Provincial Councial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 759, 28 October 1870, Page 4

Provincial Councial.

Thubbdat, Oct. 27. The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock. PETITIONS. Mr J. S. Williams presented a pc ition from certain owners and occu iers of land in the Heathcote ValLy, requesting an inquiry into the drainage of the district, which had been obs ructed by the construction of the Lyttelton and Christchurch railway. The petition was read nnd received. Mr Maskell presented a petition from the Ashley Road Board and residents in the district, praying that the Northern Railway might be carried across the river As-bley at a point indicated in the p.tition. The petition was read and received. HOSPITAL COMMITTEE. Mr L. Walker brought up the report of the Hospital Committee, which was read as follows: — <( The Committee appointed to examine into the management of the Christchurch Hospital have the honour to report as follows : — 11 They have examined Drs Turnbull, Prins, Powell, Donald, Campbell, and Trevor; they have also visited the Hospital, and, so far as a cursory examination justifies them in expressing an opinion, have pleasure in saying that the house arrangements seem to be such as to meet the. requirements and comfort of the patients. " The present medical and surgical staff of the Hospital consists of one visiting physician, one oculist, one visiting, and one resident surgeon ; this, in ( the opinion of your committee, is not sufficient. They think that to obviate the possibility of the slightest injustice being done to patients in cases of extreme emergency, it would be desirable and they therefore beg to recommend that the staff should consist of two visiting physicians, two visiting surgeons, an oculist, and pathologist, and a resident surgeon. Such an enlargement of the staff would have the further advantage of affording to the profession generally more opportunities for the practical study of medical and surgical science. " Your committee recommend that the visiting staff of the Hospital should hold their respective offices for three years, and that such arrangements should be made that each physician and surgeon in their turn should hare exclusive care of all cases that may occur duriDg respective periods of three months. " Your committee, however, are anxious that it should be understood that the present limited staff, so far as their numbers allow, have satisfactorily discharged their various duties. " The efficiency of the Hospital would, in the opinion of your committee, be increased, and the early establishment of a medical school be anticipated, by the establishment of an independent pathological department in connection with the Hospital for the preservation and arrangement of specimens as they may be obtainable. " In the opinion of your committee, it would be desirable that such members of the medical profession as may not for the time being be on the staff, should have free access to the Hospital, subject to such regulations as may prevent any interference with its arrangements or discipline. " Finally, your committee deem it part of their duty to express their regret at the unnecessarily strong language used by certain members of the Christchurch medical profession when bringing the existing arrangements of the Hospital staff before the notice of his Honor the Superint.-ndent. " L. Walker, 11 Chairman." CAPTAIN SPROUL'S PETITION. Mr Richardson moved that the name of Mr Buckley be struck out from the Committee on the Petition of Alexander Sproul, and the name of Mr Tosswill be inserted instead. The motion was agreed to. TIMARC AND TEMUKA RAILWAY. Mr Ormsbt moved fi That, in the opinion of this Council, it is highly desirable that the survey of the line for the Timaru and Temuka Railway should be immediately commenced, and that the cuttings near Timaru should be undertaken during the ensuing winter. That bis Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to forward a copy of the foregoing resolutions to the Colonial Government. Mr Rhodes said he had great p'ea9ure in seconding the motion. The Hon. J. Hall said that the hon. members who had proposed and seconded the resolution, could not be more anxious than the Government in a desire to see this important work undertaken as quickly as possible. If the bob. member would withdraw his motion until such time as the whole question of railway extension was brought before the Council, he would give him his assurance that the Government would do all they could to carry out the object which the hon. member had in view. Mr Ormsbt, under the circumstances, withdrew his resolution REBERVES FOR RAILWAY PURPOBES. Mr Rhodes moved — That this Council recommend His Honor the Superintendent to make the following reserves for railway vuipose: — Twenty-five aores, more or less, situate in the Christchurch district, bounded on the north eastward by the road on the south side of the section 669, on the eastward by the road forming the western boundary of section 7886, on the north- westward by the continuation of the road forming the eastern boundary of section 4899, and on the southwestward by a line at right angles to the latter road, so ac to contain the above quantity, and numbered 1283 (in red) on the maps of the chief surveyor. Mr Kennaway said the Government quite agreed with the resolution. The motion was agreed to. TIMBER ON BANKS PENINSULA. The following resolution was further considered-: — That a reapeotful address- be pre-

sented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to revoke and alter the proclamation of the third da? of November, 1869, by which the whole province of Canterbury was proclaimed a district, which it shall not be lawful for the Waste Lands Board to include in any license to cut timber in su h way as to allow licences to be granted for the cutting of timber on Banks' Peninsula, with amendment thereon : — That the words be omitted 2nd line "and alter;" sth, 6tb, and 7th, •' in such a way as to allow licenses to be granted for the cutting of timber on Banks Peninsula." Both the motion and the amendment were negatived on the voices, after a short discussion. EDUCATION BILL. The House went into committee on this Bill, with Mr Beswick in the chair. The Bill was advanced a stage, and the chairman, on the motion of Mr Wynn Williams, reported progress, with leave to sit again on Tuesday next. The Council adjourned at 9.55 until noon to-day. _^___^__^____^ —