PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1899, 16 February 1870, Page 4

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, , The Spbakku took the chair at 3 o'olook. . Prayer,. . The Clerk read the minutes of the preceding sitting,-which were confirmed. 'PETITIONS. Mr.' Douglas presented a petition "■from Dennis "Kennedy, a military settler'at Tauranga, relating: to a land'claim. ' ; PETITIONS EErEBBBD. . .■ The foilowing'patitiona.weroreferred to the Petition* and Private Grievanoe Committeo : of W. J. Speightpetition of Hezekiah Monk. , COMMITTEE ON THE HISHWAVB AOr (1867) AMENDMBKT BILL. ,i ' Mr. Mat moved,.-" That the.report of this committee 'be considered.".' • He ibrought ,the subject forward in this mannor in order that it might receive tho- largest . amo.unt of discus - sion.: Ho. directed the attention of the Council to clauses S ,nnd 5.; For his own part, he .did not .believe there was any ..principle exaept the annual value, or the value t? sell. There were several improvement*' adppted, .auoh as thnt the rate .should* be paid in, instead of. being collected.. He oonsiiiercd it a great misfortune to .have badl&nd'i .and, if land produced nothing, it wa*.di®cult to get a rate from it. There were provisions .in the report for roads •and water-courses, and other matters. He .would 'move,-on behalf of the committee, .'•■ That the.Highways Act (1867) Amendment . Bill should p«BS the session " . i Mr. Cableton seconded,,the, motipp.. Ho ■said the. only, .standard.was in.,'theu,.first instasce, the value to sell. the was whether the time bad arrived tuf-coh;;. siderieg whether the option should be. ; - rained. But there weie Bome of the .put., .districts in whioh he believed theaore-miiig would, give greater facilities ihan the''oilier' modo. no was inclined to' side with the aiover, the hon. member for' Raglan. It had 'been speciously argued that the rating uhon the value to soli was & taxation' upon iirijifrovemente. , By whatever, 'mode men improved' , their fortune, they, "n ere' still' subject alike jto contribute in proportion to the increase-in their wealth. While h'e had,tho belief-of the zeal prinoiple involved,'yet he had 'ttiisgivirigs of some ' districts 'with whioh he 'wai acquainted. . He did not ( think the bill would be improved in'the. repe»>.' Hi? complimented the committee 'upon theii 1 discussions as being the roost practicalofwhich he had experience. Besides, he believed thnt there would JjeponHderable-discontent outside the House if the Council did nothing but pass the Estimates. There was a ' groat difference between, ;the cry of hot having done enough, i»hd not having done nny<thihg .whatever.- There was, • however, one most' important alteration, or rather an important" introduction in the form of'hew principl£ c iriatnely the of rates for atatute labor. That wat a' principle that worked well' itf .panada. • But it was not to be expeoted that the- retort to this -principle would be in' every partfonlir' sncooisfill. ]It ought," KoveVor, tri be.' -resorted to at once,'in" order that' next ■ session ' they'rvouldbe rable to put their hands on the defects of working.; Mr/ KbVbtton moved that rthe' draffcof the' Amendment Bill be printed' and sent''txi the ; chairmen of -Boards of Trustees --with'view, to obtain their opinionnponthe> Amendment Actbeforo it should be passed; . o.'

