MEMORIAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1585, 24 May 1861, Page 5

MEMORIAL.

' TO THE HONORABLE TUB TUuVINCIAIj COUNCIL 01? THE PKOVIXCE OP WELLINGTON IN COUNCIL ASSEMBLED. The Respectful Memorial of the Undersigned Settlers of Wharehama and Castle Point. SIIEWJGTH THAT,— ; Castle Point ia the only Harbor sate and , accessible throughout the year to vessels trading [ to the District. That the trade of the District is increasing considerably. That your Memorialists are large contributors to the General Revenue of the Province. That your Memorialists, from the absence of a cart road, are obliged to use pack-horses for the transport of their goods to and from Castle Point, throughout the year, to their great inconvenience, hindrance and loss, other points of the coast with- • in the District not being accessible to shipping. | That it is estimated that the sum of £100(3 (one thousand pounds) would cover the cost of cutting a road over the hill on the south side of the Ohunga rivor over the rctf, the south of Mataikuna, and over such portions of the hills, to the south of Castle Point, an are impassible to adray, thereby opening up a carfc road communication with Castle Point Harbour, from Ohunga eighteen miles to the north, and from Kaiwata twenty-eight miles to the south, including the valleys of the Whareama and Waikaraka, and a large extent of agricultural land. That the whole of the line of road indicated forms portion of the main trunk road from Wellington to Napier. That considerable siuns of money have been invested in the purchase of lands from the Crown in this District. That whereas large sums of money have been expended by the Government in the formation of Roads, Bridges, and other Public Works in other parts of tho Province, no public money has been devoted to similar works in this District with the exception of about £100 (one hundred pounds) in small sums at various times. Your Memorialists would also take the opportunity of drawing the attention of your honorable House to the impassible state for stock driving during the winter months of that portion of the main trunk between the Whareama and Llasterton. That while a small sum of money would cover the cost of bridging the creeks Kahuminga and Tauro, your Memorialists are, from the present impassible state of those creeks entirely cut off from the market for their fat stock during those months in which they could dispose of it to the greatest advantage, both to themselves and the public of Wellington. . Your Memorialists, therefore, earnestly hope that your honorable House will accede to the prayer of this their Memorial, and take such steps a3 your honorable Council shall seem fit for the opening of cart a road from Ohunga on the north, and Kaiwata on the south, \p Castle Point; and that your honorable House will take into your favorable consideration the prayer of your Memorialists for Bridges for the transit of stock over the Kahumingi and Tauro. „ And your Memorialists, as in duty-bound will ever pray. Edwin Meredith," Settler, Wharehama Thomas Guthrie, Settler. Castle Point Thomas G. Ilbieh, Settler, Wharehama Charles K. Jell's, Settler, Whareama It. and F. Maunsell, Settlers, Tinui James , Manager, Akitio John Sutherland, Settler, Mataikona Peter Holes, Settler Okau x his mark Thomas Piggot, Jun., Settlor Wakatako John Groves, Settler, Castle Point Frederick Chalmers, Settler, Whareama Thomas Piggot, sen., Wharoama, Btockowner John Moore, Waikaraka, Settler Charleß F. Kales, Fiat Point, Settler Thomas 'lelford Isaac Crips Harry Buxton, Settler, Whareama George Moore, Runholdcr, Waikinaka William Betham On the mutiou of Mr. Carter the Petition was received, read, and ordered to be printed. Mrs- Watt presented the following Memorial from Aaron House, the Ferryman at Manawalu River mouth : MEMORIAL. TO THE .MEMBERS OF THE PROVINCIAL COCNCIti. WELLINGTON. ..Gentlemen, — Having lately purchased the House and Premises belonging to the Manawatu Ferry, enables me to lay before you a correct statement as to the position I am now placed with respect to tho above Ferry. The small subsidy allowed by the Government at the present time, (namely, £'20 per year,) I find is not sufficient to pay the expenses for working the Punt and Canoes. I have endeavoured to work the Ferry at as low a rate as possible, employing at the commencement but one man, including my own labour ; but finding two men inadequate to the work, I have been obliged to engage an extra hand. The wages of these two men amoufits to £L 163. per week, exclusive of board and lodging, which at the lowest estimate exceeds £110 per year; while the returns of the Ferry and general accommodation of the house, scarcely averages £3 per week, which small amount barely covers the expenses of the Ferry. Gentlemen, I wisli to apprise you that the punt ia m^ own and not Government property, and I "am also at the sole expense of all repairs and losses. • The land which has been allotted for the use of the Ferry House is not sufficient to give that accommodation which travellers require for their horses, cattle, sheep, &c., it being nothing more than a mass of shifting sands, and completely flooded with the spring tides, which not only kill what little grass may grow, but prevents my making further improvements either in the shape of paddocks, or growing green feed for cattle, which obstacle is the source of great complaint from all travellers. Gentlemen, under these difficulties which I have