Provincial Councial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 766, 5 November 1870, Page 3

Provincial Councial.

Friday, Nov. 4. The Speaker took the chair at noon. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. Mr Beswick brought up the report of the committee appointed to report as to the breaking out of pleuro-pneumonia on the Maori run, Woodend, and the claims for compensation by owners of cattle. Mr Dixon brought up the report of the committee on the Waimakariri district. The committee could not recommend any immediate revision' of the boundaries of the dis trict. governor's bay road. Major HOBNBROOK moved the House into committee to consider tbe following resolution : — That a respectful address be presented to bis Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the estimates ' the sum of £50, to repair and maintain that portion of Governor's Bay Road running through the Native reserve at Raupaki." The hon. member said that if this part of the road was not kept in a proper state of repair, it would prevent communication by vehicle between the Head of the .Bay' and Lyttelton, and the settlers there would be unable to bring their produce to market. He ought, indeed, to have asked for more than £50. ■ Kir Richardson seconded the resolution. The present application had nothing to do with the motion that had been moved by him on a previous night. The sum applied for by him was for the repair and maintenance of that portion of the road up to the boundary of the Native Reserve. Mr Kennaway said that this was one of the special cases which not only this Road Board, but ' other Road Boards had to deal with. It would be extremely inconvenient if 8 mall sums like these were applied for on behalf of this and that Road Board. The matter 'could he dealt with when the Government brought forward the allocation of the grant for Road Boards, and he could assure the hon. member that this case would receive the immediate attention of the Government, and be treated as a special case. He would therefore suggest the propriety of withdrawing the resolution. Major Hornbrook said he would withdraw the resolution on the understanding that the amount would be specially voted for the object indicated therein. Leave was given to withdraw the motion. CATTLB TRESPASS AND FENCING ORDINANCES. On the motion of Mr Maskell, the House went into committee to consider the following resolution : — That it is desirable that the following alterations be made in the Trespass of Cittle Ordinance, 1869, and the Fencing Ordinance, 1869 : — In the Cattle Trespass Ordinance : An amendment to clause 4, to shew who is to decide the amount; of penalty, between five shillings and twenty shillings, in cases of cattle trespassing on roads and thoroughfares. - An amendment to clause 5, last proriso, requiring the owner or occupier of land to reside within three miles from the pound in order to impound cattle trespassing on his land. An amendment to clause 26,' providing that the register of brands referred to in that clause, be furnished to the poundkeeper by tbe Government. — In the Fencing Ordinance : An amendment to clause 7, providing that the occupier of Crown lands adjoining freehold land proposed to be fenced shall pay half the cost of such fence?, this amount to be repaid to him if such adjoining land be afterwards purchased from tbe Crown by the purchaser of such land. After considerable discussion, Mr Knight moved that the Council report progress, with leave to sit again, as he considered that the resolutions were of too vague a character, and that the subject could be best dealt with by a select committee. Mr Mabesll accepted the amendment for reporting progress, which was carried on the voices. CLEARING THE AVON. Mr J. 8. Williams, on behalf of Mr Cowliahaw, moved the House into Committee to consider the following resolution : — That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £150, for the purpose of clearing the river Avon, below the City of Christchurch of watercress and other weeds during the current year. The hon. member pointed out that it was the opinion of medical- men that the accumulation of watercress was calculated to produce fever, and it was necessary therefore that it should be cleared. He was informed that the part of the river in question was not included in any Road Board District. Mr Richardson seconded the resolution, and remarked that oometbujg should be

allowed for the purpose of clearing the Heathcote of watercress. r Kennaway desired to correct a statement made by Mr Williams, to the effect that ihis portion of the river was not included in any Hoad Board district. On the contrary, it was the boundary line between two Road Boards — the Heathcote and Avon. The Government would oppose the motion for going into Committee, on the ground that a similar application might with equal reason be made «ith regard to other streama in the province. Mr Cowlishaw said that during the past two sessions of the Council an amount had been placed on the estimates for the purpose of clearing the river Avon of watercress on the ground that the river was to a certain extent a highway, and being the boundary between two Road Boards, it was looked upon to be a fair charge on the Provincial revenue. In addition to this, tha river at this point was, as hon. members were aware, largely used for boating purposes, a sport which they would admit should be encouraged as much as possible. The Council had to a certain extent recognised the principle of encouraging sports by consenting, on the previous night, to a vote of £100 to the Metropolitan Race Fund. The motion was negatived on the voices. ABHLEY RIVER. Mr Maskell moved — "That the Provincial Engineer be directed to examine the Ashley river and ascertain the best crossing place, with the view of laying before the General Government proposals for a route for the above line consistent with the interests of the residents in the Northern districts." Mr Brown eaid the Government would take steps to have this matter attended to at once. Mr Maskell thereupon withdrew his motion. LEAVE OP ABSENCE. On the motion of Mr Healey leave of absence was granted to Mr Arthur Perry for the session. 3IAIN ROADS. Mr Parker moved in committee the consideration of the resolution — that his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place tbe sum of twelve thousand seven hundred pounds on the estimates, in accordance with the recommendation of Main Roads Committee. Mr Kennaway pointed out that the Government had placed on the estimates the sum of £5500 for main roads, which they felt was quite as much as they could afford. But it must be recollected that this did not represent all that would be available for nuin roads, as most of these were district roads, and therefore would come in for a share of the amount allocated to the Road Boards. He thought the Government had done their utmost in the matter, and that the amount allocated would bring the main roads into proper repair. The amount was quite as much as the province could afford, und he therefore hoped the hon. member would be satisfied with the amount which had been apportioned by the Government. Mr Maskell hoped the Government would agree to raise the amount for main roads north of the Rakaia, in order to bring the item up to the proportion recommended by the committee. Mr Jollib pointed out that there were other roads in the province as well as main roads which had to be attended to. (Hear, hear.) He did not see why districts should be taxed for keeping in repair roads which did not pass through those districts. If main roads were to be kept in repair, he thought this should be done by levying rolls on those roads. After some discussion, the motion was withdrawn. HOURS OF SITTING. Mr Kennaway moved — That the Council appoint 7 p.m. as the hour at which the Speaker shall take the chair on Tuesday and Thursday, the Bth and 10th November. The motion was agreed to. Notices of motion were then given, and the [louse adjourned at 1.45 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday next.