PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1726, 20 May 1862, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, MAY 13. The Speaker took the Chair at 5 o'clock. Present 25 Members. Absent Messrs. Turn bull and Hanison. Saturday noon Gun. Mr. Wallace in the absence of Cupt. Rhodes moved. — "That a respectful Address be presented to His honor the Superintendent requesting him to place upon the Estimates a sufficient sum of money to enable a Gun to be fired at noon every Saturdays, to enable the inhabitants of this/District to ascertain the correct time." SecJiuied b) Mr. Spinks and agreed to. To come again under the discussion on the Estimates. Inner Harbour Light. Mr. Duncan moved "That in the opinion of this Couucil it is desirable that an inner Harbuur Light should be erected in the viciniiy of the Deep Water Wharf as soon as practicable." Mr. Allen seconded the motion, which, after some discussion, was agreed to. Survey Board Bill. The discussion on the second reading of this Bill was resumed by Mr. Allen, and the Amendment of Mr. McEwen muved on a previous eveniug, thai it be read that day six months, not having been entered on the minutes, the Speaker put the original motion which ho declared carried, but uot without a long discussion, in which a number of members took part. The third reading of the Auditors Salaries Bill passed without remark, and the second reading of the Drainage Bill was postponed till this day week. Wanganui Cemetery Bill. This Bill passed through Committee but uot not without considerable discussion Mr. Borlase and Mr. Duncan objecting to the principle of nomineeism it embodied. After several notices of motion had been given the house adjourned. WEDNESDAY, MAY 14. The Speaker took the Chair at 5 o'clock There were 26 Members present. Absent Mr Turubull. Wainui-o-mata Petition. Mr. MoEwjss presented a petition from the inhabitants and parties interested in this districl praying for means being afforded them for completing the cart road into their district. Petition read, received, and ordered to be printed. Mr. MoEwen observed that if the sum placed on the Estimates for this work was uot sufficient he should move an amendmeut that it be increased to the required amount. Several notices of important motions were then given. Survey Department. Mr. Wallace moved " For a Select Committee to enquire into the present state of the! Survey Department, and report upon the samej to this House. Such Committee to consist oi! the Hon. the Crown Lands Commissioner, the; Hon. J. Johnston, Captain Smith, Messrs C. R. Carter, W. Spinks, and the Mover."

I Motion seconded by Capt. Rhodes, and, after I a few remarks from the Commissioner of Crown I Lands, agreed to. S Toll Gate Bill. S Mr. Borlase moved "That a Memorial be faddressed by this Council to His Honor the requestinghim to refuse bis conBsent to the Kai VVarra Warra Toll Gate Bill." |He said that he hud two reasons fur making gthis motion. First, the^third reading: of the §Bill was carried after 11 o'clock at night, in a very thin house, other motions havingbeen post--11 poned for the purpose, and when members who |in tended to oppose the motion, had left not exIt pecting it would come on. They would by (his p motion be able t'> express their opinions. iSecond, the Bill would be seriously detrimental j| to the Province. It did not impose a tax on gall who used the road equally, and this tax iwould cost more in collection than any other. If la frix were imposed on all carts and horses, Seattle and sheep, the tax would not be so gobjectionab'.e, as all who could use the road Swould then be taxed. He objected to the Bill § also on another ground. No settler would be Sable to pass up the country and across a river | without tolls being demanded from him by the b natives. I Captain Rhodes seconded the motion. One |toll gate was not sufficient and a half dozen iwould not answer. I The Commissioner of Crown Lands said Itliat the hon. member haJ not brought forward iihe shadow of new matter in support of his exItracrdinaiy motion. There were only the same Istale arguments which* had been before employled and wtiieh'Tfad been so generally rejected. IjMr. Borlase said the law would prove detriimeutal to the Province,butthe majority thought' |die contrary ; he said it was au exploded a system ; but he Mr. F. denied it being so, iseeing thatitwasin full operation in neighbourling colonies. He did not consider it a perfect ißill but he maintained it had the elements of ■justice in it. There were no means of collecting ■ taxes without expense, and the erection of toll Ihars and collectors houses would not be required |to be renewed annually. A system of collecting itaxes on cuts would prove very expensive, and I worse than that, the tax could be easily, evaded. I Wellington was the market towu of the ■ Province and all who used the road in country Ito mii-ket would be taxed, not those who only Bused it in going from one farm to another. The ■opening up of the country meant, the opening of iihe country in connection with this port. Mr. ißorlase had spoken of the bankrupt condition |bf the Piovince, and his opposition to a measure Iwhich would afford us means to meet our enigageraents was the pursuing of one of those gpatlis which would, if followed by the Council, ilead to the results predicted. He (Mr. F.) ■ believed the Bill wa^ a step in the right direc I lion, and which he regarded with great satisIfaction ; he therefore hoped that the motion ■ would meeijwith the emphatic disapproval of the gCouneil. I After some remarks from several boo. memHirers, Mr. Borlase replied, and the motion, b ■ leave, was withdrawn. 1 REPRESENTATION RK-APPORTIONMENT BILL 1 Mr. Carter moved the second reading ol this ■ Bill, going over the same ground he had travellied when asking leave to introduce it. 9 Capt. Smith seconded the motion. | .. Mr. Borlase would n»t have objected to the ißill if it had asked for the two members which Hwere formerly returned .for the Ahuriri, when Sthe two districts contained no more electors itban the Wairarapa had now. The Bill, howlever, was not so much to benefit the Wairarapa las to injure Wellington, which was not so enjlirely dependent on the country districts of Ithis Piovince as th<; hon. member (Mr. Carter) Blind represented. It was to her seaboard comiineice she had to look for her principal suppoit las a commercial town. He would vote for two I members being added to the Wairarapa, but ■ not, as proposed by this Bill, for the decrease Hoi' the representation of Wellington. a The Commissioner or Crown Lands felt ithey were indebted to his hon. friend for bringling this motion forward. There was nothing ■ underhand or dishonest in sayiug to Wellington iyou have got too many representatives in the ■Council, give the Wairarapa her shaie, as proposed by his hon. friend, whose measure deiserved to be characterised as fair and honest, ilhe town had only two-thirds of the population, ibut nearly one-half the representation of the iProviuce. There was a great difficulty experi fenced now iv getting n't and able meu to Irepresent them, but if they doubled the members iof the Council every time a district doubled gits population, they would render representation ■impossible. He shoujd give his assent to the isecond reading without any sectional feeling I whatever, as he agreed with the principles of iihe Bill, but should be disposed to advocate in iCommittee that one member should be given it i) the Wairarapa, one to Castle Point, and one ito Bangitiki, iv place of those to be takeu from iWellington. I