LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 330, 2 December 1864, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

BUSINESS FOB THIS DAY

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1. The Sfeake u took the chair at two o'clock. Tlie minutes of lli<; last meeting were read and continued. STANDING OI'.IIKIIS. Major Richmond brought up the R port'of the Committee upon Standing: Orders. Ilie committee, in their report, made several recommendations to the Council. Amongst others, that the days lor sitting should he luesday. "Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, instead of those at present appointed : and that the first and last mentioned days should he sot apart for Government business. I.EAVB OK AIISENCEThe Hon. lil.' jor "VThitmoue •withdrew his motion for leave of absence for fourteen days for the Hon. W. li. Russell, as '■? understood it was not neee-stary to apply for leave in this instance. ADIIIiESS TO THE Gen EKNOU. The Sn:AK£K announced that, in obedicnce to the resolution of the Council, he had waited upon his Kxcellency with the address which had been voted, ilis J'xcellcncy Lad 1 ten been pleased to return an answer to the Council in the lollowing gracious terms :— " llonokaijle Gknti.ejiex.—l receive with satisfactien your lc.yal address, and I have every hope thnt your <ielib< lations will promote the weliare of Kew Zealand. I will be always desirous cordially to coopeiaic with you." Coli nei Ki:nn*.y said he had been given to understand that the t-pesVer, oceempsnied by only one or two members, had waited upon the Governor oil the pioviius day—that being: net a silting day. He would like to hnovv frrm h< norable members whether, in their opinion it was not desiiable that, when the Council should be called upon to aocoinpMiy the t-'peaKci to Government IJoiise, all i'smnnlerstliould l.avo sufficient notice. Tor himself, lie hmvv r.o\bii g of the > v p< ai-er and tlie Cowscil go-i.jr to his J-'scel-l<ncy. lie mmii< ned the Mibject bdatue in time of dillicultj" it might give ground to the cpinicn that it was the desiie of the Ccv.iuil to treat his ixeelhmy wi;h disrespect, cr that theie was a want of lesjei-t indicaitd l y tl.e paucity of the number who might wait Uj.cn him. lie tl:< i gl.t it should be announced what. day sti.d l our it v.ctiid leo nvmient lor the Govt n.or to jeeeive mimbeis who might be disposed to met rrpany the t-'pi ; her. Hie ti'EAKEi: mid lie n.ust tahe upon himself all blame, if any, lor lite piactice. lie believed there was no ilej aituie iiom the Ordinary usage. There had 1 een to Government not merely one or two, but three or tour, u number which usual!}' accompanied him on such occasii r.s.

Colctkl3£3;>">*:ey deprecated any intention to cast bh-me nptn ill*? spc-aU-j\ Mr. W niTAKi.li: I'crhapp this would be a proper oeir.eicn tor me to enter upon an explanation, 111 tht* ab cme of which it might be thought thit I bad boon wanting m piojer re?pt ct toward? his Excel* K'n v. 1 can cr.iv say tlint« in cenmtn with hoi-. members, J lauv nothing of the C ouncil accompr.r.jing the Spi-ukir to Govemmuit 3iouse. Perhaps tljo Cuuiu-il will luirjt this us a calefactory explanation why 1 did not attend, for in fact I kne-w nothing what* vtr about it. Mr. UiMiii.jy moved that his reply should be entered 1 e entered or. the journals of tbe House. KOVAL ASSE>*T. 1 he Speaker announced that her Majesty had been phased to sanction the following Acts :— " An to alter the the Civil List." u Au Act to enable Provincial Councils to make Jictidtf i;nd Watercourses/' 4 " An Act to amend tlu; Waste Lands Act of the l J ro\ ince of A uekiand." ' c An Act ior the diepnr-al of Waste Land in the Province of Marlborough, under clause 15 ot the Waste Land -Act, lb5S." "An Act to regulate the sale, disposal, and occupation ot "Waste Lands belonging to the Crown in kelson." An Act lor tlic letting and disposing of the lauds iu Utago." "An Act Lo impose a tax on certain lands in the Province of Otago, under provisions of the Act of ISG3." Also— " An Act to amend the laws now in force for the sale rind disposal of the Waste Lands belonging to the Crown in Southland." KAiAIOI SfATIVE SCHOOLS, CASTEItBL'KY. r Xhe hon. Air. 'J-ANCkkd moved that hII correspondence relating to aid afforded to the Native School at Xaiapoi, together with all correspondence relating to such aid, be laid on the table of this House. lie begged to make a remarks to the llous-e. his object being to bring under t Ho notice of Government tbe with whith the school had been treated. f J be nativi! in that part of the colony were most exemplary. Xi.ey had adopted European habits and dress, and e<. ntiiomeii themselves very largely iu aid c»t tho school. L-ndt r the Native £choois Act, which appropriated £7L'OO towaids native education, all the applications that had been made resulted iu no manent provision for the maintenance of the schcoh The schoolmaster was considerably out of pocket-— in point ot bid, nothing had txen dune. To native* »o well conducted and urderiv, it b'-r;ime the Ituven.ment to lend every assistance in hs j.uwer, tit might not tjo saiil they were uctuutvd l«y their colonel Kexmly said he was ylud t» lit"'l- - lesultri had attended a course ol' towards the natives which iic had to long iiJvoi.j-t'i

