PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2585, 20 May 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, 19th May. The Speaker took the Chair at ten minutes past two o'clock, and read the usual form; of prayer. PETITION. Mr MITCHELL presented a petition from certain residents in the Waikouaiti district. QUESTION". Mr HAUGELTON asked the Provincial Secretary, " Whether the attention of the present Government has ever been directed to the question of the introduction of immigrants from Germany ?" Mr REID, in reply, said that he thought the: Germans were a superior class of immigrants. The attention of the GoI vernment had not been specially called to the subject. The Home Agent; had i authority to obtain immigrants from Norway, Sweden, and Germany, if he could not obtain the necessary number from the United Kingdom. PAPER. Mr REID laid on the table a report from the Provincial Engineer on the subject of the best means of rendering the-Hawksbury.lagoon useful--to the inhabitants, either as a lagoon or as reclaimed ground. DREDGING THE HARBOUR. Mr M'DERMID, with the consent of the House, postponed his motion/ "That this Council is of opinion that unless the inner bar of the harbour has 18 feet of water, at low water, immediate steps should be taken by the Government to have it. dredged to that depth," until the following day. ELECTORAL REGISTRATION. Mr SHEPHERD moved, "Ist. That this Council is ; of opinion that the present system of Electoral Rejgistration is not adapted to the requirements of the colony. 2nd. That .this Council recommends to the consideration of the General Assembly, the advisability of amending the existing Electoral Registration Acts, with the view of simplifying the present system so as to afford increased facilities for the registration of qualified persons. 3rd. That the above resolution be forwarded to the Colonial Executive by Mr Speaker." In doing so he said that the Council had already passed resolutions that miners should be registered before voting.- That measure would necessarily entail some

alteration in the law, an alteration not only for the convenience of miners, but wHch must be made so as to be of advantage to the public generally. It was apparent .that great difficulties had arisen in. the way of electors knowing in what district to register. He had known whole bundles of. applications 3ent to the wrong places, by-which electors had lost their right of voting for a whole year. He proposed a-scheme by which that difficulty \vould be removed, namely, that where an elector was in doubt as to which returning officer to send to, he should be able to send his application to the Chief Registration Office in Dunedin, who would then place the name on its proper roll. It should be sufficient if the application when signed were witnessed by any person, the name and address of the witness being affixed thereto. He did not think that so long a time ought to intervene between the time of sending m the application and the time when the right of voting was granted. Due provision should be made for the registration of miners!; as it was, a miner's right existed from year to year. Now, if he applied in January, he could not obtain a right to vote until September. He thought eight months was too long to intervene, and that the matter ought to be simplified. He would propose that Goldfieids "Wardens should be returning officers for the miners within their districts, and thattheyshouldforward, from time to time, lists of miners qualified to vote in their various districts. He thought miners ought to have a right to vole on payment of the:r £1 per annum for miner's rights.

Mr HUGHES seconded the motion, and said that it must be admitted that there ■was much inconvenience in the existing system, on which improvements might be made.

The resolutions were put and carried, martin's bay settlement. ■ '

Mr ASHCROFT moved, "That the Government be requested to give effect to to the interim report No. 3 of the Select Committee on Private Petitions, respecting the petition of intending settlers at Martin's Bay." The report is as follows :—

Having considered the petition of intending settlers at Martin's Bay, your Committee have to report:—lst. That it is expedient that some encouragement be given to the development of the Martin's Bay settlement, and the establishment of a direct trade between that settlement and the port of Dunedin. 2ad. That your Committee are of opinion, that a bonus of not exceeding L4O per trip from Dunedin, should be offered for any suitable vessel of not less ihmsotons register, to extend over a period of 12 months, and to embrace not less than four trips from Hunedin. 3rd. That your Committee are of opinion that the vessel proposed —the Esther Ann—by the petitioners, is not suitable for the sea-going trade. 4fch. That the Government should be requested to advertise the offer of the above bonus for two weeks, or such further time as may be deemed advisable, and if the petitioners then tender in as favourable term 3as any others, they shou'd have the preference. sth. That should the petitioners not be successful tenderers, in the event of their establishing a saw mill at Martin's Bay, and produciug satisfactory evidence of their having sawn by machinery 50,000 feet of timber within six months from Ist of June next, the sum of LIOO be given them as a bonus.