.Mr. Di'ait also bel eved that the various highroads should bo consulted. : Talcing the ] abstract view otj the; 'question, "the estimated value' to eell was itlie■ correot piinciplei/vßut there were othara iwho thought differently. The tluia ' might come 1 when r the rating:iipon j the value-to sell would be applicable through-, out the whole countiy ; but that time had nst 1 come yet. ' Therefore it was desirable that the* option ""should be left. ■ There - were a great many struggling settlers - who looked out on the. improvements !which: -he; intended to make with , bard-earned- savings. He became conscious that -there was another person besides Tifmielf who would regard' the improvements with interest, namely, the collector ; and he might be induced to say that h : s improvements were made for the coUector, and not for the country. But these struggling settlers were in the hope and stay of the country. There had Seen a gr«at cry that the out-distriote -should have local self-government; But surely one of tho very first conditions of: local self-government was that the people might exeroise a choice in the mode by whioh they would r»t& themselves. -Then, as i to ■ the statute labour, he thought there should be a reciprocity.. Ke therefore believed that ■ there 'Were n great manymhighway Boards as well; aa those in the nortb, which were anxious - for, optional rating. • Mr. W. Hat believod ilus was the question of questions lot the country districts. There I was very little time left to consider the subject before the close,of the session, ,notwithstanding that the committee had mot and deliberated with great assiduity, its thought ! legislation on tbis subject of such great importance, there were so many interests involved, so great a : variety of - details to.be considered, that it might bs the very best course, to be adopted ifthe : Council would refer the proposed alterations to the Chairman of. the Highway Boards ns foreshadowed in the' report of the committee. He agreed with the hon. member (Mr. Dyer) that .it would be very hard to impose the rate according to the valne to. sell, in all cases. He knew of cases where porsons purchased their farms, and. then mortgaged them to obtain rconey for : improvements. Now, in that case, it wqb cloa that it was the man's energy' and industry that was taxed, and there were many oai-es where the same effect would follow tho rating upon tho value, to srll. . Therefore ho thought" the option should be retained. The time might come when all tho persons in any one district would agree as to the mode of rating.

.Mr. Hill said ho was in favor of pnseing a bill on the subject before the close of the session. There had been attacks made in the Press, and it waa insinuated that the Council was about to separate without doing ' anythmg. But he had boon informed that i" very general expression of opinion had been met with', that the amended A'cts hould not 1 passuntil after it had been re'erred to the various Highway Boards. He hoped-the Press would print, the ' bill. and the 'report, 'for it 'w4s a 'matter upon which as much information as possible should'be dissemin'ited. 'fie believed that an opinion could be got aa to tha ad. valorem rate or the optional rate. There was another subject upon.which &n opinion might be given for the guidance of tho ■•Provincial. Legislature, namely, the question of the foncing in or the fencing out cattle; But the Council should give the advantage—whatever; advantage there was—to those pioneer Settlors' who want to live on and cultivate their land.

Mr. McLeod (J) never knew any mode of rating that was looked upnn as oatiufHc.tory by those who were subject He thought there wonld be no difficulty, if £100 wrts wanted for a much needed work in a district, in dividing the distriotand taking half by the aordage and 1 the remainder by the value to sell; He believed tbe"Canadians, in this country, preferred the " SaSnte Labor " to any other mode of making roads. The " Fencing out "of cattle waß Mr. Swatigon's system. He believed : that the whole North would -suffer gneyonily if that mode were adopted. - He fought it desirable that tbe opinion of the countryshould be taken, and he thought an opinion shonld bo Mfaed with respeot to the Fencing Act as well. "

Mr. 0. MoLea» would be exceedingly sorry if another session were- to oJapse without legislation on this subject. He held very decided' opinions on the subject. The late Government were of opinion that njevetai minor acts relating to water courses, thistles and. ; other matters should be' consolidated into' one bill. Nov, he could inform the Council that there wore many farms whichjrere at that moment of 'lens valuo than when the land was in a stats of fern* As to ihe £ttpdd of rating. The valuo to [eell was the