Mr. Taylor opposed the motion as he iihought changes in the representation objectjjionable. His remarks which have the great I merit of being brief and to the purpose are ialways inaudible io the Reporters' Gallery. | Mr. Spinks opposed the motion. Welling|ton in three years might be in a far different ■position to what it is now, and would they then ipass another lie-apportionment Bill. On the jprinciple proposed they might reduce the representation of the town this year and next, and jagain add members to it for the year after, jit was a fair proposal to add to the representation of the Wairarapa, but unfair to reduce Bat the same time the repesentation of Wellingfiton. I Mr. Stokes expressed his strong dissent to Sthe measure, which might properly be called a |Bill for partially disfranchising* Wellington. iHe dissented from the principle upon which ilhe Bill appeared to be based. It was not an HEnglish but a Yankee principle. All theinterlests of the Province and not population alone, |should be fairly represented. The Wairarapa Ihad to come to come to this town now for oue |of its two representatives, and if could not find gtwo, it « as surely unreasonable to ask them to ito give it four. For five years this apportiongtneut had existed, and they had never heard of iany complaint before. He thought that they Sought to consider well before they voted for a Hreductiou of the members of the Council. ISuch a course would be suicidal; and, on the |part of town members, a betrayal of their trust I Mr. Watt said that 22 out of the 28 raemHbers were the representatives of the town and Hits suburbs, leaving but six members to repre gseut the rest of the Province. Wangauui did iuot ask for auy increase, and he thought that BMr. Carter might have been satisfied with an Sadditional member for the Wairarapa, which Swould be an increase of 50 per cent. He ishould vote for the reduction in the represen . BtuLion of the towu as he had always been Hopposed to the enlargement of the council. I Mr. Duncan thought that the enlargement lof the Council had been very beneficial, aud |as bethought the representation of the Wailiarapa ougut to be enlarged, he should vote irnost cordially for the second reading of the BBill.

Mr. Brandon supported, and Mr. WallacS and Mr. Allen opposed the second reading. Mr. Johnston said he should oppose the second reading- and he thought that if the Wairarapa bad one, member for every 160 electors it had quite an adequate number. If the basis of the town representation had diminished since the representation was apportioned, it would afford an argument for decreasing the number of its members, but it had not done so. On the foundation of a colony the population ftentred in the town from necessity ; a portion afterwards migrated into the country, and the town population proportionately lessened, and the country prospered ; this caused a reaction, and the trade and population of the town again increased ,it an accelerated rate. This baS been the ease at Adelaide, where the population had diminished at first to such an extent as to make town prosperity at drug in the market; but it was now a very populous city, and the day was not distant, under wise Government, when they might witness the same reaction here. He could not therefore give his assent to the principles of this Bill. Mr, Hunter said if it could be shown that the town members had not done justice to the country, there would be some ground for the motion ; but as he did not assent to the principles of the Bill, and as it would be au acknowledgement that injustice had been done, he should oppose the second reading. Mr. Wright said as he thought the town ha"d more than its fair share of members he should vote for the second reading. "Mr. Carter replied at great length to the remarks of the previous speakers, when the motion was put and the House divided. Ayes, 15. Messis. Duncan, VVhitewood Buck, Allison, Harrison, Barton, Smith, Brau don, Fitzherbert, Woodward, Wright, McEwen Watt, Biyce, and Carter. Noes, 11. Messrs. Fawcett, Stokes, Hunter, Johnston, Allen, Spinks, Crawford, Borlase, Taylor, Wallace, and Bhodes. The Bill was then read a second time. CORPORATION BILL. M>. Wallace moved the second reading of this Bill in a speech of little eloquence, but of great length, travelling over the same road he had trodden on the previous occasion. Mr. Duncan seconded the motion. The Commissioner of Crown Lands said that if it would be any satisfaction to the hon. mover he could inform him that he for one approved of the principle of local management, but that he did not wish to thrust his principles on an unwilling people. There was no use in forcing self-working institutions upon a community which did not desire them. The Corporation Bill of the hon. member was too* antiquated ; they wanted something more modern. He should like to see the principle of local management applied in a less cosily and more simple winner. Mr. Wallace had failed to obtain the support of his constituents in the mode in which he had himself chosen to ask it, as they knew pretty well when they were well off. The state of the town, and of its streets, was not such as to render it necessary for the hon. member to make a sacrifice of himself in order to save it. It was proposed to spend, this very year £30,000 out of a revenue of £90,000 for its benefit, and to put in most forits bebalfa valuable property, so it is was not such a town for which some knight errant was required to rush to its rescue. That Wellington was the geim of a greatcity he had no more doubt than the lion, gentleman himself, but Mr. Wallace was offering to an unwilling people a complicated measure which they had had the good sense to condemn as permature. Mr. Spinks thought that some measure was required for the management of the streets and and the affairs of the town, but the machinery proposed by Mr. Wallace was too cumbrous and too costly. If passed it would prove inoperative, and on this ground he had advised Mr. Wallace to withdraw it. Mr. Borlase if bound to accept the Bill as it stood he should be obliged to vote against it; but each of the clauses of the Bill might be amended, simplified, or rejected in Committee. When he saw as he had done that evening the country members banded together almost to a man to disfranchise Wellington he began to think that a Corporation was necessary. Mr. Carter opposed the motion, which he said was calculated for a town not of 4000 but of 100,000 inhabitants, sketched the outlines of a Bill which was really required for the town, and he said if the levels and drainage was much longer neglected, the consequences would be of a serious character. He would advise the hou. member to withdraw his motion and prepare one of a more simple character during the recess. Mr. Taylor opposed the motion, aud he thought the public generally were averse to the Bill. No ordinary rate would be sufficient to make streets, but would only keep them in repair Hq thought the wisest course the House could adopt would be to reject the Bill, though be trusted the hon. member would withdraw it. After a few remarks from Mr. Woodward, Mr. Watt and Mr. Allen, Mr. Wallace replied when the question was put and the House divided Ayes 17, Noes 5; Mr. Wallace, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Borlase, Mr. Crawford, Capt. Rhodes, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Stokes, had previously left the House. The House then adjourned. Thursday May 15. The Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. Present the whole of the members