HOUSE BRANDING BILL,

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2082, 2 July 1864, Page 3

HOUSE BRANDING BILL,

Captain SMITH moved the commital of the " Horse Branding Bill." On Clause 1 being read, Mr. BORLASE considered it an unnecessary cruelty to animals to compel owners to band their horses. Every man should know his own horse ; if he did not, he deserved to lose it. He would move as an amendment " That Clause 1 be read a first time that day six months." The Committee divided. Ayes, 9. Noes, 12. The amendment was consequently lost. Some little discussion here arose as to a point of order, the Chairman of Committees having struck the hon. member for the Hutt (Mr. Rack's) name from the division list, lie having crossed the House while the Clerk was taking the numbers.

The Chairman reported progress, and The Speaker ruled that no member could refuse to vote who was in the House when a division took place, and consequently he should merely ask on which side the hon. member intended to vote, and his name would be recorded accordingly.

Mr. BUCK answered " Noes," and the business was proceeded with.

Another amendment by Mr. BORLASE to the effect " That it shall not be imperative on any person to brand his horse, and he shall not be liable to a fine if he shall not," having been carried,

The Bill was reported with amendments, and the third reading fixed for Tuesday.

COMMITTEE OF SDPPLT.

The following items were ordered to be read : — Laying water on to Keclaimed Land, £200 ; houses for Pilot's men, £300 ; New Zealand Exhibition, 1865, £500 ; repairs and maintenance of fire engine, £30 ; additions to Gaol, £1000 ; house for a itive chiefs, £600.

On the item " Houses for Pilot's men, £300," being put,

Mr. ALLEN asked the Provincial Treasurer whether it was the intention to remove the present site of the Pilot's house.

The PROVINCIAL TREASURER said that the Harbor Master had suggested it, and if practicable, his suggestion would be carried out. In answer to another question he (Mr. W.) informed the Committee that the house at thfe flag-staff would also be put in repair.

" New Zealand Exhibition,

Before the item, 1865. £500," was put,

r |he PKOVINCAL TREASURER said he would explain why this sum of money was put on the Estimates, and how it was proposed to expend it. It simply amounted to the question, whether this Province should be properly represented at this great Industrial Congress or not ; if they were to be properly represented, they would require the sum asked for. First, for the inevitable expense of the conveyance of goods to and from Otago ; secondly, to hold out some encouragement to local enterprise by offering prizes for the production of articles of merit ; thirdly, to aid in the production of some articles intended for exhibition ; and fourthly, for printing and stationery. He (the Provincial Treasurer) was happy to state tliat this Exhibition had taken such form, such standing, and such shape that it was not a question now as to whether we should exhibit, but whether we would be allowed. The area of the building. was 17,200 feet, while the applications for space from England, Australia, and Dunedin amounted already to 40,000 feet. It would remain a matter ior the Commissioners to cut down the applications, so as to allow every Province an opportunity of exhibiting. He might inform the Committee that additions to the original building were contemplated, as the magnitude of the undertaking far surpassed the most sanguine expectations of its promoters. Dunedin alone applied for 16,000 feet (superficial) for their exhibits, and he (Mr. Woodward) thought this Province ought to be represented.

The Committee divided upon the item. Ayes, 12. Noes, 8. The item was passed. On the item, " Additions to Gaol," being read. Mr. JOHNSTON asked if the proposed additions included a room for clergymen to visit prisoners separate from the others. He believed that under the present system if a clergyman wished to see a prisoner he had to do so in the open yard, or in a passage with the other, prisoners round him.

The PROVINCIAL TREASURER said that although this money would not '10101811 a room expressly for that purpose, yet the alterations would cause one to be vacated which would answer the purpose until the permanent additions contemplated were made.

On the item " House for Native Chiefs, £600" being put,

The PROVINCIAL TREASURER said that a like sum was proposed for this purpose a year ago, at the request of His Excellency Sir George Grey, who stated he had a certain sum of money in his hands which he would appropriate to the purpose named ii the Province would supplement that sum by a like amount. He (Sir G. Grey) wished for a suitable place to meet native chiefs when he came to Wellington. He (the Provincial Treasurer) remarked that now they had to pay for these chiefs at hotels, and it would be much cheaper if a house like the one contemplated was erected. The reason the money had not been expended was that the tenders sent in were so monstrously high that fresh plans and specifications has to be prepared. Mr. CARPENTER objected entirely to the vote.

Mr. BUNNY could not support it. He did not think it right to expend the public money in building hotels for the natives. They could look after themselves as well as the white people. There had been too much nursing of these people hitherto.

Mr. BRANDON thought as a reason the sum should be passed was that their social position demanded they should be respected, and it was well known that in hotels they did not get the consideration their position entitled them to. It was illegal to supply them wines and beer, and in fact there were many reasons that could be urged in favor of the erection of such a building. He (Mr. Brandon) thought the chiefs were fairly entitled to it, and he considered this Committee ought not to begrudge it.

Mr. McEWEN could not support it, and moved " That the item be struck out."

Mr. SCHULTZE thought something should be done, but he considered the expense' of keeping up Buch an establishment would be very great. Mr. JOHNSTON thought this should be a purely General Government expenditure ; if this was to be the Seat of Government, then there would be ample time for the General Government to erect such a building.

Mr. HUNTER considered that some provisions should be made for the chiefs when they cume into town on business. They contributed to the revenue of the Colony, and were entitled to some consideration.

Mr. BOHLASE said to hia mind thiswata most objectionable vote. They would not only have to erect this " club-houne" for native chiefs but it must be furnished, and the establishment kept up. He considered they were quite as able to look after themselves as we were. He (Mr. Borlase)spoke from experience, when he said that the chiefs when they came into town now were received at the various hotels without any distinction. He would like to see an equal law for both races— had there been such, there would have been no native rebellion. He really thought some of the chiefs would take it as an insult if they were told " No, you.'can't come here; there's a house built for you expressly." He should vote against the item.

Mr. STOKES would vote for the item, because he consideied it would be beneficial. It was not a new vote, nor was it the first time the sum had been placed on the Estimates, and he was surprised to hear that most of the hon. members who were against the item were the very ones who on a former occasion were loud in denouncing the practice of not expending votes which had once been placed on the Estimates. This money having once been sanctioned by the Council, he (Mr. Stokes) thought it would be a great injustice if it was now taken off the Estimates. The circumstance had been explained by the hon. the Provincial Treasurer how it was that the money had not been spent before, and he considered it satisfactory.

The COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS in a lengthy speech, supported the item on the Estimates. He thought the house had been properly designated a " club house," and that this was an ill-chosen time to refuse the grant. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER said it was within his knowledge that a native chief had recently come into town and G was refused a feed of corn for his horse, unless some official guaranteed the amount. (" Name," wag called from several parts of the House, but the hon. gentlemen could not remember it.) After a little further discussion, The PROVINCIAL TREASURER moved that the item be £500.

The House then divided

Nobs— lo.

De Castro Whitewood Bunny

Ayes — 11. Schultze Huuter Stokes Brandon Fitzherbert Woodward Allen Fawcett Taylor Watt Allison.

McEwen Carpenter Borlase

Dransfield Back

Crawford Johnston

The House adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock.