PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 131, 14 May 1872, Page 6

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Friday, 3rd May. ] GOLDFIEIjDS EX I'ENDITUEE. Mr Mervyn asked the Secretary for the Goldfields when the return ordered by the Council on the 25th June last, in reference to the expenditure on the Gold-iiclds, would he laid on the table ? Mr Bradshaw said that as a good deal of , time had necessarily to he given to the preparation of the return, its completion was protracted. "When completed, it would he , laid on the table. KHIEES BILL. Mr Reid moved the second reading of this Bill. The Bill had been introduced in compliance with a resolution of the Council last session on the motion of the Hon. Dr Menzies. The Government had endeavoured to keep the Bill as free as possible from unnecessary machinery ; but, as very large powers would be conferred on the Councils, it was necessary that machinery should he supplied which would enable them to properly exorcise those powers. It was left for the districts to say whether they would unite for the purpose of maintaining and having control of the main trunk lines of road. .... The Councils would be invested with a large j power hi regard to turnpikes. As soon as they took over an extent of road where a turnpike ought to be established, the Councils would exercise all the privileges which the Executive now enjoys. After a few remarks by Dr Webster and Mr Thomson, Mr Shepherd said that the Bill entirely failed to grapple with the real question. . .... The great objection to the Bill [ was that it did not provide the necessary maI chinery for outlying districts where required ; | it did not give the least relief to the Goldfields lie would, however, support the second reading of the Bill, because it was a very small step in the right j direction, and in order to indicate his desire j to see Shires established, which would result I in increased settlement and prosperity. Messrs Tolmie, Holmes, Basstian, Menzies,; Mervyn, Cutten, M'Lean, Hutcheson, and Bastings, took part in the debate; and the second reading was ultimately adjourned till i Monday. Monday, Gth May. A message from His Honor the Superintendent was received, asking the Council to; concur with him in recommending the General! Assembly to allow the Otago Dmk Trust to borrow another £IO,OOO, mainly for the purpose of providing the Dock with the necessary working plant. ■ Alter three or four questions, put to the I ; Government, regarding roads, &c, had been : I disposed of, Mr Shepherd moved, and it was envied, — i " That there be laid upon the table a return ! J showing in detail the sums paid into the Pro- ! . viucial Treasury for licenses, and the nature i of same, during the last financial year, issued within the b 'lndaries of the various munici I palities, and the names of such municipali- ! ties." On the i .• : ' in of Mr Hutcheson, a Select Committee >;..: appointed to "enquire into the positi i which the lands set apart as i endownn ii for schools, hospitals, Clutha River Trust, &c, stand as reserves, and the j i probable revenue arising from said lands." Mr Siiiiipter moved, and it was carried, I " That a Committee be appointed to prepare j I a Congratulatory Address to Her Majesty the j • Queen on the recovery of the Prince of Wales." Messrs Bradshaw,Bastings, fnnes, Browne. Brown, Armstrong, audi Shepherd were ap- | pointed a Gold-fields Committee. The debate upon the second reading of 1 the Shires Bill was continued by several ! speakers ; Mr Reid replied, and the Bill was read a second time. The Council then went into Committee on the Lawrence Reserves Management Bill, which was-reported to the House without amendments, read a third time, and passed. The House went into Committee upon the i Shires Bill, and the consideration of its provisions occupied the attention of the Council j until 11 p.m., when progress was reported, and the House adjourned until 2 p.m. next day. Tuesday, 7th May. Several questions, upon mailers of little interest to Cromwell, were answered by the Government; two motions were carried in j reference to an enquiry into the Moa Flat. j sale ; and a motion for an educational reserve • in Invercavgill was canied. On the motion of Mr Reid, the Council I concurred with Iris Honor in Ins recommendation regarding a further loan to be nego- \ tiated by the Otago Dock Trust. Mr Macassey moved, "That a Select Committee of this Council be appointed to confer with the Council of the University upon the expediency of establishing Law and Medicine Classes in connection with the University."—Mr Macassey spoke at some length in support of his motion ; which was evenI tually carried. The same member moved for copies of official correspondence relating to the appointhnent of C. I). R. Ward as a District Court ■ Judge for the Province of Ota go. Hccontcnded that the appointment was wholly unnecessary; and quoted a report of the proceedings of Mr l Ward's Court at Tokomairiro : —" The principal business was to exchange compliments,', —Mr Taylor, as the sole representative of the bar present, complimenting His Honor, land Judge Waul in his turn complimenting Mr Taylor. In the evening His Honor and

a few friends were entertained at dinner by Mr Taylor.'.' For that they would have to pay £BOO or £9OO a year. The motion was agreed to. The remainder of the sitting was occupied with a debate on the land question. Wednesday, Bth May. The debate on the Waste Lands Resolu tions was resumed. Mr Tolmie's amendment was lost on the voices. A long debate took place relative to the constitution of the Waste Land Board, and several amendments on the Resolutions were proposed and adopted ; after which the debate was further adjourned. THE SHIRES HILL. Before resuming consideration of this Bill in Committee, Mr Mervyn moved, "That it be an instruction to the Committee on the Shires Bill to make provision therein which will enable districts outside of Road Districts to form Shires under the Bill." The motion was agreed to unanimously. The Council then went into Committee upon the Bill. A number of additional clauses were insorted on the motion of the Hon. Dr Menzies. After all the clauses had been considered in Committee, the Bill was reported to the House with amendments. DUXSTAN COMMONAGE. The following motion, standing in Mr Shepherd's name, was passed : —"That the petition of 213G residents in the Dunstan disI trict, praying that an extended common may be reserved for the use of the inhabitants, be referred to the Gold-fields Committee to reI port thereon." RETURN RELATIVE TO PASTORAL LAND. Mr M'Arthur, in the absence of Mr Shes herd, moved —"That there be laid on the' i table a Return, showing the names of lessees ! and licensees of pastoral country, date of commencement of lease or license, unexpired term, area of runs, number of great cattle, numberof small cattle, assessment paid 1871-2, j increase, decrease, situation of run, whether in Gold-field or nut." —Carried. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. In answer to a question by Mr Shand, Mr Reid said lie would probably be in a position to bring down the Financial Statement about the beginning of next week—perhaps | on Tuesday.