AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 19, 25 December 1863, Page 2

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TIIIKSDAV, DuCliMllUll 2-ITH. Mit. Rmvo's question to the hou. member at the head of the Kxecutive (Mr. Daldv). as to what steps the Government intend to take to promote immigration to this IVovince, was postponed until the iirst sitting day after the Christmas recess. Mr. King moved that an address be presented to his lienor the Superintendent, requesting him to forward to this Council, with as little delay as possible, the following returns; showing the days upon which '.he members of the Board of Education havo been summoned by the secretary for the dispatch of business during the two years ending December 31st; tin; number of members attending each meeting ; the number of meetings at which there has been a quorum present ; and the business to be considered at each meeting. He stated that the persons who occupied the position of members of the Board were not lit for that position, as ;'-.ey did not attend to their duties as members of the Board. ilr. "N'ewmaii thought; th.it it was time that the whole question of education should be again reviewed. He complained that the poor were paying for the eduction of the children of tho rich. " There were schools in Auckland drawing Government funds which had no right to do so. Mr. O'JS'eill thought thai no advantage would result from the passing of this motion. Mr. Cheeseman thought the Education Act was quite open to improvement, and that as the requirements of the province altered, the Act should bo altered to meet them. Mr. Rowo thought that tho Act had accomplished a vast amount, ol" good, and that any discussion on this matter should be entered upon after due notice and with calmness and deliberation. Tlie. motion was then put and carried. The Council went into committee on Mr. Howe's question "That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient and desirable thru the Volunteer and Militia companies who have been engaged on actual service during the present insurrection in this province should be entitled to the privileges granted in the Military Settlers clauses of the 'Auokla-id Waste Lauds Act, ISoS,' and that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to forward this resolution to the House of Representatives." Mr. King thought it was as much the duty of the Government to reward our own Volunteers and Militia with grants of land as it was after the war in the Korth to give grants of land to the soldiers engaged in that war. He thought they should recommend the General Government to" set apart a block of land in the "Wnikato country for the local forces. He moved resolutions to (hat effect of which he had given notice, as an amendment to the original motion. Mr. Harrop thought the matter should be left entirely to the General Government. The ollicers of the Militia and Waikato regiments woidd alono require UI.OOO acres of land to satisfy their claims. He moved, as an amendment, "that a respectful address be presented to his honor the Sunerinlender,:, requesting him in recommend to the notice of the the General Oov, r-mcat- the services cf the Mi::;:a and Vo'cniccr coMpefies, it; order :e:.;. they :\.;-.y claims of -:<v.v f.-tilers and who havo suffered i.v tl,„ -~-;,•■ arc .■fi^-i-ivd." Mr. Ken- ; h,,:.;,t :,. :! ., 1: .,-. ,h c .„hl h- made f, refer to the whoie of 31. r Ma;, ,;y's -'erc.-a s. i".