James Ashcroft, Chairman, Dunedin, May 11, 1870.

Mr REID quite agreed with the report except the fifth clause. He thought that for theCouneiltostepinwithasubsidyofLlOO, as proposed by that clause, was a work of supererogation, seeing that the machinery for a saw mill was already on its way to Martin's Bay. He moved as an amendment, that the following words be added to the motion :—" With the exception of recommendation contained in Clause 5."

Mr ASHCROFT had no objection to the clause being expunged. At the time evidence was taken, the Committee was not aware that the machinery was going down.

Mr HUTCHESON would not support the amendment. A bonus for an industry which was not likely to be started for years, was put on the Estimates year after year, and he thought that the small sum proposed might well be given to any company who should first produce the quantity of timber named. This was an industry which might be productive of tens of thousands to the province, a3 from the West Coast could be sent timber to supply not only Otago, butthe Australian Colonies, and even the home market. There was a great scarcity of the best timber for shipbuilding purposes at home, and the district named produced timber equal to teak, in sufficient quantities to build a fleet as large as, the British Merchant Service, and spars fit for any purpose.

Mr M'DERMID would support the amendment. If a saw mill could produce such timber as the hon. member had spoken of, LIOO would be of no use at all, and to give it would be unfair'to other parties who were already in the trade. The amendment was put and carried, and the motion as amended agreed to.

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT.

The SPEAKER read the following message from His Honour the Superintendent :—

Referring to the Report of the Council of the University of Otago, which has been already placed upon the table of the Provincial Council, and especially to that portion of the Report in which, in addition to the other chairs which are being instituted, it is proposed to establish a Professorship of Mineralogy and Chemistry, provided the Government will pay one half of the Professor's salary until such time as the revenue of the University is sufficient to cover the whole. The Superintendent has been given to understand by a deputation from the Council of the Uaiversity, that in" two, or at most, three years, 'the funds at its disposal will be sufficient to pay the whole Balary of the Professorship iv question. Under these circumstances, and seeing that a School of Mine 3 and of Agricultural Chemistry is perhaps more calculated to develope the material resources of the province than any other, the Superintendent expresses an earnest hope that the Provincial Council will concur with him in giving effect to the proposal.

While upon this subject it may not be out of place to advert to the circumstance that in the event o£ the re-union of Otago and Southland being accomplished, the 20 000 acres of land which have been reserved in the latter province for a Mew Zealand University may possibly be applied to the endowment of one or more chairs in the' University of Otago, in which case the University will commence with five or s'x professors. J. Macandrew, Superintendent. GOLD DUTY. Mr HAUGHTON moved, " That this Committee is of opinion that the export duty upon gold should be reduced." In doing so, he said that he did not intend to make a speech on the subject. The House had already expressed itself almost unanimously on the question, and he intended to bring it under the notice of the Assembly during its next session.

After a short discussion, the Bouse divided on the motion, with the following result :

A-yES, 11: Brown, Clark, Fraser, Gillies, Haughton (teller), Hay, Hughes, Mackenzie, Main, Mouat (teller), Shepherd.