except Mr. Turubull. COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. The Provincial Treasurer moved, in a speech of great length, and nearly inaudible, that the House go into Committee of supply. He congratulated the House on the very satisfactory state of the finances there being a balance in his hands at the commencement of the financial year of upwards of £16,000. Returns had beeu laid before the House giving the fullest information relative to the income and expenditure during last year from which it would be found that the revenue for 1861 was estimated at £89,000 the amount actually received only reached £66,000 but this was owing in part to the Government declining to realise sums actually within its reach, £8000 it was estimated would accrue from the sale of the reoluimed land, but no puition of that land last year had been offered for sale ; then there were considerable amounts due from the General Government and from Hawkes' Bay which had not yet beeu received. Taking altogether their finances were in a satisfactory, not to say a flourishing condition. The hon. member then commented on each of the items in the Estimates commencing with the executive division and ending with the money which had*been expend ed on copper sheathing for the wharf piles, and on a clock and time-ball for the Custom House. It was time they asked for a loan of £25 000 but it was not because their exppnditure exceeded their income — not to make up a deficiency by a loan but to obtain a special loan for special purposes. Their drdjnary revenue was estimated at £88,600 and their ordinary expenditure would not exceed £14,000, leaving therefore

thousands of pounds for public works ; showing that they were in a prosperous state, and leaving no room for apprehension that they should not be. able to meet all their engagements. Mr. Wallace wished to know whether their going into Committee of Supply was any more than a mere form to make the matter an order of the day, as the hon. members near him had not a single copy of the Estimates before them. Mr. Duncan presumed that that was the intention of the Government, and Mr. MoEwen did not know whether they were going to consider the Estimates for this year or from the first of January 1852 to the 31st March 1853 The Pbovincial Treasurer said that the information would be best given when the House was in Committee. The House having resolved itself into Com mittee under the head of Superintendent's Department were read, the Provincial Treasurer explaining that the items enumerated were what had actually been expended from ibe Ist January to the 31st of March, of the present year. superintendent's salary. " The item £150 for Superintendent having been read, Mr. Watt proposed that the amount should be £200, making the salary £800 per annum. Since the House met last year, there were several additional reasons for increasing the salary of their superintendent, which was less, he believed, than those of Canterbury, Auckland, or Otago. His acceptance of the office of Laud Purchase Commissioner would entuil upon him expenses for which he ought to be reimbursed. He believed that it would be found that the difficulties in the way of purchasing native lands were more visionary than real, and he knew this was the case with regard to the Waitotara block. A sum of £500 had been advanced on this purchase, which had been all spent, and he had heard that the principal chief of the district bad been twice to Wellington to see Mr. McLean in order that he might complete the purchase. He thought with these additional duties, no one would object to voting an addition to the salary. . Mr. Stokes said he opposed last year the motion to give an increase of salary to the Superintendent uponseveral grounds which did not now exist. It was not for him to pronounce an euloeiunx on the Superintendent, but he might mention that for the past nine years he had filled the highest executive office in the Province, retaining the whole period the confidence of the electors, as proved by their thrice returning him to the office the duties of which all would agree had been well and zealously performed. In 1853, when first elected, the population of the Province was only 6,000, and its revenues did n,ot exceed £18,000; its population had now increased to 13,000, and its revenues bad risen to £Bo,ooo, but the salary of the Superintendent continued the same. He might remind the Council that Dr. Featberston bad held the office of Colonial Secretary, but had resigned that office under the General Governrnentfhad ' resigned a superior, and had contented himself . with an inferior salary, in order that he might reside amongst them, and preside over their affairs. In order to promote their interests, and secure the present and future well-being of the Province, he had accepted an unpaid office of great responsibility, and though he might be content to discharge its duties without payment, the Council ought not to grudge a public : servant in whom they had confidence sufficient remuneration. On these grounds the proposition of Mr. Watt had his cordial support. Mr. McE wen would pay him his salary as Superintendent. and£4oo to cover th i expenses he would be put to as Land Purchase Commissioner. Captain Bhodes should support Mr. Watt's amendment, and was sorry that the Province was not in a posiiion to add a triflle more to'it. Mr. Borlase could bear his testimony to the efficient manner in which the duties of the office had been discharged, and he did not think that if they voted £1000, they would be voting too much. The fact was that they were paying for the services of the head of the Province, a sum below the income of a professional man. After a few words from Mr. Woodward, Mr. Watt said that when the estimates were further advanced, he intended to propose that forage allowance for two horses be' given to the Land Purchase Commissioner. Mr. McEwen said that he believed that all the other* officers of Government were overpaid, but that the Superintendent was under paid for his services. He was always at his post— always at work— which could not be said of the officers of the other Government depart* ments. He desired to have a fair understanding on this vote, and would rather the proposition stood £600 for salary, and 400 for expenses. Mr. Allen approved of the addition to the salary, but did not like voting large sums for travelling expenses, which, in this instance, would never be drawn upon. Mr. Duncan was very pleased to bear what hail fallen from Mr. Borlase ; concurred in all that had been said in His Honor's favor, and hoped that their vote, whatever it might be, would be unanimous. Mr. Harrison agreed with Mr. McEwen that the travelling expenses of the Superintendent ought to be paid, for his visits were ever accompanied by great results, and must entail upon him great expense, which ought not to, be paid out of his private purse. The office of Superintendent for a Province like this ought to have forage attached to it. Captam Smith considered the Superintendent was entitled to a higher salary, and to his travelling expenses, which must be something enormous. Mr. Carter would be happy to vote forage for two horses when the proper time arrived. The Commissioner of Crown Lands would have been glad to have put a higher sum on the estimates, but the Superintendent would not consent to it. What they had to consider was what was- due to the. office, and on that point he had always differed from His Honor. The unanimous feeling displayed upon this matter would be to the Superintendent the most gratifying part of the proposal. Mr. Taylor said that they ought to consider what was the salary due to the office and not to the man, and the unanimity with which the proposed increase was received was very pleasing. He thought that they ought not to mix up the question of Land Purchase Commissioner with this vote but consider it in its proper place. Mr. Wright said that the important duties which the Superintendent had now to perform rendered an increase in bis salary alike desirable and necessary. The amendment was then put and carried unanimously. MATERAWA PETITION. Mr. Harrison moved the consideration of this petition. He said the petitioners had a very strong claim on the Council, and that the road. or wtrieh they desired aid, was in fact a main unk line from Wanganui to the Upper Rangi-

