ROAD CONETRUCTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 521, 21 August 1863, Page 5

ROAD CONETRUCTION.

Mr GILLIES moved—That the whole question relating to Roads, and their construction, be referred to a select committee, with power to call for papers, persons, aud reports on the subject, and to report to fcais House on the 27sh current; said comnii! tee to consists of Messrs Gleeson, Bui-as, Moss, the Speaker, and the mover.

He felt that he need not make many remarks in support of this motion. From the numerous notices brought before the House on the subject of roads, it was evidently the feeling of members that a stringent inquiry into the working of the department was ne cessary, He be ieved that that object would be more I satisfactorily, speedily, and easily obtained by referring the whole question "to a St-lect Committee than by any other means. He | was aware that during the last session the same feeling was . prevalent in the House that this departmeat was in a very unsatisfactory stats ; and that it was resolved that-an efficient Engineer should be obtained from Great Britu'n f.s a first step towards placing the department upon a proper footing. He believed that the gentleman selected had arrivedia the Province; and he (Mr Gilllies) thou^hb it would he wise for the House to appoint this committee to consult with the engineer and ofcherd, aud to collect evidence upon the con ■ struetion of roads, which might be lai'i in a succinct form before 1 lie House, so that the House might b: able to come to a satisfactory conclusion on the subject, and that afterwards the department might be male as efficient as any of the other departments of the Government. In naming the coaimifctea, hg had sought, as far as passible, to have the different parts of the Province represented. Mr Gleeson sat for the North, Mr Burns for the Taieri, Mr Mois for Dunedin, the Honorable the Speaker for the Oiufcha, or the South, and, by a standing order, the Mover was compdled to be on the pommittee.

Mr HEPBURN" seconded the motion

The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY believed that the motion would serve a very useful purpose ; and he was glad the subject had been introduced in this manner, It had only forestalled tho course which he thought the Government would very likely have taken in any case. It must be quite evident to honorable members that this question of the roads was real/y one of the most important with which the House had to deal. The expenditure upon roads constituted the bulk of the total expenditure upon pubic works; and there was no question from the very rapid increase of establishments con -1 nected with those works -the short notice at which mapy of them had b-en undertaken, the necessarily deficient information as to the nature of the country to be tra-. ersed, and other circumstances—that the Government had be?n from time to time at great disadvantage in undertaking works tliat had been forced uiioa them, it was therefore very desirable to have the whole question investigated; and all possible information brought together. Returns had been moye.l for involving the collection of a va?t mass of information, which would occupy much time and cause some expense. ludeed, he could scarcely say whether all that had bec-n demanded in this respsct could b-3 prepared within the time during whichit was expected ths Council would sit; but, in any case, the' Committee would liav<> the opportunity of investigating tor thsmeelyes all the mr-rds and other documents, and ot collecting information iipou those poinls which were of most importance in dealing _tke sufrj^ot.—H-3-jjkis—very clad to supiKirt"" the motion. __!—--- """"^

Mr MACANDEEvy did not intend to oppose the motion or to charge the honorable member for iokomairiro with any desire to take the wind out of his (Mr Maeandrew's) sails, in pressing it. But the notice of motion which lie had placid upon the paper, and which he had intended to move on an early day, embraced the whole; subject; aid he contemplated submitting it to a very large Coramittsj, if not to ore ot the whole House; and it would have been mere Parliamentary, to say tha least, it the honorable, member had deferred to that which was previously on the paper. However, he hal much pleasure in giving, way; seeing that the' honorable member desired, as he'Mmself djxl, to im prove the means of locomotion from one -end of the province to the other; and perhaps the houorable member was the more likely to succeed. Therefore, if-the. motion, was carried, lie would withdraw his notice on the subject of roads. The motion was unanimously adopted. CHAIRMAN OP COMMITTEES. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY moved that Mr George Hepburn be appointed Chairman cf Com mittees. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER seconded the motion, which was agreed to. ' DISTRICT ROADS. Mr BURNS moved, " That the resolutions of the late Provincial Council anent District Roads be referred to the Select Committee on Roads." Mr STEVENSOtf seconded the motion; and it was agreed to.

