PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2107, 14 June 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 1873. The Eleventh Sitting of the Provincial Counoil was opened by the Speaker taking the chair at 2 p.m. Present : Messrs. Gledhill, Elliot, Weyer. gang, Lawrence, Richmond, Wbitcombe, Wells, Connett, Upjohn, Curtis, and Syrne. Absent: Messrs. W. Dale, W. Bayly, Jan., and Callaghan. THE CRUSHING MACHINE. Mr. Whitcombe presented a petition from Mr. Jamea Gibson, asking to be allowed to remove the crashing machine to Mr. Leys' foundry, in Devon-street, and to have the use of the same. The petition was received and read, and its consideration mads an order of the day for the next sitting. CLAIMS AGAINST THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT. Mr. Whitcombb, in reply to a question, stated that hia Honor, daring the last session, had brought before the General Government's notice that several items of expenditure had been made a charge against this Province which should not have been. The Government, however, had stated that a balance sheet would have to be prepared in a regolar form, when the matter would be thoroughly gone into. EXERCISE OP SCRIP OVER THE NQATIUARU LAND. Mr. Whitcombe, in reply to the question as to whether the Provinoial Government had received any intimatiou from tho General Government as to handing over the Ngatimara land to the Province, aud, if so, what steps were intended to be taken, to enable the Militia and Volnnteer scrip to be exercised, said that it was originally his Honor's intention to have applied to the Assembly daring the ensuing session for power to exercise the Militia and Volunteer sorip in the purchase of confiscated land, bat since he had been in Wellington his Honor had mentioned the subject, and he (Mr. Whitcombo) had received a telegram, dated 3rd June, in which the Superintendent says — " Before leaving on Thnrsday, hope to settle matters rotative to tbe exercising of the volunteer scrip." His Honor, however, had not left Wellington so early aa was intended, and the day before he had received another telegram from him, as follows: — " Militia and Volnnteer sorip matter, now under consideration of tha Government." He hoped soon to be able to state that the decision of the Government was favourable to bis Honor's application. BRIDGE OVER THE PATEA BIVER. Mr. Gledhill moved, " That a respectfal addross be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to urge upon tbe General Government tbe great importance of bridging the Patea River at Carlyle without delay." He said it was admitted on all sides that Patea was a rising and would in tiole be a flourishing district. The Government was evidently aware of it, and bad already spent a coueiderable sum of money on roads and bridges on this side of the district, so that it might be connected with other settlements. But Patea was nearer to Wanganui, and there at present existed, unbridged, a river which pre» rented easy communication with that town, consequently interfering with the progress of this thriving settlement. The resolution he was going to move was one he felt they all would cordially agree with, and he believed that the General Government only required the matter to be brought before its notice to at once see the necessity of commencing forthwith suoh an important work. The Government had already bridged every river of importance with the exception of three between New Ply month and Paiea, and for those, he believed, tenders were to be called shortly. Mr. Upjohn seconded, and Mr. Whitcombk said he thoroughly approved of the resolution. Mr. Syme said that not only should tha members belonging to Taranaki support the matter, but the members for the Wanganui District shonld be also enlisted in the cause. The Wellington support might also be obtained. He would, therefore, move, as an addition, " that the members for the Wanganni and Wellington Districts be added lo the resolution, with a view of getting their assistance in the matter." Mr. Elliot did not see any occasion to make the alteration in the resolution. Patea was more connected to Wanganui than here, and ha thought that if his Honor merely called the attention of tbe Government to the matter, it would see the neoessity of at once proceeding to erect the bridge. Mr. Syaie said he would withdraw his amend* ment. He merely wished it to be moved that the matter might be brought in the strongest manner before tbe Government. Mr. Glbdhill replied, and the resolution was carried unanimously. HUA AND WAJWAKAIHO SCHOOL-HOUSE. Mr. Whitcombe moved, •• That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him, in accordance with resolution of Council of the 26th February, 1873, to authorise the expenditure of a sum of £30 from general contingencies in aid of the building of a Bohool-house in No. 12 Road District, on condition that tbe settlers raise £20 towards such building, and that the site for and the erection of such building be under the supervision of the Education Board." He then explained that the reason ha moved this resolution was that in the hurry of passing the estimates this sum had been omitted to be placed on them, and therefore be now asked for it to be taken out of the sum Bet aside for .general contingencies. Mr. Connett seconded it, but at the same time asked if it was worded in a similar manner to the resolution that was previously passed by the Provincial Counoil. Mr. Whitcombe replied that it was, with the exception of putting the supervision of the building into the hands of the Education Board, whereas the former resolution gave the power to the Council. The Superintendent was chairman of tbe Board, and therefore it would amount to tbe same thing. Mr. Wells said that the settlers of the district had raised £20 by subscription, and one settler had offered to give a thousand feet of timber to build the school, which was to be used as a meeting house or chapel. The settlers had applied to the Board for assistance, which had been granted them, but the Board was going to have the school-house erected in a part of the settlement that would be of little use to the majority of the settlors, and had totally ignored the wishes of the School Committee in the matter. Mr. Upjohn said that the Board wished to put the school-house on a piece of land owned by the Board, iv a central portion of the district, and uot at 000 end of it. Mr. Wells stated that where the Board were going to place tbe school-house was three miles from the lower end of the district. The proposed site, as decided by the Education Board, was not supported by the local committee. Mr. Upjohn entered into a long argument as to the boundary of the district. Mr. Gledhill said a few words in defence of the site chosen by the Board, and the resolution was then put and carried. MEETINGS OF RATEPAYERS OP ROAD BOARDS. Mr. Whitcombe moved, " That the meetings of the ratepayers of the several road districts for the election of commissioners and auditors, and the levying of a rate for the year from Ist July, 1873, to 30th June, 187-1, shall be held in tho month of July, and that tho minimum rate shall be threepence per acre in the Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, otb, 6th, 7th, Bih, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 10th, 17th, 19th, 20th, 2lst, 22nd, aud 23rd road districts, aud twopence per aore for the 18th, 24th, 25tb, and 26th road dißtriots." He briefly explained that the rates being in the Ordinance 6d. per acre, it was usual every year to alter tbo minimum rate to something lower. Mr. Elliot seconded the resolution, saying he could see no objootion to it. Mr. Curtis moved as an amendment, " That the ' threepenny' rate be reduced to ' twopence/ aud the 'twopenny* rate to ' one penny.'"