tikifc, and that the settlers had done their best I to meet the emsrgency. ( Mr. Allison explained that the road was / earned through a large extent of agricultural I land which being fenced iv, the road was con- ( fined to the line marked out which rendered it ( almost impassable. The settlers had done their ( ' best to meet the difficulty, and had uot before ' asked for Government aid though they had seen other districts receiving large sums. Agieed to. * IMMIGRANTS PROMISSORY NOTES. Mb. Weight moved "fora return of all monies received on account of Imtrigrants' promissory notes and guaranteed passages from 31st May, 1861, to 30th April, 1862, with the expense of collecting the amount, if any." He said that having made a motion last session on the subject he thought it was his duty to call for these returns iv order that the House might be informed whether the Government had attended to its wishes, and what results had followed his motion. He considered it was the duty of the Government to press for payment. Mb. Watt seconded themotiou with pleasure. He considered the Government had displayed a great want of energy if not culpable negligence in not pressing for the payment of these debts. In times like these when the .Government was borrowing £25,000 they ought to show that they had tried to recover what they Inid themselves lent. The police corporal at Wanganui had received five per cent on the amount which he had collected which was very considerable, but since he had lefc the force nothing had been done. No demand was raude, and those able were not asked to pay. A great amount of blame was due lo the Government in not pressing for payment. Mr. Allen said that while he would deal leniently with the struggling immigrant he thought that those who had left the Province, ordoingwelliuitoughtto pay, and thatthenotes of such parties ought to be put into the huud.s of agents for collection. The Commissioner of C?.own Lands said that tUQ proper time to express an opinion was when the returns were laid ou the table. He might, however, mention that the non-payment of these notes had the effect of placing the Government's immigration scheme iv abeyance. Mb. Wallaok thought that the whole amount ought to be expunged from the books of the Province, for they bad been large gainers by the introduction of these immigrants (Repudiation)- Hon. members might cry repudiation, but he did not recommend this course because he happened to be a security (Roais of laughter, so loud and long that rendered the hon. mem. bers voice wholly inaudible). Tbe matter bad been allowed to stand over for two or three sessions, and he tbeught that the best course would be to refer it to a Select Committee for the adoption of some plan by which the debts may be compounded aud brought to some definite conclusion. It was misleading the public to say that a large revenue was expected from this source. After a few remarks from Mr. Hunter, Mr. Stokes, and Mr. Carter, iv support of the motion, Mr. Borlase said, that he doubted the expediency of pressing for payment when every other province was biddingjbr population ; but, he thought that the amounts advanced on guaranteed passages should be at once called iv. Mb.- Wbight said, be did not advise putting on the screw too close ; but he thought those who could, ought to be made to pay. The motion was then agreed to. NEW HIGHWAYS ACT. The Crown Lands Commissioner obtained leave to bring iv a Bill to amend and consolidate the law relating to District Highways. Leave granted, read a first time, ordered to be printed, to be read a second time on Tuesday next.. BRIDLE PATH ACROSS THE PBOVINCE. Captain Rhodes to move — " That a respectful Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place upon the Estimates a sum not exceeding Five Hundred Pounds for the purpose of constructing a Bridle Path from the Rangitikei District towards the Gorge in the Ruahine Mountains, and thence lo the adjoining Province of Hawke." He said that in bringing this motion before the Council, be would state briefly his object. There was a track all along the proposed route, which had been used by the maories for many years. He had recently visited the district with the intention of pro* ceedipg by this route to the province of Hawke, but was told by a gentleman well acquainted ■with it that owing to the supplejacks aud fallen timber, it was now almost impassible, but that it could be made a good track for horsemen and cattle at a very, moderate sum. It was the direct highway to Hawke's Bay and Auckland from the W est Coast, and the distance by the two roads was somewhere about 230 miles, but the road by tbe East Coast was- without exception tbe worst iv the country. The distauce fnough the bush was about 40 miles, and to RuaTaniwha about 70 miles; and arrived t iere, tbe traveller would be on his direct road to Auckland. When in the north, the Superiatendent of Auckland had assured him, that he would take means to open communication overland between that port and Napier. If they wanted to open a highway to Auckland, the step he was advocating was the preliminary one for tbe purpose, and the road by this route was by far the shortest aud best. A ttack through the bush six feet wide might be cut by while men for 2s. 6d. per chain, or £10 per mile, making only £400 for the cost of the whole distance. But the natives he had been told, would be only too glad to do it. He believed instead of their objecting to it, that they would be happy to see the work undertaken. He might mention that it was very desirable that the work should be commenced and completed forthwith iv order that the store cattle, now so much in demand at Auckland, and such a drug here, might be driven along it. They could be driven from the West Coast to Auckland at 30s. a head, wheteas the shipment of cattle to Otago could not be estimated at less than £5 a head. From a letter he had received that day, he learned that the gold discoveries at Coromaudel would cause a rush from Otago which would be the means of opening a market for our stock if this road could be only opened up first, which could be done at very little cost. He found that so long ago as tbeir first session the attention of the Counci had been called to the subject, and Mr. McLean's evidence was taken which was to the effect. — " There is a road already opened from Manawatu to the Rua Taniwha plains, a distance of 70 miles; the natives have cut 40 miles a! bush, and made the remainder passable for cattle and horses ; the natives cut the track for driving their own stock. I think £400 might be very judiciously expended in improving this road, as it will connect the East ana West coasts, and include a portion of the Xoad from Wairarapa. ki own as the Forty-mile bush. I believe the natives would contribute a great deal of their owu labour towards improving this road, in addition .to what the Government may expend, tbe natives having such

