PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3803, 13 May 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Monday, Mat 12. The Speaker took the chair at half-pact two o'clock. BETUBN. The Pbovincial Seceetabt laid upon the table a return of the amount paid by the Government during the last year for legal advice and expenses, The return was ordered to be printed. PETITION. Mr Daibtmplb presented a petition from the inhabitants of the Motoa, for assistance in the way of road expenditure. IMPOUNDING ACT. Mr GRAHAM asked the Provincial Solioitor whether there is any provision or provisions in the Wellington Impounding Act against breach of pound or rescue of oattle impounded ; and whether, in the event of there being no such provisions, the Government will be prepared to bring in an amendment to provide therefor ? The PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR said the common law provided amply for the protection of pounds against trespassing, and fresh legislation would be a work of supererogation. The matter was purely of an executive nature. HIGHWAY ACT BATES. Mr 0. PHARAZYN moved for leave to introduce a bill to compel the payment of certain rates which have failed to be collected in consequence of a flaw in the late District Highway Act. The SPEAKER pointed out that the course taken by the hon m«mber was not in order. THE lOAN BILI. Mr BUNNY moved, that having regard to the increasing demand for land in this provinoe at full rates, it is unnecessary to increase the extent of the security offered in the proposed Loan Bill ; but that, nevertheless, if the General Government, after taking evidence on the subject, should think proper to demand additional security, such a demand should, in the opinion of this Council, be acceded to. This motion was also declared to be informal, and lapsed. li\ND ON DEFERRED PAYMENT. The motion on the interrupted debate on this question was withdrawn by permission of the Council. HIGHWAY BOABDS BETT7BNB. Mr BEETHAM moved that the Government should be requested to furnish the Chairmen of all Highway Boards in this province, with the legal opinion of the Provincial Solicitor as to the legality of the rights understood to exist, or to have been acquired by oustom or otherwise, to the use of roads across lands that hay» not been surveyed previously to the maturing of Crown grants. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY said the Government did not see their way to accede to the request, nor did he think the information would be of much use to the boards if they obtained it. He could not see by what right the boards could demand the opinion of the > Provincial Solicitor. A far more satisfactory arrangement would be for the boards to obtain an outside opinion. The PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR said he never had the slightest objection to giving his opinion upon such questions, provided the request came to him through the Executive. Mr BEETMAM regretted on behalf of the boards that he failed to get a more satisfaotory reply. The motion was negatived on the voices. OBOWN GBANTS. Mr BEETHAM moved that it is the opinion of this Council that a return should be furnished to the chairmen of the various highway boards in the provinoe, showing the date of issue of all crown grants issued up to the present dale. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY said the return was in preparation, and that it would be furnished to the chairmen of the highway boards j in fact, he might say that no information that could conveniently be given would be refused to the chairmen of such boards. The motion was then withdrawn by per mission of the Council. NOMINATED IMMIGRATION. Mr BEETHAM moved that the Speaker do now leave the chair, in order that the Council may go into committee to consider that aa address be presented to' his Honor the Superintendent, requesting his Honor to place on the estimates the sum of £2000 for the purpose of assisting any individuals or companies in introducing immigrants under the system of nomination. He thought no good reason could be advanced to show why the Counoil should not appropriate sums of money for the purpose specified. Although the amount mentioned might not be of much use for the ordinary purposes of immigration, still a principle would be offered by granting ifc, and it might be made useful in the way of assisting associations formed with the object of promoting immigration. He had reason to believe that the inhabitants of many of the country distriots intended to put their own shoulders to the wheel in order to promote immigration. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY pointed out how impossible it would be for the Government to give way to any suoh demand, which would result in the Government being deluged by applications of the kind. He would therefore have to set his face against it, oouiteously but firmly. Mr R. PHARAZYN took the same view of the matter as the Provincial Secretary. Mr C. PHARAZYN supported the motion on the grouud that if the Government were enjoying all the prosperity hon members seemed to think, and that prosperity were to be continued to them, it would be a very moderate concession to place such a small sum upon the estimates for so good a purpose. The ;PRO VINCI AL SECRETARY said he was able to iuform the Council as to the probable manner in which*the immigration stream of the colony was to be kept flowing, that the Agent General had been informed both by memorandum and cablegram to withdraw all burs whatever to immigration — in faot to make it free of all oharge. Mr BEETHAVT, in reply, wished to assure the Council that instead of having any desire to interfere with the functions of the General Government as regarded imuiigra- | tion, the motion on the contrary was intended to aid their efforts in that direction. Still, as the sense of the Council was clearly against him, be would ask leave to withdraw his motion. Leave was accordingly given. whiteman's valley. Mr ORUICKBHANK moved that the Counoil do resolve itself into a committee to con sider an address to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place npon the estimates tho sum of fouv hundred pounds for making a road from No. 1 Upper Hutt, into Whiteman's Valley. From personal experience he was able to speak of the many,' and great disadvantages under which the settlers in the district referred to labored for want of-