Hoes, H: Allan, Askcroft (teller),

Barr, Driver (teller), Green, Henderson, Hutcheson,M'Dermid, Mollison, Murray, Shand, G., Shand, J., Thomson. Turn- ! bull. The motion was therefore negatived. CONTINGENT NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr ASHCROFT moved, " That it be an instruction to the Committee that the Contingent Notices .of Motion for 'When in Committee of Supply,' be taken before the Estimates are proceeded with." His object in making this motion was to give hon. members an opportunity, before the end of the Session, of bringing forward the claims of their respective dis° tricts It was not made with any hostile intention to the Government, but the latter had taken a stand in the matter which they ought not to have taken. If the contingent notices were left until the whole of the Estimates had been passed, they would, in the general scramble of hon. members to get. away, be negatived without discussion. Mr REID said he had previously assured the Committee, that hon. members would have ample opportunity of bringing forward the claims of their respective dis° tricts afforded them before the Committee finished its sittings. The course proposed by Mr Ashcroft would be very inconvenient. The Government, on framing the Estimates, had provided for the absorption of the whole of the estimated revenue ; and the position taken up by the hon. member was that the services mentioned in the notices of motion were of more consequence than those provided for in the Estimates. The Council could do as it pleased in the .matter ; but it would scarcely be fair to the Council itself if it were open to consider such motions as had been givennotice of already. Long lists of notices were coming down every day, and it would be far better to wait until all the notices intended to be given had teen tabled, and then consider them altogether. If the hon. member required the Government to ;place all the sums already asked for on the Estimates, he ought to move the Council into Committee of Ways and ;Means, in order to provide for additional As soon as the main Estimates iwere passed, the Government would be prepared to take up the whole of the contingent motions, and the Council would ;then be able to decide which of the sums asked for should be placed on the Supplementary Estimates. Of course, if the Council insisted on a contrary course, the Government would bow to its decision. He did not deny that some of the proposed grants were, very necessary, and the Government must rhank hon. members for drawing their attention to them.

Mr HUTCHESON said the Government were taking an undue advantage over private members in forcing through the Estimates before the motions on the Order Paper had been considered.

Mr SHEPHERD would support the Government in this matter. The Estimates provided for Lll,ooo of expenditure over estimated revenue, and although some of the votes, such as those providing for payments on contracts, might not be wholly spent, yet it was evident that if further sums were voted, they must displace some of the items now on the Estimates, in framing which the Government had carefully considered the claims of the various districts. If the Council approved of the Estimates, it ought not to vote a single sum beyond. Mr M'DERMID said^ if the Council permitted any further sums to be placed on the Estimates, they would place the whole power of deciding how the revenue should be spent in the hands of the Government, as the latter would be able to choose which of the sums voted should be expended ; and this was very undesirable. It would be far better to allow their own districts to suffer a little than to allow sums to be placed on the Estimates beyond what the revenue would cover. He thought that he would, on (he next day, give notice of motion that LIO,OOO be struck off the Estimates, in order that the money might be expended on more necessary works than those set down.

Mr TURN BULL said, without meaning to imply any want of confidence in the Government, he thought there was a good deal of equity and reason in what the hon. member for Oamaru proposed. Itwas admitted on both sides that the revenue would not be sufficient to cover all he items on the Estimates as well as those proposed ; aad the best plan would be first to decide which of the sums mentioned in the notices should be placed on the Estimates, and then the Council could settle which works must be carried ol^t. After some further discussion, the motion was put and negatived on the voices. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply. The item, Police Commissioner, LSOO, was passed.

On the item, Clerk and Accountant, L 250, '

Mr ASHCROFT moved that the Chairman do report progress. He thought the Police force was costing too much (hear, hear)—and was supported to a considerable extent in this opinion by the Secretary for Laud and Works, who agreed with him that the Police uniform was far more expensive than it need be. The Government would probably consent to report progress, in order that some reduction in the scale of pay and cost of uniform might be determined upon. The scale of pay was at least 25 per cent, higher than in Canterbury, and by adapting the Canterbury scale a saving of at least LIOOO a year would be effected. Mr M'INDOE opposed the motion. The Governmert was adopting a wise course in not reducing the pay, but the number of the men. This was the proper method of maintaining the efficiency" of the force.

