PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, WELLINGTON.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 10, Issue 620, 20 June 1866, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, WELLINGTON.

Thurso ay, June 14. The Speaker took the chair at 5.20 p.m. The minutes of last sitting were read and confirmed. ODD FELLOWS’ SOCIETY, WANGANUI. The Provincial Solicitor moved—--11 For leave to bring in a bill to authorise the Superintendent to grant a certain piece of land situate in the town of Wanganui to ■ the branch of the Society of Odd Fellows - established there.” 1 Carried. • The Bill was brought up, read a first time, and ordered to be printed, and second reading made an oi’der of the day for Tuesday noxt. BRIDGE OVER THE TUTAENUI STREAM:. Mr. A. Milne moved—- “ That his Honor the Superintendent bo requested to place on the Estimates the sum of £250, for the purpose of erecting © bridge over the Tutaenui Stream on the main line of road in the Lower Rangitikei.” Carried. The Chairman reported progress on the Speaker resuming his seat. MANAWATU SMALL FARM SETTLEMENT. The Council again went into committee to consider the remainder of the resolutions that had been brought - forward by the Government. The Provincial Secretary begged leave to withdraw the amendment he had proposed on the previous night, and to substitute the following words :—“ Three years to be computed from the date of a proclamation to be issued by his Honor the Superintendent, handing over tho block to the Small Farm Association.” Mr. Ludlam wished to move, by way of addition to the foregoing, “ provided that at the dato.of the proclamation, the surveys and the main roads shall be in such a state as to allow of the occupation of the block.” The amendment proposed by, the Provincial Secretary, with the addition moved by Mr. Ludlam, were then put and carried. The Provincial Secretary then moved—- ' “ One pound an acre to be' paid by the • Association as each section is taken for occupation by a member of the Association.”

Mr. Ludlam said it was his intention to move an. amendment to erase the word “ £1" and insert “ 15s. ”in lieu thereof. The Provincial Secretary having replied, Mr. Ludlam’s amendment, namely—- “ That the price of land should be 15s insteed of £l,” was then put, and declared to be.lost on the voices. ' ’ ‘

A division was called for, with the following result :—Ayes, 15’; Noes, 15. The Chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the £l, which was thus carried.

FRIDAY, JTTNE 15,

The Speaker took the chair at five o’clock, and the minutes of the last meeting Were read and confirmed.

An Interim Report of the Scab Committee was brought up and ordered to be printed.

The Council then went into committee on the question of the Manawatu Small Farm Settlement. ~

The . Provincial Secretary moved that each member should be. entitled to-a Crown Grant at the expiration of twenty-four months after the payment of the amount of purchase money, provided he shall have been in bona fide occupation of the land 18 months out of the said 24.

Mr. Ludlam hoped the Government would so far modify the resolution as to deem a person entitled to a Crown Grant at tlie expiration of 12 months. Mr. "Borlase was>at a loss to understand the meaning of the term “ occupation” as used by the Government. Was he to understand that a man was to proceed on his land at once, or might he send his servant to occupy it ? The Provincial Secretary signified the assent of the Government to .Mr.- Ludlam’s suggestion. Mr. Bunny then said as the Government had announced what they meant by bona fide occupation he would move as an amendment that each member shall be entitled to a 'Crown Grant at the expiration of 18 months after payment of the purchase money, provided he, his son, or his servant shall have been in bona fide occupation for 12 months out of the’ 18. After some discussion the Government agreed to this amendment also. Mr. Pearce asked if any provision would be made to enable one bona fide occupant to sell to another ?

The Provincial Solicitor replied that after a settler had once obtained a Crown Grant no further restrictions could be put upon him.

Mr Borlase suggested that the words “ his or their executors, administrators, or assigns ” should be added to Mr. Bunny’s amendment.

The Provincial Solicitor opposed the addition on the grounds that it might remove other restrictions.

Mr. Ludlam’s amendment, conjointly with that of Mr. Bunny, was then put and carried.

Mr. Borlase’s proposed additional words were then put and lost on a division by a majority of 1. The numbers being—Ayes 12, noes 13. After a little discussion,

Mr. Bunny moved as a separate clause that in the event of-the death of any member then such occupation shall be by the executors or administrators (or their servant) of such deceased member. The clause was passed.

The Provincial Secretary moved that occupation shall include 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. •* Carried.

The Provincial Secretary moved that the bona fide character of the occupation shall be certified to by a Board of'Commissioners appointed by the Superintendent, with the advice of his Executive Council, and. it shall be necessary to produce such certificate before the Crown Lands Commissioner before the applicant shall be entitled to a Crown Grant.

Mr. Allison moved, as an amendment, that the words from “appointed” in the second line down to “ Council ” should be struck out with a view to insert the words —to be elected by the members of the Association. Tlie Committee divided when there were, —for the amendments, against.it 19. The amendment was lost.

Mr. Pharazyn proposed as an amendment, that all the words between “by” in the first line, and Council” in the third line, be struck out in order to insert the words—two visiting Commissioners (having power to appoint a referee) one to be appointed by the Superintendent and the other by the. Association. The amendment was put and carried; and the question, as amended, was passed. The Provincial Secretary moved that no Crown Grant or Grants shall be issued to any one member of the Association for more than 200 acres in the aggregate. Carried.

The Provincial Secretary then moved that in the opinion of the Council all agricultural lands in the Province should be sold by auction, at ail upset price of £1 per acre.

Mr Wallace moved, as an addition, that the upset price of pastoral lands should be 10s, but the Speaker ruled that he was out of order. ;

On the motion of Mr Ludlam, the debate was adjourned until Tuesday, and the Council also adjourned at 10.45 until that day. ,