' a road. If one were made it would be t%» , : means of bringing 3000 acres of unsold land into the market, besides inducing many who had previously purohased land to settle upon it, The PROVINCIAL"? SECRET ART, said it would be useless to put the monej down,. Hitherto the Government had so litle money to spend that they bad no fund 9 for suola objects. ' The very" utmost tbaV he could undertake to promise would be that if he ofi* cupied the same position next year he would giro grtater attention to the demands of private members in such matters as thaff* brought forward by the hon mover. Mr LTJDLAM thought the Government should meet these kind of demands, as they had a margin of £6000 left for contingencies. He therefore thought the Council should go into committee. Mr C. PHARAZYN thought the question was one which might well be considered on ita merits by the Council in committee. Mr R. PHARAZYN thought there should be sufficient confidence placed in the Exoca« tire, and a certain margin allowed them bo» oause it was utterly impossible for any Government however exact and calculating, to steer so close to actual requirements as to diapenie with these contingent allowances* If" they were not prepared to extend that much confidence to a Government it would be fa* better to get rid of it and replace it by a new one. He entirely objected to the prinoiplft Bought to be introduced by the motion. Mr ORUICK3HANK "reiterated his argaments that the expenditure would praotioaily improve the state of the provincial chest by the sale of lands and the introduction of many valuable settlers. A division was then oalled for, which ra« suited as follows : — Ayes, 9 ; noes, 8. The Council resolved itself into committed. Mr ORUICEJSHANK regretted thafc h» should have to press the matter, but he felt bound to do so, knowing the high price paid for the land by the settlers and the great difficulties they labored under. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY intimated that the Government had no desire to oppose this motion particularly. Buk ha warned the Council that they would be ore?whelmed with similar applications, the meat)*: for which would be expected to oome oat of the contingent vote, 'and that the Government would be placed in the quandary of no* knowing what way to turn to meet the multitude of demands made upon them. Messrs Weight, Andbbw, and" Ltolajc. supported the claims of the settlers, and urged the reproductive nature of the work. Mr C. PHARAZYN wished to know whether the settlers referred to had no claimupon any Board. Mr CRUIOK3HANK explained that thea*. . people never had the benefit or assistance of any Board. . . Mr MORGAN thought the grant from th» General Government to Boards was intended to meet shcli isolated cases. Mr C. PHARAZYN suggested thai th» consideration of the motion be postponed till the quantity of land affected could be ascertained. The resolution was then agreed to, reported, and ordered to be proceeded with on the following day. MESSAGE. A message was reoeived from his Honor the Superintendent enclosing a bill authorising the sale of a block of land at Wanganui. The bill was read a first time. SECOND BEADING. The Greytown Court House and Telegraph Site Sale Bill was read ». second time, and the third reading made an order of tho day for to-morrow* The Council then went into Committed o& the £00 AX BOARDS Bills which was reported with amendments* tad recommitted forthwith. The Committee then proceeded to dtsousa the amendments embodied in a supplementary order paper, and moved by the Provincial Sec*. retary at the wish of various members of tfe* Council when the bill was under discussion previously. Considerable discussion ensued as to tht propriety of placing the control of the main roads in the hands of the local boards, tha Provincial Secretary stating that the Government would muoh rather forego the measure than abandon the control over the main tinea, as it was absurd to make the Government provide the funds in the first instano», then hold them responsible for keeping open com* municatioD, while at the same time all direct control was taken from the Government and placed in the hands of boards. Several verbal and other alterations in the bill contained in the supplementary order paper having b«*n read and agreed to, Mr 0. PHARAZYN moved as an amftndment that the Board be made perpetual by only allowing a certain number of the Com* missioners to retire periodically. This woqld always assure that a certain number of experienced men would be retained on the Board. He would therefore suggest that tfa« clause be postponed. The amendment was negatived on the yoioes, Mr C. Pharazyn and Mr Carter having spoken in favor of the original amendment. Progress was reported at 5 30, and leava given to sit again.