PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, 23 December 1868, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

MONDAY, 30th NOVEMBEB, 1868 Th_ sth Session of the 3rd Provincia • Council of Southland commenced o* Monday in the Council Chambers, Kel . vin-street. -m ' *i Present— The Speaker, Messrs. Black 5 ioclc (Provincial Treasurer), Armstrong Daniels, Longuet, Hately, Pearson, Bas stian, Dalrymple, Pratt, Swale, Eoss .Johnstone, Clerke, Hodgkinson, M'Clure and Howell. . The Proclamation calling the Counci Y*ras read by the Clerk, followed b] pr&Vers. . _ His Honor the Superintendent was .- then announced, and we felt pleased t< - Notice he appeared in better health anc Spirits than previous to his departure 'North, address was then read bj ~Hi_ Honor as follows : — I" Mb Speabeb and Gentlemen of thi • Pbovincial Council. V" It gives me pleasure affcer being ab. bent so --long from the Province, to open ;-. -of the Provincial Council specially, called for business in connection with the railway works) in person. ,*^°During my stay in Wellington, be,*^_fe3 s att«i<ling to Legislative duties, I as in me lay, endeavored to matters relating to the Province on a proper footing, in which, I am glad to say, I have been generally successful ; ,and not the least important of these has'been the obtaining of a .promise &om the Ministry that they would confirm .a recommendation of a grant of land for finishing the Oreti Eailway. "^"Tenders having again been iuvited "for the completion of this line of Eailway, •they wiil, along with the report of Mr _?atersori, C.E., be laid before you. f: - "The heavy gales which visited this Island in October last, coupled with the simultaneous extraordinarily high tides, have, I regret to learn, seriously damaged fem_ ankment No. 1 of the Bluff Harbor 'and Invercargill Eailway, immediately to the south of the town, so much so that $he Government contemplates making a diversion of the line at this part inshore .-above' high water mark; as not only will a recurrence of such a mishap thus be obviated, but from reports to be laid on the table it will be seen that the formation of this diversion can be executed at a less cost than the repair of the embankment, arid in a more effective and permanent manner. . " I have now to declare this Council open for the transaction of bublic business *•;"''■ "JOHN P. TATLOE, " Superintendent." 7 Mr Abmstbong, on the retirement of His Honor, moved, "That a Select Committee, consisting of Messrs. Basstian, Eoss, Johnstone, and the mover, be appointed to draw up a reply to the address." 1 Seconded by Mr Blacklock, and carried unanimously. > JPhe Provincial Treasurer then obtained leave to. read correspondence from Mr Morrison, Provincial Agent, as follows : — Suffice of the N.Z. Government Agency, cr 3 Adelaide Place, King "William-st., London, E.C, Aug. 1, 1868. Deab Sib, — At the request of Mr Morrison, I wrote to Mr Eoss, of Prince Edward Island, asking for information relative to emigration from that colony to Southland, New Zealand. His reply I beg to enclose herewith. — I am, &c, (Signed) "W. G. M'Kellab. John Blacklock, Esq., Invercargill, Southland, N.Z.

Charlottetown, P.E.I. *. V North America, 26th June, 1868. .JOear Sir — I. am in receipt of yours of tlie 11th ult., and, affcer making some enquiry, have to say in reply that I believe if sufficient encouragement were given -inlthe shape of assisted passages, scores of sober, industrious young men and. women could be got to emigrate from these Provinces to the sister colony of New Zealand. The great obstacle at present is the high figure demanded as passage money from these Provinces. No. passage can be got under £28 sterling, or £35 Novia Scotia currency, or £42 of this Island currency; and, rather than pay so much, young men and women will g"6 Across the lines to the neighboring Bepublic, to try- their fortune there. Every one I speak to on the subject asks what amount of assistance could be got ? My information does not enable me to answer this question — will you write and let me know ? I think it would be advisible to circulate freely a large number of pamphlets on Southland, and in the other provinces as well. Small capitalists, who would not succeed ss well in Southland, where, according to the pamphlet sent me, £500 sterling would be needed to make a start, would like to emigrate to some of the other Provinces of that colony such as Otago and Auckland if they had reliable information in reference to them. I understand that a sober, industrious man, possessed of a practical knowledge of -farming, may make a fair start in Auckland if he has £200 sterling. I believe if some in these Provinces knew What description of vessels were most in demand in New Zealand, they would build for the Ne;w Zealand market and go with their families to settle there. These could take other emigrants there on more favourable terms than could be got from other vessels. Companies might be formed for the purpose of building or purchasing such vessels, and others might be invited to take shares in these companies, shares which might cover every inndividual's passage money. I understand a company of this sort has been formed last winter in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and that it is intended the vessel will start with the company in August oi September, for Nelson and Auckland. - This is a very favorable year for getting emigrants from here. Last wintei was extraordinary long and cold, anc provisions forman and beast were verj hi •oh. Thousands of sheep and cattlt have^ed-for^warit of food in the spring T think it would be a good plan to empioj