UCCO3IODATION JFOR COMMITTEES. Mr GfILLf<GS wished to be allowed to ask the Chairman of the House Committee what accommodation there was for the meetings of Select Committees. It had hitherto been a matter of great inconvenience, the want of proper accommodation. Mr JOHST CifiGILL said tliat there was no proper accommodation whatever. They could not ask his Honor the Judge to give up Ms room, for he could only do so by the stoppage of the" business of the Court 3 and the Grand Jury Room was insufficient for the meeting of a Committee. The only place he could suggest was the Court in which .the Council was sitting. There would be room for two Committees to meet at the samo time.

Mr GILLIES said that such a course wouU be very inconvenient; and besides, it would interfere with the sittings of.-the Court. It would be very convenient if the HouseCommitoe could find aroom near the Government offices.—(Heat", hear ) ' Last session, the Provincial Secretary allowed his room to be used by Committees—much to his own inconvenience. Perhaps the Government could do something.

The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY said tliat the broverament had so little accommodation that there was great difficulty in getting through the ordinary business. He would make inquiiies, however, and would give auyposible facility; but he doubted if anything could be done. The House Couimitfcee had cot made any application ti the Government on the subject.

Mr BLAIR said that if the matter was left in the hands of the Committee he thought they could make some arran°'emenfcs during to-morrow forenoon.— (Hear, hear.) - ■ ■ ■

DEVIATIONS OP ROAD LINE? : EXCHANGES OF LAND

_ MrHAEDI asked the Executive "If it be the intention of his Honor's Government to introduce a Bill to legalise the exchange of certain lands rendered neeessaiy by the deviation of certain road lines at lokomariro 1" It might appear at'first that thi> was a question of local rather than of general interest: but he thought he could show the House that it related to a matter of very considerable iinportauce. He did not know whether those who had the surveying and laying-out of what aid settlers knew as " the Otago block," thought th.it it would never be requisite to hay?, a road from one end to the other of it: bat certainly no practicable line of road was left. When a road became neoessai-y across the block, from Port Chalmers to Popotunoa/it was found necessary, throughout the whole length, to make deviations. In ' I°s?> t, hs Government being about to take possession ot the land of private individuals for the purposes of the roads, they seat through the country a gentleman who was called Commissioner of Road Claims, for the purpose of arranging with the settlers, and after some considerable difficulty, in places, the arrangements were made, and the line had been carried through. The condition made by the Commissioner in many instances in the Tokomairiro dist ict, at least, was that those who gave land for deviations should receive in lieu thereof the old road lines which would he rendered unnecessary by the forniati n of the new line. On the Port Chalmers roa'l, he believed, certain portions were agreed to be closed, and the land given up to owners adjoining who gave up the land needed, that being done under sections i-9 and 40 of the Ordinance, which provided that the Superintendent and the General Board of Road Trustees should have the power of closing any rond, and of conveying such portions of land to those with whom the exchanges were made. But he believed it was now found that the Highways and Watercourses Act, 1858, of the General Assembly provided that no road that had been once laid off should be closed aud the laud con-

veyed to any person, except under the authority of a special Act. He understood that it was being attempted, m some cases, to contend that Ihose who had g lV eu up land were in no way to be entitled to tlie 01, l roadways. There was a r;ad running by the wafer side on the two brandies of the Tokomairiro Kiver; and lie believed that Uie Government were aware that the Road Chums' Commissioner expressly contracted with thos? who owned land on the now line ot road that had been made through the plain, that, tnose now unnecessary river-side roads should be given m exchange for the new line. If this agreement was made by the Commissioner on behalf of the Government, it ought to be carried out. If this was not done a grent injustice would be done to those who had given up land to the Government, and the refusal would be productive of great future inconvenience.

