LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3505, 6 August 1898, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Fiiidat, August 5. The Council met at 2 30. The Hou W. T. Jennings’ notice of motion with reference to vaccination was further postponed till next sitting day. 'ihe third reading of the Law Practitioner* Act Amendment Uill to admit solicitors to the rank of barristers after five years* practice—was moved by the Minister, after it had been passed through committee, and agreed to on the voices, the measure being finally passed. ft was decided, on the motion of the Minister of edo cation, that the Council on rising should adjourn until next Wednesday week. _ *4 ho Wellington Harbour Bjard and Corporation Empowering BUI was read a second time, and the Wanganui Hospital Empowering Act passed without amendment. The Council rose at 4.30,

WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD. The Hon Dr Grace moved the second reading of the Wellington Harbour Board and Corporation Empowering Bill. He ex* plained that the necessity for the Bill arose from the fact that the terms of an old Crown grant vested certain properties on the foreshore in the Corporation * and prevented the Board carrying out certain necessary work. After long negotiation the Board had offered to transfer its Hunter street properties, bringing in £ISOO a year rent, in return lor certain rights over land now lying under the sea. The Council had by its policy of masterly inactivity succeeded in forcing the hands of the Board and securing a very substantial equivalent. In this exchange of these properties the account brought the Wellington City Council to about £16,000 in the debt of the Board. This money was not payable till 1907. It had been felt by all parties concerned that as a substantial interest-bear-ing property was to be transferred to the Corporation, that as that property yielded far larger revenue than the interest necessitated by borrowing £16,000 would entail, that therefore it was not necessary in this instance to take a vote of the ratepayers for the purpose of borrowing, It would be seen that in finance the Corporation would be materially strengthened. In carrying out the proposed reclamation, amongst other material objects sought was that the present railway line should be moved in and that the present road should also bo shifted. These would be moved further towards Courtenay place. Then the construction of a dock was an imperative necessity, and in order to enable the Board to erect one more space was required. It was therefore proposed that the Board should be given the power of taking a block of land lying between Victoria street and Courtenay place, under the provisions of the Public Works Act. This would necessitate wiping out a number of slums, shutting up a narrow street (Grainger street), and generally improving the city. . The Hon S. Shbimski asked why no indication had been given of the probable cost P He was afraid that Wellington was like other places—overstepping the mark. Docks in other places had not been a very pronounced success, and he thought the result would be to materially increase the taxation of the people, . After the Hon G. McLean had generally supported the measure. .. ■ Dr Grace, in reply, said that he had no liking for expenditure on wasteful projects, bat it was desirable to make such things possible were they rendered necessary by the exigencies of ocr position.