an enthusiastic lecturer in these part fo four or five months to bring the claim o , New Zealand as a field for emigration be fore Ihe people. I think one could bi d got for £5 or £6 sterling per month oi n 3s for every emigrant above 10 years o I- ace—to be" paid by the emigrant. Onlj he would need to have all the informatioi ■- you could give laid to his hands, and i '» sub- agency would need to be at once ap '" pointed. *• In great baste, >, I am, yours faithfully, (Signed) "William Eoss. T Mr Abmstbong then drew attentior to the fact that the Executive was a 3 member deficient, and, therefore, had tc 3 move an adjournment iv order to enablf 1 the Grovernment to find a gentlemen 5 willing to act (if only temporarily). r Two members of the House had been asked to take office, but had declined. 3 j owing to not being able to spare the i time. It was most desirable town memj bers "should strain a point to serve the ' Province, as those from tbe interior rei quired their expenses. 1 The House then adjourned till 11 a.m. next day. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1. FORENOON SITTING-. The Council resumed this morning at a few minutes past eleven. Present: Messrs "Wilson (Speaker), Blacklock (Provincial Treasurer), Arm- ' strong, M'Clure, Dalrymple, Pearson, Longuet, Hately, Howell, Eoss, Johnston, Basstian, Clerke, Pratt, Hodgkinson, Swale and Calder. After prayers, the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. THE REPLY TO THE ADDRESS. The reply to the opening address was then brought up by Mr Eoss, and its adoption moved, seconded by Mr Pratt. Mr Basstian- regretted having to oppose the adoption of the reply. The Superintendent, in his opinion, ought only to act under the authority of the Executive, and he designated His Honor's course of action as " uncalled for and meddling." Mr Dalbymple rose to express the opinion he had always consistently advocated, that the railway would not be productive of general provincial good. Mr M'Clube then gave notice that he had, on consideration, pro forma^ agreed to act as a member of the Executive. Mr Glebke thought that His Honor's Address was far from explicit. Mr Pbatt was of opinion that all documents ought to be laid upon the table. Verbal promises were not deserving of attention, aud no dependence could be placed upon them. The Pbovtkcial Tbeasubeb stated that the Superintendent had acted entirely in harmony with the wishes of his Executive, that his services on behalf of the Province were, during the recent sitting, especially onerous. Among other matters deserving of attention he might mention he had succeeded in settling the reserves of the Province. Mr Johnston considered the reply was only an outline of policy on the part of the G-overnment, while the nature of the G-eneral Government promise was most satisfactory. The adoptioif of the reply was then carried. RAILWAY TENDERS. Mr Blacklock then moved " That a Select Commitcee be appointed to consider and report on the tenders received for the proposed works known as the Oreti Eailway, such Committee to consist of Messrs. Calder, Pratt, M'Clure, and the mover." Mr Abmstbong secondei the motion in a few words. Mr Longuet expressed an opinion that a Select Committee was most undesirable, and moved an arrendment to the effect that " The whole House should go into Committee on the subject." Mr Hately seconded the amendment. Mr Abmstbong opposed the amendment, on the ground, that the time of the House would be most unnecessarily taken U PMr Johnston" expressed similar views. Mr Caldeb requested that Mr Johnston's name should be substituted for his on the Committee. He was decidedly opposed to a Committee of the whole House, while at the some time he wished the Council to declare that a more useful name than Mr Johnston's could not be introduced. He (Mr Calder) declined to act on the Committee. Mr Abmstbong wished to know, why Mr Calder had such an objection to act on the Committee. Mr Caldeb had quite sufficient personal reasons. The amendment being put and lost, the original motion was then carried. Mr M'Clube obtained leave to postpone consideration ofthe motion standing in his name, until the evening sitting. The House then adjourned till 8 p.m. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1. EVENING- SITTING-. The Speaker took the chair at eight o'clock, There were present the following members : — Messrs Blacklock (Provincial Treasurer), Armstrong, Basstian, Howell, Pearson, Longuet, Hodgkinson, Swale, Johnston, Clerke, Calder, Daniels, 1 Monckton, Hately, Dalrymple, and Eoss. ■ CORRESPONDENCE. Mr Abmstbong laid on the table • copies of letters which passed between ' the Provincial Government and ; Mr Peter Dalrymple on the subject • of the purchase of land from that gentleman, in consequence of the " deviation of a portion ot the Bluff Harbor L and Invercargill Eailway ; also, estimates *■ for finishing embankment No. 1 • also ■■ cost of diversion through Mr Dalrymple' s - property. The Pbovincial Tbeasubeb laid on ■ the table correspondence between the p Provincial Government and the Engineer, *•* Mr Patterson, C.E., relative to the cost T of supervision of the Oreti Eailway 3 works. NATIONAL SCHOOL. T Mr Peaeson moved — " That this

