AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1641, 8 January 1862, Page 2

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

On Monday last, January 6th, the fourteenth Session of the Auckland i’rovincial Council was opened by His Honor the Superintendent, .31 members being present. Election of Speaker. The Proclamation of the Superintendent convening the Council having been read by George M. O’Rorke, Esq., the Clerk of the Council, the members proceeded at once to elect a Speaker. Mr. JAMES O’NEILL proposed, and Mr. BROOKEIELD seconded, “ That William Powditch, member for Onehunga, take the Chair as Speaker of this Council.” Carried unanimously. The Speaker elect, accompanied by his proposer and seconder, then withdrew to acquaint the Superintendent with the choice of the Council. On returning, Mr. Powditch informed the Council that the Superintendent had confirmed his (Mr. Powditch’s) appointment to the Speakership. He thanked them sincerely for the honor they had „done him, and' assured them that it should be his constant endeavour to discharge the duties committed to him, faithfully and impartially, to the satisfaction of the Council. Mr. E. KING, in the name' of the old Council, congratulated the Speaker on his re-election to the chair, and referred to the old Council having been prevented by hasty prorogation from presenting him with a vote of thanks, and also from confirming the Report of a Committee on certain Land Claims, (Cries of order.) The SPEAKER said thq fton. member’s remarks were pot ip order. '

'Mr. W. BXJCKLAND desired to t cHe v e theawli^ J position’ in which fhe 'Speaker was placed, : beiriff no opportunity of expressing his own opt constant!}' in the chair, either as Spcakc . . man of Committees ; and : he hoped that thChairman of Cumtf.Utees would be appointed m Clerk then announced His Honor the intendent, who, having taken his place o-■ P... of the Speaker, read the opening addres;, v be found in the Summary columns) m?nCVKThc Superintendent having retired, S-f-FIELD moved that the Speech bo pnnte u Mr. DALDY seconded the mouon ™ icn agreed to. Message No. 1 Was received from His Honor, end si ip a Bill W provide for the payment Of mcniben l op resen mg certain districts in tile Provincial[Count; 1; , On the motion of Mr. DALDY the Hi’ was read A first time: . ; iIto.then rhovfcd that the Bill be pf ii* iQ* to wlnea Mt. J. (I’NEtLL objected j thfeCbUnn'shbuld fir?) deteriniile Tvhether they would cbniUfer-the Biu at all. He thought it A disgrace to tin. province, that, men could not be found to give a few hours a day to the business of the country without being paid for it. Mr. E. KING suggested that notice of this motion should be given for the next sitting day; The question was merely one of distance, some members being paid noW‘. . . \ ' ,ni i I Mr. BXJCKLAND supported the motion asateatfe* of courtesy, though he would, be happy .to assist m throwing out the Bill on the second rcJ.di.ng. Ordered to be printed. Government Business. •„.< Mr. DALDY said it was his intention, unless soma hon. member, came forward as representing the Government, to give notice of an address to the Superintendent, requesting him to; inform the Council what arrangement', had been mode for conducting tho business of thp. Government.; ■. •- “i Mr. BROOKFIELD said that for tho present the hSh. member for Mongonui ( Mr. Ball) ..nd himself would conduct the business on behalf of the Provincial Government. Hour op Meeting. Mr. A. O’NEILL moved that this Council do adjourn till to-morrow at one o’clock. The old time (three) was, he thought, very inconvenient to the country members, keeping them about the town all dav doing nothing. Mr. BUCKLAND suggested two o’clock, so as not to interfere with dinner time. Messrs. DALDY, WYNN, and BROOKFIELD also opposed the motion. Mr. A. O’NEILL pressed his motion to a division, when there appeared, for the motion 10, against it 20. Standing Orders Committee. On the motion of Mr. CARLETON the following members were appointed a Committee on Standing Orders Messrs. Brookfield, May, Farmer, King, Daldy, and Carleton. Adjournment. Then, on the motion of Mr. BROOKFIELD, the Council adjourned till three o'clock on Wednesday, Notices oU Motion. The following Notices were given:— Mr. A. O’Neill to ask the member dt thb lifeKd of tlie Executive in this Council, What nleails have been tAken to open a roadway into Mr. HOlland’B land; Norfli Snore. ~ v jitn. PalSm£s .to,,iiiqvfe op the fibxt sifting .day the following Reply to the Superintendent’s opening Address : That we the Provincial Council of Auckland tender our thanks to your Honor for* the Speech with which you have opened this, the 14th, Session of the Provincial Council, and desire to convey to your Honor the assurance of our readiness to consider with attentionthe several subjects therein referred to. 2. Mr. James O’Neill to move. That an Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to take the necessary steps for causing the General Government to commence building a Custom House and Queen’s Warehouse in Auckland on the site reserved for that purpose, the money for such service having been already voted by the House of Representatives. 3. Mr. Mat to move, That an Address be sent to the Superintendent requesting a return of the number of Land Orders, and quantity of Land represented in the same, issued under the of 1858-9, and accounted for at Auckland; the quantity Of Land already seCtcd, and the quantity required to satisfy the remainder; also, if possible, the nuptber of IrrirtiigfantS who are improving their Land, and trife number of those who have left the Province; 4. Mr. May to move, For a return of the quantity of Special Occupation Land selected under the Land Regulations of 1855, with the quantity that has reverted to the Crown; tho valuation of the improvements by the Government Inspector effected by each Lessee, and the amount required by law; Names of Lessees who have obtained their Crown Grams, and the Names of those who have forfeited their selections by the nonfulfilment of the Regulations. 5. Mr. Wynn to move, That, in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that some provision should be made for the revision of the Election of Superintendents and Members of Provincial Councils other than that which is now provided by law.