only "tree principle, for every person was represented a 4-, tie estimate of value, while that was not tho case with an acreage rate. For taking tlie acreage of a district, the rating of good laud would embrace the bud land, and clearly thoro could be no justice or equity in thit. But in the value to Bell, the rating was upon actual value, which was ascertainable with the greatest erne and accuracy, • ... Mr. GoEDoH thought through rating by tho value to sell might bs correct in the abstract, yet the time was not come when it oould bo fairly, applied to the lands of the whole province. And thi» for the very reason whioh the hon. member (Mr. McLean) gave for his support -of an aoronge taxation, namely, that a considerable portion of the land was poor. The value to sell was an unjust mode of rating in many instances, and therefore ho believed tho bßßt tho Ocuncil could, do to lea re the mode of rating optional. - He (Mr. Gordon) believed that if . Mr. Mo Lean told his constituents what he had told the Council he would not have retained his seat. Mr. JC. McLean : I told them so. Mr. Gordon : But that is a mattor we cannot argue here. He would merely say, in conclusion, that the mode of rating should bn left optional. Mr. Maokay thought the bill ought not to be postponed. He thought the Council quito ns competent to decide the matter ns nnv of tho Highway Boards. They would not, in legislating for a public-house, RBk the publican hiß opinion Ho observed that tho subject b (ought up the old questions of absenteeism, 1 ! divers modes' of rating. He believed tho rating by the value to soil was the proper mode.; One reason for this was.lhat improvements caused tho cutting up the roads. If a man improved, he must, use the roads tho more, tho more extensively h» improved. It was said that the absentee had the benefit of tho improvements. But thero was nothing about the settler running his cattle over the absentee's waste lands. He would like to see the rate Btruck on tho value to sell every four or five years, instead of cvary Mr. Boxii&N thought this was the worst rnport that had ever issued from a committer. Several important suggestions were made, of which the committee took no notici. These suggestions posseted so much value, that there must be many who regard them as worthy of attention. Ho thought the nearer they went book to the Fitzroy Act the hotter. tie thought the settlers'of a district should be left to fix the rates, andrthe trustees have the administration of them. Mr. 51 IThkay thought the legislation on this subject might be postponed, de thought the rating by the value to sell was unjust. Mr. Jfiuxs' thought the fate ot tho enquiry had turned out to be exactly what he had expected.' J Ho did 1 not wish to brand theroport aaa failure. He thought there were many ' suggestions in the report and the drafted bill whioh were well worthy attention. But as no preparation had been rr.ade to bring about a permanent improvement, much more oould not have been expected. He wax, therefore, pleased to observe in the Council a disposition to defer legislation on this subject until a future session.

,Mr. Shbbhan thought discussion had diverged somewhat out of tho corrrot line. He thought the Government had acted fairly in* warning the Council that they did not intend to legislate on this subjoot. He thought 'the report not very creditable to the legislstive ability of the oommittee. Ho found that only one witness was examined, namely, Mr. John Lamb. As had been Btated, there had been several important sugI geations whioh .received no attention, and [ which were in some cases well worthy of em- | bodiment in Bome form in the bill. It would take a fortnight further to mature legislation •on this bill. - He would vote for the amend- | ment. He regretted to be obliged to do so, , but to pass an ill-contidered and badly devised iheasuro, at the end of the session would be [ misfoitune for all tho country districts. PTo - tho- districts' of -the North an efficient I Highways Act would bo the greatest boon that could be conferred on them. He thought it would be well worth while to adopt some efficient -mode by which the opinion of the country districts could be ascertained on this particular measure. A conference of a particular olaes of people had sat- in Auckland, and then deliberations had been followed by good results. He believed that somo such expedient might be resorted to with advantage.

Mr. CahliEton defended the report of the committee. He said that Mr. Sheehan hid caught hold of an error in the report which was headed " mantes of evidenceit should have been printed " minutes of proceedings."

Mr. Shbphbbd supported the amendment to postpone legiilation to the next seision. He thought . the leijinlatioE now proposed would not bo satisfactory. Ue believed tho country settlers expected something very different; something more satisfactory and more practically efficient was looked for by the country seniors. He thought the suggestion of the hon. member (Mr. Sheehan) well worthy the attention of the Government.