aii interest iti having it done." Such was the testimony of Mr. McLean then, and the natives had ;i greater inducement now to have the road completed. It would be a special benefit to the residents mi the West Coast whom it will bring within 100 miles of Napier. The traveller would have lo sleep one night in the bush aud the next clay be would reach itua Taniwha. There was the more necessity for opening the read by this route as the difficulties by the East Coast were well nigh insurmountable. He kuew of nothing that at so small .? cost would prove more beneficial to this coin - inunity. He had talked the matter over with several influential parties when at Auckland, and they all agreed with him that now restrictions were imposed on the importation of cattle iuto the colony, if store cattle could he driven overland from this province to Auckland to fatten, it would be mutually advantageous to both, as the cattle trade between the Highlands of Scotland, aud the grazing counties of England had proved to Great -Britain. Mr. Stokes said that Captain Rhodes had givnen such strong practical reasons in support uf his motion that it was unnecessary for him to use any arguments to enforce them. He would remind the House that this and simil ar motions for opening up the country had always had the support of the town members. Mr. Harrison supported the motion, which he said would be considered a great boon to the residents on the west coast, both settlers aud natives. The Commissioner of.Cbown Lands said tnat no one would deny that it was a very important matter, but mauy points were required to be cleared up before the Council acquiesced in the proposal. The rule had been not to make a rod for their own backs, by making roads through native lands they wished to purchase. No one had advocated a trunk road to Aucklaud more than he had done, but it was not to be done by piecemeal, but by the General Government, and adopted by it as a matter* of policy. He trusted that Captaiu Rhodes would not press his motion here, but in the General Assembly. Mr. Watt thought that the Council might assent to the motion, for it did not ask the Government to do more than they were able to accomplish. They would have to exercise their own discretion whether they proceeded with the work or not. He had never heard of the question being mooted in the General Assembly though he thought that a road that would bring the two Provinces together was one well worthy of their considerjlion. Mr. Cartsb did not see any harm in placing the sum on the estimates. He denounced the narrow minded policy which had been, adopted by the provinces, and which prevented them from looking at general questions except through a local medium. Mr. Allen opposed the proposition. Capt. Rhodes had asked for £500, but he did not know that that sum would be anything like sufficient: He, moreover, thought it very objectionable to make roads through native lands. Mr. Wallace thought it a very important motion, and he should give it his support. Mr. Boelase thought it would be a very foolish thing to place a sum on the estimates for a work that the Government did not think it politic to undertake. He thought himself that it was inexpedient to make roads through unpurchascd lands The hon. member ought uot to press his motion. Mr. McEwen vehemently supported the motion. Had a road been made, instead of being talked about, through the Forty Mile Bush, Hawke's Bay would still have been a part of this Province, and a huudred thousand pounds worth of land could have been sold by the government' Mr. Doncan said that the Council were indebted to the last speaker for his curt but just remarks. Had he not himself seen £20,000 pat ou the estimates for making roads through native lands without any objections being raised, which were not effectually overruled ? All that the novei asked for, was simply for them to make a bridal path passable. Had a more far seeing policy been adopted, population would not have been shut out of the Province, aud valuable tracks of land in the interior would have been in the occupation of enterprising settlers. The sum proposed was a better investment for the Province than any £500 on the estimates. From his own personal knowledge he could state that the natives were anxious to sell their land, but matters of this sort were kept too much in the dark. If they were to have population, they must adopt v different system. He was glad that Mr. Car ter had promised to bring the subject before the Assembly, but they, as members of the Provincial Council had to do tbeir duty in that cajßcity, and they would net be doing their cfifiyif they did not assent to the motion of Captain Rhodes. Capt. Smith said he should rote for the motion. The Provincial Treasurer said that the very land the road would pass through, was occupied by squatters ; and they were now asked to assist them with a market for their surplus stock. Jf he had been informed aright the quantity of timber that fell during one winter was so great that if the road was made it would quickly be impassable. He doubted whether a road could be cut 40 miles through a bush for so small a sum, and it would be most undesirable th&t they should make a road through lands they wished to purchase. To put money on the Estimates without. any intention of expending it was a course which he could not sanction. He would move as an amendment that the words "as soon as the land shall be purchased" should be added to to the motion. ■ Mr. Wbioht seconded the amendment. Mr. Taylor thought it would be unfair to press the motion after what had been said by the Government. The road would have the effect of enhancing the value of the native lands through which it went, and would at the same time increase the difficulty of purchasing it. Capt. Rhodes bad no desire to dictate to the Government, or to embarrass the Executive ; but he believed that the provision he recommended would be of use to the Superin tendent, and meet with the approval of His Excellency. The hon. Treasurer had said it would not be wise to encourage squatters, but he could inform that gentleman that had it not been for squatters, Wellington would not now be in existence; the whole of the inhabitants would have gone to the middle island, and by the bye, he thought it would have been perhaps as well if they had. After replying to the remarks of the other opponents of the motion, he said he would he willing to add to the motion the words " provided the Government find it judicious to do so;" but he himself thought it would be judicious. The Commissioner of Crown Lands said that be would have accepted the motion tfcus modified, had it not been for the remark that he (Capt. Rhodes) thought it judicious to make the road at once. It was a very unfortunate time to press the making of ioads through native lands, aud notices had beea issued by