Mr-SKAND said that if the sum on the Estimates was passed, the Council would be placing the force in an infinitely better position than it occupied three years ago. There was nothing to warrant the keeping up of a high rate of pay ; and a saving of more than 10 per cent, might be effected. Mr REID hoped the Committee would not agree to report progress. The Government was just as desirous to reduce the expense of the force as any member of the Committee could be, but it could not be done suddenly without diminishing the efficiency of the force. During last year a reduction at the rate of L2OOO per annum had been effected ; and in consequence a larger amount of work had been thrown on the remaining members of the force. He believed it was quite possible to make a still further reduction—(hear, hear) — and would suggest that hon. members should allow the Estimates to be gone through, and any time before the close of the session bring on a motion instructing the -Government to reduce the force before the close of the financial year, in order that the next Estimates might be a smaller amount. A reduction might properly be made in the cost of the uniform. At present an Inspector's uniform cost about L 4 5; a mounted constable's, L3O; and a foot constable's, L 2 5; while the expense of keeping the uniform in proper order amounted, in the case of an inspector, to la 9d a day, and in the case of constables, from Is to Is 3d a day,

The men had to pay for their uniforms themselves.

Mr ASHCROFT having assented to Mr Reid's proposal, the item was, after some further discussion, put and passed. The whole of the sums put down for the Police Department, amounting in the= aggregate to L 18,338 os, were passed. On the item, Harbour Master, LSOO. Mr MOSLEY moved that it be reduced to L 462 10s.

The amendment was negatived on the voices.

The total sum put down for th& Harbour Department, viz., L 5261, was passed.

On the item. Gaol, L 5865 10s, Mr M'INDOE asked the Government to explain what arrangements had been made with the General Government about the Maori prisoners. L2OOO, it appeared,' was the sum to be paid by the General. Government for the year ; but he found that the extra expense incurred by th& province in maintaining and guarding ta& prisoners was L 2932 a year, thus making it a loser of L 932 a year.

Mr GILLIES said the original arrangement was that the province should -1 pay for the food and clothing of the prisoners, which cost something less than Is a head a day, and the General Government should pay the balance. This .was on the supposition that the prisoners would be employed on reproductive works, but when Mr Fox was here, he (Mr Gillies) pointed out that the prisoners were not engaged on such works ; and it was then agreed that the General Government should pay a fixed sum of L2OQO a year. ■•■:•■ V ■•■•;'■'■■

Mr M'DERMLD suggested that proper accounts should be kept, in order .that the Council might know what" profit Dunedin derived from prison labour Mr REYNOLDS pointed out that-fee prisoners had for some years past been: employed on works from which the whole province benefited.

Ultimately the item was passed, Mr Gillies promising to bring down a statement regarding the labour of the prisoners.

Another sum of L 3120 was also voted for the same service.

It being half-past five o'clock, progress was reported, and leave given to sit again in the evening.

POET CHALMERS RAILWAY.

On the House resuming at 7 o'clock, Mr H&TJGHTON substituted the following motion for that which stood in his name on the Paper :—" That the report of the Committee of-Reference upon the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway Lands Compulsory Taking Bill be considered, and that its second reading bemade an Order of the Day for next day.'* Carried. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The item LBOO, under the head "pistricfc Gaols," was agreed to, as were also the items of LllsO and L 125, under the head Provincial Treasury. On the item LSOO, to Chief Inspector (Sheep Inspector's department) being proposed,

Captain M'KRNZIB said he must oppose the item. He had do doubt that the, sum had been placed on the Estimates, because the Government were under the impression that the duties appertaining to the office were properly performed, but he contended that they were not performed in a satisfactory manner. There was an additional LIOO allowed for expenses, and that, together with the item LSOO, was, he considered, too much to pay under the circumstances he had mentioned. Besides the work waa done, and done efficiently, by other persons, who received little or no travelling expenses, and very sm^ll salaries. During the last tyro years the scab disease had spread over a large portion of one district, and that was probably the result of the duties appertaining to the office he had meationed not having been properly performed.

Mr DUNCAN said that the Government were not aware that the disease was spreading; the Chief Inspector had re-" ported that the country was remarkably clean.—(Captain M'Kenzie : How l&ng ago ?) During the whole year. The Government also believed that the gentleman referred to was continually engaged in the performance of hia duties. No complaints had been made to the Government, and complaints, he presumed, would have been made, had persons found, it necessary to make them.