Mr. Buckland thought that a Rood deal o time had bsen taken up in discuseing mat ton which, were hardly relevant.' Ho believe; that legislation was noonsjnry, and the soonoi gomething decisive was adopted the better He believed thafrß>me of tho suggestions w< j n: valuable, bat others were open to stringen critic ism. ' Mr. SWAWBON thought tho real q«i< stion ai issue was between tho value to sell and tho aero age value. Ho (Mr. .Swnnsnn) w»nt. docidccllj tor tho value to noil. It was soil th strui; gling settler Irid great difficulties. Wen thero not other struggling pioplo Unit hiu great difficultiesP It was the Act ah-iulc be referred to tho trustee", lie (Mr. Swan eon) thought the reo pie to be reforrod to wor< the ratepayers. Why, by 'he modi of voting a man who p iid even threepence of a rate, i cn the spot, might outvote "• man of tho*Bundtj of norot who could Dot be present. As to the aoreago rate, there was plenty of land that woald not fetoh more than a shilling an nee. Wo« thore ever such a thing as a r«'o equal to tbo whole value of the property. He had heard of persons who had vo land whatever, who had plenty of cattle. How were they fed? Over what roads did they travel P Bill he would tell-the country settler if the/ wnntel really to come upon the absentee, l't them adopt, by all moans, the value to pH, for they argued that fclie lnn<l of the abnuitce was increased n valuo by tho settlers improvements. .Then'let the incronaod v*lue be estimated, and mnka the übaenUo pty. Kvery rnnn should bo made to P''_y ifcmrding to his ability. He did not Saliev-' tint tho Council had'made laws to eaoourygo agriculture. At present a man j»oing'to sottle in eotne districts was looked upon ns an enemy to those already there, for h' lesßoned th< . feed of tViM cattle; and if hi onltivntod, 10 I lesssnod the ground o' E r which those catte wnuld dtray. Jf imcoumged agricll- I ture, every man into an our-dist'ot would-be looked rpon ob a friend. / i Mr.' Mat tho*fjht the Council should lay I 1 down the prinrtple upon which the rat/'was ito' be levied, and embody that in wh/tever bill they m&ht pass. For an optionh fix tho rate «aa an option to tax one/set of | people for the benefit of another. Tjo hon. I member Gordon) had referred to the ' Ho (Mr. May) informed flat hon. ! member (Mr. Gordon) fh»t the subM ouuo np at a meeting etPupakura, and ttf meeting j «a« then told ' what he May told the j Council. ■■ As to thoro being only v 6 witnqßg, i the witnesses wore the meml/rs of tbo Council, aud no set of men could®" regarded as more experienced or more pmpotent to judne than the oountry member/ Tile-: motion," as amended by »tr.<Jleyburn, w®s ppt and agreed to. Thepff® o ' °/ 'his decision is, that legislation on" 1 ' 8 sul juoc is postponed until next session. / HE3BAGB. / • Enclosing a bill to repp 'b® Hospital

■Endowmeat Empowering M an( J 'k 0 11

and Dostii'ute Act. Tho bill wns read a figst ■time.

i'he Provincial Secretary moved that the Standing Ofderß bo smpendo.i, in. order to enable the bill being forwardoi through all its stagos.

Xho bill to vp read n necond time, and tho Council reeiolvfjd itself into committee on the bi'l, Mr. Hurst in the chair.

