WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 3040, 1 September 1870, Page 3

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31.

The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. HARBOR WORKS AT TARANAKI. Mr CARRINGTON moved,— That blowing the extent and great fertility of tho lund in Taranaki, and tlio dillicultics, risks, and losses with which the people have to contend from tho want of harbor accommodation, which at moderate cost could be obviated ; and moreover, bearing in mind that tho said provincial authorities have no control over tho waste land of the province, or any means Avhercby they can overcome the diffi.cuities, risks, and losses complained of unless aided by Parliament : Bo it resolved by this House, that a respectful addross be transmitted to his Excellency the Governor, to the effect that he may bo pleased to cause plans and estimates to bo prepared, with the view of constructing such harbor works at New Plymouth as shall enable small costing vessels and steamers of light draught to discharge and toko in cargo ; and this with desire that such plans and estimates bo submitted to tho General Assombly at its next session for adoption. The. lion, member said he wished it to bo understood that lie was not asking for a voto of money, but simply for an addroes to bo presented to his Excellency praying him to cause a survey to bo made. This could be executed at a very small cost, and ho thorefore hopod Iho House would agree to this mol ion. If those works wore not carried out, tho result would bo that a harbor would be constructed at the Sugar Loaves, and it would have the result of taking away tho trado from tho port of Wi'llingl on. Ho asserted that, geographically speaking, Now Plymouth possessed advantages superior to any other part of New Zealand, as there could bo three trips made to Australia to two from other parts of tho island. Mr CREIGIITON fecondod the motion, and trusted thn Government would take this matter into consideration during the rocess. Mr FOX said that this resolution conflicted with tho policy of tho Government, which had for its fundamental principle that all theso works should bo locally charged. Though ho fully concurred with all that had been said with respect to tho utility of theso works, ho feared that if the Government yielded to this they would have scores of applications from all parts of the colony. Tho Government, however, would render every ' assistance to the provincial authorities in making 1 theso surveys. Ho hoped tho hon. member would ' withdraw his motion and leave the matter to the 1 Government. ; Mr MAOANDREW hoped that tho Government would accede to this request, as it did not 1 invoke tho expenditure of any largo sum. Mr BUNNY would support the resolution ol 1 tho hon. member for Omata, and he thought that ' tho answer of tho Government showed a very [ great blot on their policy, which was this — that however desirable a work might bo, it could not 1 be curried out unless the portion of tho colony in which it was situato was able provincially to ' pay tho cost of it. It appeared to him that this > scheme was for tho benefit of tho Middle Island ■ and the province of Auckland, and this was the '< blol; on it — tho Middle Island was to havo these works done because they had a large land revenue which had been given to them by that House ; i practically it amounted to this — that they were • giving to those who were rich, and refusing assist-

nnco in opening up those provinces •which vrafor tunntely happened to be poor. Mi- KELLY hoped fchub the Government would see the necessity of acceding to the resolution of the hon. member iov Omafca. All the resolution required was that information should bo acquired to lay before the House during the next session. Mr EOLLESTON said he sympathised very much with the inhabitants of Taranaki, whose patriotism deserved the very highest commendation ; he would heartily support any comprehensive scheme for the settlement of that province, and lie believed that this scheme of harbor works was a step in that direction. Mr RICHMOND trusted that the Government would accede to the request of the hon. member, as it would bo of infinite benefit to the province of Taranaki, and it would not be at all an expensive one. Mr FOX said the Government would not commit themselves to the extent laid down in the resolution. The Government would not place any obstacles in the way of these works, but they would go so far as he had intimatod. After some further discussion, in which Messrs Carrington, Peacock, and Taylor took part, the question was put, and the motion agreed to on the voices. EETUIUT. Mr MAC ANDREW moved,— That a return be ordered to be laid on the table showing the total amount paid towards the extinguishment of native titles, in respect of that portion of the Middle Island comprised within the limits of tho province of Otago ; also showing the annual amount received from and expended within the province of Otago by the Colonial Treasurer, from the year 1847 to the year 1855 ; such return to show further the proportion contributed by the province of Otago towards the extinguishment of native