, the General Government warning the squatters | that it was ilk-gal to occupy such lands, who ! were a veij different class of men to those who went to the Wairarapa, to whom all praise was due. He should think it his duty to divide the House if the amendment was not passed, for the question was not one of finance, but a matter of policy. Mr Stokes thought that the withdrawal of the motion was the most prudent course. Mr. Harrison wished it to be known that the motion was not made in order to favor the squatting 1 interest, but to promote the interest of the settlers of Rangitikei and VVanganui. He was surprised to hear the native question brought forward to deter the House from ■< dopting this motion, and never expected at this day to hear that the mere removal of obstructions on a maori track alon-f the side of a mountain and to which the native? were favorable, was not to be proceeded with, on the ground that it might endauger a collision between the two races. Mr. Duncan asked would it be credited after what they had heard from the members of the Government that roads were now being made through native lauds under the sanction of the Government? It was a sham and a delusion, and to him perfectly nonsense to hear it stated that a bridal track could not be made passable for fear of a handful of friendly natives, when he had seen time after time large sums put on the Estimates for making trunk roadf through native lauds. If the resolution was in his hands he would piess it to a division. Mr. Borlase said that the road for which it was professed to be required was perfectly use" less. Cattle could not be taken through it unless by a halter. The amendment was then put and carried. Capt. Rhodes moved " That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that instructions be given by His Honor the Superintendent to have the Main Trunk Line of Road between the Rivers Turakiua aud Raugitikei marked out •on the ground, and inserted in the map of the district." Agreed to. The House then adjourned. Friday, May 16. The Speaker teok the chair at the usual hour. Present the whole of the members. The Prov. Treasxjrer laid on the table several returns relative to expenditure on bridges and other public works, which, on the motion of Mr. Stokes, were ordered to be piinted. MOTIONS. The Prov. Treasurer moved "For leave to bring in a Bill to appoint Commissioners to settle the respective amounts of the Public Debt between the Provinces of Wellington and Hawke's Bay with its Interest, and also all matters of accounts between the two Provinces." Read a first time, to be read a second time on Tuesday. Mr. Wallace moved " That Item No. 7, £1,000 in the Schedule of Loan Act, No. 6, passed iv the first Sessiou of the Provincial Council be specially set aside for a Market, and be made available with Interest on the same for the purpose of establishing a Public Market in Wellington as provided for by Act, No. 12, Session I.; the said sum of £1,000 being part of the Loan of £50,000 authorised by Act No. 6, Sessiou I." Seconded by Captain Rhodes, Motion, after some discussion, withdrawn. Mr. Waring Taylor moved " For a Return of all Monies received on account of the Province of Hawke's Buy towards interest on the the public debt of tl.'e Province of Wellington since the date of separation to the present time, specifying the dates of such payments." Agreed to. THE MARY MERRILL AND TYRA. Mr. Hunter moved— "That a Committee be appointed to enquire into and Report upon the circumstances under which the American ship Mary Merril and the brig Tyra were driven on shore in this Harbour; such Committee to consist of the Hon. the Provincial Treasurer, Messrs. Allen, Rhodes, Watt, Taylor, Duncan aud the Mover." He said that he made this motion because he thought that in justice to our harbor some enquiry was necessary. The Mary Merrill had been brought up from Lyttelton by what were called " Runners" and at the time of the accident she was notoriously shorthanded. The position in which the brig Tyra lay proved that she had not anchored at the proper anchorage off Petoni beach, and under the lee of Soames' Island. From what he could hear — for he was absent from Wellington at the time— the Mary Merrill might have been saved had she been properly manned, and had beeu suppied with sufficient ground tackle, while the accident to the Tyra might have been easily avoided had she not anchored in such a very exposed position. He made no charge aguinstany one, but he thought the matter was a fit subject for enquiry. SINKING FUND BILL. The Council went into Committee on this Bill. On the clause being read, setting aside £2000 per annum for the purpose of providing a sinking fund. Mr. Stokes said he thought instead of a fixed sum being devoted to this purpose some proportion should be adopted between the receipts and the amount set aside for the payment of their debts, but in such a mode that in no year a a less sum should be paid than £1500, the deficiency, if any, being made good out of the general revenue of the Province. He would rpropose as an amendment that 10 per cent, of the land revenue be tbus appropriated: Mr. Allison said that he could notapprove of paying off loans by means of other loans, and as he thought that by the proposed scheme any profits that might arise would be swallowed up in salaries he would move that the clause be read that day six mouths, but subsequently moved as an amendment, that the blank be filled up with the sum of £1. - The Commissioner of Crown Lands said that they wished to borrow money and to do this a Sinking Fund must be provided. If we wont have a Sinking Fund it was tantamount to saying we wont have the loan. Mr. Johnston said that as he did not see the necessity for a Sinking Fund as proposed by the Government he should vote for Mr. Allison's amendment. He should be sorry to prevent the raising of the loan, but he did not see why we should provide a Sinking Fund to pay off former loans. He could not see the policy of raising an additional loan, and at the same time diverting a portion of the revenue from public works for the purpose of paying off a loan already borrowed. He could uudei stand a scheme that set aside a portion of the leventie derived from the wharf for the purpose of pay ing off a debt incurred in its construction ; but he could not recognise the principle of raising a loan in aid of revenue, and at the same time setting aside revenue to pay off former loans' He did not think it was expedient for the Government, while borrowing money, to make any provision for the redemption of the loan already borrowed, To set aside a portion of the loan, or even of the current revenues of tnu Province, for the purpose of paying off former loans, was not only unwise, but would prove ia operation

most detrimental to t!ie interests of the Province. The difficult} 1 they had to meet, was to make the annual revenue cover the annu.il expenditure required for the opening' up and settlement of the country ; bat if a portion of the revenue was to he impounded, the fund fov road and bridge making being thereby reduced or annihilated, it would not be difficult to conjecture what the fate of this Province would be. Any Sinking Fund founded upon anything 1 whatever but a surplus reveuue was purely illusory and deceptive ; and no surplus revenue could exist while more than the whole of it continued to be required for the developement of the resources of the Province. The Provincial Treasurer whose remarks were nearly inadible — said that he could not understand the last speaker's objection if it was judicious to set aside a portion of the receipts from the wharf to pay the cost of its construction, it was equally judicious to set aside a portion of the Provincial revenue for a kindred purpose. When the previous loans were contracted it was never supposed that they were unredeemable; it was always intended that they should be paid off some time or other. He had opposed the establishment of a Sinking Fund five years ago, but the time had now arrived when a provision of the kind was neces sary. Mr. Carter opposed the amendment. He could not see how