PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 25, 4 May 1870, Page 5

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

—o (Continued from third page.) COMMITTEES. A Printing Committee, a Committee of Reference, and a Private Petitions Committee, were severally appointed by motion. EX OFFICIO MEMBERS. Mr M‘lndoe moved, “That the member presenting a petition on a private grievance be ex officio a member of the Private Petitions Committee, and that it be an instruction to the said Committee that all evidence taken be signed by the deponent.” After a short debate, the motion was put, and carried on division :—Ayes, 13 ; noes, 11. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. The Imprest Supply Bill (£10,000) was received by message, read a first time, ordered to be printed, and its second reading fixed for Thursday. PAPERS. A copy of the agreement made between thj Superintendent and Messrs Proudfoot and Chaplin, with regard to the Port Chalmers Railway, together with correspondence on the subject of that and the Southern Trunk Railway, were laid on the table. The Council adjourned at 3.50 p.m. until next day, at 2 o’clock. THURSDAY, APRIL 28. The Speaker took the chair at two o'clock, and read the usual form of prayer. THE WAKATIP GOLD-FIELD. Mr Haughton asked the Provincial Secratary whether the Government had it under consideration to extend the boundaries of the Wakatip Gold-field, so as to throw open for agricultural settlement, under the Leasing Regulations, the available land in the valleys of the Dart and Routeburn ; and whether any pastoral licenses or leases had been granted over this portion of the district. Mr Reid explained that it would not be necessary to extend the boundaries to include those districts. The lowest part of the Dart Valley had been leased for ten years from Ist October last. After referring to the Routeburn Valley, he remarked in regard to the Dart Valley, that if it was shewn to be necessary, steps would bo taken to throw it open. In the meantime, surveying was being proceeded with, and, if shewn to be necessary, a block would be set aside under the regulations. The House adjourned at half-past two o’clock until seven. On the House resuming, Mr James Allan moved the reply to the address of his Honor the Superintendent. He alluded to the various subjects embraced in the address ; he referred particularly to the importance of the Port Chalmers Railway, and said that no doubt the Council would be pleased to learn that the Government were beginning to take a more earnest view of the subject of immigration than they had hitherto done. He believed that it was one amongst those questions so eminently calculated to secure the prosperity of the country, and he was convinced that every hon. member would act in accordance with the statements contained in the last clause of the reply to the address. A discussion took place, in which Messrs Shepherd, M ‘Dermid, M‘Kenzie, M ‘lndoe, J. Shand, Hutcheson, Thomson, and Reid took part. The address was then put and carried. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. On the motion of Mr Duncan, the Imprest Supply Bill was read a second time, and afterwards passed through its remaining stages. RESERVES. Mr Mouat moved, “That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, recommending that one acre and sixteen poles, situate on the east sido of the river Clutha, at Cromwell, be set apart as a bridge site.” The motion was carried. Mr Reid moved, “That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, recommending that sections 41 and 42, block VI., Town District, containing 21 acres, two roods, and two poles, he set apart as a reserve for an Industrial School.” The motion was carried. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Shepherd, when the. House is in Committee of Supply, to move, “ That a sum of £SOO be placed upon the estimates for the purpose of prospecting for gold the country lying between Lake Wakatip and Martin’s Bay.” The House adjourned at 10 p.m.