r Council is of opinion that an endowment f for a national school for the town oi - Invereargill, and for the Invercargill c Hospital should be made, and with this r view requests the Government to take f the necessary steps to secure the block at 7 present reserved for public gardens for i this object, the same to be surveyed in i sections for each endowment alternately, - to be leased for building purposes, under powers to be given to trustees to be appointed for these institutions ; one section, however, to be reserved for the use ofthe Eire Brigade." The hon member for Oteramika said he did not consider it would be i necessary to occupy the time of the i House by any lengthy arguments in ) favor of its adoption. There was I think *. sufficient said on the subject last session, l I will therefore, more particularly, as Ido . not anticipate any opposition, confine l myself to assuring the Council that Ido , not bring forward this resolution from s any spirit of factious opposition to the Government, with no desire to set at des fiance the decision of the Council, but with an earnest wish to provide an imme. diatelv available fund for the endowment of a public school in the town of Invercargill; a school which will combine, a cheap as well as good education for children, under the conduct of an able master appointed by and under tbe supervision of the Education Committee. It is not only a serious moral obligation on the Government to provide means of education for the rising generation, but ifc is rapidly becoming a political necessity. There are many men in this town, who having received an education themselves, can appreciate the value of it for their children, who from the force of circumstances, while having large families of children to be educated— cannot afford to send them to the private schools presently existing, and look forward with painful anxiety to the prospect of their little ones remaining uneducated, sooner than face which contingency they are prepared to break up their homes, leave the Province and settle in Otago, where owing to the wise provisions of the Government, the schools established are of first class quality and cheap. Indeed Ofcago has been held up in this respect as a pattern to the rest of New Zealand. I ! would seek to copy her example, and not to force the people here, much against their inclination, to emigrate for the purpose of obtaining this great desideratum for their children. By my proposition I do not deprive the Hospital of any quantity of land proposed by the Government at the last session, as an amendment. It reserved half of this block. I propose the whole should now be taken and equally divided in alternate sections between the Hospital and a national school ; this I think is fair and equitable and I cannot conceive the possibility of opposition on the part of any member to my motion. Dr Monckton would cordially second the motion. However much the Hospital required the endowment, education required more. He would like to see the Hospital well endowed, but he did not think that this motion interfered with it. Mr Abmstbong would not oppose the motion, as he thought the Hospital would not lose anything by it. He did at one time contemplate opposing it, but on furfcher consideration he would not oppose it. The hon. member (Mr Pearson) was mosfc pertinacious on the subject of education. CaptainHowELLthoughttheyhadbetter mind what they were aboufc. The reserve was for public purposes, and for the benefit of the future generation. Possibly they might want it for a fish market yet. The House then divided with the following results :— Ayes 12, Noes 5. The motion was then declared carried. RAILWAY PLANT. Mr Clebke stated .that the Government had placed on the table that morning the documents setting forth the cost of the railway plant from England. MAORI RESERVE, RIVERTON. Mr Daniels asked the Government to lay on the table a copy of the correspondence received from the chief Topy Topo since last session of the Council, as regards the construction of streets through the Maori Eeserve, Eiverton. The hon. member said that certain action had already been taken in this matter last session, and he understood that the Government had promised to attend to it. Since then the Maori chief Topy, had written to the Government on the subject and he (the hon. member) desired to have the correspnodence read. ! The Pbovincial Tbeasubeb said that no doubt the hon. member alluded to a letter which had been received by the Commissioner of Crown Lands from the Maori chief. Letter laid on the table and read. ORETI RAILWAY. The Pbovincial Tbeasubeb asked the leave of the House to postpone the motion standing iv his name which had for its object the setting aside a certain block of land for finishing this line. The hon member said that he thought it would be useless to bring on his motion until tne report of the select committee appointed to inquire into the tenders, was laid before the House. He understood that the Committee would bring up their report to-morrow evening. Mr Abmstbong asked leave to postpone a similar motion, for the same reason. Leave granted. SHEEP RESERVE. Mr Basstian, in the absence of Mr M'Clure, asked leave to postpone the i following motion — " That one half of the - area ot' the temporary reserves throughi \ out the Province known as the sheep be made permanent reserves for Hospital ! endowments, and that the Government be requested to take such action in this l regard as may be necessary." . Mr Caldeb said he did not think it riffht that motions should be postponed ; from day to day. It was pretty well known r how the motion would be decided. He deprecated the course of bringing forward motions merely based upon per--3 sonal grounds. It appeared to him that