title in the Northern Island. WEIiIiINGTON BOTANICAL GARDEH9. Mr RICHMOND moved,— That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency, praying him to cause a sum of £300 to be pluced on the estimates for the laying out of tho botanical garden, Wellington. Mi* FOX said there were differences of opinion among the Cabinet on this question, and he hoped that the motion would be postponed. Several hon. member objected to going into committee. Mr ROLLESTON said that he was extremely sorry to find that the first produce of this garden should bo an apple of discord among the Ministry. This garden would be a great boon not only to the inhabitants of Wellington but to tho colony generally, as it would be highly useful for the distribution of plants, &c, throughout the colony. Mr PEACOCK said that there were very many other subjects more important than this, and to discuss which members had given up chances of returning to their homes. Mr GILLIES hoped that the House would refuse to go into committee on this subject, as it was a matter of purely local concern, and one which in other parts of the colony was constructed by means of public subscription. And. again, how far would £300 go in tho part supposed to be called the botanicnl gardens. Why, it would only go towards cutting a few walks in the bush. He opposed the resolution. Mr HALL would vote for the resolution as it would be of great service as a nursery for propagating plants for the whole country, and more especially the flax plant. Mr HAUGHTON s-iid that he thought tho opposition to the motion was on account of the modesty of tho amount asked for ; they had been dealing with such largo amounts lately that when an hon. member came down for a few hundreds, the House immediately got its back up. If the hon member had come down with a vote for £3000, he believed it would have been carried. Mr LUDLAM supported the motion, urging the necessity of tho Government fostering institutions of this kind. He entirely differed with tho hon. member for Mongonui, that the site of the proposed gardens was unsuitable ; he assorted that lie knew of none better. He deprecated the very narrow-minded view which they took of these matters. Mr STAFFORD agreed with the hon. member for the Hutt, that the colony had neglected its duty in not having a dopot where the seeds and plants of the colony could bo cultivated and the products of other countries received, and also for the purposes of exchange. If a colonial garden must bo established, Wellington was the besb plnce to have it., as being tho seat of Government, and the Genernl Government having more opportunities of exchanging with foreign countries than any Provincial Government. He trusted the vote would pass, and that it would appear on their estimates every year. Mr YOGEL »aid that it was not the question of making a colonial botanical garden, but the attempt to foist upon the colony the charge of this work. If they were to have a botanical garden for the colony, let them vote a sum and have a garden under the chargo of the Government. Ho thought that it would become necessary to take tho city of Wellington out of tho province and make it a colonial city and look after it properly, and so put an end to these continual applications from the city of Wellington, which always came in at the last week of the session. There was an astronomical clock which had been ordered by tho Provincial Government and then foiatod on the colony. He must say he was thoroughly disgustod with tho whole affair. He tlumgbt that if tho inhabitants of Wellington were to put their hands into their pockets and subscribe towards this work it would bo far better than subscribing towards sending delegates to Melbourne ; and although ho did not intend to stand for Wellington, he should bo prepared to subscribe a guinea towards it. Although the seat of Government had been established for some years, they had only just thought about having gns, and he thought that they had far better tuke the city of Wellington and make it a colonial city altoMr WARING TAYLOR said that ho should have voted for this resolution, as he held that it was a very desirable object, but he had paired on tho subject. Mr J. C. WILSON supported the resolution. Mr CREIGHTON objected to tho vote on account of the nnsuitableness of the site. Mr CARLETOiN 1 said that in the year 1856 a very handsome grant had been made to tho Gardens of Auckland, and having votod for that he should feel ashamed to vote agniust tiiis resolution. Mr O'NEILL supported the resolution. Mr RICHMOND having replied, the motion was put, and a division took placo with tho following result : — Ayes, 27 ; Noes, 17. Tho following is' tho division list : — Ayes, 27 — Messrs Richmond, Collins, M'Lean, Jollie, Tancrod, Cnrleton, Curtis, Fox, Morvyn, Kelly, Wells. Williamson, Col. Hnultain, O'Neill, Stafford, Ormond, Kynr.ersley, H. S. Hurrison, Bradshaw, Tareha, Bunny, Brown, Mete Kingi, Edwards, Hall, Rolleston, and LucUnm. Noes, 17— Messrs Creighlon, Gillies, Wood, Studholmo, Yogel, Peacock, Kerr, Baigent, Kenny, Rusnell. Parker, Maeandrew, Swan, M'Gillivrny, BarfF, Dignan, Main. Pairs— For, Mr Waring Taylor 