the loan would be less likely I to betaken up by providing a Sinking Fund for its repayment, for he thought it would be the means of raising the credit of tha Province. He believed that the proposition of Mr. Stokes was better than theplau proposed by the Government, but considered that the 10 per cent proposed was not enough, and thought that it would be better to increase it io 12£ per cent. Mr Watt was taken by surprise when he saw this Bill ; did not agree with the principle j of raising a Sinking Fnnd, nor with the mode jin which it was proposed to be invested. There would be no difficulty in a future period of borrowing money at 6 per cent and paying off the loans they had now borrowed. He should be sorry to embarrass the Government, but thought it was their duty to accept Mr. Johnston's proposition seeing that he was so high an authority in finance. There would be a great difficulty in calling in mortgages, and it looked too much like credit land and loan immigration to meet with his approval. Mr. Borlase approved of a Sinking Fund being provided, but he objected most strongly to the manner in which it was proposed to be raised. A Sinking Fund must be taken altogether out of the control of the Gorerument ; if not it would be better to be without a Sinking Fund. The Commissioner of Crown Lands said that the best Sinking Fund would have been a a large loan at a low rate of interest, by raeaas of which their little loans could be devoured up. We were not in apositiou to do that now owing to causes which it was unnecessary, and would occupy too much time, to further advert to. After some remarks from M. Allison, and the Provincial Solicitor and Treasurer. Mr. Johnston said if they had any surplus funds let them be set aside for a Sinking Fund, but the very fact of their borrowing money was a proof that they had no surplus funds for such a purpose. After referring to Pitt's valuable scheme, and to the course adopted at home by the Commissioners for the reduction of the National Debt, the hon. gentleman said that it would have been better for the colony had the £500,000 loan been raised without a Sinking Fund, and it was raised easily, n.ot because of the Sinking Fund but because of (ke Imperial guarantee. Wheu once then Ookmial loans got out of the hands of stock brokers and Bankers, and into the hands of the old women of England living on annuities, when once they believed in their bonds, they might get off as many as they pleased, and rather than be paid off they would take 6 per cent. Terminable annuities were not liked, and were so far objectionable that they made the present generation pay a higher rate of interest for the benefit of the succedingone. It was said that they were getting rid of the land, which was the security for the loans, but it was not their lands hut their reve--1 ntie they had pledged, and the best security they could give the public creditor, was to sell their lands and increase their people, and by this means enlarge their revenues and resources. After a few words from the Crown Lands Commissioner, the Coannittee reported progress and the house adjourned. THE MELBOURNE ARGUS AND MAORI CANARDS. [From tlie New Zealander, 30th April). We beg to call attention to a letter in our paper of this day from the Colonial Secretary (Mr. Fox), in reference to a most gross misstatement which has appeared in the columns of the Melbourne Argus, and which probably, long before Mr. Fox's contradiction can reach home, will have been circulated and commented upon by the London press. If the Argus has made the mis-statement which Mr, Fox exposes on the authority of any New Zealand paper, we would take the liberty of telling our Melbourne cotemporary that he will be wise to receive with very great caution the statements on New Zealand affairs which he may meet with from time to time in the oiguns of the old war party. | We took occasion not very long ago to expose to our readers the manner in which certain persons are in the habit of manufacturing and circulating anecdotes derogatory to the Natives, and in disparagement of the attempts which Sir i George Grey and his ministers are making to bring the Natire difficulty to a peaceful solution. We described the art of making mountains out of molehills, at which those persons showed themselves. such, grand adepts; and we traced the growth ' aud piogress of the customary " canard" from its original fount, the Pakeha Maori, through the columus of the Southern Cross, the Nelson Examiner, and Wellington Advertiser, till it assumed the dimensions of a leading aitjcle in Hie Otago Times, and of a budget of news for Europe in the Sydney Herald or Melbourne Argus. Since the date of that article, there bas apparently been a dull time among the canard man fact urers ; and though we have heard one or toj rumours of an European being strangled iv Upper VVaikato, and of other horrors, these little events do not seem to have found their way into the columns of those journals which boast of their accurate and earty intelligence. Ou the whole, either the growlers and panic mongers seetu to have been shoit of raw material, or the wheels of their machinery have wanted grease. There has appeared, however, in theolurans of the Haivke's Bay Herald a correspondence, j which we reprint to-day, to which it is woith while to call the attention of our readers, in order that they may appreciate both thechara-c---ter of their imputations which are assiduously cast upon the Natives, and also the character of those who cast them. It appears that there is iv Napier a gentleman who rejoices in. the name of "Smith," a peculiarity to which we take no exception. This Mr. Smith Laving cast a sheep's eye at a certain tract of land belonging to the Natives, entered into treaty with its owners for the use

of it as sheep-run, and concluded with them a bargain for it at a rent of £200 a year. The transaction, he was well aware, was altogether in defiance of law: but that did m.t trouble him ; and he paid down his first halfyear's rent in advance, according to a custom which the Natives in such cases have established — not indicative of any very great confidence in the honesty or solvency of their tenants. In a few days, Mr. Smith tells us, he was informed by his landlords that he had been outbid, — that they had let the same land to another person for £330 ; and they proceeded to drive off his sheep, and refused at the same time to refund his money. On this he snmmoned them before the Runauga (the Native Couucil), sitting, we presume, in a judicial capacity, and there he claimed to have his £100 back again, and £100 more as damages for the breach of the agreement. After the case had been duly heard, and some days had elapsed for consideration, a verdict was given that Mr. Smith should have £70 of his £100 returned, and the Natives should keep £30. The final settlement of the matter appears to have been left in the hands of Karaitiana, a Native of great intelligence and high rank. Without further explanation, Mr. Smith appears to have been an ill-used nun. ] But Mr. Smith goes on to make further reve- j lations, — revelations which, we confess, are suggestive of one of two conclusions ; either that the ' standard of public morality is exceedingly low in the Province of Hawkes Bay, or that the morality of Mr. Smith is considerably below the average. "Having now" says that gentleman, "used all lawful means [the italics are his own] I changed my plans on the spot." This is at least as candid, if not as wise, as the Liverpool alderman who affirmed that "Honesty is the best