-..r.g ii; the Colony. Mr. Kewinnn thought it would be wrong to vote land to all who might bear arms during the insurrecreetion. He would nsk was it. a modest request to vote laud to almost every mar. in the I'roviiiee ? Ho could not help saying that the residents in the southern districts of the prcvince had acted nobly and disinterestedly iu the military hardships they had endured; they had done so'from motives of patriotism, and not'in order to obtain grants of land. He was sure it would be much better to let them now rest, on their laurels, ami not attempt to bribe them by gifts of land ; I hey needed no such stimulus to perform what they conceived to be their duty. Mr. Daldy thought the whole of the matter was premature. They could not toll the extent to which the war might be carried, or what lands might bo confiscated to the Government. He thought tho claims of men engaged in the colonial forces might be taken into consideration iu the next session of the General Assembly. But- to give large tracts of land to men who would not live on it, would be to keep the land out of the market, and defeat the object of Government iu forming special settlements on tho lrontter. The A r ohmteers or Militia had not manifested very strong feeling in the matter, and ho thought the discussion would be much better postponed till they saw what would be tho extent of tho war. -Sir. Cadnian maintained that the Militia ami Volunteers were very auxions to obtain the land. It seemed hard that persons who had been actively engaged m military duties should not be placed on the same footing as the regular troops. They had

done their work -with the same amount of courag and skUl, and should not be placed a whit behim strangers in respect to compensation. Several poisons had been ruined, to his knowledge, by bavin; had to neglect their business bv going to the front It seemed strange that any hon. member slioult refuse to do such an act of fairness a* that proposui bv the resolution. Mr. Kowe. thought the question was not premature, it having been discussed in another place, and it would he well to come to some decision on the matter. It was quite right that gentlemen who held a large stake in the colony should not get any land h-causo of having undergone a little military hardship ; hut many a poor man had suffered severely through the severe tax thus laid on him. It surprised him thai more of them had not left the Province, and he thought it reasonable that the patriotism they had manifested should be sustained in the manner proposed, especially as no one could tell how long they might be required to perform military auty. lie did not say their spirits woidd llag if they did not get the land, but he thought many of them would be driven away altogether if "they got no remuneration. He thought half a million of'acres in the Waikato could not he put to a better use than by King handed over to our Militia anil Volunteers. Tl.i ir claim was a jus: one, and whether it would be successful or net now, it would certainly be so hereafter. Mr. PalJy was sorry the mover of the resolution had not spoken before him ; he would have known brtt.rwhat lie meant. According to the icsolntiou, ;:>• Militiaand Volunteers were proposed to be placed under the provisions of the "Waste Lauds Act,' Uv',B. 1: would not give substantial relief to the men who most needed it, for no one knew bettor than he did «hat had been suffered by many who had to leave their work to perform military duty. The measure would not prodiuv the edict the hon. mover desired, but would give the larger share of land to those who 1. Ast needed it. He w,,uld so.mer see money taken t . remunerate those who had suffered hardship, than that Provincial lands should be given for the purpose ; it should rather he land of the "Waikato which would be confiscated to the General Government. Mr. Cadman reiterated some of his previous remarks. Mr. Gallaugher thought it fair that the Militia .vgd Volunteers- should .get the kind. He thought ihey had a hotter claim to it than strangers impoited into the Province. He did not care whether the lhoviiieir-.l oi' General Government gave the land so long as it were given. Manv of them he believed Mould be willing's4> iro ami -ettle on the land as well •'.