Provincial Council.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 311, 13 May 1869, Page 2

Provincial Council.

♦ Wednesday, Mat 12. The Speaker took the chair at five o'clock. The following members were present : — Messrs Montgomery, W. Williams, Jollie, Lee, Brown, Matson, Rhodes, Hargreaves, Buchanan, Macpherson, Onnsby, Maskell, Moore, Hall, Aynsley, A. Duncan, Buckley, Knight, Fotts, Birch, J. S. Williams, Waeckerle, Mallock, Gray, Dixon, Hornbrook, Studholme, and Hawkes. PAPER. Sir Jollie laid the following paper on the table :— Supplementary return on the state of the tunnel by Mr Thornton. LYTTELTON RAILWAY STATION. Mr MrninAY- Aynsley asked the Secretary of Public Works if it is the intention of the Government to brlug in a bill for leasing land at the Lyltelton railway station or to build Government stores for goods and produce. Mr Jollii: replied that his Honor the Superintendent had already received a Crown grant for the reclaimed laud, and if application were made, the Government would consider the advisability of granting leases of a certain portion o£ this land for public stores. So far as the Government were concerned, they wished in every way to promote public traffic, and to afford facilities for its promotion. At the samo time, however, they had also to exercise great care and caution in lespect to the expenditure of public money. THE MAORI RON. The following notice lapsed in the absence of Mr Dixon : — " That a return be laid on the table of this House showing the number of cattle slaughtered on the Mnori run, or that have died there from the effect of pleuropnuiitnonia, and also of the number slaughtered for beef, and of the number still remaining on the Maori run. Mr Jollie aaid the return had been prepared, and he now begged to lay it on the table. HIVER HALSWELL. The following notice lapsed in the absence o£ Mr Knight :— " That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent praying him to take immediate steps towards having that portion of the Hiver Halswell which, is in the Little River road district cleared of watercress and other obstructions." SECOND READINGS. Mr Wynn Williams moved the second reading of " The -beep Ordinance, 1864, Amendment Bill, 1869." The alterations had been suggested by several persons in the North, and were also strongly recommended by Mr Boullon, the Chief sr.heep Inspector. Hie Amendment Bill mive greater facilities than exia'ed hitherto for the introduction of sheep from other provinces and countries. The biil was read ■> second time, and ordered to bo committed presently. Mr Williams moved the second reading of " The Trespass of Cattle Hill, 1869 " The bill was read a second time, and ordered to bo committed presently. Mr Williams moved the second reading of " The Fencing Bill, 1869." The bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed presently. Mr Williams moved the second reading of " The u'oads Bill, 1860.' 1 Amongst the proposed alterations', there was one giving Road Boards power to divide their districts into wards for electoral purposes only. The most important alteration, however, was that'giving power to the Superintendent to divide a Road Board into two or more llodd Boards. Mr Knight moved, as an amendment, that ths bill be referred to a Select Committee, to report on Friday next. The hon. member considered that the bill should give power to the Road Boards to clear out water-courses at the cost of the parties through whose lands they ran, and to inflict a penalty for stopping up a water-course. The bill required grave consideration, and it was with a view lo making it as effective as possible that he moved for the appointment of a Select ComI millet 1 , consisting of Messrs Lee, Maskell, i Keunaway, Waeckerle, J. S. Williims, and ! the mover. Mr Dixon supported the amendment. Mr Maskell did not think that the pre- ■ sent bill contained all the provisions that were ; nectsaary, or which were recommended by I the committee of !ast session. He considered ! that power should be ijiveti to the Hoad I Boards to make drains through private lands ! i;i cases where such a course was necessary ■ ''■ for the i rottction <>f public property. ! Mr Aynsl-bk also suggested several amend- : ments. ! . Mr J. S. Williams supported the amendment. He did not agree with the opinion ; expressed by the hon. member for Sefton, ! th it Hoad Boards should have power to in- ! terfcre with private lands under the pretext of protecting public property. If it were found necessary to do co, it could be done very easily by first of all getting justices to assess compensation. He noticed a very material alteration in the fifth lino of the suc-nd clause. The words *' every male person of an adult age," &c , were used, thus shutting out female ratepayers from taking part in tlie election of members of Koad Boards. He considered that as no political question would be affected, the word " male" should be struck out. Mr Williams said he had no objection to the bill being referred to a Select Committee, but lie thought that the committee should not consist entirely of hon. members who formed the committee last session. • The Speaker ruled -that the amendment proposed by Mr Knight was premature. It could not be put until the committal of the bill was meved. , The bill was read a second time, Mr Williams moved that it be committed presently; „.'.'. •Mr Knight then moved his amendment. The Hon. G. L. Lee thought that some

new blood should be imported into the committee. Mr Knight declined to amend his pro position. The Hon. G. L. Lee moved as an amendment, that the committee should consist of Messrs Buckley, Hall, Knight, Maskell, Potts, J. S. William^, and the mover. After some discussion, the Hon. G. L. Lee withdrew hi 3 proposition, and moved that the committee be appointed by ballot. The following committee was then appointed by ballot : — Messrs J. S.Williams, G. L. Lee, Maskell, Hall, Kennaway, Waeckerle, and Knight. On the suggestion of Mr J. 53, Williams, the time for bringing up the report of the committee was extended to Tuesday next. LITTLE RIVER RESERVES SALE BILL, 1869. Mr Jolliis rn>ved the second reading of this Bill. He explained that its object was to allow the Superintendent, with the consent of his Executive, to Hell these reserves at the upset price, the proceeds t;> be devoted to making a road to Akaroa. The Bill wns read a second timo, committed, reported with amendments, nud ordered to be read a third time on Thursday. CATTLE TRESPASS BILL. On the motion being put for the committal of this Bill, Mr Hall moved that the Bill be referred to a Select C-.immittee, to report on Friday next ; the committee to consist of Messrs Wynn Williams, A Duncan, Gray, Knight, Studholme, Wilson, and the mover. The amendment was airreed to. FENCING BILL. On the motion of Mr Wynn Williams, the Council went into committee on this Bill; Mr J. S. Williams in the chair. The Bill was ndvanced a stage. SHEEP ORDINA- CE. This bill was read a second time, and its committal made an order of the day for Thursday. Notices of nntion having been given, the Council adjourned until 5 p.m., this day (Thursday.)