PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 162, 10 May 1859, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, May 4. All the members present except Messrs. Elliott, M'Rae, and Redwood. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. SURPLUS REVENUE ACT. . Dr, Monbo moved, " That a Select Committee be appointed to examine and report upon the accounts of the General Government, shewing the Surplus Revenue due to the province; such committee to consist of the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Curtis, Dr. Renwick. Mr. Sharp, and the mover." In bringing forward this motion, he would state that the revenues belonging to the province were the land sales, which, with a few small deductions, belonged solely to the province ; then there were other minor affairs, such as public business, &c. The ordinary revenues of the colony were from the Customs, the Post-office, the Resident Magistrate's Court, and a few others, out of which the General Government takes a certain proportion. The accounts of the General Government were very complicated, but since the 14th July, 1856, those accounts had been much simplified. At that time a committee was appointed to declare a balance-sheet, which was to be a final settlement of the accounts of the different provinces. At that settlement an amount of ,£2892 Bs. 4jd. was refunded to this province; but as he thought that the sum ought to be larger, he brought this motion forward to institute an inquiry into the account. There was an old outstanding debt, dating so far back as 1853, brought against Nelson, or rather against the refund; the amount then settled for this province to pay was .£IOOO quarterly. Three-quarters' payment of the above rate had been paid, but now the contribution of this province was only £2700 per annum. The accounts, he understood, were finally closed in the settlement of 1856; but if, on examination, it was found the General Government had a just claim, no harm could be done; if otherwise, why then the people of the province had the statement in their own hands to remedy the matter. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion was agreed to. REPORT OF IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONERS. Dr. Monbo moved, " That a Select Committee he appointed to examine and report upon the Re--port.of the -Immigration. Commissioners recently

laid upon the table; such committee to consist of the Provincial Solicitor, Mi-. Kelling, Mr. Parker, •Mr. Mackay, and the mover." He had read over the reports and had looked over the accounts of the Immigration Commissioners Fund, and found that there..was a large sum of money due to them. It would also seem that some of the immigrants had reason for just complaints during the voyage, owing to the bad management of the contractors; and he had also been given to understand that several families had suffered some little privation since their arrival. As to the other part, he would refer them to Mr. M'Donald's correspondence with the Immigration Commissioners. Mr. Wklls seconded the motion. The Provincial Solicitor said that if this statement went forth without contradiction, it would have a tendency to bring discredit both on the Superintendent and Executive. It seemed that there had been a vessel sent out by Mr. Powell, of the firm of Morrison and Powell, during Mr. Morrison's absence, and he believed that there were just complaints amongst the passengers in that vessel. Mr. Parker said that friends of his had received their papers from the Nelson Government, and had broken up their homes, when they got notice from Messrs. Morrison and Powell to proceed on board the vessel in six weeks from the date of the notice. They went to London a few days before the specified time. On their arrival they were told the vessel would not be ready for their accommodation for three weeks. At the end of that period they returned to London, but found things much in about the same condition. They afterwards returned to their temporary house, and at last shipped in a vessel for Auckland. It was true that they had arrived here safe, but at considerable more expense than if they had shipped for Nelson direct. He did not make this statement in hopes of getting any compensation for the parties, nor did he think that it was the neglect of the Government here, but he thought there was either mistake or neglect somewhere, and ife ought to be remedied. Mr. Saunders rose and said that as some allusions had been made to the letters of the Immigration Agent, he would ask the members of that Council, before they took any ulterior steps, to read those letters and judge for themselves. Dr. Monro in reply, stated that the Immigration Fund was now indebted about .£4500, and also read part of a letter from Mr. M'Donald, in which he stated that the Provincial Government had sent him out instructions to ship immigrants by a vessel, when he had engaged with another ■ firm at considerably less. He (Dr. Monro) did not wish to commit himself in making the Council implicitly believe Mr. M'Donald's statements, but thought that they were entitled to credence; and was also of opinion that something was wrong in the firm that the Government had entered into .a contract with. The motion was agreed to. BOARD OF WORKS. Dr. Monro moved —" That in the opinion of this Council, the utility of the Board of Works would be promoted by conferring upon it corporate powers." In introducing this motion, he thought it the best way to take the sense of the Council upon it. For his own part, he felt disposed to give the Board all prudent and fair powers. Look at some of the streets, and the Council will readily admit that the Board of Works have done a great deal of good. The Board deserved well of the town; they might have committed some mistakes, and if on the whole the proceedings of the board were unsatisfactory, why the electors had the remedy in their own hand's. They could get members to pledge themselves before electing them; but he must suppose that if the works proceeded in the manner tliey had done, the Board must be popular. It was his opinion that, considering the power the Board had, and the large amounts that body had command of, it ought to be incorporated. The Board wanted to borrow money at the present time, but if it was not incorporated, there was no guarantee as to its stability ; and the borrowing of money for the improvement of the town would be difficult. An incorporated body has a status in the eyes of the public which an incorporated one does not possess. The Board of Works, at the present time, were in the position of a tenant ; t \ey cannot, under the present state of things, own either house or land. A Board at home would be supposed to see that the streets were kept clean and in good order, the town lighted with gas or oil, and supplied with water, but