5 nguinst, Mr Reynolds. On tho suggestion of the Speaker, the hon. member for Givy and Bell amended his resolution as follows :— "That the House go into commit 100 to consider the adoption of an addreas to | his Excellency tho Governor, to recommend the House to make provision for £300 to be applied towards the formation of a botanical gardens in . Wellington." I On the question that the Houso go mto comi mitte, Mr YOGEL said he could not look upon this • in any way but as utterly subversive of the prin- ; ciples of representative institutions, and would initiato a system of log-rolling. He was prepared r to prove that canvussing had been carried on in '. tho House and outside, from tho members of the ', Government downwards, at evening parties and dinner parties—a course which, he asserted was '. utterly subversive of the independence of Parliament. (Ironical cheers ) He Tvould -withdraw all opposition to this vote if all the provinces, including the county of Westlaud, were allowed to receive an equal amount. i Mr ROLLESTON Baid ho would sooner have i put his hand into his pocket and contributed toi wards this object, rather than a Minister of tha Crown should have oome down and madeeuch aa i exhibition of himself. Ho utterly denied the . charge made against him of log-rolling. Ho

asserted that the Hon. Colonial Treasurer had committed a flagrant breach of decorum in reproaching hon. members for canvassing matters of public interest. Were the Government eittting on that bench in the capacity of detectives ? He must say he was utterly astonished at the conduct of the Hon. Colonial Treasurer on this occasion. Mr BUNiNT denied that any more log-rolling had been exercised in this matter than was the case with rogard to any measure coming before the House. Mr FOX said that he had stated that there was a division of opinion in the Cabinet in this matter. There wore several difficulties in the way, and one of these was, that when the Botanio Gardens Bill came before the House, hon. members who supported it, stated distinctly that they would not aßk the House for a shilling. Several other difficulties also presented themselves to him in considering this matter. The hon. member for Wellington city had said to him that if the Government allowed the vote to pass, the Provincial Government would hand over to the Government a rental of £250 per year ; but unless he bod a distinct pledge from the Deputy-Superintendent, that the Provincial Government would hand this rent over, he should rote against this item in committee. Mr "WARING TARLOR said that he would giro his version of the matter referred to by the Premiei*. The conversation respecting the £250 grant amounted to this : there were some 1100 acres of land granted to the Superintendent, and it; seemed to him that the revenue from this land should be applied to the formation of parts and botanic gardens ; and he mentioned to the Premier that he would be prepared to recommend this course to the Provincial Council. Mr BARFF opposed the vote ; stating that he did not think that a garden could be formed, even if the whole ten million lonn were spent on the piece of land proposed as a botanic garden. The question was then put and declared to be carried, when Mr Yogel demanded a division, ■which took place as follows : — Ayes, 26 ; Isoee, 20. The following is the division list : — Ayes, 26 — Messrs Rolleston, Mervyn, Ludlam, Kynneraley, Collins, Curtis, Hall, Carleton, Haultain, Jollie, Wells, Williamson, Kelly, Ormond, Bradshaw, Bunny, Brandon, H. S. Harrison, Kenny, Fox, Carrington, Brown, Tancred, Wilson, Stafford, Richmond. Noes, 20 — Messrs Creighton, Gillies, Peacock, Yogel, Wood, Main, Driver, Macandrew, Studholine, M'Gillivray, Parker, Kerr, Russell, Barff, Dignan, Baigent, O'Rorke, M'lndoe, Macffarlnne, Clark. The hour for adjournment having arrived, the matter dropped. MESSAGE. Tho SPEAKER announced that he had re- j ceivod a message from the Legislative Council informing him that they had passed several bills ; ! also, the Wairau Roads Reservation Bill, which was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for next sitting day. CLAIMS OF "WAITOTABA SETTLBBS. The debate on this question was resumed by Mr YOGEL, who said that it was with great regret that the Government could not recommend the House to adopt the resolution of the hon. member for Wanganui, Mr RICHMOND asked whether the Government would not accept a resolution similar to that j arrived at in the case of the Patea settlers ? Mr KELLY desired to point out tbafc the £10,000 voted included the settlers in the Patea and Wuitotnra districts. He thought that the claims of these settlers deserved the serious consideration of tho House. He would move the insertion of words including the Patea settlers in the terms of this resolution. Mr YOGEL objected altogether to paying compensation in land scrip ; it would be much better to pay it in cash, as the railway between Wellington and Wairarapa would bo very much encumbered by these undefined claims for compensation being in existence. Mr RICHMOND highly approved of the stand made in this matter hy the Treasurer, as ho was of opinion that