LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume VI, Issue 596, 10 July 1863, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Last night Mr. Goodman brought up a petition (having above 70 signatures appended,) from the butchers of Nelson, showing that the public wei-e subject to.additiona 1 charges, and themselves to great inconvenience, through the requirements of'the act, and praying that the same be! so amended as to allow of the erection of slaughter-houses on the mud-flat, where several appropriate sites existed.' Mr. Thompson brought up the petition of William Sparks, and moved that it be referred to the Compensation Committee, which was agreed tOi Mr. Saunders brought up the report of the. Standing Orders committee. Mr. Baigent's question respecting the intention of the Superintendent with regard to the proclamation of Trunk Lines of road, was answered by the Provincial Solicitor to the effect that the proclamation would be issued in the next Gazette. Mr. Goodman obtained leave for a Bill to amend "The Bridle Eoads Act, 1860," for the purpose of assessing sheep and cattle travelling on the Great South Road. Mr. Baigent asked if the Government was about to introduce, a measure this session to prevent the killing of cattle and sheep prevalent in several districts ? The Provincial Solicitor said the Government were prepared to assist all in their power, but it was a subject that required some time to consider. Mr. Elliott withdrew his motion, respecting rents for Public Lands anil Reserves to be paid over to the Board of Works, to bring it in in another shape, and his motion for the adoption of the Report on the Gold Bonus was displaced by an amendment of the Provincial Solicitor to refer it back to the committee for further consideration. The Eeport of the Committee recommending £250 as compensation to Mr. H. Martin, for a road was, after two ineffectual amendments to increase it by Dr. Monro, put and passed. '■■'■" The Supplementary Estimates sent down last Wednesday evening were passed, but on the item of .£lO for Deputy Auditor disallowed by the Superintendent, Mr. Pollock moved, "This Council regrets the decision come to by his Honor upon the subject of the salary of the Deputy Auditor and respectfully requests his Honor to reconsider the subject." Motion put and carried on a division: ayes, 10; noes, 6. Mr. Pollock moved the adoption of the Report on the Government Wharf for additional works requiring a further vote of £800* Question put and passed. A grant of £50 for the purposes of an Agricultural" Association at Motueka was, on the motion of Mr. Macmahon, agreed to. The Council then adjourned; :

_.see _ on-what grounds the Council should regret the rejection by the Superintendent of the recommendation to pay £10 a year to the Deputy Auditor. The money is a very, small consideration. It is not the sum we care for-but the principle the vote infringes. Popular bodies like Provincial Qouncils are supposed to hate sinecures and abhor "jobs." Now, we ask, is it not creating a sinecure to give a stated salary to a man who has never been required to' do a" single service, who may never be required to do anything, and for whom, if he should have work to perform, payment is provided by the Audit Act? The Deputy Auditor was appointed a|ad accepted on the terms of that. Act. The proposed payment contingent on the performance of work was no doubt too small, but the rate should have been increased/and not a salary ■■*■■■ *> ~ • ■"■ i fixed for work that never might be done. ; "We are strong advocates for people being well paid, but they should give an equivalent for the money, and mere personal considerations ought never to be permitted to stand in the way of this excellent rule* or to influence a single vote on the subject. We echo ,the regret expressed last night by a majority of the Council in this matter, but our regret is that they should have given cause for" their own mistaken sorrow. .. >