved that the figures £260 be struck out and £300 inserted. Amendment, on a division, rejected by 11 votes against 10. The item now stands as " Police Inspector, also Collector of Education Rate and Dog Tax, £260." " Seven Constables at £11 per month." Mr. Wastney moved that the word " seven " be struck out and five inserted. Mr. Burn opposed this, seeing that tho town constables had already been reduced from ten to seven. Messrs. Luckie and Donne supported Mr. Wastney's amendment, which, on a division, was carried by 14 against 6. " Special Constables, £100." Mr. Donne moved that this item be struck out. Amendment rejected. " Arms, Travelling expenses, &c, £100." Mr. Wastney moved that this item be made £50, and that the word " arms " be struck out. The Provincial Secretary said that this was nofc necessary, because if the money wei*e nob required it would not be spent. Amendment carried. " Uniform, £100." This, after some discussion and division, was made £SO. " District Police." The several items were read. Mr. Wastney moved that the •words " and collector of Education Rats," be added to each constable. The Speaker and Mr. Parker opposed the motin, which was rejected. Mr. Gibbs moved that the item, "Constable, Amuri, £200," be reduced to £100, seeing that he also had a house free to live in, -and held other Government offices. Motion adopted by 10 votes against 6. "Visiting Physician at Hospital (six months), £50." This item was made " Visiting Physician at Hospipital, £100 ;" and the words *' for six months," were | struck out. " Maintenance of Destitute Poor, £1,200," postponed.

"Havbour-master and Pilot, £450." Mr. Gibbs moved that this item be inado £400. Motion carried. " Second Pilot and Coxswain, £300." Mr. Donne moved that the item be made £250. Upon a division the numbers were equal, and the Chairman gave his casting vote against the motion. The item was subsequently carried, with very few mombers in the Council, at £275 West Coast Police. " Accoutrements and Travelling Expenses, £450." Mr. Donne moved that this item be made £300. Motion adopted. Contingencies, £220." Mr. Donne moved that this be reduced to £100. | Motion carried. "Labour, Tents, and Sundries, £1,000" Mr. Reid moved that this sum be made £600 Motion carried. " Overseer of Works, £300." Mr. Reid moved that this item be reduced to £250. Motion carried. Mr. Burn snid this was the only item for salary in all tho West Coast expenditure that was reduced. Here was a really efficient officer whose salary was reduced, whilst all the others had been passed without question. " Harbour-master, Charleston, £192." Mr. Donne moved that this item be increased to £240. Motion, on a division, rejected by 13 votes against 3. The Council then resumed, and aftor notices of motion, adjourned till Thursday evening at five o'clock. Thursday, May 13. Tho Council assembled this evening at five o' cloak. AU the members present except Mr. Home. MR. JESSOFS PETITION. Mr. F. Kelling brought up the following report of the select committee appointed to consider W. Jessop's petition : — " Your committee have considered the petition of W. Jessop, and find that under the ' Scab Act, 1868,' the Inspector was legally right in summoning Mr. Jossop, he not having a clean certificate ; at the same time your committee consider that the Chief Inspector abused the power given him by the Act, and therefore do not approve of the course adopted by that officer in this case." SCAB ACT. Mr. Simmonds brought up the following report of the select committee appointed to consider the working of the Scab Act : — "The Committee are of opinion that the ' Scab Act' has been highly beneficial iv removing the disease called Scab from the flocks of the Waiineas, and generally beneficial to tho province. "To effectually carry out the provisions of the Act, the Committee are of opinion that a resident Inspector at or near the dipping-station at Fox-hill, is absolutely necessary ; and regret that his Honour the Superintendent should have seen fit to remove tho same. " From the vacillating instructions given to the Deputy-Inspector at Fox-hill (as contained in the documentary evidence presented to the Council) the Committee are of opinion that the Fox-hill Inspector was not able to carry out the provisions of the Act. "With a view to economy and tho efficient working of the Act, tho Committee reommend tho following :— "1. That an Inspector be appointed who should reside at or near the dipping station, Fox-hill, whose duty it should also bo to