EVENING SITTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 475, 5 January 1861, Page 5

EVENING SITTING.

The Council reassembled at six o'clock. All the members present excepting Messrs. Rennie, Smith, Steel, Tescheniaker, and Healey. . His Honor's Messages Nos. 10 — 13 were considered. £50 to Mr. Morris for his services as auditor was agreed to. The sum of £250 for a library for the use of the Provincial Council was proposed and negatived, on the ground that the Council did not deem ii advisable to appropriate, during the present session, any sums except what were absolutely required. £333 to bridge Waimuma and Charleston Creeks was agreed to. The Committee then went into the consideration of the items under tbe head Education. The Government explained that they had no intention, in the present position of the Council, and as it would meet again in three months pr so, to press any new votes, unless where school buildings were in course of erection, or contracted for.

The only sums voted for the Dunedin School were £120 for rent of present schoolhouse, &c, and £10 for contingencies. For Port Chalmers Educational District, £253; North-east Harbour, £408 ; North-east Valley, £29; Wakari,£36 65.; Anderson's Bay, £30; Green Island, vote for new school- house struck out — sum for painting schoolmaster's house and contingencies, £30; East Taieri, £20 ; the proposed vote for school buildings, &c, at North Taieri, was withdrawn ; West Taieri, £32 ; Waihola, £17 10s., the items for partitioning upper Btorey and fencing ground being struck out ; Moeraki Bush, £25 ; l'okoniairiro, £10; Clutha, £28; South Clutha, £10; Warepa, £10; -Invercargill, £600 ; the items under the head Long .Bush district were struck out; Riverton, £655; Waikouaiti, £610; the sums for school at Goodwood were withdrawn. The salaries of the teachers for the halfyear were agreed to. « o ? n . the motion of £75 for the salary of a secretary to the Education Board, Mr. Dick jam he would oppose the item until the new Ordinance Was before the Council. ;Mr. Rbt»om>s objest?d to any new ap- : v ■----.- | . _ . *

pointment at present. He observed that there wa3 also to be an inspector appointed, an office he believed which could not be properly filled under £400 or £500 a-year, which with a clerk at £200, and a secretary at £150, would be rather expensive. Mr. M'Glashan stated that he had now been acting as secretary to the Board for four years gratuitously, which he had done with the view of furthering the cause of Education in the Province, but he found that he could not give his services any longer without remuneration, as the duties were becoming very onerous, and occupied a good deal of time. Mr. Dick thought the Superintendent's clerk or his assistant might act for the present, until other arrangements were made at the next session of Council, which would be in about three months.

Mr. M'Glashan saw no use of appointing an inspector of schools, at least for some time, as tbe teachers were all of a higher grade than were perhaps to be found in other colonies where inspectors were necessary. The proposal, after some further discussion, was negatived. £100, half-year's salary for clerk to Education and Road Boards and Treasurer, was agreed to. Under the head immigration, the sum of £125 for half-year's salary for Immigration Agent, Dunedin, was proposed, and gave rise to considerable discussion.

Mr. Gillies was desirous of seeing an efficient person appo^^cl to this office, as it was one of importance, and from the amount standing due on immigrants' bills, and the comparatively small sum collected, as appeared from the public accounts before them, it was necessary that the person appointed as agent should give his attention to the collecting of the bills, and that his time should not be occupied doing other things for himself. The hon. gentleman then proceeded to quote a portion of the despatch forwarded to the home agents at the beginning of last year from the Superintendent, with reference to the sending out of immigrants, and the appointment of Mr. Birch as travelling agent at home, who was to receive £250 a-ycar and travelling expenses. The lion, member was not aware of such appointment, and he deprecated the system of creating new offices without the knowledge of the Council. Several other members having spoken on this item, it was agreed to.

The Executive stated that Mr. Birch's appointment had now ceased. Mr. Walker moved the sum of £20,000 to assist immigrants from Britain, and stated that there were about £9000 worth of debentures here and £2500 at home to dispose of, for the purpose of carrying on immigration. Since the expiry of Messrs. Macandrew and Co.'s contract, vessels for the conveyance of immigrants to this Province had been taken up by the agents, Messrs. Crawford and Auld, as required. .An offer, however, had been made by Messrs. Dalgety and Co. to bring out immigrants to this Province, but no negotiations had as yet been entered into. Mr. Reynolds objected to any private contracts, and that tenders should be called for at home, by which means immigrants could be brought out much cheaper than by entering into any arrangements here. He suggested that it should be a resolution of the Council that tenders should be advertised for at home, where owners of vessels would have an opportunity of tendering for such service, without second and third parties being employed with each charging a commission. Mr. Gillies concurred with Mr. Reynolds that no private contracts should be entertained, expressing his adherence to the principle of making contracts as public as possible, and suggesting that tenders for immigrant vessels should be called for in Britain. Mr. Gillies moved, " That it is the opinion of thi3 Council that the procuring of iinmi»gtiiul«*fe:om—Britam -ebould- be accomplished by means of contract called for at home, and that the salaries of persons employed in the Provincial service in Britain should be voted by this Council." >• The item of £20,000, accompanied by the above resolution, was agreed to. Mr.. Walker proposed £4000 for the Intercolonial Steam Service. He stated that the contract with the "Pirate" had expired, and it was for the Council to consider whether any new subsidy should be voted for that service, as there were now other steamers !aid on that line. Mr. Reynolds understood that the contractor of the " Pirate " had received notice that the contract was at an end. He remembered thatthe Superintendent's interpretation of the contract was the same as his (Mr. Reynolds), who considered that the contract was for 24 voyages, and not for two years. He contended, therefore, that it would be a breach of faith towards the contractor if the Council put any other construction upon tbe contract than that it was for two years. Mr. Cutten said, it was the opinion of the Provincial Solicitor that the contract was at fan. end, and there could be no doubt as to its terms, as they were very explicit.