The A-rrcmS'ET-GErEftAT. Raid the GoTernment could confirm all that had been stated by tho hon. jjr Tiuicred. The claim appeared a fair and reasonable one. Without giving any pledge on the subject, he would examine the papers relating fo the inatter, when they should bo brought up, and would g.j ve to them serious attention. (Hear, hear). JU:sr oNSIHILITY OF GOVERNMENT IX NATIVK AFFAIK.S. Xho Attokney-General said : I beg with the permission of tho Council—as a debate has token place on'these resolutions in another place—to bo allowed to withdraw this motion. I think there is no doubt considering the position of the Government, and tho character of the questions involved, that will be most convenient for me to drop tho matter for .the present. I will ci vo notice °f the renewal of the motion. Mr. OiLni.i.AN rose to address the Council The Si'Fakkh reminded tho lion, membor (Mr. Gilfillan) that there was no motion before tho House. Mr. Garn.ux : I rise to protest against the course that has been taken by the lion. .\ttomey-Genprul. It is not, I apprehend, because a debate has taken v'.uce upon the subjcct of these resolutions that wo aro to he deprived of the opportunity of entering upon the subject. ])r. I'oi.i.kn : ' think, sir, that the proper course would be for the lion, the Attorney-General to decline to move the motion. The Aitoknkv-O kxek.u, acquiesced in tlie suggestion of the hon. member. ORIUKS OK TtlK DAT. Provincial Compulsory Land Taking Bill was read a first time. COIIONKBS ACT AMKNIIMKNT ni1.1,. The Attokxey-Gkxkkai, explained that this was a bill for (he extension of the Jurisdiction of Coroners It did not effect their local jurisdiction or enlarge ineir powers, but simply extended their authority. ° Hi-ad a first time. rROTFCTH»" OK ANIMALS AMKXDMKNT HIT.!.. The Attokxky-Gknf.ual in introducing this bill expressed his regret that tlie bill not having been vet printed was not in the hands of hon. members lie expressed a hope that it would be in their hands tomorrow. lie believed that the animal to which the amendment especially applied was the wild duck. He. however, proposed to include some other birds, perhaps it would be for the convenience of tho House to take the discussion on the subject on tho second r.'adias. The lion. Mr. Ciuwfokd said there was much protect ion required for other animals than birds. He had found 111 his travels that the oysters which were to be fur.d between Charlotte Sound wen* rapidlv beiiu destroyed, and were not likely to last. Also the half-arown tish in Dunediu were rapidlv- bein« destroyed. 'ihe hon. Colonel l\i'ssi:i.l. confirmed the view is'iin bv the hon. gentleman wlio had just spoken. In respect to the resolutions which had been withdrawn relating to MINISTERIAL lESPOXSIIIILITY, i; appeared to him that the country was placed in a very precarious position so long as those resolutions remained on the notice paper. In point of fact nothing could be done so lonir a? the various provinces ir. the colony had this threat held over them. He did not think they could look for emigration. He could not conceive that the natives would deliver themselves up so Ions: as it appeared probable •h.it the troops woti'.d be taken away. It was almost i■npossil'W to conceive the great injury that must acenw to the colony by placing this notice on the paper. He th"U«ht it due to the Council that some of the honorable members should have the opportunity afforded them of speaking their mind on the subject: for until the position of the colony was known in respect to this matter, nothing could be done. The value of property would deteriorate, and great loss would result to the province and the colony.