now to contend with, I pray you will give them your kind and liberal consideration ; for without further assistance from the Government, I shall be obliged to abandon both House and Ferry, which would cause great inconvenience to the public, from its being well known that this is the direct road to Rangitikei, Turakina, and Wanganui. I remain, Gentlemen, Your most obedient and humble servant, Aaro.v House, Ferryman, Manawatu River Mouth. May 2, 18G1. On the motion of Mr. Watt the Memorial was received, read and ordered to be punted. INDEMNITY BIM-. The Pkov. Treasurer in bringing forward the following motion, observed, that according to the established custom, he should not enter into any lengthened remarks upon the Bill ia its then incipient stage. He should only name the Bill which lie asked leave to bring in, reserving fiulhcr remarks until the second reading 1 and should therefore simply move " For leave to bring in a Bill to indemnify the Superintendent and his Executive for the expenditure of Public Money during the year 1858, 59., nnd 1800, and also for a certain sum expended in excess of tho Appropriation Act of 1857. The Prov. SiiCitETAitY seconded the motion. Mr. Borlase said he was quite aware that it would be useless fov him to attempt to quash tbe motion but he wished to guard himself from being supposed to ucquiece in the least degree with it. On the motion of tbe Provincial Treasurer — who, having explained the object of the Bill, observed that the schedule had been prepared with the greatest care in order that lion. mem.

bers might inform themselves as to the details — llie Bill was read a tivst time, ordered to be I printed, ;md read a second time on Wednesday.! Mr. B.hilase on the motion for the (second ( leading being fixed for Wednesday) appealed in the House and to the h>n members of the! Executive themselves whether they thought it ' fair to bring on the second reading of so im j porlant a measure before the Bill was in their hinds — hefmc they had had sufficient time to i scrutinise it. ' The Provincial Secretary, in reply, stated ' that there had been copies of the Bill, as well as of the others about to be brought forward, I laid upon the Table and it was the duty of the Messenger to have given a copy of each, to ' each hon, member. There was no desiio on i the part of the Government to push the Bills s forward, faster than the Council desired. Not- I withstanding the brief period dining which, ' consulting the best interests of the P.-orince, ' many members could attend, the Government i did not wish to pass any measures with un- ] seemly Laste. If Miy influential member of the i Council desired that that or any olhcv Bill I should be postponed the Government would I acquiesce iu the arrangement. ' The motion was then put and ennied. i Amended Harbour Reserves Bill. The Provincial Solicitor on rising to bring i forward the motion standing iu bis name said ' that it would be necessary for him to explain 1 the reasons that existed for such a course. He observed that in the third session of the Pro- ( vii cial Council a Bill had been brought in, vesting certain lands between high and low water marks in the Superintendent. .Somehow ( or another an error as to date had ctept into 1 the draft Bill which in the opinion of many — i an opinion in which he did not concur — would i invalidate the Bill. To remove all doubt the < Government came before the Council and I asked leave to bring in a Bill to explain and ' amend the former one. The Provincial Solici- '. tor then proceeded to explain, in detail the amendments contemplated, and concluded by ] moving — That leave be given to bring in a Bill to explain and amend the Act, Session 111, No. 14, the Hav- , hour Reserves Act. ( The Provincial Treasurer seconded the , motion. , Mr. Borlase said that he should reserve to i himself the right of objecting to the Bill on its ( second reading. ] The motion was then put and canied. j On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor the ( Bill was read a first time, ordered to be printed j and read a second time on Wednesday. Deep Water Wharf Bill. The Provincial Secretary said that he did not propose to enter at that t,ime into any j lengthened explanation of the Bill, which he < asked leave to bring in as he thought it was , unnecessary. It was the more unnecessary as , there was a great amount of unanimity of opiu- j ion on the subject. Even the hon. member who ( bad opposed the other Bills must admit the , necessity of a Deep Water VVharf for developing the resources of the Province. The only j difference of opinion that he could anticipate , would be as to details such as the site, &c. He ( should be prepared on a future day to move for a Select Committee to report upou them, and if • the majority of the Council should agree with j the Report of such Committee, the Government { would feel bound to abide by it. fie begged to move — * That leave be given to bring in a Bill authoriz- , ing the Superintendent to cause a wharf to be erected in the Harbour of Pott Nicholson. The Provincial Treasurer seconded the motion. Carried. • | On the motion of the Provincial Secretary j the Bill was read a first time, ordered to be * printed, and read a second time on Wednesday. l Kai Warra Toll-gate Bill * The Provincial Secretary remarked that l though he did not propose to enter at length l upon the Bill, for leave to introduce which he ( was about to ask the house, yet he thought that at a future stage it would