Mr MOSLEY" spoke in favour of reducing the expenses incurred in connection with this depart ment. Mr M'DERMID moved that the ChaiVf man report progress, with the view of giving the Government an opportunity of re-constructing the Estimates, there being a strong feeling in the House thafr they were too high. The CHAIRMAN : The hon. member must name a day.

Mr M'DERMID : To-morrow.

Mr REID did not think that the Estimates could be reconstructed by the following day, even if the Government had the assistance of the great talent of the hon. member ; and, besides, hon. members could reduce the Estimates byobjecting to the items as they came up. Regarding the Chief Inspector, it would be a great pity if that officer, who was placed in an invidious position by beingbrought into contact with a class of the community to whom he was likely to give offence, were also put in such a position that he was afraid to do his duty because, his salary might be reduced when fehe Council met.

Capt. M'KENZIE explained that ha did not intend to cast any reflections upon the abilities of the Chief Inspector, bat it was necessary that a man should be willing as well as able. He had not been brought into contact with that officer, neitber had his flocks been ittr fected with the. disease ; but he did not think they should pay an officer whose business lay all over the. country simply for living in Dnnedin.

The motion to report progress was loafc

Mr HUTCHESON asked whether tha Chief Inspector had had to do the duties previously performed by one of the aubinspectors ? :

Mr DUNCAN explained that the, number of sub-inspectors had been reduced by one s and that during the last six months the Chief Inspector had beea almost constantly travelling. He could not say whether the Chief Inspector had been actually performing the duties previously carried out by the sub-inspector referred to.

Mr MAIN said he had been in consultation with some of the largest stockholders, and that he was firm in his opinion that as far as the head of the departments was concerned the hon. member^ (the Treasurer) might just as well undertake to conduct that branch. The work, ; ha understood, was generally performed by the sub-inspectors in his district in a very efficient manner. In these days of retrenchment he did not propose to increase the salaries of the sub-inspectors, but ha certainly hoped the Committee would not; think of reducing them. He also hoped that the Committee would not consider that because the disease was limited toon© part of the province it was adviaa^ to do away with the department; the fact that the disease had been so well sug^

pressed was highly creditable to the officers of the department. He did not advocate the abolition of the office -occupied by the chief officer, because they must not forget that flocks and herds were increasing. It would be noticed that he advocated neither the one side nor the other. He believed that the actual work was performed by the subinspectors, but it was necessary that there should be an officer to overlook the other gentlemen occupied throughout the province. The item was then put and carried. On the item of L 1750, for five subinspectors being proposed, Mr MOLLISON suggested that as there were many squatters who were competent to act as Sheep Inspectors, the Government might make honorary appointments. Mr FRASER said that some hon. members seemed to forget the old adage "prevention is better than cure;" and that he felt sure if ever they had infected flocks they would afterwards dread the approach of such a calamity. He (Mr Iraser) was -also understood to suggest some remedy, l)ut his remarks were indistinctly heard. The item was passed. The next item moved was that of LSO to the inspec'or at Port Chalmers. Some exception having been taken to the item, Mr TAYLER remarked that the gentleman -wko occupied the position only gained a^cmt LlO Vy the appointment, the remainder of the allowance being swallowed tip in expenees incurred in going on board vessels to inspect sheep. It was an item that ought to be increased rather than taken into account. Mr MITCHELL suggested that the -Government should gazette the Harbour Master of the port inspector of sheep, and thus save the LSO. -—(Laughter.) Mr M'INDOE said he had noticed that -during the debate several hon. members had evinced an evident restlessness, and liad been moving from seat to seat : as though they were somewhat infected. —(Laughter.) There could be no doubt that ' these sensations Had been engendered by the prolonged discussion on the obnoxious subject under consideration, and he feared that if the debate were continued for a few minutes longer, very few hon. members would be found eitlier occupying their seats or moving uncomfortably, and suddenly, from one ■ side of the House to the other.—(Applause and laughter.) After a few remarks from Mr Hutchesori,' Mr REYNOLDS said he thought it would be better to pass the item now, - and that next session some hon. member might think it advisable to call for a re- : turn of what had been done by that • officer. • He was acquainted with gentlemen who were runholders, and he had also heard that the Chief Inspector did " very little for what he received. ■ A division was then taken on the item, with the following result :— Ayes, 20,: -Allan, Brown, Duncan, : Eraser, Gillies (teller), Green (teller), Henderson, Hughes, Hutcheson, M'Dermid, M/Indoe, Mitchell, Mollison, Mos< ley, Murray, Reid, Reynolds, Seaton, ' Tayler, Thomson.