.The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY feared lie had misapprehended ths purport of the ques'ion as put upon the paper. He thoueht it had special reference to a memorial whiclThad lately reached the bupsrintendeiir from certain persons in the Toko-maim-j district. He alluded to the claims of Me srs Uark, Langlanos, and Scott. Of course, any arrangements made by ths Commissioner by the authority of •the Government for exchanging land so as to alter a liue-of road, must be adhered to ; and the steps necessary to enable a legal conveyance must be taken. fefr HARDY" eouH appeal to the members for the Taieri. and other districts as to the justice of his complaints that in no one instance had the agreement niade by the Commissioner been carried out: what had been done in any case, was simply that the Road Board had consented to the abandoned lines being given up to those whose land was taken for the new line i hey had no title; nor could they have one until by an Act the Superintendent and the Council had resolved that it should be given. The PROVpciAL SECRETARY was not airfare ot the fxtent to which such claims existed. But in Jie particular case he had named, he had made enquiries, and the claim did not seem to be very clear whio.i might aeount for the delay in dealiog with it. rhe memorial to the Superintendent had appended to it a letter from Mr Adams, the Commissioner at that time appointed to arrange such matters, in which he stated generally that there was an understanding tint the and occupied by the old road, which followed the bends of the Tokomairiro Biver. and for which a s raight line had been substituted, should bs handed over to the memorialists, lor what he called "the pleasant and handsome manner" in which they had consented to the road being made through their property, but this letter was dated in July of this year, aua it referred to what took place several years back. But reference to the book in. which Mr Adams- made memoranda at "the time, did not show that there was any such understanding that the abandoned road line should be given up The parties were not, in tact, entitled to compensation; tor the sections in question were sections in which allowance had been mada for carryingl throngh a road line, and it was open to the Government to make the road at any time, without compensation. If Mr Adams made the contract alleged, he made a blunder : but t if, under the authority of the Government, he distinctly made the promise, the Government must of course carry it out. There was a further difficulty, inasmuch as the particular portion 6i land elated had V.een reported at the Land Office to be auriferous; and if this was the case, there was goad reason for pausing before giving it up, In Mr Adams's book, it was in some cases stated that the abandoned ground was to be given up to the parties dealt with ; while in other cases there was no such, entry. In this particular case there was no reference to it whatever. The Provincial Secretary rsad the entries signed respectively by Messrs Clark, Langlands, and Scott, as they appeired in Mr Adams's book.

Mrl-fAR^Y: |h e agreement is, that thp devia, uon shall be made—that one line" shall Tbe"eschanged for the other. ■ ' ■ - ■ • • .- •■ •» ■

TIw : SPEAKER: We .are .getting out of order. This is something like au argumentative discussion. Mr HARDY said the best plan would be for him to put a notice on the paper with reference to the tubjecfc. • _...-—-" PRIAATE MBJlJEjyunnftflNG BILLS Mr yQ&i£T^died''"the Government "Whether any, ;: and-^what, facilities will be given to -private members .for- drafting Bills of a public naptira which-- they may desire to introduce?" It seemed to him t-ha£ there were yery fey/- Ordinances being; laid on the table by ihe Government; and it was possible that some [ rivate members might desire to introduce Ordinances of a public nature! They might do so by moving resolutions for addresses to hi 3 Honor the Supsrhuendeiii; to bring in the measures they desired ; but in such cases the' Ordinanpcs being fathered on; the Government who might feel very little interest i» them. He thought ib would be advantageous, if it could be managed, to afford facilities to private members who desired to introduce Ordinances. -.■■■■.-,. ~

The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY saw no objection, to facilities being afforded to members m respect to bills which they had obtained leave of the House to introduce, so that they might be assimilated in form to those brought in by the Government. Honorable members would bear in mind the reference in Lig Honp ( r?s address to the necessity ior a revision of the existing Ordinances to as to secure uniformity and condensation: and of course, if private members introduced Ordinances it weuld only be in accordance with that portion of the address that such facilities should he given as would secure that they should be put in such a form as was necessary for public business.

i-EW LINE OF ROAD TO THE DUNSTAN.— THE LEASING OP FERRIES. Mr BRQDIE asked the Provincial Secretary, " If the punts, which are required to connect the roads on the east and 'west banks of the MQlyneux,. at their junction near the Sowburn and Teviot, have been placed in their repective positions, and if not, what is the cause of the delay 1 Also, if the Government are aware that a portion of the newly formed road along the west Dank of the Ivlolyneux, above the Upper Dunstan was, during tlie la;e floods, at one point 15 feet under water, and at another 6 feet ? " As lie was informed a road was being, or had been ma-ie, along the banks of the Molyneux, which only required two links in order to make it practicable during both the winter and summer. Those links were punts at the Sowburn and the Teviot. The road was made to the wrtsr's edge, and there left, If the punts were1 placed, not only could the traffic be carried on without inconvenience from the snow which had caused so much difficulty of late ; but the Escort could take •that road, thus intersecting the. whole of the fields and ye y greatly reducing the heavy cost.