b all business should he decidtd upon its f merits in a straightforward manuer, and L disposed of when it came before the 5 House. ) Mr Basstian said that he only asked ; the leave of the House to postpone the • motion out of courtesy to Mr M'Clure, l who as a member of the Grovernment, , was entitled to that consideration. He • was not acquainted with the merits of • the question. The hon. member for In- . vercargill (Mr Calder) and the Govern- ! ment appeared to be like Kilkenny , cats, fighting with each other for en- : dowments of every description, i The Speakeb thought the hon. member for Invercargill was quite right. The motion as it stood, was a complete jumble. It ought to be altered. Mr Johnston thought the motion a very curious and singular one. Mr Abmstbong said he thought Mr M'Clure was only joking when he gave notice of motion. It seemed to be brought forward on the principle that as the hon. member for Oteramika (Mr Pearson) was so anxious to obtain endowments for education Mr M'Clure would take care of the hospital. After some further discussion, the motion lapsed. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE. Mr Peaeson asked leave of the House that standing order No. 27 be suspended in order to move that the bill be read a first time. Leave was granted, the bill read a first time, and the second reading made an order of the day for next sitting. G-RAYEL PITS. Dr Hodgkunson asked the Government if any steps had been taken to set aside blocks of land known to contain gravel, for the purpose of road making. The subject was a very important one, as in a short time most of the land would be sold, and then there would be no means of making roads except by purchasing land containing gravely The Provincial Tbeasubeb said that the Government had the matter under consideration, and as soon as the Chief Surveyor returned, he would be asked to make a report on the subject. The report would be ready by next session. ACCLIMATISATION. Mr Peaeson asked if anything had been done by the Government in setting aside 2,000 acres of land for the purposes of introducing salmon and trout into the Province. If the land was set apart, he understood sufficient funds could be obtained for proceeding with the work of acclimatisation. He trusted that the Government were prepared to carry out the resolutions of the Council. The Pbovincial Tbeasubeb said that the G-overnment had not done anything in the matter, in consequence of the Superintendent being absent. By the next- sitting of the Council, the Government would state their decision. The House then adjourned till 7 o'clock next evening. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBEE 2nd. - EVENING: SITTING-. The Speaker took the chair at 7 o'clock. Present — Messrs. Blacklock (Provincial Treasurer) Armstrong, Hodgkinson, Swale, Howell, Wilson, Dalrymple, Daniel, Hately, Longuet, Monckton, Clerke, Eoss, Johnston, M'Clure, Bastian, Calder, and Pearson. Prayers. Minutes of previous sitting read and confirmed. DIVERSION OP BLUFF RAILWAY. Mr Clebke asked the Government, " Why, at the time of reading the names of the tenderers for the diversion of the Bluff railway contract, the amounts were suppressed, and was the tender accepted on Ist December, the day after they were opened, the lowest." He said he did not impute any motives to the Government, and asked the question as much to give an opportunity tor explanation as for any other reason, as there was a great deal of ill feeling and jealousy expressed outside on the subject. He thought the Government to blame for introducing a new mode of procedure at the opening of the tenders — the suppression of the figures — a procedure which could bear a very bad construction. And he also thought the press deserving of severe censure for having allowed the matter to pass unnoticed." The Pbovincial Tbeasubeb said that the reply to the latter part of the question would be found in the report of the Engineer, Mr Dawson, which would be laid on the table. With regard to the first portion — the suppression of the amounts — the Government had only adopted a system acted upon elsewhere, and had determined in future not to make known the amounts of the several tenders until one was accepted, as they had discovered it had been the habit of some contractors, when the sums were made known, to profit by a comparison of the figures, and withdraw altogether. In Victoria the practice was to open the tenders, get the Engineer's report on them, then call on the lowest, if elligible, accept his, and then publish the whole. This was the course the Government had taken in this instance, and he believed it to be the right one. He would now lay the Engineer's report on the table, and move that it be read. Eeport read accordingly. NEW RIVER PILOT SERVICE. Mr Eoss presented a petition from a number of the merchants and traders ot Invercargill, praying the Provincial Government to take such steps as might be necessary to maintain the New Eiver Pilot Service, notwithstanding a notification in the ' New Zealand Gazette' to a con tre ry effect. IMMIG-RATION. Dr Hodgkinson moved — " That this Council, being convinced of the absolute necessity of introducing population and capital as a means of restoring prosperity to the colony, is of opinion that free grants of land, at the rate of forty acres to each adult, and twenty acres for each child, wifch conditions requiring settlement ; I and improvements thereon, should be