Mr. Connett seconded tho amendment, and said he did so because he thought that the ratepayers should have the power to Btrike what rate they thought proper. Mr. Upjohn said he would support the original resolution. Mr. W&YERO.ANO wonld support the amendment, as he considered tho districts should fix the rate themselves. Mr. Syme pointed oat that if the Council did not fix a minimum rate sufficiently high to do tho Work required by the districts, the bon<% fi&c eet^ tiers would be the sufferers ; for, at the annual meeting of ratepayers, the land owners in town m&do a point of attending, and voting the lowest rate allowed by law. Mr. Glephill was for leaviog it to the ratepayers what tho rate should be. He would support the amendment. Mr. Wells would vote for the amendment, as then the ratepayers could tax themselves or not, as they thought proper. Mr. Lawrence said ho thought that the sum of threepence per acre for the districts named was not too high for a minimum rate, and it "would be as well for the Council to fix that sntn. Mr. WiitTCOMBE having replied, the amendment was put, and a division being called for, it resulted as follows :—: — Ayes, 6 : Messrs. Connett, Curtis, Gledhill, Weyergang, and Wells. Noes, 6 : Messrs. Elliot, Lawrence, Richmond, Syme, Upjohn, and Whitcombe. The original resolution was then put and carried. PHEASANT SHOOTING. Mr. Syme moved, " That a respectful address be presented to his Honor tho Superintendent, requesting him to apply to the Governor to have this Province proclaimed nnder the Acts for the protection of animals, so far as regards the shooting of pheasants." He said the season was too far advanced for tho Act to take effect this year ; but that it would be ready for the next reason. Mr. Whitcombe seconded the resolution, which, after a few remarks from two or three other speakers, was agreed to. SALE OF SECTION OF LAND AT PUKEABUHB. Mr. Whitcombe moved, " That his Honor the Superintendent be empowered to sell or exohange Sectiou No. 37 in the Pukearuhe District to Thomas Bayly, jun., at a rate calculated on the value of other lands in the same district, as realised at previous sales." He said the whole of the district was now in the hands of two or three settlers, and the Council was asked to dispose of the section so as to enable the Government to close a road. Mr. Elliot seconded it, and after a long and irregular disenssion as to whether it wonld not be better to exchange the section for another on the edge of the block, Mr. Whitcombe agreed to amend his resolution as above, when it was passed. CAPITATION SCHOOL GRANT EESCINDED. Mr. Whitcomde moved, " That the following .resolution for regulating the assistance given by •* the Provincial Government to schools, passed bjp the Provincial Council on the 24th April, 1866, be rescinded. 1. That all schools opened in situations approved of by the Superintendent shall be entitled to Government aid, to an amount of 15s. per annum in respect of every pupil between the ages of five and ten years, who shall pay a school fee not exceeding Cs. Gd. per quarter, .and of 20s. per annum in respeot of every pupil above the age of ten years who shall pay a school fee not exceeding 10s. per quarter, and in each instance be admitted to such schools aa hereinafter stated." He said that the Education Board thinking it advisable to alter the system hitherto adopted of giving capitation grants, it was necessary for the Council to rescind the resolution. Mr. Upjoiin seconded the motion, and made some remarks respecting the list of the names of the 'Children receiving the capitation grant, which had not been revised for two years. Mr. Richmond thought that, whilst the vote of the Council for educational purposes was so small, if they could not trust the seven or eight gentlemen with the erpendUnro of tho £200 or £300, they had better not have a Board at all. Ml*. Elliot said that although he did not wish in any way to censure the Board, still, he thought it had uot done its duty in allowing persons who owned land and had money out at interest to receive aid for their chiidrens' schooling. Mr. La whence was sorry to see the list when published. He was told it was not by the order of the Board, but who ever did publish it was to blame for publishing it in the way it was done. It had caused mnch heart-burning amongst the teachers and parents in several districts. The capitation it was thought was given to assist the teachers, whose salaries were small, in thinly populated districts, and not to assist the parents who sent the children to the schools. Mr. -SrAiß said h& quite agreed with all the last speaker had said, and the sooner the Board remedied the system they were going on the better. He wonld rescind the resolution, aud let the Board use the allowance from the Council as it liked. Let them forget the past, and go on better for the future. He (Mr. Syme) thought that tbe capitation grant was given to assist the teachers, and he had never seen the printed paper the teachers were supposed to get signed by parents askiug assistance from the Government to educate their children. A few other members spoke on the subject, and the resolution was agreed to. ROAD BIVEttSION ORDINANCE. Mr. WaiTCoiißE moved, " That this bill be read a second time," which was agreed to. CATTLE IMPOUNDING ORDINANCE. This bill was read a second time in Committee, and made an order of the day for the next sitting. CLEUOW SCRIF OBUINANCE. Mr. Whitcombe said that this Ordinance was drafted in accordance with a resolution of Conncil passed early in the session. The Ordinance, when passed, would then be made a subject to be dealt with by the General Assembly. He would move the second reading. Mr. Glebhill seoouded it, and it was agreed to. The Council then adjourned antil Wednesday next, at 10 a.m.