The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY said that the punts referred to by the hon. m-rmber were in course ot construction, and he believed they would be in their places very shortly. The necessity of placing punts on those rivers was under the serious consideration of the Government some time ago It was repmeutedthat great inconvenience and occasional loss of life resulted, from crossing these rivers by means of the very inefficient boats brought tip by various persons on speculation. The Government therefore determined to meet the difficulty by obtaining the construction'of proper punts at the different points where they were required. He was instructed by his Honor to say that this took place during the recess oetween the dissolution of the last Council and the new elections; and that after consultation with persons conversant with what was going on, his Honor advertised for tenders from persons who were willing to provide for punts, and stipulating for certain rato3 of ferryage that should be considered moderate. Those rates were fixed at 2s for a horse and Is for a man, which was greatly below what was then charged for the use of the dangerous boats on the rivers; Various teiders were received; but only one tenderer, Mr Hill seemed to take the matter up fairly, and his offer was finally accepted. He had in his hand a letter recently received from Mr Hill, which, with the indulgence of tbe House, he' would read. It was as follows :--

" Manuherikia, ~ _ _ .'• 6th August, 1863. MR, —I beg to inform you that I have taken possession of the Upper and Lower Dunstan Ferries, also the Manuherikia, Teviot, and Kawarau, on the thirdof August. . I have also provided boats for the Lmdis, Shotover, and Sowburn, which 1 shall com-inen'-e working during the next week. I have also got a great portion of the timber cut for the punts landing stages, &c, at the Hawea Lake, which I intend to bring down the river as soon as it is sufficiently seasoned. I shall prepare proper plans of the punts as soon as possible, and submit them to you tor approval. The reserves which have been laid off at the Manuherikia and the Teviot, are occupied either by miners or business people, who refuse to give up possession, without which it will bs impossible to build the punts or work them ; at the same time the areas are much too small, the largest being only half an acre, and chiefly upon the steep bank of the river. It is not sufficient to put proper fastening for the wire aiuJ landing- stages, mooring posts, &c, not speaking of a house for the ferryman and yards for sheep antTcatfcle, ii; will r quire an acre on each side of the river, at the least, for these purposes, exclusive of the roads. For the information, of the Government, I may state there has been a little excitement with the people here concerning the rates of charges, but chiefly by the business people, the diggers se dom sajing any thing about it. In reference to the Manuk rikia it appears to be rather too much to charge a shilling, as it is but a small stream compared with the Clutha, there being a great many miners at the present time working on each side, who are frequently requiring to cross to and from their work, and in such cases I only charge

them three shillings a we:-k. I have also reduced iJio general charges for that river to let some for each person, and have also placed th-ee different boats at intervals within tha sjirtc miles to save the miners the necessity of goinghvu'nii to their proper ferrjing place. There i<3 soarcely suliicient trade to pay the working of iliree extra boats, but I have done it with the view to prevent any disturbance wiih the diggers, as 'there' have bean several of the business people trying to : exmfe the diggers to a dis turbance. Tho present rate of charges across tlie Clutha in some places, with the present traffic, will not pay the working' expenses of the F.ny, iherefore tne public should not object to the prices; neither do I think they will -the dissatisfaction whijh has been going- on has been done chiefly by the business people, with the vi»w to bring ths diggers into the township to spend their money, which they think the shilling chargos causes the digger to stop at home instead of visiting- tho township in the evening and ou Sundays'. I shonll be willing to allow the prices on tha Mauuherikia to remain at 61. if the Government; thinks fit, and are willing to reduce my rent for t lat now. "Yours truly, 4ir pi „ . "HjiNßr Hill. I he Provincial Secretary, " Dunedin.'1

The reply of His Honor was as follows: — " Superintendents office, £I( ,. T , "Dunedin, 17th August, 1863. _ ton-,—* have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th August instant, in which you inform me of the steps taken by you in reference to the working of the Ferries agree 1 to $ leased to you by the Government. Various' complaints have reached me relative to your alleged arbitrary _ o-mdact .in taking possessioni of vanous mining- claims at the sites personally chosen by you, for some of the ferries I hops to receive assurance from yoa that the information conveyed to the Government on ibis subject is incorrect, as you must bo quite aware that any interference of such a nature with existing individual "gats, will not be sanctioned by the Government. I nnd from your letter that.you W reduced the Femes at dauuhenkia to 6J for each foot passen^r lhis cnarge I sanction in the meantime, and uutTl it can be ascertained what would be the rate which saou'.d be finally fixed for that p'a-a?. It will be necessary also that a reduction should take place at all the other Femes of the rates at present proposed for foot passengers ; and T, therefore, hereby request tbat immediately upon your receipt ot this letter you will reduce the rates for foot passengers on all the terries taken by you. The Government will a»re° to an equitable reduction of the rents of the different Femes as suggested by you with reference to that at the Manuhenkia.

