, 1876-08-30

-N '-N~ 49,
There can, then, be nc Qups' ion ofthe Councils
competency to Judge and decide on the sugges-
tons and proposals of its Committee. The
Council has als) in several instances shewn
greater faith in the estimates of its Commit
tees than in those Of the Inspector. And,
really, there is no very high degree of compe.
tency or skill required to form an opinion as to
what isrequisite fer repairs such as we generally
have in hands no scientific knowledge Is re-
quisite for that purpose. He would like to ask,
what would be the work of the Building Com
mittee, if it were only to 60 around and see
what repairs are required, and what not, but
could say nothing if the amounts proposed
appeared ever so clearly TO be extravagsnt?
If 1t were only the duty Of the Committee to
Say Yes or No to the different works proposed
for the Councils grant, and only on the esti-
mate forwarded, il would be an easy task bat
then the question would be, what benefit has
the Council of such a Committee. Now, the
Building Committee this year hos been more
courteous than necessary, for in its report it
offers explanations of the reasons for The pro.
posed alterations and if it should prove that
the Government cannot adopt the proposed
amendments, it appeared to him that the
only course remaining would be hat the Council
vote q certain total sum at the disposal Of the
Administration for making repair, as they
think proper, to public buildings, without any
specification Of the purposcst-With regard to
tho Sails il the Fort, he must admit that it
woull be better to keep the pses- Mt number Of
stalls ia repsirs and as The amount is small,
the Committee would have no objections TO
withdraw its amendment. As regards the re-
pairs in The Bake Yard, it is wonderful there
could ba such o difference OF opinion ON tho
matter all what is to be done is to put in n
couple bricks in the oven and steps, the ques-
ton is if that, and in fact more, could not be
done for $4i-But there is no use Of
going further into the matter, when Gov
eminent is not willing to enter into the
views Of the Committee or eventually Of
the Council on the individual questious1
the best way would be, as slroady stated, 20
leave a certain sum to tho disposal of the Ad-
ministration, without details as to what repairs
are to DO done.
The President: The Wow expressed by the
honorable Speaker would be correct if it could
bo shewn that the administrator refused 10
take notice Of the Committees Suggestions;
but this is not the case the present discussions
disprogs it. The Presidency has accepted sew.
eral of the amendments Hs for the Bake Yard,
the Presidency does not say the work can not
be done for 81, but only that such minor mat
ters are not worth while ~disputing about; MS
there exists nothing to decide, which Of the two
different opinions is correct, as for Kings
Hill, the Presidency considers the Committees
remarks sufficient to warrant tho delay of the
repairs, although the amount was not intended
only for erecting TWO new stalls, but for general
repairs to the stables AID even as regards the
Stalls in the Fort, the Presidency is not exact
" unwilling to agree to the alteration the Com
miteee has found occasion to recommend. But
the Administration can not acknowledge that
it is proper in the Committee or the Council to
make reductions, when there is nothing else to
60 by than a mere personal opinion of Members
which ought certainly not to supersede the
opinion of the responsible technical adviser Of
Tho Administration, especially where the items
are so very small as here.
The Speaker was sorry to see His Excellen.
CT had failed to shew what the duty of the
Building Committee i. if il is not able to say
what expenses could be less for certain pieces
of work; it is, in his opinion, just where the
amounts are small, the overcharge is most glazing.
And why should il be considered as throwing
discredit on she Building Inspector. if for mere
petty jobs, the Committee proposes smaller
amounts allowed than he wants 2-As regards
KiDgshill, the military in command of the sta
ton, b ad taken the Members of the Committee
into the stalls. and had Showed two that we're
now being used as inclosure for young foals,
and these 10 was that should be altered to two
good stalls; so there was no mistake on the
part of the Committee.
Tha Prss:HNnf had airAadv exnlAined that in