policy. I've tried both." Mr. Smith on the contrary, says "Honesty did not answer, so I went ou the other tack." He got Karaitiana into an empty barn, and there deliberately proposed to give him a bribe of £10 if he would prevent the decision of the Runanga, and get him the rest of his money back. " I gave him," says this transparent -minded and innocent trafficker in sbeep-runs, " I gave him a cheque upon Aldgate pump," by which we presume he means the thing as a "Note of the Bank of Elegance" — a fictitious document that looked like a money order, but in reality was not one. Karaitiana, according to Mr. Smith, fell into the trap, on which he adroitly gave £10 cash in exchange for the cheque upon •'Aldgate pump." I now had my man fast, and left him," and, minus £20— that is, £10 for the Runanga, and £10 for the bribe — Mr. Smith recovered bis money. This is Mr. Smith's own story, told by himself in his letters, published in the Hawke's Bay Herald, dated the 20th and 24th of March, and seasoned with a very copious outpouring of virtuous indignation on Maori jus-« tice, Maori judges, and Maori runang*as. It is Mr. Smith himself who tells us how, having ttied all " lawful means" without success, he changed his plans on the spot ; it is Mr. Smith himself who records his ingenuity in putting off on Karaitiana a "cheque-upon Aldgate pump," and his adroitness when he found the bait was taken, in substituting cesh for the fraudulent doenment. We shall not stop to calculate how many indictable offences Mr. Smith bus been guilty of up to this time. First of all, there was the illegality of leasing native lands ; then the lese majeste of suing in the King's ruuanga; then the bribery and corruption ; then the passing of the " order on Aldgate pump," which certainly very closeiy resembled* an attempt to obtain money by false pretences. We shall not, we say, stop to enquire to how mauy penalties in law Mr. Smith may have rendered himself liable, because we think the manner in which he has put himself in the pillory by recording the transaction in print, is, or ought to be, a severer punishment to any man in whose breast there may be a trace of shame remaining, than would be inflicted by any amount of sentences under the strong band of the law. The family of tbe Smith's is a large one, and probably, like most families, it has its fools ; but we doubt if either in that family or any other, another member can be found so foolish as first to act as Mr. Smith has acted, and then to publish his acts in the newspaper of tbe district in which he lives. " Well, but," we shall hear some one say ; " Well, but, whatever we may think of Mr. Smith aud his cheques upon Aldgate pump, he has made out a clear case against Karitiana ; the Maori took the bribe — he pocketed the £10 — he sold himself, aud you can't deny that he was a rascal. If Mr. Smith has put him. self out of the pale, we have a right to protest against Maori Runangas, and to denounce Sir George Grey's attempt to convert them into institutions of the country." Not so fast, our friend. One tale is good till auother is told. Mr. Smith's is a very excellent tale, but Karaitiana's version remains to be told ; or rather the version of Karaitiana's neighbours and fellow Runauga men whom he is supposed to have defiaudeu by takiug Mr. Smith's bribe; for in the Haivke's Bay Herald of the sth of April we have their reply. It seems that there were two candidates for the land, Smith and Chapman. Pait of the owners accepted Smith's offer; a deed was drawn up of their portion of the laud, the boundaries and the rental paid, and the names subscribed. Another portion was let by other Maories to Chapman. Afterwards Smith tore j up his lease, and a new one was prepared, altering the boundaries and reducing the rent. On this Smith's landlords reconsidered the matter; they concluded to have only one tenant, and both parties united to let the two blocks in one to Chapman. And now comes the explanation about the deduction of the £30, and the bribe of £10. Smith's sheep, it seems, though he did not tell us it himself, had been running on the land for several weeks ; (be says it was " after a few days"); they had beeu shepherded by the Maori shepherds ; and he had had the use of their horses. The Ruuanga charged £30 as payment for these services — not as it seem; to us excessive, regard being had to the rent actually agreed to be paid. It was left to Karaitiana to settle with Smith, and he let him off easily for £20. instead of £30, of which he paid £iO to the owners of the land and £10 to Paratene ; but he himself kept not a shilling. "As for Smith saying that he bribed Karaitiana by a gift of £10, it is false ; the bribery existed in his own imagination alone. Karaitiana knew nothing of it. If Karaitiana had secretly appropriated the money it would be so. Now, however, Karaitiana has a claim upon Smith's money. He must pay for bis false accusation. He did not attack us to our faces, in our own language s o that we might know that a man was contending with us ; but he slanders us secretly, jjis language being foreign to us; he speaks e vil so that the name of Karaitiana may be stigmatized among the whites." The remarkably clear and emphatic account which the natives give in this letter, will leave little doubt in most minds as to its truth. Had

Karaitiana taken the bribe under the circumstances alleged by Smith, they would hardly have volunteered such a defence for one who had robbed them for his own advantage. We have one move remark to make on this interesting transaction, It is this : that although Mr. Smith's letter of the 20th March, in which he first makes his charge of bribery, and in which he prudently keeps back the little episode about the cheque upon Aldgate pump, which only* appeared in his second letter, was duly transfered to the columns of the Southern Cross, within a few hours of its arrival in Auckland (see that journal of 4th April last): — neither Mr. Smith's second letter, in which he shows the value of such a charge when made by him, nor the clear and emphatic denial of the charge by Karaitiana's Maori friends, which reached us three weeks since, have been inserted in that paper. The oiiginal charge will no doubt go the usual round. The Nelson Bxaminer,the Otago Times,lke Sydney Herald, and the Melbourne Argus, will give it the usual currency; but Mr. Smith's foolish expose of himself, and the contradiction af the tacts by Karaitiana's friends will be kept in the background. To the Editor of the New-Zbalandeb. Sib, — I do not consider it any business of mine to contradict the very numerous mis-statements in reference to the sayings and doings of the Governor, the Ministry, and the Natives, which appear from time to time in spme of the colonial newspapers ; but there is in your paper of April the 26th a statement quoted from the Melbourne Argus, which I consider ifc my duty to notice. The Argus tells its readers "At a late Waikatd gathering, Governor Grey saluted the King's flag, three times taking ofl'his hat." From the context, the statement would seem to be made on the authority of the Auckland Southern Cross,though Ido not remember to have seen it there. The Argus, however, states it was a fact. I was with. Sir George Grey the whole time thafc that he was in Wikato, and on every occasion when he was within sight of a King flag, I was afc his side. The statement in the Argus, whether it rests on its own authority or on that of the Cross is simply unirue and without the shadow of a foundation. I am, &c, William Fox. Auckland, 28th April, 1862.