.< T rr I UJIVe ' &C" &C. ht-.i t ■ ra. Hy 1 I)E Habrip, Superintendent." Wnh reference to the second question of the honorable member, he had to state that the only report on the subject in |he possession of'the Government was V? i\T m - Si m? son ' ? f, ie RPads Department, dated the 9th mst., in which he spoke of the necessity Ck 'rasing a few dozen chains of the road which have been submerged during the lats flooded state

Mr BRODIE said his first question had not been answered. He explainel the course of the road in question; and he said 113 simply wanted tiknow whether that road was to be made available for traffic by placing punts on the Sowburn and Teviot, or whether the contract-with Mr Hill would preclude th« Governments doing so. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY could only say that punts had been, or would ha, placed at those points at which it had been represented to the Government as those where the UneroP'.oid crosjjeJ. Mr iIROBIS said that there .was.-io'tliing wanted q,9 he underslood, on this road, bu't:fclie two punts^lf we were to wait for them until Mr-Hill o>'Mr Anybody Klse placed them, jße-mfght wait lon«- enough The PROJIiWITu SBCLtETARY said that"if .tile- honorable meinbsp would put a more pointed quesiion, he would gi ye a more pointed answe- He was wiUinjs to grve any information that had been receivei, to any dofiuite. question on the subject. Mr BRODIS sdd he woull simply gi vo notice to lepeat to-morrow hts hrst cjuestiqn/ so .as to eive to the Provincial Secretary another opportunity of answering it. ' J

NQTIOE3 OE MOTION. Mr HARDY-Tfc move at the next sitting, that a Select Coinmmittee bs appointed to examine into and.report upon the position of the contracts for road ■deviations, made on behalf of the Government, by tnp late Road Claims Commissioner, or by.the General Road Board; -with power to ca'l for papers persons and reports, and to report to this Council on the Ist September. Committee to consist of Messrs J. Gargill, .Birch,-Pinterton,.Miller, and the mover. My BUUN S —To move at the next sitting- tha1; the consuierat oni of the petition from the'settlers in Saddle-Hill district be referred to the Select Committee on Roads.

POET OF OTAOO MARINE BOARD BILL,

The PROVINCIAL TREASURER"- moved the second reading ot this Bill. The Bill was passed last besMon, and was sent up to the General Government, but had been disallowed. Some alterations had been made in it .simply to meet the views of the AttorneyIreneral, whose objections were considered by the & $, Pi"°, v l incial Solicitor to be very frivolous. »he Bill would ngt, be believed, have been re-intro-duced this session but for the Act of the General Assembly relating to the establishment of Marine .Boards, the 39th section of which provided thai where a Marine Board had not been established before the Ist January, 1861, it should be lawful for the Governor in Council, at any time, to establish such a Board. lhe question, therefore, simply was whether they should establish the Board for themselves or should allow the Governor to do it. The altera'ions made did not in-yo-.ve any question, of principle; and he believed that it would not bs possible to work the measure because of the defects of the general bill

The second reading was agreed to. The .House went into Committee; the clauses were adopted without amendment; and the House havin* resumed, tbe Chairman reported progress,- and notice was given to move the third reading at the next SlttlDg. ;"■ •-'■■'. DTJEDIN BUILDING ORDINANCE, 1852, KiIERPRETATION BILL. TV PEOyiNCUL SECRETARY moved the second reading of this Bill. In the Ordinance as passed, there was no distinction of the term "lawful authority", which was found to be necessary to give force to the Bill The interpretation Bill now before the House simply provided that the term should mean, " a proclamation ot the Superintendent of the of Province of Gtago, acting by and with the advice and consent of his Executive-Council, published in the Provincial Gavernment Gazette."

The second reading was agreed to; the Bill passed through Committee ; and notics of the third reading was given for the next sitting.

OTAGO REPRESENTATION ORDINANCE, 18G2, AMENDMENT BILL.

The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of this Bill. It simply rectified a c.encal error in describing the boundaries of certain districts, tbe word "Worth" having been improperly introduced before " Tokomairiro district." The Bill was read a second time.