- "lie Australian Yoimi;. ers. He referred to some oi the h:iidsi,ins suffer-.d by m..ny id the Militia. Mr. L>»!dy could quite go the fall length with the statciuoius of tin- last speaker, but the question was in •i very crude state ill the mind of members : if it were intended that those who not the land should settle on :: -lie General Government would be very glad to let Mr. Kowe did not intend that the !a:«l should be given uaeuuiilK-naily : but wlule be would not like to compel every man t-i sciilc on his land, he would reo-ano them to improve it in some way. lie oulv waVte.l a principle to be atih'iiicd, and to'leave details for at"'...■ consideration. Mr. HaMy luaiutaine.l that if they the re--"iuiiotis as they stood, i; notii-.i compel them to give land un.-o:iJitioii:i;":y to every man who hud borne Mr. May said i: was no use pressing the matter, th-t.ct wai that the province had not the land ar a- tht-ir disposal. After sattsf-.mg the land orders a! prr-crt unexercised, there would be about lo'J.lW t . saiisly the olai-n of the militiaand i.arisiup. bat if the lir-vim ... !;.,.;'not ihe land it could not sh.c ,t. If ,iiiv of o.;v ;,.;„,-.,• colonists were willing ; u settle- on the'Watsato lin-v laid only to a-'t-ly to the Genera! G. vc:-:i;;:eut ai'.d tliev would y.'.-l their fifty acres. He fell eo.up.-lh-d ';o vote legalist tlie r.-'iiui:on. howci rr unpopular it might be to lo so. -.-me ea--s of mdiviV.:■'. Lard-bin. :>ir. -Nc-vma:: made fur:her 'remarks. He could .--:•- lira! :.,.-,, mane who neither ii.-o'led not-desired :'. taat the G.-r.-.-rai Government wou.d be eoiapellod 1 i re-.tise to ttiki:- action or. it. Mr. Lynch though: the question was premature; it v.-oubl bo time enough to dissgss it two viars licuc. He rccoiuu.emtoii the-gentlemen who had moved the resolution and aniciiJcarnts to withdraw them. He knew it was vi-i-y popular to bring those resolutions forward : nothing was easier than to gain popularity in ..inn way. but he felt lo.upeiled to oppose them just i.o.v. \'i hen the war was over the- province would nave a great debt to bear, and they should be caru'ul ' w th-;,- proposed lo increase this burden. If, at the em! oi the war, it were thought the settlers who had been engaged in it. should have land by way of coiiipeu-at.ion. he would be willing- to entertain the proposal favourably. -Mr. Ca iiuaii said the tan 1 was not wanted at prc-s-.-n:. but that they might he übi-> to get it at the end Mr. lli.ling-i remarked that it had been said by seine out oi tin- colony that the inhabitants ot Anck--1 mil had an interest in funieii'.iug tile present war, •..lid did so for mirpu.-f.-4 of self nggramlisoinr-nt. What, th-l:, would" be said by ihose pal ties when it -.as r-.a'dy piop-sid to give land to the Auckland .'• t'.ii-rs 1- "Would it not seem to confirm and give a e .louring to what had bc.-u so untruthfully alleged ': [f th- :■<■ r-'Ohition.s were canied, it would do more injury to tin- Province than even tin- removal of tiie .Mr. Kowe made some further observations;. Mr. Swam-on thought the discussion should be postponed for the present, to give time and get the nam.- ot ;;,.,-- ~{,,> wh- w.,-i:-..l lhc 1.-.r.d,'and of tiios,- who w-i-e. willing to ..l,j the " chivalrous tiling" by r lu.-in-r th- grant. Mi. G'.'-iae tg'/iigh: t'i.-! Council had no rigid to ul. i-n-4 the matter at ali.it was a G. neral Oovoruueu; questi n. an 1 the Provincial Council laid air. .1. UN-il! thought Mr. Swanson had taken ■he light, vie V. ~i" ti.e question, 11111 l with thill viflv ho u.ov-.t thiii the .Speaker do n«.w report progress, and t-.-cv.-rai iiieii.'.eis spoke iggairc t the adjournment of .'■ir. Newman would move an amendment, which 1..- h-ii,.-.-.-.! would meet ilu- wish, sof the Council, uiiii:. .V, that this Conn, a: ;o Knowledges with gratitude ti,- ~-:vi::.- remU-ed bv the Militia and Volunt .-r Forces, and prom:,, ■ at the close ~f tlie y.ar to tike into its coiisHeratioti the claims of tho-o who have si i ved.luring th,- war. .'"idjo:ii::m.nt n-g-.itiv.-.i. Ihe- S.p i.kir then put Mr. King's resolutions. Tie- (Vur.cil divided as tallows :— ' Ay.'s.