Mr. Swanbon wished tn bo informed what was proposed to bs put in the place of tho Siel< and Dratittito Act. So long as it was in existence it was a provision. Tho PuovivoiAt Secrbtabt said it would be in thoir rnoollootion that tho Act had praatly agitated the public mind; thit threatened resialance to it had held out. The (rovernaient had jjiren a distinct promise to repeal tho bill. Tho Government had put something in the place of it, and that was a sum of money on the Estimutes for the ys-ir ns a provision for the poor. The hon. Rcntlemon (vtr. Swanson) had littlo apprehension of the difficulties that based the qupdtion of legislation on this nilbj wet, j but there oould bo no advantage in retaining an Act that wns wholly unworkable, and that oould not have been made uvnilablo »h a pro vision for the poor, becnuso it was distasteful t*> the whole of the public. Mr. Digvan aoknowlodf»od tho good faith of the Government in the mattor of thn Kndowmnnt Km powering Bill- With resja'd to the Sick and Destitute Bill, it had been proposer], by his colleague", to repeal it in tho las?, session, until the piint was raised that us an Act, it was some provision for tho poor. He was proud of his connootion wHh this Act at a time when there wns not the m'-ans of paying tor a month's rations for tlio poor. But. better days had come, and ho thought the Act had batter he repealed. Mr. iSwANSOW hoped the Government would see their way noxt acnnion to brinir down an Act to make permmcnt provision ror the nick and destitute.

Tho PnoviNCiAT, Seohevaiiy said it had beon stated as solemly as possible that it wag the intention of thn (4i)verninont t< bringdown a measure next xession to inafee permanent provision for tho bick and drstitutc. Tho bill pasned through committee, was read a third time, aod p:i;iscd. BTAKDINO OUT)BBS. Mr. Hubst moved the suspension of Standing Order No. 25, for the purpose of proposing it motion without notice. Mr. Bhrehan proposed, nt the same time, the suspension of Srandinsr Or.l-.'r Mo. 72, The Phovin-cial Sp.crrtaby reminded hon. members (hat on Tuond-iy oveninsjs the Government b«sino?s had prnecdo"-cn. The result of thi motion" would he to establish a precedent which would enable private mem bars to impede the Government business. If tho motion were j-reasci, ho must divido the Council. Question put; the Council divided for the suspension of tho Htanding Orders. Ayes 21.—Messrs. Burst, Taylor, Murray, Hay, Gordon, Ellis, Diqnau, Imndon, Macready, J. MoLeod, M. OfoLeod, Reybum, Sheehan, Mackay, Ball, Kwanson, Philips, Boylan, Stratford, Freer, Clark. Noes 6.—Messrs. Nicholson, Brookfiel.l, Buckland. Douglas, MoTjeau, May. The Standing Orders were su<pended. ?HOAL BAY. Mr. Phbbhan presented petitions from certain inhabitants of Shoal Bay, relating to the condition of '.'no w'nsrvos ; also, a petition from c;rtair. inhabitants of Htfikos' i'oint. MUNICIPAL PJLICR ACT AMBKDMENT BILL. Mr Swavsom moved th-.t this bill be reconsidered ;n committee. Mr. Horst whs, by this moti-n, shut out rf tho boneflt of the of the .Standing Orderp, which was moved by him. Tho bill, it will bo recollected, had passed from the ohargn of the committor upon a motion by Mr. Smith on Fri iay night, " That the Chairman do leave tho chair." Mr. Shebhan's motion, " That the limit of time to whioh business houses (including barbers shops) may be open should be half past nine.o'clock on Sunday, was put and rarried. Mr. Brookfield moved the insertion of a new clause to the effect, " l'liat any person throwing or leaving any dead animal or the remains of dead animal* on to a public thorughfare, or shall snffer any remains of animals or other nuisance to remain on his land ond promises, so r g to become a nuisance, shall bo liable to a penalty of five pounds." The clause was agreed to.

Tho hill pasjed through committee, and was roported with amendments.

Ou tho motion that th') bill be read a third time, Mr. Uukst called for u diversi n with the following result:— Aves 17—Messrs. Swanson, Nicholson, Br-nokflL'td, Dip.nin, Grovo, Mackay, vSheehan, Luslv, Buoklatid, Frear, May, Macready, lundan, ilcUeod (J.), Doylan, Stratford.