Noes, 6 * Clark, Hay, M { Kenzie (teller), G. Shand, J. Shand, Shepherd (teller). Incidental Expenses, 1.80. Passed. Travelling Expenses, LIOO. .Mr REYNOLDS thought that seeing that the sub-inspeciors had only L 350, including their expenses for travelling, "the item of LIOQ for travelling expenses for the Chief Inspector was unnecessary. Captain M'KENZIE objected to the Item. The inspectors (for they were wrongly designated as sub-inspectors) had to travel on L 350 a-year and keep them- j selves and their families, while the Chief Inspector, who appeared to have very little "to do, had, LIOO for travelling expenses besides his salary of LSOO. Mr HAY deprecated the manner in which Captain. M'Keazie had spoken of a ■public'servant,; and thought he ought to withdraw the words. He should however Tote against the allowance of LIOO for travelling expenses. The item was struck out. EDUCATION. Secretary and Inspector, LSOO. Mr REYNOLDS moved that the ; words i! and Inspector " be struck out. The CHAIRMAN pointed out that the words could not be struck out except with the permission of the Government. Mr M'INDOE objected to; i^enormbus expenses attendant on carrying out the system of: education in the province. He did not mean education itself, but the .mere mechanical and departmental-offices connected with it;! He ihoved that the item be reduced t0'.L350. j Mr RE YN OLDS pointed \ but that the dutibs of the Secretary were very onerous, and took up the whole time of the gentleman who held the office. He did not think it would be advisable to reduce the item, as without him the business of the Board could scarcely go on. Mr M'INDOE said that the Secretary's Ihands did not appear, to be full, as he Jhad been appointed Secretary to the University, and was also engaged to collect "ihe triennial census. . Mr DUNCAN said that as to the filling the time of the Secretary, he found that there was an'item of L4OOO to be collected for rer>ts } fees, books, &0., all of had.done with the highest sitisiltaction of the Government. The Executive had always found that their great would be to find a gentleman as suitable as their present Secretary. It liad been found that his work was too Hbeavy to allow him to devote sufficient 4ime to the inspection <?f schools, and the had therefore come to the that it would be advisable to -appoint an Inspector. Mr J. S H AND would • v ote for one Inspector, to be paid liberally. Mr M'INDOE said that the school fees -viexe collected by the teachers, and the orents of reserves might be paid into the i)ank without giving the' Secretary any "trouble. It was reported outside that it ■was the intention of the Government to the Secretary home altogether, and if that were the case, what would become of their schools, if, as had been said, the found such a difficulty in finding any one to fill his place ? Mr REID trusted that the.House would not reduce this item. The duties of the Secretary were very numerous and arduous. As to the report which the ton. gentleman had heard outside, he might say that that was not settled, and it would-be very hard if one who had served* the province so long and faithfully, should fird his salary reduced by lilso. ;;.

, Capt. M'KINZIE was sure that this officer was a very efficient one, and he should like to see him enjoying a very handsome s&larv. That was not the question. The question was whether they could afford to pa 3/ it. He suggested that tke Sheep Inspector, who appeared to have very little to do, should revise/the^census papers and hand them to-the printer. .'.,,..>..-. Mr M'DERMID found that the management of theii* schools cost very nearly X2OOO. Now, this was divided among 5 persons, while 114 teachers who were

really doing the work did not get six times that amount.

