Provincial council.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 569, 17 March 1870, Page 2

Provincial council.

; ■ - ' -7T — *•> . . '. Wednesday, March 16. The Speaker took the chair at fire o'clock. Messrs Thornton and Bray were examined as to the route proposed by the Government. At tM conclusion- of 'their evidence; ; Mr Brown "inovetf • ri'n^anreridnientf to the 'effect that, after leaving Addington, the line take aa straight a route to Rangiora as possible. A long discussion ensued.' The house then divided on the amendment, L which-was lost by 24 to ■*, and the four first were , ultimately cirjried in the following form :— That this Council is of oinion that the Northern Railway should commence from the Addington Station on the Southern Railway ; and from thence along the line determined by the Great Northern Railway Act, 1864. That it shall follow Boys' direct Kanglora Road to a point at or near the westernmost corner of Section No. 930; thence f allowing Curved line to the road north-west of the VNativ© Reserve, i and along that xoad to its jancttbn with (he

Rangiora and Kaiapoi Road. ','■ Th&fc t|i necessary powers for thcr construction of the line should >be sought from the General Assembly at its approaching session. That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to take immediate steps fcr the purchase of the land required for the railway, wherever the offers made by the owners are considered reasonable. That wherever the owners of lands required consent to take compensation in waste lands under the' 42nd clause of Waste Lands Tßegu^ latioßs, the Government should arrange accordingly, provided that no lands to be ' so taken in compensation should be taken to the South of the Rangitata rirer."

On the next resolution,—" That immediate steps should be taken to procure from England the necessary rails and the iron work for the construction of the bridge " being moved,

Mr Brown moved that the committee report progress^with leave to sit again. A division was taken, and the motion was lost by 15 to 10. .

On the suggestion of Mr Hawkes the Government agreed to strike out the words " from England " from the resolution in order that it might afford the opportunity of purchasing colonial made materials, if such could be obtained.

The question of reporting progress was again raised on the ground that it was important to know before passing the resolution how or of what materials the Government proposed to construct the bridges, and | that the information laid before the Council on that head waa insufficient. A protracted discussion ensued in which two other divisions were taken, but the motion for reporting progress was lost on each occasion. Mr Brown then rose to speak against time, when a large number of members left the chamber. Mr Inglis thereupon moved that the house be counted, when bon. members who had only adjourned to the lobby, returned, and the discussion was renewed. Another motion for reporting progress was then made, but being out of order from the same member having proposed the same motion within fifteen minutes previous, it fell to the ground. Mr Jollie then gave way on behalf of the Government, and moved the same motion, which was carried without opposition.

Notices of motion were then given, and the House adjourned at 1.45 a.m.