PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, WELLINGTON.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 10, Issue 619, 16 June 1866, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, WELLINGTON.

Tuesday, June 12. The Speaker took the chair at 5 p.m. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. THE MANAWATU BLOCK. The Provincial Secretary said : Sir, irr moving the motion which stands in my name on the motion paper of to-day, a somewhat difficult task has, I think, devolved upon me. In moving this motion, sir, it is my intention, on behalf of the Government, thoroughly and entirely to enter into the question of the proposed Small Farm Association Settlement in ,the sManawatu Block ; it is my intention, sir; to lay before the-Council specifically the views of’ the Government with regard to these associations, or that association especially for the settlement of that block of land. Sir, this is a work which should properly have 1 devolved upon the associations themselves* .—(Cries of-“ hear, hear,” and opposition? cries of “ no, no”)—but as it seemed to be? the wish of members of the Provincial Council, and also of members belonging tothis association who have the interests of the Small Farm Association really at heart,, that the Government should take the initiative in the movement, the Government do* not shrink from the responsibility of doing so. The speaker concluded by moving - , thefollowing resolutions : . r “ That this Council do resolve itself intocommittee to consider the following propositions : , “ Thai the speedy occupation of a portions of the Manawatu block by an agricultural population is highly desirable and to be encouraged. “ That in order to carry out the intention* expressed in clause 4 of the Amended! Land Regulations, and to provide for the speedy , settlement and occupation of the land; a strict rule enforcing immediate occupation should be embodied in the rules ! of any Small Farm Association, and an intention to occupy should be made a sine quor non of profitable membership in any* such association. ” , : .

Mr. Borlase : Before the question is put,, may I be allowed to; ask-whether the Government consider this an actual Government measure, and whether they intend tostand or fall by these resolutions ? , The Provincial Secretary : The Government have not the slightest hesitatibn in answering that they do intend to stand or fall by these resolutions. The Speaker was on the point of putting the question, when

Mr. : Ludlam reminded the House that a difficulty was certain to arise if it should go into committee on the* resolutions as they then stood. There was no doubt that In the speech of the hon. the Provincial Secretary the Government had told them what their full intentions were ; but he would point out to the hon*. member (the Provincial Secretary) whether the matter could not be brought more satisfactorily to a conclusion by giving full discussion to it, without any unnecessary hurry. He did not think the Council should go into committee on the resolutions that hon. member® had brought forward. Mr. Pharazyn hoped the hon. the Provincial Secretary would take the suggestion of Mr. Ludlam and bring down the question as a whole.

After a little further discussion, The Provincial Secretary said that it was the wish of the Government that the fullest 'and freest discussion should be given to the matter. In laying the views of the Government before the Council, wished to consult the expressed wishes of the Council, and especially of members of the Small Farm Association ; and it was his idea that they should then discuss th 9 matter -fully and fairly by going into the question of bona fide, immediate occupation, and that on the following night they should discuss the question as to the price of land. It was his intention that in that way they should dispose of the two main points of the subject. However, if it was competent for him to amend his motion, he would do so bytadding the following : The Superintendent willv reserve a block not exceeding 30,000 acres selected by the> Association and will also annex a block for the purpose of commonage, as prescribed in Clause 5 of the Amended Land Regulations. The Government will also make a road through the block, and lay bye-roads half-a-chain in width ; also execute all necessary surveys.

Three - years to be computed from completion of survey. £1 an acre to be paid by the Association as each section is taken up for occupation bya member of the Association. Each member shall be entitled to a Crown Grant at the expiration of . twenty-four months after payment of said amount of purchase money, provided he shall have? been in bona fide occupation, for 18 months out of the said 24 months.

Occupation shall include, amongst other; conditions, the enclosure of at least five: acres of land, with a substantial fence and the erection of a tenement of the value Of £lO at least.

The bona fide character of the occupation shall be certified by a Board of Commissioners appointed by the Superintendent,' witli the advice of the Executive Council,. and it shall be necessary to produce such certificate before the Crown Lands Commissioners, before the applicant shall be entitled' to receive a Crown Grant. No Crown Grant or Grant shall be issued to any one member of the Association for ‘ more than 200 acres in the aggregate.. Mr. Borlace objected to the amendment being read. The original motion was then put. The Speaker 1 declared that it vaa carried by the voices.

Mr. Borlase called for a division, when it as found that there were for the motion, 23 ; against it, 4* ' For the motion—Messrs. Halcombe, Brandon, Johnston, Renall, Hickson, Mas’ ters, Allison, Hunter, Stokes, Pearce, Watt,* Ludlam, McDowall, "Wallace, Nells, Bryce, Taylor, Reading, Fitzherbert, Pharazyn, Fagan, A. Milne, and Burt' Against the motion—Messrs. Borlase, Bunny, W. Milne, and Galloway