Provincial Council.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 443, 15 October 1869, Page 2

Provincial Council.

Thursday, Oct. 14. The Speaker took the chair at five o'clock. The following members were present :— Messrs JolHe, Rhodes, Hornbrook, Wynn Williams, Orrusby, Hillyard, Knight, Potts,

Buchanan, J. S. Williams, Delemain, Fy fe, Brown, Birch, Waeckerle, Matson, Montgomery, Kennaway, Webb, Peacock, Hall, Lee, Moore, Inglis, Macpherson, Wilson, Dixon, A. Duncan. papers: Mr Jollie laid the following papers on the table :— Return of Immigration and Emigration at the port of Lyttelton, from Ist April to 30th Sept., 1868. Copy of requisition from the ratepayers and correspondence relative to the amended division of the Spreydon district. ' THE MAORI PHISONERS. < .Mr Peacock asked the Provincial Secretary if the Government have asked, or intend to ask, the General Government for a portion of the Maori prisoners, to work upon the Lyttelton breakwater. He understood that the Superintendent of Otago was anxious to have some of the Maori prisoners sent down there, and he desired to know if the Provincial Government of Canterbury intended to make a similar application to the General Government. Mr Jollie replied that the . Provincial Government had not made such a request to the General Government. The matter had been : discussed, and it was found that. the c-x-----pense of taking care of the Maori prisoners, and the responsibility, would exceed the value of their labour. If the General Government undertook the responsibility of keeping them, the Provincial Government would feed them, but they would undertuke no responsibility. If put to work upon ihc Breakwater, tiny would even have a far greater chance than at the Chatham Islands of seizing a vessel and making themselves scarce. It was very doubtful that the Provincial Government would apply to the General Government for a portion of the Maori prisoners. THE REPRESENTATION. Mr Ormsby asked the Provincial Solicitor whether it is the intention of the Government to bring in, during the present session, a Provincial Council Representation Amendmeut Ordinance. Mr. Wynn Williams said it would be contrary to order to enter into debateable matter in replying to the question put by the lion, member. The Council would allow him to «ay that a great diversity of opinion existed ■with regard to provincial institutions. It was an acknowledged fact that the outlying districts had not that degree of representation which they ought to have. The Government thought that the most advisable course to pursue would be to appoint a select committee to report upon the best means of amending the representation, so as to give the outlying districts a larger number of members without increasing the representation of the towns. He would give notice that evening for the appointment of a select committee to consider the matter, so that it might be settled. This committee could bring in their report, and a bill could then be brought down, so that the change might be effected before the next election. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Mr Jollib moved the House into committee to conaider the estimates for the year ending Sept. 30, 1870. Mr Montgomery inquired if lion, members, when in committee, would be allowed to discuss the whole financial policy of the Go 'vernment. The Speaker replied that the question was one for the Chairman of Committees. So far as his experience went, he believed that hon. members would be at liberty to discuss the entire financial policy of the Government when in committee. The motion for going into committee was agreed to. Mr Jollie then delivered his financial statement. After some discussion, progress was reported, with leare to sit again on Tuesday next. ' Mr Jollie intimated that the balanceftheet asked for by the hon. member for Heathcote would be laid on the table. ' RESHRVEB. Mr Kennaway moved for a return of all Government reserves that have been leased, specifying the acreage, the amount of rent, length of term, date of lease, and other particulars connected therewith. The motion was agreed to. Noticeß of motion were then given, and the Council adjourned. This Day. The Speaker took the chair at 12 o'clock. The following members were present — Messrs Lee, Rhodes, Dixon, Wynn Williams, Bombrook, Fyfe, Buchanan, Ormsby, Kennaway, Moore, Waeckerle, A. Duncan, Knight, Matson, Montgomery, Peacock, Maskeli, Hilyard, Brown, Potte, J. S. Williams, Hall, Macpherson. EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER RESERVES. Mr Knight asked the Provincial Secretary what has been done with the educational and other reserves. In asking this question, he might state that the information which he wished to obtain was this— to know what •proportion of the reserves was let, and what proportion was still lying idle; also what were the average rents. Mr Jollie stated that he would have been better prepared to answer had the hon. gen- ' tleman given notice of the particulars which he intended to ask for. The Educational { reserves which the Government had power by ■ Ordinance to let for 21 years did not exceed 10,000 acres; these have been advertised as open to tender on lease for 14$ years, on the usual conditions as to cropping, &c. The tenders had been opened, and out of the acreage applied for, not more than between 1000 and 2000 acres had been accepted. In regard to the other reserves, the Government •had not power to let for longer than three years, and these were leased as applied for, generally with the proviso that occupation should be given up at any time they may be

required for the pablic service. The system of requiring tender to be sent in for educational reserves not having been successful iv inducing applications, the Gov rnroent had decided that the Steward of Reserves should receive applications, and should submit them to the Government every month for its decision. ' EXPENDITURE. Mr Peacock, asked for a detailed account of expenditure of £1932 10s 2d, under heaJ of General Contingenciea,.Schedule A, page 6, in Comparative Statement. Also, a detailed accountof expenditure of £1555 12s 3d, under head of Contingencies, Schedule C, page 9, Comparative Statement ? Mr Joi.lie said that the return would be laid on the table. THE REPRESENTATION. Mr Wynn Williams moved that a select comirittee be appointed to consider the question of the representation of the province in this Council ; commitlea to consist of the Hon. John Hall, Mr Ormsby, Mr J. S. Williams, Mr Evans Brown Mr Xennaway, Mr Montgomery, and the mover, with power to call for persons and papers, to report on Wednesday, the 19th instant. He ha.l putj these names on the notice, as he thought that they would represent the different interests of the province. He had given two members to the South — Messrs Ormsby and Kennaway— one to the North, and the remainder to the middle or central part of the proviuce. It had been mentioned to him that a greater number from the North should be put down. It would therefore be necessary to increase the number; If he might be allowed to give an opinion, he would say that the outlying districts were not so fully represented as they ought to be in proportion to the thickly populated portion of the province, considering the changes that had taken place within the last eight or ten years. If the Council partook more of the nature of^a municipal body lie believed that it would conduce morj towards j local control. He considered that the outlying districts should be more fully represented than was at present the case, because they had increased both in population and value of property. , The Hon. G L. Lee inquired what work it was proposed the committee should do. In his opinion, it should also be empowered to consider the question as to the reduction of the number of members of Council. Mr Dixon considered that it would be well, in any amendments that might be determined, to make the rate roll serve as the electoral roll. Mr Knight moved that the committee be appointed by ballot. ilr Brown thought it necessary that the number of the committee should be increased, and he moved that it be fixed at nine. A ballot was then taken, and resulted in the appointment of the following members: — Messrs Hall, Ormsby, Brown, J. H. Williams, Kennaway, Knight, Montgomery, Lee, and Wynn Williams. RESEItTES. On the motion of Mr Jollie, the Council went into committee to consider the reserves made temporarily since the last session of the Council. The reserves were approved of, and after notices of motion were given, the Council adjourued until 5 p.m. on Tuesday.