given to immigrants firom Great Britain and Ireland, and the North American Colonies, and request the representatives from Southland in the G-eneral Assembly to endeavor to effect the passing of an act in accordance with this resolution." The hon. member supported the resolution in an able speech of great length. Nearly all the members present took part in the debate which followed, and the motion in an amended form was ultimately carried on the voices, (The debate on this question will appear in page 7.) OREPUKI ROAD. Mr Daniel asked the -Government, ' whether the Eoad Engineer had inspected the best line of road from Eiverton through the Eeserve, to join the road from the Narrows to Orepuki.' Mr Basstian thought such questions as this might be put and answered without incurring the expense involved in having them placed on the Order Paper. The Speakeb said the course adopted allowed the Government time to collect any information necessary to the reply. The Pbovincial Tbeasubeb, in reply to the question, said the G-overnment had not yet given instructions to the Engineer to make the inspection, simply because not in a position to expend the money; ORETI RAILWAY TENDERS. j The Pboyincial Tbeasubeb brought up the report of the Select Committee appointed to examine and report upon the Oreti Eailway tenders, and moved that it be read. Eeport read accordingly. The Pbovincial Tbeasubeb, moved that the report be adopted. Mr Basstian asked whether the G-o---vernment had been in correspondence with Mr Proudfoot since the 14th November. Mr Abmstbong said he had written to Mr Proudfoot on the 19th, informing him he had not complied with some of the conditions, and asking an explanation of the terms of his tender — relative to the amount in land. He had also written to Messrs Abbott and Packham informing them of an arithmetical error in their tender, and asking whether they would be bound by the bulk sum, and he had received replies from both parties. Mr Clebke thought it a most extraordinary proceeding on the part o£ any Government, communicating with any tenderer in such a way as virtually enabled him to make a fresh offer, after the contracts had been opened and read. He was assured that in this case Proudfoot, by communicating with his agent in Invercargill, learned the amount of the lowest tender for land, and immediately sent word back, in reply to the DeputySuperintendent's letter, that he would take so much — a few hnndred acres less than the other. He, the hon. member, felt that he could not vote for the adoption of the report until better informed on the subject. He wished to see the whole affair, correspondence and everything, laid honestly before the Council. He wished to be sure that having adopted the resolution, and accepted the tender, the General G-overnment would not draw back, and refuse to allocate the land. As yet the Council had nothing but the verbal assurance of His Honor that the land would still be given. He wished to see black and white for it, and even then he would scarcely feel safe, as he knew enough of Mr Stafford to be aware that he was not always bound even by his writing. Another condition which the General G-overnment had always adhered to was, that for every acre of land given twenty shillings worth of work should be received, and ho was not aware they would depart from this stipulation now. Mr Basstian thought this tender case little less scandalous than the former one. It was a gross mistake to treat with any contractor after the opening of the tenders. "What had been done amounted to letting Proudfoot put in. a xresh one. The Pbovincial Tbeasubeb further explaind why the .Government had opened communication with the two tenderers mentioned, and remarked that had they thrown theirs out on account of what were, no doubt, mere clerical errors the Province would have been made to suffer to the extent of several thousand pounds, by the Governbeing forced so fall back upon a tender that amount higher. Mr Pbatt thought members going away from the question. As a member of the Select Committee, he might say they had done what they considered their duty in preparing the report, and, although its rejection might seem a censure on them, seeing the turn the discussion had taken he thought the best course now would be to place the whole matter before the House. Mr Abmstbong was of a similar opinion. Mr Johnstone was of opinion that the Government had committed a grave error in communicating with Proudfoot after the opening of the tenders, # but he believed they had done so in perfect honesty of purpose, and irom good motives. The was no doubt Proudfoot, although in Dunedin, had information of the amount of the other tenders, as he had at once, in reply to the question of the Government; stated a quantity of land just a little below Abbott and Packham. The Committee had found no attempt made by the Government at concealment of anything, but rather a desire to enable them to come to a right conclusion, and therefore he believed the correspondence which had taken place with Proudfoot was simply an error of judgement. Knowing, however, the advantageous position in which Proudfoot had thereby been put ? he, for one, could not for a moment entertain that gentleman's last offer. This explained why the Committee had recommended Abbott and Packhara's. He thought they need not now waste so much time dis mussing fche action of the Government relative to Proudfoot' s tender, as it was not the one recommended for acceptance. Mr Longuet thought the whoie House had better go into committee to examine the report ofthe Select Committee.