The Attoknky-Gem-kai. drew the attention of tho Council to the subject before it. He regretted that he bsd occasioned inconvenience to ihe honorable gentleman (Mr. GilfiUan), but lie might be permitted to exercise the of declining to accept a discussi. n upon these resolutions.

The honorable Mr. Gilkillax said that as there now a motion before the Council, lie would sav what he had not been permitted to say when he first rose to address honorable members. He again pro-t:-.«:?d asaiiist the course which had been taken by t e Government with reference to this province, in i.'c.'rii'.f: tdtogether the existence of Auckland and its inhabitants, lie would on every occasion that offen d itselfprotest against the maimer in which tlic Council Lad been treated by supposing that they should wait until opinions hf-.d been expressed in another place before they entered upon the discussion of partauiar resolutions, or that in consequence of a debate elsewhere, iu-r.i :able numbers were not to be permuted to offer their opinions. The Sl'EJim reminded honorable gentlenitn of the ir.ier of the Council in respect to the bill. It was iuirdlv rt-jrular 10 discuss its merits before they seemed to be known. '1 he honorable Mr. Haix rose — Ihe sitakie: 1 am afiaid I have allowed 110110ntle memleis rather too much latitude already. The hen. Mr. Hall : Then with your permission sir, I will speak upon the subject—of oysters —(loud lauchif-r.) i think it cannot be denied that great evidences from the neglect of protecting fish in tt e spawning: season. At Lyttelton all the fish being taken ail the year round, were rapidly decreasing in number. T «ill also suggest to the Council whether in this bill for protecting certain animals, some provis'en might not be made to prevent the introduction of ceitain noxious animals into the colonies—l think ior instance that foxes —of all animals, whether quadruped or biped. (laughter) I beg hon. gentlemen's j'Kidcn. 1 mean no particular allusion, (laughter.) I hepe therefore that this bill will embrace the piostitUiicn of certain noxious animals. Tliu matter is of course one of detail, and requires some investigation.

The -Attokney-General said if the Council would a'low hin: be would intrrduce 1 lie bill to-morrow. He therefore moved that the bill be made an order o; the day for to-morrow. TIIK ])CMAIX. The Attorxcv-Genejui. in moving that this bill It read a first time, said that certain lands had been set apart t r < be sold for the improving the pnblidomain. 01 these land-; there remained a residue "unsold. Instead r.f sc-llinpr this land, the Domain heard piopcsc-d to let the land, rather than by an attolute sale, ronvert the- proceeds into a gross total. •1 Ik.- cH< el oi the bill was to enable them to let the !;<r.d at yearly rent, which would be applied as a permanent tuTid" tor keeping up the domain. 3he bill was read a first time. DF.F.DS VALIDATION I;11.T..

This bi]l to validate certain acta of the IJegistrar frf interim) ot deeds of Otago, \va3 read a iir.st tirnr-.

Ine Council adjourned at a quarter past three o clock.

, NOTICES OK MOTION. Ine Hon. Mr. SF.iVEi.i-to move, " For leave to introduce a bill to give to the Governor certain powers in disturbed districts of the Colonv.

~ . UKUKKS "l- THE DAY. roteetion of certain Animals Amendment Bill— first reading. Provincial Compulsory Land Taking Bill—second reading " Coroner.- Act Amendment Bill—-second reading. - ucklaud Reserves Amendment Bill—second read-

of Deeds Validation (Otago) Bill — second rending.