PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Colonist, Issue 24, 12 January 1858, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, January 6. The Speaker, in order to supply an omission on Tuesday, wished to have the judgment of the Council relative to the. re-appointment of Mr. White as Clerk. ■.."..' Mr. Parker moved for, and Mr. Wells seconded, Mr. White's re-election. Mr. Saunders wished to allow more time for consideration. Mr. Eban observed that hon. members came there so prepared as not to require further instruction on the subject, and that consequently he should support Mr. White's reappointment. Mr. White was re-elected unanimously. The appointments of Assistant-Clerk and Messenger were left in the hands of the Speaker. Minutes of last meeting having been, read, the Notices of Motion were then considered in the following order:— Mr. Mackay moved—" That Monday be a sitting day of the Council; and that the hour of meeting be three o'clock p.m. instead of 5, as at present.'^ He thought the Council might meet earlier in the day, and conduct public business better than formerly. Mr. M'Rae seconded the motion. Dr. Renwick was of opinion that four days in each week were too much; as much business might be done in three, thereby effecting a saving of time and money, The Provincial Solicitor regarded the hour of five o'clock, as agreed upon formerly, after mature consideration, as the fittest time for commencing on ordinary occasions. Mr. Elliott proposed the adoption of the Rule of last Session, deeming five o'clock the most proper hour. The. motion being then put was unanimously negatived. Mr. Mackay then moved according to his second notice:—" That a Committee be appointed for the Session, to be called the Standing Orders' Committee; that it be the duty of the said committee to prepare such. Standing Orders as they may, from time to time, deem advisable to be adopted by the Council; ana" that the Committee do report the same, as they may see occasion or be required by the Council; the committee to consist of the Speaker, the Provincial Solicitor, Dr. Munro, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Elliott, and the mover. Mr. Elliott seconded the motion.

Mr. Saunders moved as an amendment—" That the following words be added to the motion, and that until any report shall have been received from the above Committee, the Standing Orders of the late Council shall continue in force, and he presented to the Superintendent for his approval, as required by the Constitution Act, Sec. 24. 1 Mr. Sh'abp seconded the amendment. The Provincial Solicitor said the amendment in his opinion was unnecessary. Mi*. Parker proposed that the Council adhere simply to the present orders. Mr. Eban -said that considerable mischief, in his apprehension, would probably result from the changing, line of prbceedure to which the, alterations made from "time to time" might give rise. It would not do for honourable members to have fresh lessons to learn, as the committee might change them, or to be in continual uncertainty from any alterations newly made, and affecting their orderly conduct in Council. As they were in a dilemma a deputation had better wait on his Honor for his signature, that business might not be retarded. Mr. Domett said he agreed in Mi*. Parker's views, as giving a Standing Orders' Committee undue powers might be too favourable to themselves. Mr. Baigent seconded Mr. Parkersproposition, which was carried. Mr. Sharp wished to know whether the Standing Orders were now in force. Dr. Monro said^ the members had, he thought, fixed themselves in" a dilemma by their present doings. The Council should, it would appear, now adjourn until the standing orders were framed and adopted. Mr. Saunders was a great stickler for technicalities one moment and in the next throwing them away. The Standing Orders "are in force for another month, in agreement with the intention to prevent difficulties of the present kind. He thought it would be wisest to rescind the resolution, and the amendment grafted upon it also. Mr. Saunders observed, he did not see how they had acted improperly: all they had done was to affirm, and indeed give effect to a provision of the Constitution Act itself, in order to make the Standing Orders sufficiently in force. The' Speaker, on a view of the whole case, ruled that the Standing Ordera^^ela^CQ^unsircontinue in forcg. ...._.--' —"**—'"""*"• " . - *~M_-^i«ackay moved—"That a Committee be appointed to consider the best method of conducting the printing of the Council; the said committee to consist of the Speaker, the Provincial Solicitor, Dr. Monro, Mr. Elliott, Mr. Wells, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Parked, and the mover." Mr. Ward seconded the motion. It was put and carried. Mr. Mackay moved—" That in the opinion of this Council, no public accountant or government officer should be appointed an auditor of the provincial accounts." He objected to an officer ofthe public auditing his own accounts. Mr. Eban seconded the motion. He said he did so, because it was in furtherance of the public interests that regulations like the one contemplated should be enforced. A principle of integrity was