REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON SCAB ACT.

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

REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON SCAB ACT.

Mr. SiiiaiONßS moved, " That the report of the select committee appointed to take into consideration tho working of the Scab Act be adopted." The report was then read. The Speaker said the proper course to pursue would be to give notice of tho resolutions contained in tho report, so that the Council might have an opportunity of considering them separately, as it was scarcely proper to ask members to adopt a series of resolutions like the present ones without their having been first placed upon the notice paper. Motion withdrawn. PETITION OF W. JESSOP. Mr. F. Kelling moved, "That tho Report of the Select Committee on tho Petition of W. Jessop bo adopted." Seconded by Mr. Edwards. Mr. White said ho hoped the report would not be adopted, as it censured most unjustly tho Inspector of Scab for having done what was simply hia duty. The Scab Inspector was quite justified in regarding Jessop's sheep with suspicion, for it had come to his knowledge that a neighbour had found a sheep of Jessop's in his flock unmistakably scabby, and that Iho latter had given him a written undertaking to bear the cost of any ill consequences that might result therefrom to his flock. At the same time, Jessop requested his neighbour to keep the circumstance of his having a sheop scabby secret, as he intended petitioning the Council in consequeuce of tho Scab Inspector treating him as he had done. He would give the namo of the person he had spoken of if called upon to do so. [Cries of "Name."] It was Mr. B. Lines, who still held Jessop's written undertaking. The scabby sheep was actually in Mr. Lines' barn when the Inspector visited Jessop's flock. Tho whole object of tho report was to injure the repuattiou of the Scab Inspector. Mr. Sparrow said there was no evidence that Jessop's sheep were scabby. It was truo same had been dressed for scab, which was certainly a suspicious act, but he did not know that a man might not dress his sheep if he liked. Mr. Gibbs thought it was a dangerous precedent to censure a public officer for doing his duty. Mr. Edwards said it was true the report did in a manner cast blame on the Scab Inspector, but not iv the way stated by Mr. Gibbs. The committee considered that Jesaop had not sufficient time given him to clean his sheep before the license to clean was withdrawn. The Inspector might have acted according to law, but he had used the law arbitrarily. Mr. Wigley could not agree to the report. If, as was admitted, tho Inspector had acted legally, to have acted otherwise would be to have acted wrong. The Provincial Secretary contended that tho law had not been administered harshly. The Inspector might have got Jessop fined for having scabby sheep, whereas he recommended him to tako out a license to clean his flock. It was only after more than a month when no steps had been taken to dip his flock, that measures were taken against Jessop. Mr. Baigent opposed tho adoption of the report. Mi*. Smirois'DS wished to see the report referred back to the committee, in order that the evidence of Lines might be taken. If he had done the Scab Inspector an injustice, he was willing to make reparation. He moved as an amendment, "That the report be referred back to the commitee." Seconded by Mr. Parker, who thought the Council could not adopt the report as it stood. He did not sec how an officer could be censured for doing his duty. Mr. C. Kelling supported the report. The select committee had learnt from Jessop that he was a sheep short, the one probably in Lines's possession, and which might have been scabby. He made no secret of this. The Scab Inspector had abused his power. He had given Jessop a three months' license (o clean his sheep, and recalled it at the end of a month, not making due allowance for the season, it being midwinter, and the lambs very young. It might be true the Inspector acted upon the letter of the law, but he had violated its spirit. The amendment to refer the report back to the Select Committee was carried. RIWAKA TRUNK ROAD. Mr. Parkes (for Mr. Macmahon) asked the Provincial Secretary the reason why the sum of £100, voted last session for the improvement of the trunk read, Riwaka, had not been paid to the 'Road Board, or placed on the Estimates of this session ? The Provincial Secretary, in reply, said the sum was not paid to the Road Board last year through the revenue falling short of the amount of money appropriated, and the amount had not been placed upon tho Estimates this year, because works of a more pressing nature were needed. WATER SERVICE TO PRIVATE STREETS. Mr. Burn (for Dr. Irvine) moved, "That in the opinion of this Council it is not expedient that persons residing in private streets within the area nowsupplied by the water service, should be required to pay half the cost of laying down the service pipe for such private streets; always provided that there shall not be less than three houses within such streets." Motion negatived. ENDOWMENT OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Mr. Wastney moved, "That the Waste Lands Board be requested to reserve a block or blocks of" Crown lands, not exceeding in all twenty-five thousand acres, as an endowment to tho various publio libraries and institutes of the province; the proceeds arising from such lands to be divided between each in proportion to their number of annual subscribers." The honourable member said he hoped to see the resolution passed the preceding night for endowing the Nelson Institute rescinded, so that all institutions of the character named might be dealt with out of one common fund. Mr. Donne considered the Council should begin by rescinding the resolution referred to, and then deal with the question generally. The rescinding of the resolution passed on Thursday evening was opposed by several members, and the debate was adjourned until Monday. ESTIMATES. The Council resolved itself into committee to consider the Estimates ; Mr. Edwards in the chair. The items, " Five Clerks (half salaries), £300 ;" "Stationery, Printing, &c, £1,000," for tho Southwest Gold-field, were then passed ; and an omitted item, " Three Sergeants and Two Constables, £595 6s. 3d.," was agreed to. Tho recommendation of a select committee, that the charges under tho head " Provincial Council " should remain as last session, was agreed to. Tho committee resumed, and the Council adjourned until Monday evening next.

Fire at Okarita.— We learn from tho Hokitika papers that a large fire had taken place at Okarita. Three hotels were burned, also the premises formerly occupied by the Bank of New South Wales, and a butcher's shop. A cottage was pulled down to prevent further destruction. A Terrible Flood.— The Blenheim telegraphic correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, informs the readers of that journal, on the 30th ultimo, " that the Nelson line of telegraph had been washed away." This might have been the fate of a few yards of the line in the Tuamarina, or other low lying valleys, but we did not hear of the flood having reached the summit of the Maungatapu, in which case it would have been a bad look out for the Blenheimites. Suspected Foul Play.— A telegram from Rockhaniplon, via Sydney, dated Wednesday, April 28, states that Halligau, a gold buyer, left the Morsnish diggings on the previous Sunday with 150 ounces of goid. He has been missing since. The police have I returned after an unsuccessful search, and foul playid suspected. A private party of fifty members was being organized to search, carefully for him along the road.