In Committee, after the clauses had been agreed to Mr BRODIE suggested that instead of "readiimthe preamble and giving notice for the third reading! the Oh airman should report progress and ask leave to 5L a^ aii"." x,-T \ e Com| nittee on the Representation of tbe Gold Jields would no doubt make certain recommendations, which, assuming that the House would agree to them, could be more conveniently put with the clauses of this Bill, and the whole passed as one Bill amending the existing Ordinance. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY could see no necessity for such a course. The Bill before the Committee had nothing to with representation. Major RICHARDSON thought the suggestion of the honorable member for the Gold Fields wholly unobjectionable.

The PROVINCIAL TREASURER thought the best course would be to pass the preamble and leave the thud reading for a future day. The re-com-mittal the Bill could be move! hereafter, if nee ssary. ' '

The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY thought the honorable member's proposal a very extraordinary one altogether. Here was a simple verbal amendment to be made ; and yet the committee were asked to stop its progress, for the purpose of adopting something to be recommended by a committee which had yet to sit, and which were to attect the general representation of the Province. However, lie was quite m the hands of the committee.

Major RICHARDSON said that supposing that this measure was carriad through, and the House atffr- ,an y recommendation of the .Committee on Gold Fields' Representation, they would simply havto pass -A -Bill to Amend a Bill to Amend an' Ordinance.' The ears of honorable members were not so peculiarly formed that they eouM not bear with a shght inaccuracy for a few days longer. It was agreed to report progress and ask leave to sit again; and this was done. SALE OF BREAD BILL" The PROVINCIAL TREASURER moved the second reading of a Bill to regulate the Sale of Bread wi^ inthe Province of Otago. It would be evident what the object of the Bill was; and he need Sy-

add that the measure was recommended by the Inspector of Weights and Measures. The Bill was read a second time. In Committee, W l?«» 2*7 s agl ued \°- U Pro"Jes that bread for sale exc ß pt fancy bread and rolls, shall be made into loayes weighing not less than 21b and 41b avoirdupois respectively; the penalty for selling O r oi£g P to,

On Clause 3 the catch words of which are 'Bakers or sellers of bread to keen scileq nnri the penalties before mentioned. Mr B&ODIE objected ti the words or "desire to fSf;! JJ be quite enough if there was a penalty for the actual sale of loaves of short weight. wS. 9 JS2J INOI AAf i™^ ? URER tho^H the heknow y- ,A baker mi Sllfc haTC lo^ves which not^esLtos'enl^ bllt he lni^ht Mta^ chase if twi altho^ h a customer desired to purweighed. aS a demand tliata loaf should be (Mr Brodie). if the dkiEfSnf™ . ? Gold Fields be subject to the 1 "**? loaves on the demand of people who nev !r ? * to buy. It would be quite enough to S» after the sale of a loaf under weight. Penalty Major RICHARDSON" thought the Ma,,** t- * very jell as it was, A man migtVg^to ash^tiS the "desire to purchase " a loaf, and yet refuse tn purchase one when it proved light! JfYcolSon followed m such a case, it was only ri^ht, vI^UOD Mr BURNS supported the clausg. °

The clause was agreed to.. Clause i was as follows:—" Every person wh shall convey, carry oat or deliver bread for sale shall be provided with, and constantly carry out wiHi such bread a beam and scales, with correct wefrhte or other correct balance for weighing loaves of fteS oftheaforesaidweights; and any person who shall purchase or desire to purchase any suc h breacl ™~* require the same to be weigheJ in his or her pwen-e Ami any person wio shall at any time carry out or deliver any bread without being provided with co° reet scales and weighty or other correct balance as aforesaid, or who shall at any time reffie £ weigh any. bread purcaaseJ, or desired to be mir chased from, or de.mred by him or her as aforeSSd m the presence of the person or persons purchasing or receiving the sanw, s" all for eyerv awsh offereS' upon conviction thereof, in manner aforesaid forfeit and pay any sum not less than forty shillings noimore than ten.pounda, to be recoyed in manner afore-

Mr BRODIE protested against this clause It was impossible that it cou'd be enforced on the gold fields, where bread had to be carried long distances on pack horses If ey.ery seller was to have « a beam and scales, which no doubt" wouli liave to ha anproved of by the Inspector of Weights aad Measures it would be necessary to have a horse and dray to carry the apparatus. This was not only simnlv attempt at over-legUatiotf, but Was so to an extraordU nary extent, inkers' aften went off to a new rush Supposing one of them to arrive fo-day he would have an oven .up by tomorrow and would be ready to sell brail bvmxtdav It was raons'rous to.say that such a man should not be allowed to sell loaves under such circumstances, until be had obtained a beam and scales and had them aoo Pf°t Vhe distiSt Inspectorof Wei =Ws and Measui