Noes 13—Messrs. ITurst, Dyer, Hall, Taylor, Smith. Iteyburn, Hay, Kills, Clark, Philips, Douglas, Gordon, MeLnocl (Al). MCAL IWJ)UBfBY.

Mr. Huhst said that his Honor's message in relation to tho proposed offer cf a ■*<"- ward of £1000 for the manufacti^* o :°f

wocllenNgoods, was of j»reat importap~-e- The f object of tho motion wn to k-'op 'ho matter i before tho <'ouncil. Ho bngi»(xJ to movo that I a respectful address bo forwarded M his Elonor r requesting him to giro pffoot'o theruaolu- . tiorin nf tho Council ( v os. Hand 8) so far aB i tho Mm towards mentioned thtfVofn, t and that the Council plrdge itself to m.'ilte tho nticossnry appropriati next year, if required t, to do 80. Mr. Swanson rJjpotcd to pledge himai'lt to r voting inonuv nf%t ye«" f° r any ptinicular . purpose. WV' 'i" )'t»f came. ilo would j vote for th' K» v i'»S «noo->ragcnnontto industry 1 of every .timl. . [ Mr. f'BKEn s;iid tho mods of encouraging . indu'try was no! by voting isolated auras , Tl«y would Ijo asked to vote money for ul! •oris of things. Hebelioved the only wny of f encouraging industry wa< by a prohibitory tnriff. lh*t would probably coma in duo timo. Mr, ItoVLiK said tho proposal was to offer £1000 f° r the manufacture of paper, and i another £1000 for the manufacture of cloth, i 'Chojo was no annlogy botween the two enses. machinery, a different process, a different expenditure was neoßßsary in either ease. I( The Pbotinoiaii Secretary said all the money had been voted for the public service. The question was in a nutshell. Was the Oounoil to Bay, without knowing anything of what might bo tho position of the proviho next session, that it would vote £2,000 for a particular object out of the rovonuo of a future'year. Mr. McnsT repliod lio thought that tho pceront was the time to offer such rewards, dueh rewards wore offered in a neighbouring colony. There was a cloth manufactory at Nelson. He thought a successful factory of the kind would contribute to tho Ciißtoms revenue more than the £1000. Question put, the Council divided. Ay as 20.—Messrs. Hurst, Maclean, Mackay, Pignan, Reyburn, Grovo, Lundon, Auckland, ! Lusk, If. AfcLiod, Boylun, Klliy, Douglii", Stratford, Clark, Hay, Philips, e-hophord. Smith, Murray. Noes 10. — Messrs. Broskflold, Nioho'son, Freer, Bell, Taylor, May, Dyer, rfwtmson, Macready, Gordou. BPECIAI ORHEHB. Tho Pkovinoiali Sechktary moved that, the payment of speoial orders sent down by 1 the auditor, amounting to £2340 6s. 6d. ba authorined. Ho explained that the money ] was already paid by tho Into Government, i and it was necessary to have tho authorisation 1 of Council. ■ . ' ' The motion wus hgrecd to. | kaipaba tramway. ' 1 Mr. KiiLis moved the adoption of tho feport < of the Selout Committed on the subject!. The re- i port recommends two modes of providing for i the enterpriao. Ist, by a grant of laud in addi. lion to that occupied by tho line, or 2nd, thn I r tho Governmont should guarantee interest at j t sis. per cent., say lor five years upon a sum I f nof; exceeding £20,000. e

Mr. -McLeod (.)-) wished as ho differed froffitho other members of tho committee, to 'explain, fie objected to guaranteeing any sum out ot the revenue. He would be willing to tuipwt a grant of 12,000 ucrcs of land in the Ksipar-.i District to anyono who undertook the work.

Mr. Bbookfibm) pointed out that as the report w-is worded, it pledges tho Council to guarantee 6 por cent, for fivo years on 4520,000. A long and desultory diocussion ensued upon the meaning of the words, and tho eonsvruotion of the language of the report.