the land should not be [alienated for any other purposes than those of colonisation. Mr H. S. HARRISON having briefly replied, the amendment was enrried on tho voices, and the resolution as amended was then put to tho House and negatired on the voices COURT OF APPEAL ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr GILLIES moved the second reading of this bill, briefly explaining its provisions. The biil was read a second time, passed through committee, read a third time, and passed. HANSABD EEADEE. P The resolution of the committee respecting the above was agreed to. TBAQTJAIB AND STT7AET IIUNDEBDB BILL. On the motion of Mr MaCANDEEW that the House go into committee on this bill, Mr DRIVER gave notice of his intention to move certain amendments in the bill. The House then went into committee on this bill, md a motion by Mr Driver to strike out clause two being negatived after a long discussion, the bill was passed through committee and read a third time. hawkb's bat ceotvn lands sale bill. This bill was read a second time on tho motion of Mr Obmond, and ordered to be committed on next sitting day. FIBE INSPECTOB'S BILL. On the motion of Mr Yogel, this bill was read a second time, passed through committee, read a third time, and passed. APPEALS FBOM PEOVINCIAL BATING BILL. On the motion of Mr Yogel, the House went into committee on this bill. A. lengthy discussion ensued, a motion for reporting progress, by Mr Brandon, being lost on the voices. Ultimately, a motion by Mr Yogel for reporting progress "was agreed to on the voices, the Government undertaking, if possible, to introduce a Validation Act this session. KELSON COLLEGE BILL. The House then went into committee on this bill, when it passed through committee with some formal amendments was reported to the House, read a third time, and passed. mCMAEu" AND GLADSTONE BOAED OP WOEKS AMENDMENT BILL. The amendments made by his Excellency the Governor in this bill were agreed to on the motion of Mr Rolleaton. TJNINCOEPOEATBD BOAED3 SUITS BILL. On the motion of Mr Fox this bill was rend a second time, and the House went into committee upon it, when it passed through without amendment, was read a third time and passed. eobket Johnston's land geant bill. Mv LUDLAM moved the second reading of this bill. Mr M'LEAN said that he had found out that the applicant had received a grant of land iv the "Waikato district. Colonel HAULTAIN said that this gentleman having received land as a military settler, did not interfere with his receiving a grant as a retired officer. Mr BRANDON moved that this bill bo read a BDeond time that day six months, as he did nob think that the grantee was entitled to this land, and also that quite land enough had been granted in the province of Wellington for this purpose. The amendment was negatived on a division by 28 to 9. The bill was then read a second time and tho House went into committee on it. On the last clause, providing that tho land Bhould be selected in the province of Wellington, Mr Tayloe moved that the selection be made out of tho confiscated lands. Mr M'LEAN objected to the amendmonfc. Mr BUNNY suggested that the applicant should bo restricted from selection in tho Mona■wat.u and Rangitikei districts. Mr LUDLAM accepted the suggestion of tho hon. raomber for tho Wairarapa Mr BUNNY moved, as a further amendment, that the selection should bo made within six months after the passing of the uct. The amendments were agreed to on the voices, tho bill reported to tho House, read a third time and passed. CUBATOES OF INTESTATE ESTATES BILL. On the motion of Mr Cableton, for Mr GilLIES, fcho following hon. members were appointed as managers of a conference on the amendment made by the Legislative Council, viz., Messrs Fox, Gillies, and Borloso. GEBEK AND SPENOEB AMENDMENT BILL. The House went into committee on this bill, when it was passed through committee without

amendment, reported to tho House, road a third time and pussed. BAILWAY GUAGE BILL. Mr RICHMOND moved the second reading of this bill, fixing (he guago of railways at 3ft. 6'in. Mr MACANDHEW seconded the motion. Mr KOLLESTON opposed the bill, characterising it as premature. Mr MOOIIHOUSE wished to impress upon the House and the Government that this bill was not required. i Mr Bunny and Mr Cableton supported the second reading of this bill. Mr CARRINGTON said the question of gauge was a question of expense. He felt sure that if the narrow gauge were adopted tlie colony would save many thousands of pounds. Mr MACANDREW was in favor of the second j reading of this bill. He believed that ft uniform gauge would be established throughout the colony, and that would bo a narrow gauge. Mr GULLIES supported the bill very warmly. After sonio further remarks, in which Messrs Moorhouse, Yogel, and others took part, the second reading of tho bill wub carried on the voices, and the bill ordered to be committed on next sitting day. 3IKSSAGE IWOII THE GOVEBNOE. The SPEAKER announced that he had received a message from the Q-overnor transmitting tho additional Supplementary Estimates, which was ordered to be considered on tho next sitting day. The House adjourned at 12.35 a.m.