—.Messrs. Kin'j, Kerr, Wvnti, e-wansGn, Gnlman, (-Inlliiughtr, i.ml Kowe. (7.) Noe.-.- .'b-sis. N'cwuiiiii, Mav, itiilings, Puidy, G.ore-e, .1. (''Neil!, Ilarr,,p, liail, Lvnch, Pos's, .•.nKMcKon/ie. (!1.) Mr. King's iimenilmwit was consequfiitiy lost. Mr. loiriop's arii'-mimi-nt was tlu-n ]ml. Ayes. - Me-srs. Jiall, Iti-ss, MuKeuzie, ,J. O'Xelil, L;.tii"h, and H,-iir.,p. (It.) 'Xoes - Missrs. Xewman, Ken-, Mav, Geor«e. Ridinf,, \\ .;::.:, Daldy, Kov.,-, Cudman. King, .Swausou, ll.'iiuigher. and Kerr. (12.) .Mr. -u-iv.iia:i s ameii.bnc.-it then rciiiiiiueil to be Mr. Kowe would rather see the question negatived al- gether than this amendment carried. ° Who coilJ ted whero they might he when the war was 0',.-.', which might not be for twenty years? Mr. Lynch also spoke against the amendment, air. Newman obtained leave to withdraw it. .'lr. King moved that the words " House of lii-pre--ir.tativcs"' bo struck out of the last H, u ., ami " Genera! Government " iiiserteil iuatetul.—Negatived. Mr. Cadman moved that the Speaker report pro(iivs anil ask leave to sit again. —Negatived. .'.r. Gallaugher moved that after ihe word- '• Ibuse of Kepre.iciitatircs" the words '■ at its next ■iuiig" be inserted.—Lost. ' Tie original motion was then put and negatived oi the bilowing division :-- Arcs —Messrs. Kowe, King, Cadman, Ken-, Vfyini t-lwaison, and Gallaugher (7.) Nies—Messrs. Newman, Mav, Hidings, Daldv, .T t- O'Ndll, Lvnch, Ball, Ross, McKenzie, George," ant i!n,-op (II.) .'.i'. Haldy asked the Council ro pass toe secoru .-i-aitng of the Appro].nation Hill pro ft„-::>u ; th •JiseiSßion to be postponed til! after the recess. M*. Kowe thought, that the linnncia! statemen fniglt be given to night, and the recess would allor. tnni'for its full consideration. M-. Hahly "aid he was fully prepared to i-

a into all the details of finance to-nighi. " !!„( h7pml unseil the Council the estimates would not be pressed - on them before the lOtb .Tsmu-iry ' tlJfir-fSr 1 r 7' bl .» of " ioUn '™ postponed till . the In.-1 sitting day after the 28th ! <-o,'csi,W ,t i y - 130ara -H' Ame "d»"-nt Bill wa 3 fiirthor I considered in comnult-je. Mr. Wynn moved an addition lo clause 2, "ivinpoisons ,-1, 0 feu t hoill , clvt , :lsffri cved i,v the n"e wWfc P n V '- r , t0 i , lp] . l "' all 0 tl,e Bo:l! - <1 to'deformihe . * bother their hmd should he so assessed or not. Another chuise was added, to the effect that licenses aUialf'coash mU ' ry "' "">' • voar * hould bu is ' SU( ' ll A new clause was inserted to give the Boar.l power colleeted r ' " S uoiwiih * Undi "S "W mtes had not been 'f<i hc 'l'■!-. A ' a " li tho r l- ™""'--. were passed. printed lh> " lc ' lK ' rtcd ' imd to be Message No. ;1.-, was received from the Sneaker, oiwurdtng-, m compliiince with the request of the Hk",'. ;'T °nu K S" r I ' Ct ' t '" ;v,;,l iVum i]w Returning I Ulticer tor the City AVest. !tl O; !.f.. VaS ° iVl "'" t0 soloct committees to sit during Mr. Daldy reminded the Council that the address to the Austnilian Governors would he read on Monday, and requested u full attendance of members. -dr. Kowe gave notice that on next sitting dav he wouhl ask tl u . IVovim-ial .Secretarv when it 'was'proposcd to increase the wharfage accommodation in the port of Auckland. j The Council then adjourned at 7 o'clock till Monday next. . —-o POLICE COURT.—Thurrsday. I Before Tiios. BtcKll.iu, Ksq., K.M.] IIHKACII or TlUt " Sllltl-tl- ACT, 15»3." John Grigg was charged bv V. C. Lewis, Inspector ot isheep. with being guilty of :i br.-aeb of the -V-th Clause of the '• Sheep Act, ISG3," by not havim- live sheep branded with the registered brand. Defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined Is. ami nncNKAuns. Edward Lewis, a resiiriied volunteer, John Britt, and \\ llliiim Kees, for their first, offence were each j lined os. and costs, and Jam.* McPhco 10s. and costs, I or IS hours" hard labour, for his second otl'ence. The Kesident Magistrate's Court will be closed I to-morrow (Saturday).