The Pbovinciai. Skcektary moved, " That

the Council proceed to tho Orders of t!.e Day." He did to with a view to enable the eonrmitfee to meet next day, and correct tho language of the report. Mr. Hurst, in order to prevent the subject, going back to the committee, m >ved tho loilowing resolution: •' That a respectful sdiross be forwarded to his Honor tho Super-' intendent, to the effect, that the best, way of

opening up co'iimunioation hstwe-n the Kaip.'iM will b« by railway, such railway to be constructed by private enterprise, the Provincial Government guaranteeing interest at tho rate of 6 per cent, por annum f;r a period not exceeding seven years on tho am iunt of opital expended." Mr. Goitnofr thought tho Council would bo mad l ) a laughing stock when tho public «aw thii extended tim>! introduced nt tho last moment. It appeared to him to be hnphazard end unmeaning logislntion. Mr. UpcklanO e.tplaino l tho advantage of the extended time, as tile probability wt<, that t.lnj capital would come, if at nil, from ihow int-jreatcd in tho development of the district. Mr. Swan Son thought tho proposed resolute >n fii I not (imbrace nil the oramittoe ha"t in contomplition. 'I'he leading idci was to «ivo land, but it' that failed, then a "uaranteo was to ho «iven. Th'i amendm"nt was agroo-l to. PETITION, Mr. PsiITH presented a petition from .Tohn UiiSKel o "! roiating to a (jrant of land, and wa< referred to tho t'rivatu Grievance Commit tee. PAPERS. The Puovincial Hkcretauy laid on tho table the report of the head master of the Auckland Grammar School. Also, a return of the Volunteers entitled to grants of lund. Also, a report m the claim of W. M. Bwington to u Orown Grant. . APPEOritrATIO.V BILL. This bill was considered in committee, Mr ITurst in the ehnr. Clau-'c 3 was agreed t"). ' lanse i w.ia struck out. A new covering tho (<pefiial orless was proposed. Mr. Goedon moved that the Chairman report pr-'grcss. Question put, the Council divide:!. Ayeß, 12 Noes, 16. The clau«e, as read, was agreed to. Mr. Mackay moved tho followinp clause which he believed to be necessary under the Goldfi'lds Act to legal expenditure voted, " That out of the revenue of the province of Auckland for the year 1870, subject to appropriation by the Provincial Council, there may to iisued and applied to the service of the goldfield any sum net exceeding the sums specified for tho service* therein mentioned." Tho motion w:ib agreed to. Tho Chairman re-iorted tho bill with additions. Tho PItOVINCIAL fc'ECKErAHT moved that tho bill be read a third time to-morrow. Mr. Sww?o>' m:>ved that the bill be real a third timo on Friday nex*. Tho original motion was negatived. Mr. CitABX moved that the word Thursday be inserted instead of Friday. Mr. SWanson accepted Mr. Clark's amendment. Motion that the bill b'i read a third time on Thursday.— \ greed to. HOBPITAI AND LUNATIC AffTLVM. The Phovinoiali Sbchbtabt laid on the table the report of the Selocc Committee on this subject. The committee stated that they will not ba able to oonclude their labours before the and of iho present snssion, and they recommend that the Superintendent will grant a commission which will bo able to investigate the matters referred to the c-'inmitt'-n during the recess, and they further .ec-nnuicnd that the inqniry may be extended over the of 1863, as well as 18S9. DB. lIOVELL'S CLAIM. Mr. BnooKprELD said tho claim wis for £65, for attendance upon the Wiiikato immigrants stationed ot Howick, in the year 1866. Thore appeared to be no that the att-ndance was given, but the question was, who was to pay. Dr Hovell had applied to the General Government, and now he came to the Provincial Goveriment. The claim arose out of the changes t-in Tnalcau block. Thn '»overnmont ''id not believe that Dr. Hovell had a claim "gainst the Government; but it might appK'r to the Council that something ought eo be paid. Mr. Graham, Superintendent; Mr. Jackson, Deputy - Superintendent; Mr. Whita'.;er, Superintendent., Mr. Williamson, Superintendent, allagroud that the money was justly duo, but that the " funds were exhausted." Ho moved, "That the amount (£65) be paid out of the contingencies." I Mr. Mackat seconded the motion. Dr. Hovell was in tho employment of the Provincial Government in MfiS, and the Tuifeau Surrender Act was not until November, I8t"6, therefore Dr. Howell was clearly ontitled. 'lht motion that a rcspsa'ful address he presented to the Superintendent, that it i< the opinion that £55 should be pii:i out of general contingencies, w«« agreed to.

