, 1872-02-03

Meeting 10Th January 1872.


REPAIRS OF WHARF AT CHRIsTIANsTED.-The
Government had proposed an Additional Grant for
q sum of $500 besides what was already granted
under the Budget for said Repairs. The work
had been put up twice for public competition but
only / offer had been made, which was $287 in
excess of the sum granted .-Rosenstand suggested
to extend the plan of the Repairs, so that the angle
between the Western Crane and the outermost
point of the present pier be filed up; thereby will
be afforded greater deph of water SO that several
sohooners GOULD lie alongside at same time, and
perhaps even the expected Steamer could find
sufficient depth of water. The suggestion was
acknowledged by all parties to be beneficial but
the expenses for carrying out the plan will be
greater than the Island under present circumstan-
ces can afford. The whole matter was referred
to d Committee of 3 Members (Clindinen, Nc
William. Anthon.)
Proposal from Nc. William and Latimer for q
to consider how far public order in the
Island might be preserved by o MiLitiaforce. organ
lsed from among the Burghers OF the Island. Nc
William had been led to introduce it because it was
apparent from the discussion on the Military Ordi-
nance, that the tax necessary to keep up the Militia
ry force here is an extremely heavy b%Irthen, and
because he had to some extent been under a pres
sure also outside the Council from anumber of Bur
ghers who consider themselves able to protect the
Island and were ready TO do so, only to avoid that
"~'J "a II ' CCCSOVCfH oboGSo Nh"1 NHS
Government would not only be willing to entertain,
but would even promote q plan, provided only it be
promising good and practicable results, tend
ing to establish a proper Militia force and save
the yearly expenditure for the Military, which is
the only item where in his opinion reductions of
any note may be made. But we must at the same
time bear in mind that the Militia service will
entail certain personal obligations, and he could
not say if the population would be inclined to bear
them and then again We have not here the same
resources as in other Islands, to assist a Militia
force, namely men of war stations, where asss-
lance could be procured in emergencies. FarreLLy
pointed out that there is no desire whatever in
favor OF Militia service, and such an establish
ment would be of no benefit whatever and he
gave d very lucid picture Of the appearance of a
handful of men exercising on Fairplain. Hanson
argued the impossibility of a Militia force being
able to protect the Island in a mere street dis
order in 1853 the Militia troops were %disarmed,
instead of being called out, Moreover the ele-
ments for such a force are not to be found here.
J0tt1te proposed that the matter be dismissed without
discussion. ROSenStdnd argued that that was TOO
harsh a measure, and in regard to the objection made
against this proposal, on the score of its being incon-
eistent in the 2 Members, after voting at the .3rd dis
cusSlon for the adoption of an Ordinance providing for
a military force, already now to bring in a motion for
a MlIItis, he could not see any inconsistence at all IN
thai, Tor at least one of those 2 Members did at the 3rd
discussion on that Military Ordinance make some re-
marks that to a very great extent would lead to a pro-
posal like the present the military expenditure is so
great an evil at present, an unavoidable evil however,
that some remedy must be sought to relieve US of it,
and the Militia is certainly a poiut bearing on that
those 2 Members do not expect it TO be established TO-
day or Tomorrow, perhaps not for years, and then only
as a trial, and by that time the Military Ordinance
wonld no doubt under ordinary circumstances require
to be revised their question to-day is only a matter
offered for consideration. But he believes the motion
10 be Inconsistent with the Colonial Law the discus
slons on the Draft of that Law shew that it was found
inadmissable to give the Colonial Council the right of
appointing Commissions. When a Draft, Bill or petit
ton is before the Council for discussion, then it can ap-
point a Committee on that matter. but on a mere motion
to appoint'a Committee to investigate matter not before
the Council, in other words a Parliamentary Commission
would be TO exercise q right not within the Councils
province. Moreover the Council Is not prepared to-day
to express itself on this present motion a vote given
to-day might be committing or binding the Coupcll for
the future; and in view of what the Governor had
stated, and as it is well known that the Government