THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 97, 23 March 1866, Page 3

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, March 14. The Speaker took the chair shortly after two i>.in. I'ivseut — The Provincial Secretary, the Provincial Solicitor, Messrs. Bartl, Hawkes, Dixou, Stoddart, Clark, Hargreaves, Hayhurst, J. 1). Maepherson, Ayusley, C. Wilson. Maude, Shand, W. Wilsou, Fyfe, Lance, Hornbrook, Hall, J. T. Peacock, Uaswick, Buckley, aud Wyuu Williams. The Chaplain having read prayers, the miuutes of the previous sitting were read aud confirmed. THE NORTH ROAD. Mr. Beswtck, before the House proceeded to the order of the day, wished to ask a question from the Government. During the late session he had asked if it were the intention of the Government to do anything towards repairing the >iorbu road, aud had been answered that it was the intention to proceed with it as soon as practicable, but as yet nothing had been done. A sum of money had also been placed upou the estimates, for damming back the Waiuiakariri, at Sneyd's corner, Kauipoi Island, so as to pro- j tect the township of Kaiapoi. A considerable unauthorised exjteiuliture had, however, taken place, m another place, m order to protect Curistchurch. lie nhould like to know why the one had been done, and the other neglected. The Provincial Secretary said that the hon. member should have given notice of his intention of asking the question ; the Government would then have been prepared to answ er him, as it was, he was unprepared to give an ' answer to the hon. member.

Mr. Beswick had yesterday no intention of putting tbe question, but the subject had been brought under his notice. He was much surprised that the Government would not answer the question. PROVINCIAL COCN'CIL EXTENSION ORDINANCE. Mr. Hall moved the suspension of standing orders, so as to allow of this Bill being passed through all its stages. Leave was granted, and the Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. The Bill was read a second time, and the House resolved itself iuto committee on the BilL Mr. Beswick m the chair. The Provincial Solicitor, m reply to the question put to him yesterday by the. hou. member for Westland, said that the matter could ouly be settled satisfactorily by the Supreme Court. It was possible that no difficulty would arise at the present time relative to the matter, but eventually one would be sure to occur. The land m the township of Hokitika and Greymouth was about to be sold, and these townships having been withdrawn from the provisions of the Goldlields Act, altered the basi3 on which their franchise rested, as no more business licenses would be issued to holders of land m those townships. The Council could not deal with tbe matter, it rested entirely with the General Assembly. Mr. Bauff drew the attention of the House to the very unpleasant position m which the members for Westland had been placed during the late session. It had been competent for any member to have called the attention of the Speaker to the fact that there were strangers m the House, and he and his colleague could have been expelled. He hoped that some opinion would be come to by the House, so as to place matters on a more satisfactory basis. Mr. Hall said the Council could not do anything m the matter. Action should be taken at j the next session of the General Assembly by the Guldfields member. Mr. Ckackoft Wilson said that during the last few years four fresh Acts had been introduced into the General Assembly, and each, if his memory served him rightly, had been initiated by a Goldlields member, and had no doubt that another would be brought forward next session. Ho should like to see the present measure swept away, and an entirely fresh one passed. Mr. Aynsley said that the Council had done all m its power for Wcstlaud by increasing the number of members to five. The subject then dropped. The Bill was passed through committee without alteration, reported to the House, which resumed, read a third time, and passed. DISSOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL. Mr. Hall said that the Provincial Council Extension Ordinance would be forwarded by the tiarlii'st opportunity for the Governor's signature, ami that it was the intention of his Honor the Superintendent to recommend the immediate dissolution of the present Council. The rolls were already printed, and the elections could take place immediately his Excellency had given his assent to the Bill. PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. The SrEAKEK said that his attention had been drawn to the hardships experienced by the members for Westland and the remote districts. The present honorarium was not when first introduce^!, supposed to refer to members coming from so great a distance. He wished to know ] whether members were to be paid only for such days as the Council had actually sat, and whether their travelling expenses were also to be met. The Provincial Secretary said that the Government admitted this great diHiculties experienced bothjjy"" the members for Westland and Tiiuara/tfut they could not go bej'ond the Act inar^Jntiug additional subsidies. J hJtr&IAUDE, although objecting to the payof members altogether, thought that some allowance should be made m the present case. The members referred to had to come a great distance, and it was certainly not their fault that the House had adjourned for the Christmas holidays, and for another week during the races. It was impossible for them to have returned to their homes during these recesses, and consequently, as the House had made the adjournments, they should be paid the same as if the House had been sitting. Mr. Wynn Williams was altogether opposed to the payment of members. It was a duty undertaken voluntarily, and consequently no pay should be sought. Mr. Beswick thought tho members for Westland entitled to every consideration. The district was one which had only lately been settled, and it could not be expected that wealthy men could at first be found willing and able to devote their money and attention for the welfare of the district. The present members might be said to represent the people, and no impediment should be placed m their way. Mr. Hayiiurst thought that if the next Council was held at Timaru or the West Coast, there would probably be a falling off m the attendance of the members for Christchurch. Personally he did not care for any honorarium. Mr. Cracroft Wilson said that the Canterbury members had for years been compelled to go to Auckland when the General Assembly was sitting. He was opposed to the system of giving honoraria, and had fought against it all his life. If members required to be paid, their constituents should do it. In future he hoped all payment would be stopped altogether. The matter then dropped. MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT. The following message was then read by the Speaker from his Honour the Superintendent, proroguing the Council : "Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council. " I thank you for the prompt attention which you have given during the short session to the special business submitted for your consideration. " I now declare that the Council stands prorogued." The session accordingly terminated.