TROVINCIATi GOVERNMENT IHJILDINGS. PjtoVINCIAi. Secrhi'aht said that, tho Superintendent sent down a mosaaijo asking the opinion of the Council, whether he should lease the building occupied by the I'rovinoisl Government, but another question had come up, namely, the possibility of obtaining tho site of the Albert Liarraclce, upon which Crrtein buildings could bn made available for public offices, fie would move, simply to test tho feeling of the Council, " j'hat tho Superintendent be authorised to mako tho moßt advantageous arrangement possible for obtaining public offices. He would bavo no objection if the matter Btood over to next session, when something might be known as to whether the site of the barracks might fall into the hands of tho Government.

Mr. IItrcKLAND Haid there were a great many unoccupied buildings belonging to the Government. He thought the building they were theii in large ei.ough for Government offices.

The Pttoyi.vciAL Seciktauy said thuro was a groat objection to keeping inflammable records in* 11 wooden building. lie would bo willing to withdraw the motion.

Tho motion was withdrawn, OABE OP MR. OBACB. On tho motion of Mr. Balt., this orier wns discharged fro-n jiotine :::.pei-.

VACCINATION. Dr. vjtbati'okd moved, " That a respectful address bo preaontod ta his Honor the Superintendent, NPtting forth that, in tho opinion of this I ouncil, tlio present mode of vaccination is dangerous Itho individual and deletotious to tho public health, and requofctinj? bring the matter under tho notice of tho Colonial l!'x.<cutive, in order that measures may betaken to cauao tho Vaccination Act, 1863, to bo nmrnded at, tho next Bitting of the Colonii'l litgislaiuro, in nuoh a way a? t'> caUFi) tho sdojitiou ill this c-lony i!' th* improved methods of vaccination now practiced in France, Germany, and Kuesia." Ma thought the Superintendent should take some action to have the law altered. The st:iie of thingH now was that people would not bo vaccinated under the present system. Tho consequence would bo that if tho disease known ap amull-pox wore to break ous, its ravages would be very serious* Tho Phovinciaii Secretary ssid ho would not oppose tho motion. He hoped tho hon. member (Dr. fstratford)- would acoiui the following amendment, viz.:—" Thafc.tbe prosent system of vaccination is inefficiear, and

thereby prejudicial to publio health, and re- j questing the to take steps whereby tho "Viiei-.mation Act, 1863, might bo amended." Mr. Brookfirld thought tho subject wt.s o"fi which the Council co-iid not de*l with. Whero doctor* differed, l.iw could ignorant people deci'lo. After soma convorsa'ioi, tho amendment was carried. lUIiBOUU TKUST. Mr. Swanson moviid, " I'hat in the opinion of this Council the pronor'.ion of the interest and sinking fund on tho '.uckland loan, ra- I paid to the province, which accrues to the Ha»bour Trust, ought to bo handed over to the Harbour Board, when constituted, to be expended in improving th" Harbour. J'ha I'BOVTNCtAi, •••ecrktauy moved " That th<i doSnte «n •' , : s j ::Hje l .t be adjourned till next Hi'.tinjj-day. Motion agreed t^. The Council adjourned at twenty minutes to 12 o'clock.