carry out the provisions of the Act in tho Waiinoa. "2. Thai, an Inspector be appointed for the districts of Motueka and Massacre Bay. " 3. That the Inspector in Nelson attend to Nelson and its suburbs, and, for the purposes of tho Act, be called the Chief Inspector. " The Committee are of opinion that if the above recommendations are adopted, tho Act could bo carried out leys costly and more efficiently. " The Committee desire also to express their satisfaction at the beneficial results from the manner in which the Scab Act has been carried out in the district of Ainuri ; and would recommend that his Honour the Superintendent should take the necessary steps to meet tho views of the Canterbury Government, as expressed in a letter, dated April 20, 1869." MAINTENANCE OF DESTITUTE CHILDREN. Mr. Wastney moved,- "That his Honour the Superintendent be respectfully requested to furnish this Council with copies of the arrangements made for the maintenance and education of destitute children at Motueka, and under whose care and supervision they have been placed, wit h tho cost of the same." lie said that it was last year anticipated that the building of the old hospital would be used for this purpose ; that not having been done, lie should like to know what arrangements had been made. The Provincial Secretary: All the information I have is a letter from the Chief Inspector of Police, who states that Mr. Wallace undertook to board, lodge, clothe, and educate all the children at seven shillings per week each. Mr. Wastney said he was quite satisfied with that arrangement. COST OF PRINTING, ADVERTISING, &c. Mr. Donne moved, and Mr. M'Dowell seconded, "That hia Honour the Superintendent be requested to furnish this Council with an abstract of tho amounts paid for printing, advertising, and stationery, to the various newspaper and printing offices in the province, for the year ended 31st March last." The Provincial Secretary said he would not object to the motion, but he would draw honourable members' attention to the fact that it would cause a deal of work, and without the files of the newspapers containing the advertisements wero also produced, he did not see how any information could be obtained from the return. Mr. Luckie said ho had a few remarks to make , on this motion, nofc so much with regard to its substance as to the manner in which Mr. Donne had spoken to it. That honourable member seemed to take delight, not only in casting imputations on the Government, bufc also in insinuating similar reflections upon those members of the Council who differed with him. Such charges and implications were simply contemptible. Mr. Donne : I made no charge. Mr. Luckie : But you put your insinuations in such a manner as that they must be taken by all who understand the English language. They are put in a sneaking kind of way which, while implying a doubt, still leaves the maker of them to say " I made no charge." The charge was implied and all that was requisite to make it positive was that want of moral courage which Mr. Donne always bliows whilst dropping these hints against all who differ with him. Such charges are not gentlemanly — not fair. Mr. Donne : I call your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the expression " ungentlemanly." J Mr. Luckie : I think I did not say it was " ungentlemanly," and I apologise if I did say so, for such was not my intention. These half-hinted charges are not straightforward ; they are contemptible. It is contemptible to think or to hint that the i Government would stoop to purchase the support of a newspaper, or that we had a newspaper whose conductor would stoop to be purchased. Mr. Donne, after having generally replied to the observation of the Provincial Secretary, asked : Docs Mr. Luckie appear here in a business capacity, or as one of the representatives of the City of Nelson ? Mr. Luckie has no right, and it was not decent for him, to make business references. I could give Mr. Luckie a retort as to his observation about want of moral courage, as shown by his conduct in the Council last evening, if I thought it desirable to do so. Mr. Luckie : Do so. Mr. Donne : I think also that it is at least not decent for anyone to sit in this Council, and at tho same timo be a Government contractor. Motion then put and agreed to. MR. LIGHTBAND'S COMPENSATION. On the motion of Mr. M'Dowell, it was resolved, " That tho Kcporfc of the Select Committee appointed to take into consideration the claim of Mr. Lightband for compensation, bo adopted/