PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2613, 21 March 1866, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

[ Moxoa y.] Tub Speaker took the chair at ten minutes past, 12 o’clock, when sixteen members were present. RAILWAY ENGINEER’S REPORTS. Mr, Rowe laid on the table reports from the Engineers of the Auckland and Drury Railway, in answer to the report of the committee of inquiry which was submitted to the Council. The reports were read. THISTLE ACT. Mr. Martin, chairman, brought up report of Thistle Act Committee, which was read and laid on the table. ROAD ACT. Mr. Martin, chairman, brought up report of committee on Road Act No. 2, which was read and laid on the table. APPROPRIATION KILL. The Council went into committee to further consider the Appropriation Bill, —-Mr. O’Neill in the chair. 1 Mr. Carletou moved the adoption of 1 the additional clause, as recommended 1 in his Honour’s message, | And ultimately, after some discussion, the additional items recommended I in the messages were agreed to. MESSAGE. Message No. ,53 was brought up and read. RAILWAY BILL. This hill come ou for second reading. I Mr. Carletou moved the second reading of this bill. The Council were ] aware that the hill was sent down in I obedience to a vote of the Council, j The engineering question had not then I entered into the matter when (lie | Council requested the Superintendent I to take the management of the railway works into his hands. The hill had not been drafted without a great deal jof consideration. The Government ' were aware of the difficulties that might arise, particularly from the nature of the contracts entered into by the Raili way Commis doners. „ i After some farther discussion, Mil Cadman moved that the further ' consideration be postponed until next day. Ultimately, the bill was read a second I •” time.

Tine CITY LOAN. Mr. Bain asked the Government when the City Board might expect the transfer of the £7,000, the portion of the loan to the city set aside for a market-house, according to the promise given to a deputation hy his Honour the Superintendent that morning. Mr. Williamson said he had seen his Honour the Superintendent since his hon. colleague (Mr. Carleton) had been with him, and his Honour informed him that he would semi down a message

next morning relating to what passed between him and the deputation that morning. Mr. Carleton also said the Council would receive a message tin the subject. Of course, he could not say what it would be. The Council adjourned at half-past seven o’clock. [Tuesday ] The Speaker took the chair at thretJ o’clock. Mr. Swanson asked the Provincial Secretary when an answer would be sent down to address No. 15, requesting the Superintendent to send down to this Council a return of all persons employed under the Provincial Government from Ist January to 31st December, 1865, arranged in departmental order, and stating their respective duties and salaries. Mr. Carleton said that on account of the session being so short, he had not been able to get the returns. MESSAGES. Messages 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, and 59 were brought up from the Superintendent, and read to the Council. - RAILWAY BILL. This bill was brought up for third reading. Mr. Carleton hoped the bill would be allowed to pass. Ho expected that the Council would be prorogued the next day. Mr. Cadinan would offer no opposition to the passing of the bill. Considerable discussion then took place upon the late transactions of the Railway Commissioners and the En-gineer-in-Chief. Ultimately the bill was read a third time and passed. LUNATIC MAINTENANCE BILL. This bill was read a second time. APPROPRIATION BILL.

On the motion for the third reading of this bill, Captain Cooper proposed that it stand on the paper for tho next day (this day). The amendment was put and lost, and the bill was read a third time and passed. HIGHWAYS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. message no. 59. Mr. W ilhamson tnoveu <,. Ie consideration of this a,ul intimated that a mineral license could oniv granted under tho Waste Lands Commissioner' Act, 1858 ; but this application being below high-water mark, was out of his jurisdiction. Some discussion then took place upon the subject of Taranaki iron sand, and the land -which Mr. White applied for. Mr. Williamson in reply, said 're was sure that the Council would concur with his Honour, and if Mr. White failed to carry out his scheme it could be taken out of his hands. The motion was put and carried. MESSAGE NO. 60. Tins Message was read and taken into consideration. It related (he interview between the Superintendent and the deputation from the City Board. After stating the sums which had been appropriated to tho city, and expended upon city works at various times, the message went on to say that only £3,500 remained out of the £so,Out? loan to the city. The £7,000 would be paid over to the city for the purpose ofdraiuingand erecting a market house. His Honour’s message contained a number of resolutions for the consideration, of the Council. Mr. Carletou moved that the first resolution in the message, viz : “That the sum of £7,000 lie paid over to the City free, for the purpose of erecting a market house.” be agreed to. The motion was carried. Tho other resolutions were then nnt seriatim , and called forth considerable discussion, especially the second one. The third resolution gives the use of the site of the Old Supreme Court to the City Commissioners. The fourth lesolulion. suggesting that the waterworks should be under the control of the City Board, excited some discussion, Mr. Swanson observing that the City Board would ho better without having anything to do with them (tho water i works).

Mr. Bain would be rather inclined to accept this offer though it came upon them unawares. Mr. Sheehan objected to taking over these broken and leaky pipes. (Laughter). The question was put, and, on a division, was carried by nineteen to four. The fifth resolution, to the effect (hat an Act of Council he passed next session to give effect to the foregoing resolutions was also put and curried. RO.U) ACT, NO, 2. Mr, Martin brought up the report of the select committee ou the Road Act, No. 2, and moved that it he adopted. The committee considered that Mr. Robert Graham was entitle 1 io ±“273 as compensation for the public traffic which had taken place over his private property for the last nineteen years. Mr. O’Neill opposed the adoption of (he report. Ou the motion being put that the report be adopted it was lost. PENSIONS. Mr. Kirwood moved, “That a respectful address be presented to his Honour the Superintendent, leo iesliug him to send down a bill for the purpose of conferring a pension of ±IOO per annum on William Powditch, Ksq., Speaker of the Auckland Provincial Council. Mr. ( 'arleton objected to the motion, as it would inaugurate a system of pensions which the Government could not afford to give at the present time. Major Cooper also objected to the motion, as Mr. Powditch failed to be Speaker through losing his election. The motion was withdrawn. After the transaction of some further business, the Council adjourned.