guarded by the intended measure. By public accountant an officer receiving pay from Government was what was meant. The Provincial Solicitor thought the resolution was leveled at one of the.present public officers; to keep the present officer out. None of the auditors were more active or laborious than he. Auditors always receive great assistance from one familiar with the business. He regarded the motion as a slur cast on the excellent officer in question. Dr. Monro said he admitted that the motion in principle and theory was correct. But the Government law on the subject, to which he himself had been a party, required that one ofthe auditors should represent the Government as one of its officers. The resolution was negatived. Mr. Mackay moved —" That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to transmit, for the information of the Council, the particulars of the contract for making the cattle track, with a rough sketch of the same, between the Wairaii'River and the Waitohi." . . -.-. Mr. Wells seconded the motion. Mr. Sharp remarked, that as the Standing Orders were in force he could not see how the fifth and sixth notices could he entertained, the Standing Orders requiring two days previous notice. The fifth notice having been disposed of, the sixth and seventh were postponed. After several remarks by the Provincial Solicitor, Dr. Monro, the Provincial Secretary, and Mr. Saunders, respecting the Lapsed Bills, permission was given the Provincial Solicitor to withdraw his motion respecting the said hills, in order to their being printed. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, seconded, by Mr. Mackay, Dr. Renwick and Mr. Curtis were appointed Auditors. . Mr. Sharp inquired of the Provincial Solicitor "whether any, or, if any, what steps have been taken by the Provincial Government to ascertain whether the available pasture land lately discovered in the Hurunui district is within the boundary of this province?" He said lie did this merely to elicit information for the public; here was a large and very important tract of country, now in tbe occupation of settlers from Canterbury; and yet he had reason to believe it was within the boundary of Nelson; and he would like to know whether the. Executive were aware of this, and what steps they had taken for securing the land to this province. The Provincial Secretary replied that he thought the land pertained to Nelson, as it was Erincipally on the Grey river; but that no steps ad yet been taken to secure it. Mr. Sharp said, this being the case, he was surprised that steps had not been taken to secure so important a district to this province, as the money paid as deposits on application for licenses was considerable. Dr. Monro moved " for a copy of the late Superintendent's despatch* to the General Government covering Provincial Council Enlargement Ordinance," remarking that when in possession of the despatch he would explain his intention. He would, however, say that it had reference to the unfortunate lapsed bills, and he hoped the Govern, ment would not object to lay the paper on the table on Friday. Mr. Elliott seconded the motion. The Provincial Secretary did not object to laying the paper on the table. Mr. Saunders said the latest despatch of the late Superintendent, on transmitting a bill to Auckland for the Governor's assent, was the one most requisite; and, if permitted, he would append to the motion of Dr. Monro a request for the production of Despatch Noi 71. He thought that the one moved for by Dr. Monro, No. 47, was not that required by the Council. Dr. Monro said he was. quite satisfied with what he had asked for ; if Mr. Saunders wanted information he could ask for it. Mr. Saunders then moved an amendment, but The Speaker refused it. . The Provincial Secretary said he would produce both papers, and thus end all dispute. The Provincial Solicitor laid on the table the correspondence relating to the lapsed bills. Mr. Saunders suggested that the Superintendent's message be considered to-morrow. Mr. Kelling said it seemed that the Council was going to fritter away the public time as its predecessor had done. Mr. Saunders moved—"That the Council at its rising do adjourn until Tuesday, the 12th instant, at five o'clock, p.m." He said he did not like this course, but One or two members seemed to be brewing mischief with reference to the lapsed bills, as they would not vote a reply to the Superintendent's address until the discussion on them had taken place. Mr. Dodson seconded the motion. Dr. Monro moved, as an amendment, "That this Council at its rising do adjourn until Friday, the Bth instant, at 11 o'clock, a.m. Mr. Wells seconded the amendment. . The Council then divided, and the result was— for the amendment, 7; against, 13: majority, 6. The original motion was then put aryl carried*.

As it may interest some of our readers we give the voting at the first forinaldiscussion. Ayes. . , .'■-, Noes. Messrs. Adams Messrs. Vyvyan Wells Nicholson Curtis . M'Rae Monro .:'-: Mackay Elliott Kelling Wemyss ■ Sharp Renwick Ward Parker Baigent ■- -..-, ... - v ~ Simmonds ' Eban _* Dodsohi Saunders The Council then adjourned until this day at 5 p.m. .'_;..■ r- :..-• :;'