Major RICHARDSON thought^-i*nio^bie~ member should propose to,,ameud the preamble hv inserting the wordj3,-"-exce E t on the gold fields •" for he was proposing to prevent his own constituents en joying that protection-wLich-he was Willing the people of Duned,n and other planes should enjoy It was absurd to talk of four bullocks aad a dray for conveying a heavy beam, and scales, seeing that a .small and light spring balance would meet th" re - quiremonts of the clause.

. MpBBODIB denied that he was careless of the interests of Ins constituents. A spring balance would be useless for a pressure of the foot if, record just what wag wished. : The remedy was as agains., the baker, from whom vendors on the diviner, so generally purchased. °° v

last J ;™ EaT°N agl"eed WHh the reraarks of tte

Mr BRODIE moved that the clause ba struck Otic. . .

MrRENNIS sa.il. tasfceven in town, the clause would re ult 111 great obstruction, if the carts of bakers and others had to be kept standing i n the street while each loaf delivered was being weighed Mr DUNCAN saw the clause wouid be a protection, not only to the purchaser but to the honest baker. He was satined that at present very few 411) loaves could be bought in Duuedin, while plenty professed to be such would ba found to wei/only 3ilb If tins clause was struck out, the Bill might as well be wulidrawn - (Hear, h°ar \ ■ ' s The- PROVINCIAL SECRETARY was satisfied that there, was a tendency to magnify the possible injunousefiects of the clause, if should be remembeied that where a baker c V a dealer Va« known to be honest, his customers would not trouble him to weigh their loaves; and where am aa was known or suspected to be a rogue, he ought to be impelled to weigh loaves when requested so to do Mr Harby believed there was a law of New Zealand prohibiting the use of prohibiting the use of spring balances and steelyards in weighing articles 10» S3*i6.

Upon a division, there appeared— Against the Clause, 10: Messrs Rennie, Macd.^£.|S»E: S3? S&,°KI: can, Miller, Reynolds, and Major Richardson. The other clauses were agreed to; the House resumed and progress was reported; and the notice for the third reading of the Bill was given

PANAMA MAIL SERVICE Mr MACANDREW asked leave to withdraw his notice ot motion on this subject. He heard on good authority that information hai been received from England of the formation of a Company to-establish steam communication via Panama.

THE LAND QUESTION T£ e PROVINCIAL SECRETARY said he hoped on Monday to lay on the table a series of resolutions on the Land Question, which would he hoped satisfy aome of the honorable members who had been impatiently looking for the policy of the Government. It would be satisfactory, also, for the House to know that the General Assembly had been summoned for the despatch of business on the 19th October; so that honorable members might get rid of the many anxieties felt as to having some necessary legislation. The meeting would be in Auckland, which he suppo.ed, under the circumstances, was inevitable, tie moved the adjournment of the House The SPEAKER announced that he had submitted the amended Rules and Standing Orders to the and-that his Honor had been pleased to confirm the same The PROVrNei-AL.TftEASIJRER seconded the motion for adjournment. He wished to state that, in all probability the Estimates would be laid on the table to-morrow.

Mr HARDY asked whether it was probable that tbe correspondence he had asked for, as to ths proclamation of Hundreds, would be laid on the table with the resolutions on the Land Question The PROVINCIAL TREASURER was hardly prepared to answer the question. Ths documents could not be found at present; but they should be as speedily as possible. Mr BURNS moved as an amendment, that the House adjourn to one o'clock to-morrow, instead of four o'clock, ns provide 3in the Standing Orders The PROVINCIAL TREASURBKsaiditwasimpossible for the Government to meet the House at one o'clock. There were duties to be performed in the offices which would prevent such a course Fe had scarcely been in the Treasury that day '■ and there would be a loud outcry if people could not get their money through bis absem-e. The PROVINCIAL SEORETA.RY wou'd not object to meet the- House at one o'clock when it could be done; but at present it must be obvious to honor--1 rm™ 'n' CC, urse was Mr B JJtNS withdrew his amendment. _ The motion was agreed to ; and the House adjourned at a quarter after eight o'clock.