in all cases they are incorporated. A rate of ljd. in the pound produced about <£1500 per annum to be spent on the town, which with the sum the Board intended to borrow, would ryise that amount to about £.3000. A supply of water was wanted for tiie town, for which a reservoir wa'; required, bnt the Board could not purchase the land; and if any person wished to give any land for the benefit of "the town, the Board could not hold a single acre so long as it was not incorporated : and he thought that it was becoming the more necessary as they would be having the management of the public market. He would now wish the Council to express its opinion on the subject. Mr. Wells seconded the motion, and said that the Board of Works had already made an offer for land in the Brook-street Valley for a reservoir, but could not complete- the purchase, on account of not being incorporated. They were also enabled by the act to borrow money, but could not do so for the same cause. Mr. Simmonds said that he rose to oppose the motion. He thought that the Board of Works should not attempt works of any magnitude until the Provincial Engineer was appointed. Mr. Kiolling would not oppose the motion, but he thought it very desirable first to know what power the body would have were it incorporated. The Provincial Solicitor said that the Board of Works could purchase and hold laud. If any land was meant to be purchased for the use of the Board, it could be made over to the Superintendent and his successors in office. There was at the present time a memorial lying in the Superintendent's office, signed by 115 ratepayers, asking for a reduction of the powers of the Board; and he did not think that the expressed wish of so many ratepayers should be treated with such contempt as to pass a resolution in direct contradiction to their memorial. He considered that the duty of the Board was more particularly with roads and bridges; but he did not object to their taking other tilings in hand ; yet at the same time thought that some attention ought to be paid to the wishes embodied in that memorial. Mr. Sharp could not understand which part of their power the memorialists wished to reduce. If they reduced the powers of the Board, the act would only be as so much waste paper. The motion was put, and the Council divided. Ayes. 12. Noes, 2. Mr. Wells The Provincial Solicitor Curtis Mr. Simmonds. Dr. Monro Mr. Wemyss Sinclair Gibbs Maclcay Sharp . Dr. Eenwick Mr. Hewetson Baigent Saunders The Provincial Secretary, Messrs. Vyvyan, Kelling, Marsden, and Dodson declined to rote. The motion was carried. PROVINCIAL ENGINEER. : Dr. Monro moved, " that, in order to carry out the expressed wishes of the Council with reference to a Provincial Engineer, the Superintendent be requested to direct the Provincial Solicitor to prepare and submit to the Council a draft bill giving legal authority for the appointment of such a department." Mr. Mackay seconded the motion. The Provincial Solicitor thought that there was no occasion to pass a bill; it would only be so much waste paper. The Superintendent had the power to place an amount on the estimates for the salary of such an officer. Mr. Saunders opposed the motion, and said that it was not desirable to make such a parade, and incurring expense in passing a bill which would be of ha use whatever. If the passing of tlie bill was to hold the Superintendent more responsible for the actions of a public officer, he

would not have ■ the least objection to it, but so long as the Council had the power over the Appropriation Act it \vas useless passing it. Mr. Parker and Mr. Sharp opposed the motion. Dr. Monro rose and said that he felt great, surprise at many of the remarks which had fallen from some of the hon. members. It was the duty of the Council to consider what departments were necessary. The question was, could the Superintendent create a department without submitting the same to the consideration of the Council. The motion was put and the Council divided. Ayes, 9. Noes, 11. ■ Mr. Hewetson Mr. Saunders Marsden Dodson Kelling Simmonda Mackay Baigenfc Gibbs Parker Sinclair Dr. Renwiek Dr. Monro Mr. Sharp Mr. Curtis . Wemyss Vyvyan Wells The Provincial Secretary The Provincial Solicitor. The motion was lost. VOTE OF SUPPLY. The Provincial* Secretary moved for a Vote of Supply for the month of April, amounting to £1000. . :... Mr. Vyvyan seconded the motion. After some remarks from Mr. Saunders, The Provincial Seoretary made an amendment, that the month of May be also included, and that the sum be i&OOO. Agreed to. BOARD OF WORKS MEMORIAL. Dr. Renwick moved, " that a Select Committee be appointed to take into consideration the memorial of the Board of Works; such committee to consist of Mr. Curtis, Mr. Wells, Mr. Sharp, the Provincial Solicitor' and the mover." Before going further he wished to state to the Council, that by some blunder or other the name of Mr. Sinclair had been omitted. He wished to make an amendment, that Mr. Sinclair be included in | the committee. Mr. Kelling said that it would be a one-sided committee. The amendment was put and carried. Dr. Renwick said that it was thought by the inhabitants in Trafalgar-street that the ditch required covering in and other improvements. The money would have to be advanced by the Board of Works, but in the course of six years the money would be returned. In appointing the committee he had excluded the country members purposely, as he understood that they wished to stand aloof on this question. Mr. Wells seconded the motion. Mr. Kelling had heard the act read. It was true the Government had not to pay the money for the improvements in Trafalgar-street, the owners of the property would have to pay. But the Government was responsible; and it was not certain how long the Board would stand. He would move as an amendment, that the Speaker, Mr. Gibbs, and the mover be added to the committee. The amendment was put and agreed to. Motion as amended was also put and carried. Mr. Gibbs asked the Provincial Secretary " whether it is the intention of the Provincial Government to withdraw the suburban lands of Collingwood and Milnthorpe from sale, according to the vote of this Council of April 26th last." He was induced to ask this question on account of having some resolutions forwarded to him from Collingvvood. The Provincial Secretary considered the question quite unnecessary; the Council had expressed a wish that the lands should be withdrawn, which was accordingly done. DOG NUISANCE ACT. The Provincial Solicitor moved "for leave to bring in a bill to amend the Dog Nuisance Act." His reason for bringing forward this motion was to enable those who lost their tickets to renew them on payment of a small fee. The Provincial Secretary seconded the motion. Agreed to, find the bill read a first time. The Council then adjourned.