engage the attention of the Council, as it was the first time that an attempt had been made in this Province at least, to introduce direct taxation. He avowed himself a staunch advocate of that system believing as he did that it was the wisest and the best, and that it lay at the bottom of all political economy. He might remark that the Bill contained no new principle, fur some years ago a similar Bill had been brought in, yet owing to certain circumstances, to which it was n6t necessary to refer—it did not become law— but was not on account of any objection to the Bill itself. He hoped that the present measure would meet with the assent of the Council as he considered it to be the first step in a right direction. He observed that if any system of direct taxation, was to be tried, in the shape of lolls, he knew of no more suitable site than Kai Wara Wara, |for if any gentlemen should feel themselves actuated by an economical desire to save thcirsmall change, they would find it very difficult to evade toll there. In fuct, uature seemed U have intended it for a toll gate. He should therefore move — That leave be given to bring in a Bill to empower the Superintendent to erect a Toll Gate at Kai Warra Warra. The Prov. Treasurer seconded the motion. Carried. On the motion of the Provincial" Secretary the Bill was read a first time, ordered to be printed, and read a second time on Wednesday. RETURNS FOR THE WAIRARAPA. Mr. Carter in rising to move for the returns standing in his name, did so knowing that they would afford an amount of information which i would prove very valuable to members when the discussion on the estimates came on. Similar returns had been made up to Ist September, 1859, and the returns moved for would only continue them up to the preseut time. He thought that the returns would s'iow that the Wairarapa District was one of the chief sources of land revenue, and although he should not ask the Council for any extravagant vote, yet as roads were required there, he trusted the House would deal liberally with the district in question. With these remarks he would move — For a return of all monies expended on Public Works in the Wairarapa from September 1, 1859, to May 21st., 1861 ; also the amount of money and Scrip received for land in the Wairarapa District from September 1, 1^59, to May 21, 1861. Mr. Fox in seconding the motion, suggested that the hon. mover shoulu include the road from Mungaroa bridge which had been made for the benefit of tie Wairarapa settlers, and he thought it ought to be included in such returns. His hon. friend, the Provincial Secretary) had suggested that it should commence from the Hutt bridge, (a laugh) but he Mr. Fox, would be content if it were made to commence from the Muugaroa bridge. Mr. Carter thought the suggestion^ thrown out bv the hon member for Bangitiki hardly fair. "That part of the road bad been constructed out of the funds granted by the Imperial Government. The New Zealand Company had received all the funds accruing from the lands sales in the district none of which they had expended on improvements there. The former returns showed that £48,000 had been

I received up to 1859 and only £24,000 expended I on public works so that there remained a halunce /in favour of the district of £24,000. He had I no objection to include half of the road over the j 'Remutaka— that on the Wairarapa side. i ! Mr. Boulase hoped that the lion, mover , would reconsider the suggestion made by the , hon- member who had seconded the motion. ' Though the road was made before the date from , which tiie returns were sought, yet there could be no doubt that the expenditure was muile fur the Wauanpa traffic. Mr. Storks observed that tlie hon. member for Wai rani pa who had brought forward the motion seemed to be one of those happy individuals who likee I to banquet only on lite sunny side of the creek. He considered the return moved for a very one sided, as it would show the leceipls from a large district but would not include a very considerable expenditure made solely fur the benefit of such district. The hon. n: over's suggestion to "split the difference," and include half the Remulaka road, proved that he was not insensible to the justice of the suggestion of fcred by the hon. member for Haiigitiki. He (Mr. Stokes) thought that their share of the Imperial loan was sudicent to cover all the sins of the New Zealand Company. Mr. Carter, by leave of the House, then amended his motion by adding the words " such district to commence from Munguron bridge.' The motion as amended was then put from the Chair and agreed to. STANDING ORDERS. The Provincial Treasurer, having by leave of the House amended the motion standing in his name, by adding " the Chairman of Committees," after a few introductory remarks moved — "For the appointment of a Select Committee to revise the Standing Orders ; such Committee to consist of the Hon. the Speakei, The Chairman of Committees, Messrs. Hunter, Fox, Borlase, and the Mover." The motion was seconded by the Provincial Secretary and carried. PUBLIC RESERVES. Mr. Wallace, on rising to ask the question standing in bis name observed, that he did so on account of the great public interest attaching to a place of public recreation. 