The Pbovincial Secbetaby placed on table the correspondence between the Government and Mr Proudfoot; and Abbott and Packham, and moved that it be read. Mr Pbatt thought the Engineer's report, which lead to that correspondence*, should be first read. Documents read accordingly. Mr Abmstbong still thought the Government had done what was right in entering into the correspondence ; read. They might even have . considered it requisite to write to all the tenderers asking if they would abide by the addi? tional general conditions. He (Mr A.) said unless those letters had been written, the two lowest tenders, through a mere clerical error, would have been thrown out and never came before the Council, to the detriment of the Province. Mr Basstian drew attention to a clause of the conditions, whereby teni derers were bound by the bulk sum of I their tenders, irrespective of the separate 1 items ; this, he contended, should have been sufficient, as it made Abbot and Packham's tender eligible. >■ Mr Peaeson agreed with Mr Basstian. The ','. clause read was plain enough, an 4 didri'tj fortunately^ require an engineer to construe it. vj y 7 V Mr Abmstbong though the honestest course in dealing with contractors^ as in dealing with ianybody else, was to ; pointout a mistake when .observed, and ask if they were aware of it, or if would affect their offer. Mr Clebke moved, and Dr Monckton seconded, " That the House go into committee on the report. Mr Caldeb said by going into committee the House was exactly putting itßelf into the position it had appointed the Select Committee to avoid. They should either accept the report, or reject it and then go into committee on the whole question. He believed going into committee on the report would only lead to interminable talk. Dr Hodgkinson agreed with the pre,, vious speaker. Mr Pbatt thought that, without the name, the House had actually been, in committee for the last half hour. He would now prefer seeing the report put aside altogether and the whole question re-opened. He thought anything likely to make members acquainted with the subject should not be objected to. Mr Peaeson had perfect confidence on the Select Committee. To go into commttee of the whole House now would be equivalent to a vote of want of confidence in them. He would therefore oppose the motion, which would only lead to useless squabbling. Mr Eoss said that although one of the members of the Select Committee, he' would not object to the general Committee, although it was a very unusual course. Before the Select Committee commenced its duties he had been led to believe they would find out something very serious, but they had discovered nothing requiring concealment. He bebelieved the Grovernment had acted as they believed best for the interests ofthe Pro vinve, although, perhaps, with a little informality. Dr Monckton had seconded the motion from no feeling of want of confidence in the Select Committee, but simply because it would allow of full explanations being ■* entered into — the rules of the House forbidding members to speak twice. Mr Johnston would like to know whether the committee of the whole House was to go into the whole question of the tenders,- or merely to consider the adoption of the report. If Mr Clerke wanted a fling at the G-overnment his., proper course was to give notice of a no confidence motion. After some further desultory discussion the amendment was put and lost. Mr Clebke, in order to have an opportunity of saying a few words more on the subject, moved as an ammendinent " that the report be not adopted." He said that as the tenders had been called for different parts ofthe line, he thought the G-overnment should have accepted theiri separately, and thereby given the small local men a chance, even although it had cost the Province a little extra. The Pbovincial Tbeasubeb explained that such a course would have compelled them to reject the most eligible tender for the larger contract, and, further, might have led to serious inconvenience and expense in the event of the smaller contractor — the one nearest town — failing to execute the work expeditiously enough to make the line available for the transport of the necessary plant to the more distant part of the work. The amendment having been lost, the original motion — "that the report be adopted— "was then put and carried without a division. ■ ■ , The House adjourned at 12 o'clock,, till half-past 2 next day. " (For remainder of Council see pages 6 and 7 J,