PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1729, 30 May 1862, Page 5

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday Mny 27, MORNING SITTING. The Speaker took the Chair this day afc 12 o'clock, the following members being then present. Messrs. Whitewood, McEvven, Smith, Fawcett, Allison, Watt, Woodward, Allen, Turnbull, Wallace, Fitzherbert, Boiiase, Wright, Taylor, Bryce, and Carter. Land Regulations. Mr. Wallace asked the Commissioners Crown Lands — "If it is the intention of the Gooarnmenfc to propose any alteration in the Land Regulations during the present Session, to anticipate the new purchases of Agricultural Land which it is expected will be made under the new arrangements in the Land Pui chase Department." The Commissioner replied that no alteration was contemplated, by the Government in the present Session. Grants to Institutes and Schools. Mr. MoEwen moved — " That a respectful Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent requesting him to place on the Estimates the sum of £150 for the Mechanics' Institute at the Hutfc, to be expended in the purchase of Books." Mr. Watt moved — "That a respectful Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent requesting him to place on the Estimates the sum of £150 for the Mechanics' Institute, Wanganui, to be expended in Books and Improvements." Mr. Carter moved — "That the sum of .£IOO be placed on the Estimates for the purpose of assisting to establish a Mechanics' Institute at Greytown, Wairarapa." Mr. Wright moved — " That a respectful Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent asking for a sum of £50 to be placed on the Estimates for the purchase of Books for the Karori School ; and that a similar sum may also be placed on the Estimates for the School at Porirua for a like purpose. The whole of these motions were agreed to, on the understanding that they would again come under discussion when the Estimates were under consideration, At half-past 3 o'clock the Council adjourned until 5 o'clock. EVENING SITTING. The Speaker took the Chair, pursuant to arrangement, at 5 o'clock. Present: — Messrs. Johnston, Duncan, Turnbull, Taylor, Carter, Whitewood, Fawcett, McEwen, Schultze, Bryce, Woodward, Fitzh«rbert, Brandon, Wallace, Allison, Smith, Spinks, Crawford, Wright, Watt, Stokes, Allen, Barton. Absent, Messrs. Borlape, and Buck One Wanganui seat vacant. * The Highways Act. The Council went into committee on this Act after long discussions and numerous amendment proposed by the Wanganui members, and rejected by the committee on tho29th clause being adopted the committee reported progress and asked leave 1 0 sit again to-morrow. Supplementary Estimates. The Council then resolved itself into Committee of Supply to consider the various items which had been added by His Honor to the Estimates on the recommendation of the Council. Saturday nook Gun. The item A'ls to defray the cost of firing a gun at 12 o'clock on Saturday's was rejected on a division by a majority of 14 against 6 ; the following members only voting for it, — Messrs. Rhodes, Duncan, Fawcett, Wright, Spinkß, and Crawford. Bridle Tback^for West Coast. The sum of i'soo was placed on the Estimates for making a Bridal Track from the West Coast to the Ahuriri, as soon as the land was purchased but at the earnest solicitation of tho Commissioner of Crown Landa the Council rejected tho vote by j a majority of 1 0 to 6. ' Captain Rhodes said that the Council had been accused of straining at gnats aud swallowing camels, but lie thought they might be properly accussed after rejecting this, and previous motions of his, of straining at pheasants and swallowing bridges. Abel Smith St. Improvements. s The Council voted unanimously <£89 Cs.| repayment to Mr. Roteimund for amount expeaded by him iv the repairs of Cuba and Abe| Smith Streets. I acts op Council. I 1 The sum of ,£IOO was voted for priiting an ! octavo edition of tho Acts of the Provincial Council. I

queen's store. On the sum of £2,500 for the erecting of a Queen's store on the reclaimed land being proposed, Captain Rhodes moved that the sum of .£SOO should be substituted in lieu thereof, on the ground that the erection of a Queen's Warehouse on the reclaimed land, and the allowing of goods liable to duty to be landed only on the Queen's Wharf, as proposed by the Collector of Customs was interfering with vested interests aud private rights, and was not to bo justified. Mr. Johnston ably supported the original motion. He saidthat£so a week wasbeingpaidas rent for bonded warehouses, and that if £30 a week was received for storage in the proposed Queen's store, it would quickly repay the cost of its erection, while it would give additional value to the reclaimed land in its vicinity. Mr. Turnbull opposed the motion, and supported the amendment;. The Commissioner op Crown Lands thought the proposal a very judicious one, and was disposed to view it with more favour because it would give additional value to the property they had for sale, and which had already cost the public a large sum of money. Mr. Watt opposed the motion on the ground that the money would nofc be wan.cd during the present year. . Mr. Schultze, Mr. Woodward, Mr. Wallace, and Mr, Carter spoke in favor oi the motion, and Mr. Taylorand Mr. Spinks in favor of the amendment. Captain Rhodes vigorously opposed the motion, and threatened to erect a deep' water wharf at the head of the bay before the one now in progres, ivas completed if the General Government persisted in allowing goods liable to duty to be landed only at the deep water wharf, and stored only at the Queen's warehouse. Mr. Johnston said it was incorrect to assume that they had at present bonded accommodation. They had twelve sheds, but only three warehouses worthy of the name. In a short time they might reasonably expect tp have twice the number of inhabitants, and twice the number of persons they had at present, who would require the accommodation it wasn ow sought to afford them. After some further discussion, the amendment was put, and the Committee divided, — ayes, 10, Messrs. Turnbull, Taylor, Wright, Crawford, Spinks, Duncan, Watt, Bryce, McEwen. Noes, twelve; Messrs. Johnston, Woodward, Fitzhorbert, Brandon, Stokes, Carter, Schultze, Allison, Allen, Smith, Fawcett, Barton. The amendment was consequently lost. The original motion was then put, and the Committee again divided, giving the same votes a$ before Ayes, twelve, noes, ten. The motion was thereupon declared carried, when the Committee reported progress, and the House adjourned.