'Jhe Town Belt was also an important subject, and no doubt the Provincial Secretary would be able to give them some information on the subject. He be« lieved that it was not yet vested in the Superintendent ; but as His Honor would shortly be on bis way to Auckland, it might soon be vested in him. He considered a market place for "Wellington was a great public want. He \ would therefore) ask the Piovincial Secretary,— Whether the Town Belt is vested in the Superintendent ; also the other public reserves in the Citv of Wellington, so as to enable him to sanction any Bill, that this Council may pass, that would provide for the erection of a Public Market Place, and also the making a Public Reserve of the ground at Te Aro, known as the Canal and Basin Reserve. The Provincial Secretary in reply, stated that the Superintendent had sent a tracing of ; the reserve to Auckland and had applied for a crown grant for the same. Had the ciowri grant arrived Bills would have been brought in for the purposes indicated in the question, as t the Government were fully alive tu the importance of the subject. ; On the motion of the Provincial Secretary the House adjourned at half-past six until the following evening at five. Notices of Motion tor Wednesday. Mr. Bom.ase to move—" That a Committee be appointed to enquire whether there is any block of agricultural land, in the Province of ' Wellington, suitable for a Small Farm settle- I ment, to be allotted to actual occupants, on a ] system of deferred payments, to consist of Messrs. Wright, Crawford, Carter, Hunter, and . the Mover." \ The Provincial Treasurer to move— "That the House gointo Committee of Supply.' ' Mr. Wallace to move—" For a return of ' what monies have been expended upon Public < Works in the City of Wellington, from the 14th September, 1859, to the present time ; specifying generally the nature of the ( work done ; | whether by contract or otherwise." j Mr. Watt to move- " For a Committee to take into consideration the Memorial of Aaron House, respecting the Manawalu Ferry ; also 1 the present state of the different ferries throughout the Province. Committee to consist of Messrs. Allison, Carter. Stokes, Rhodes, and ] the Mover." Mr Spicks to move—" For a Committee, by ' ballot, to examine the Treasurer's accounts." The Puov. Treasurer to move — " That a ! Select Committee be appointed to examine into the stale of the Council Library, with power to wake such iegulations as they may deem expedient for the care and management , of the same; such Committee to consist of the Hon. the Speaker, the Chairman, of Committees, Messrs. Allen, Duncan, aud the Mover ; also that the said Committee be empowered to sit during any recess." For Thursday, Captain* Smith to move—" For leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Fencing Act." . The Prov. Secketary to move — " A reply to the speech of His Honor the Superintendent." Mr. Duncan to move—" That a respectful address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to recommend to this Council the appropriation of a sum of £100 for the best Rifle Shot, to bo competed for (under regulations to be made by the Superintendent) by the several Volunteer Rifle Corps throughout the Province." Wednesday, May -22. The Provincial Council met on Wednesday, pursuant to adjournment. Present — The Speaker and 24 members. On the motion of Mr. Borlase, a Committee was appointed to enquire whether there is any block of agricultural land, in the Province of Wellington, suitable for a Small Farm bettlement, to be allotted to actual occupants, on a system of deferred payments, consisting of Messrs. Wright, Crawford, Carter, Hunter, Fox, and the Mover. On the motion of the Provincial Treasurer, the House went into Committee of Supply, the Chairman reported progress and obtained leave to sit again the next day. Mr. Wallace moved, for a return of what monies have been expended upon Public Works in the City of Wellington, from the 14th September, 1859, to the present lime-, specifying generally ibe nature of the work done ; whether by contract or otherwise ; which was agreed to. Mr. Watt moved, for a Committee to take into consideration the Memorial of Aaron House, respecting the Manawalu ferry; also the present state of the different ferries throughout the Province. Committee to consist of Messrs. Allison, Carter, Stokes, Rhodes, and the Mover; which was agreed to. Mr. Spinks moved, for a Committee by ballot, to examine the Treasurer's accounts ; agreed to, and Messrs Hunter, Duncan, Taylor, and Turubull appointed. The Providcial Treasurer mov«d that a Select Committee be appointed to examine into the state of the Council library, with power, to make

such regulations as they may deem expedient for the care and management of the same ;such Committee to consist of the Hon. the Spaaker, the Chairman of Committees, Messrs. Allen, Duncan, and the Mover ; also that the said , Committee be empowered to sit during any recess : which was agreed to. The House then proceeded to the orders of the day, when the Indemnity Bill, after a long debate, in which most of the members took part, passed its 2nd reading, and was ordered to be committed the following evening. The 2nd reading of the Bill to amend the Harbor Reserves Act, gave lise to a protracted discussion, eventually the House divided ; Ayes, 23 ; Noes, 1 ; the Bill was accordingly read a second time, m and ordered to be committed the day following. The Public Wharf Bill was read a 2nd time, committed, amended, ordered to be printed as amended, and read v 3rd lime on Friday. The Kai Warm Toll Gale Bill was read a 2nd time and ordered to be committed the following day. the House adjourned at II o'clock, until one o'clock the uext day.