Mr. Howobth said, the sum of £8000 had been voted to the "Pirate" for two years, which was the period contracted for by the present Superintendent when he took the contract, and not for 24 voyages as had been argued : there could be no doabt as to that, as the contract was quite clear. . The contract had therefore terminated ; and he did not see the utility of granting a subsidy at present for that service, when another party had laid on a steamer to run between Melbourne, this Province, and Canterbury, without any subsidy. The Coleman Company were also about to place steamers on this line, which would give more efficient communication than we have hitherto had. If the Council again subsidized the " Pirate," it would give her a monopoly of the trade, to the disadvantage of the Province. As to the interpretation of the contract, be would challenge any one to say that it was not at an end.

Mr. Gillies said, that though the contract might legally be interpreted as at an end, yet, in equity and justice to the contractor, the Council ought to consider the matter with that degree of fairness which was due to Mr. Greer, and not at a moment's notice to drop off the "Pirate." [The hon. member here read the petition from the owner of the " Pirate," praying to be allowed to continue the contract.] He (Mr. Gillies) stated that the contract had been taken up by Mr. Greer from Mr. Macandrew, on the express understanding that the contract was to be for 24 voyages, which was the interpretation then put upon the contract by the present Superintendent. Without a subsidy, a steamer would not be remunerative ; and in fairness to the owner of the " Pirate," the present subsidy ought to be continued tUI new arrangements were made, which" would be about three months, and by that time the Council would probably be in session. Mr. Howoeth said, the " Omeo " was laid on to run for three months between Melbourne and this and the neighbouring Province, by which we will have better communication than that provided by the " Pirate." It was a most lavish attempt to vote away the public money on any former representation the Superintendent might have made to Mr. Greer, nor was it right to throw away £1000 for what the " Omeo " would do without a subsidy. The hon. gentleman questioned whether Mr. Gillies was not solicitor for the contractor, from the manner in which he urged the Council to consider the contractor's claim.

Mr. Gillies said that his acting as private solicitor to the contractor did not influence his vote. His arguments were based on the ground of equity and honourable dealing towards the owner of the " Pirate." When the contract was transferred to Mr. Greer, Mr. Macandrew's interpretation of it was different to what it was now, owing to certain circumstances, he presumed, having transpired since then. Ad to the lavish attempt to throw away

public money, it was no such thing ; and he only wished that less lavishness had been exhibited in other quarters.

Mr. Cutten said, it was quite clear that the contract was only for two years, and it would not be for the interest of the Province to grant a further subsidy. Mr. Martin remembered that the subsidy was for two years — as it was mentioned at the time the advantages the Province would derive from regular monthly communication.

Mr. Reynolds was convinced that the contract was for 24 voyages, and nothing had been elicited during the discussion to alter his impression upon that point. The item £4000, for Intercolonial Steam Service, accompanied with the following Resolutions, moved by Mr. Gillies, was then put to the House : —

" That the existing Steam Communication between this Province and Melbourne is insufficient to meet the existing and progressive state of the trade between these ports. That it is desirable that arrangements be made between the Provincial 'Gro'vernments of Canterbury and Otago for obtaining a more efficient service between Melbourne and the provinces of Canterbury and Otago upon the termination of the existing contract, and that until new arrangements are made the present subsidy to the "Pirate" be continued, such subsidy not to extend over a louger period than three months from this date. That so soon as it is ascertained whether Canterbury will join in this service, tenders be called for in this and the Australian Colonies, for the performance of a monthly service by one or more steam vessels, of not less than 700 tons burthen, and of a guaranteed speed of not less than 9£ knots an hour."

The Committee divided, when there were for the motion — Ayes, 7 ; Noes, 6.

Mr. Cutten moved as an amendment that the clause of- Mr. Gillies* resolution relative to the * continuance of the present contract with the '• Pirate" be struck out, which was put to the vote and lost.

Mr. Cutten objected to coming tp a final vote upon so important a question with so thin a house, and moved that the Chairman report progress and ask leave to sit again. The House having resumed, several motions and amendments were put, but the Council ultimately adjourned till next day at one o'clock.