, Mr REYNOLDS pointed out that the item Sub-Inspector and Music Master, was a mistake. It ought to be Music Master only.

Mr DUNCAN explained that it was the intention of the Government to send to the United .Kingdom for an Inspector, but tl at until one were obtained, the Secretary must retain the office of Inspector.

The item was passed. Inspector, LSOO. Mr DUNCAN explained that the previous session it was agreed that the Music Master should also act as Inspector. Finding that that arrangement did not work satisfactorily, the Government thought it advisable to send home for an Inspector, who should be responsible for the inspection of all the schools.

Mr M'INDOE felt so strongly on -the point that he would vote against the appointment altogether. The duty of inspecting district schools ought to remain in the hands of school committees and the clergymen of various denominations in the different districts.

Mr THOMSON thought this item was quite low enough. He thought an Inspector's salary should be quite equal, if not superior, to that of the Rector of the High School, which was L 550. •

Mr M'DERMID did not think that tha financial circumstances of the province justified the expense of an Inspector at a salary of LSOO. '

Mr HUTCHESON moved as an amendment that the. item should be reduced to L4OO per annum.

Mr SHEPHERD protested against these high salaries. He was quite sure that one.of the best men could be got it home for L3OO per annum, not one, but a hundred, if necessary. He moved that the item be reduced to L 350. ■

Mr REYNOLDS pointed out that the duties of the Inspector would be to examine 175 teachers and 115 schools. His travelling expenses would also be very la^ge as compared with those in Great Britain.

Aftersome further discussion, The two amendments were put and lost, and the Council divided on the original motion, with the following result:—Ayes, 9 ; Noes, 13. The following is the division list:—

Ayes : Messrs Duncan, Haggitt (teller), Hay, Hughes, Mouat (teller), Reid, Reynolds, Sibbald, and Thomson. ! Noes : Messrs Allan, Brown, ClarY, Green (teller), Hutcheson, M'Dermid, M'lndoe, Millar, Mollison, Mosley, Shand, G., Shand J., Shepherd (teller.) The item was therefore negatived. On the item Sub-Inspector and Music Master, L4OO, •

Mr REYNOLDS thought it was folly to make a music master an Inspector of Schools. They might as well appoint a dancing master to the office. A gentleman might be a first-rate music master, and not be qualified .to act as an Inspector. The two offices were incompatible. Mr HAY would not vote for a salary for a music'master... unless his duties were confined to the Dunedin schools, as he could effect no useful service "by travelling about the province, and remaining but a short time in each place. Mr M'INDOE would oppose the motion.

Mr GILLIES thought Mr Reynolds was not justified in speaking disrespectfully of the gentleman who held the office of music master, and comparing him to a dancing master. It was very unfortunate for that gentleman that he had been employed as Sub-Inspector,-but in doing so he had been merely carrying out the instructions of the Education Board. _ He had given up an excellent situation in order to accept this appointment, and,©ught not now. to be |deprived of it. * ,

Mr REYNOLDS explained: that he had intended no disrespect to the gentleman in question,

Ultimately the Council divided:—For the item, 11 ; against it, 14. The item was therefore negatived. ; The item, Clerk, L9O, was passed. On the, item, Drawing Master, L4OO, a division was called for.

Mr REID pointed out that the gentleman in question had just arrived from England; under engagement to the province, and if the Council now struck off his salary, it might have a prejudicial effect if the province desired in the future to engage professional men! - The item was carried. The following items, under the head " District Schools," were also passed L 11,655 and L 4030. The item L 550, to Rector, under the head " High Schools," was carried. On the item LIOSO, "Masters, at L 525, M being proposed, ::■>• Mr SHEPHERD remarked that it was time some reform in connection with this institution was carried ©ut. The boys who attended the school were the sons of some of the wealthiest people in the province ; and they cost about LI 3 per head a year, a sum which he considered was too much for the Government to be called upon to pay.

After some further discussion, progress was reported, and leave to sit a»ain obtained.

The House, at a quarter to 12 o'clock, adjourned until next day at 2 p.m.