PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 235, 12 May 1874, Page 6

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, May 6. After several adjournments, in consequence of the non-formation of an Executive, the Council mot on Wednesday, the 6th. NEW GOVERNMENT. A. message from the Superintendent was received, informing the Council that he had appointed Donald Reid, Esq., Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Land and Works ; George Turnbull, Esq., Provincial Treasurer ; Robert Stout, Esq., Provincial Solicitor; George Murray Webster, Esq., and George Lumsden, Esq., members of the Executive Council. A MINING BOARD. Mr De Latour asked the Provincial Secretary whether the Government would be prepared to take advantage of the powers delegated to them under the Gold-fields Act, 38G6, and the Amendment of 1867, to prant the desire expressed by the Mining Conferences of 1872 and 1874, " That a Mining Board to frame their own bye-laws, should be appointed for the province of Otago." The lion, member said he did not wish to press the Government to give an answer at the present time, unless they made up their minds on the point, as it was a matter that would require serious consideration. Mr Reid said the Government would take the matter into their serious consideration, and state what course they intended to take. THE GOVERNMENT. Mr Pish moved the adjournment of the House, in order to allow members an opportunity of expressing an opinion as to the Government newly formed. He proceeded to criticise the personnel of the Government at some length. It was an unholy alliance of the High-street clique and the squatting fraternity with Mr Reid's party. Mr Reid replied at some length. It was unfair to express an opinion until a statement of the future policy of the Government had been made. Mr M'Dermid thought tho Government were a decent, respectable lot of men. It was a queer mixture, and ho could not say whether it would be luscious or nauseous.

Mr Clarke was surprised that the goldfields had been overlooked in the reconstruction of the Government.

Mr MaeKelhir, regarding the statement that certain members had banded themselves together, said he expected the rumour had originated to some extent in consequence of a meeting which the members for the goldfields had convened. A meeting had taken place, but it was an entirely incorrect thing to say that gold-fields members had banded themselves together to force any one member on the Government.

Mr Turnbull also roplied to Mr Fish. Wil/h regard to the charge that the goldfields had been overlooked, he denied that charge. There had been difficulties, but they would be overcome. MINERAL LEASES. Mr E. Clarke moved, " That there bo laid upon the table of this Council a return showing the quantity of land held by virtue of mineral leases in each gold-field of this province, and the amount of rent received during tho last twelve months for such leases."— Carried. RUNS. Mr J. C. Brown moved, " That there bo laid on the table a return showing the position of each run in the Province of Otago, number of stock depastured, and amount of rent received during 1873-74 ; also, date of expiry of said leases, acreage of land taken from each run, whether for sale, lease, or deferred payment, during the last five years, detailing each year separately." Mr MacKellar seconded this, and it was carried. FOREST TREES. Mr R. Clarke moved, " That, in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable to encourage in every legitimate way the planting of forest trees in the unsupplied portions of this province, and, with a view to give effect to this desideratum, that a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting him to take such steps as he may deem best calculated to encourage the planting of forest trees in such portions of this province as are inadequately supplied with timber." Dr Webster explained that the Government had received £IOO worth of seed from South America ; an order had also been sent to England, but the seeds had not arrived. It was intended to put them up to auction. The motion was carried.

Thursday, May 7. '.'.'•» petition. Mr Hazlett presented a petition from residents at Drybread, praying that a block of land might be set aside under the deferred payment system. STAFF SYSTEM OF SURVEY. The Hon. Dr Menzies asked the Provincial Secretary, " Whether he could inform the Council why the recommendation of the Waste Lands Committee of last session to return to the staff system of survey has not been carried out, and whether the present Government was prepared to do so 1 " Mr Reid explained that the change must be made gradually. The Government would return to the old system as soon as they could do so. COMMOXAOE FOR CROMWELL. Mr MacKellar asked the Secretary for Lands what steps had been taken during the recess to provide a Commonage for Cromwell district; also to lay the correspondence which had taken place on the subject upon the table, and to give information which might be required to explain why the vote provided last session was allowed to lapse. Mr Reid said he believed that certain steps were taken during the recess, but the Government were under the impression, up to a certain perir.d, that they had no power to set aside land for the purpose mentioned. He understood that a legal opinion was taken in Dunedin, and was to the effect that the Government had no power to take land for that purpose. Subsequently, however, an application was made to the Attorney-Gene-ral. He (Mr Reid) would read that gentleman's opinion. It was as follows :—" lam of opinion that licenses or leases may be cancelled under section 6 of the Waste Lands Act 1866. Lessees entitled to compensation under the Waste Land Act of 1872." On the receipt of that opinion it was forwarded to the Chief Surveyor, and it was also a recommendation that a suitable block should bo laid off for the purpose. The recommen dation was forwarded to the Chief Surveyor on the 16th April. He might state that it was proposed to renew the vote, because he had long felt that the town of Cromwell

had a serious complaint ; and the papers showed that this cry for a block of land, and promises to grant it, had been made since 1868. Steps therefore would be taken to secure a block of land for the purpose. (Hear, hear.) THE GOVERNMENT POLICY. Mr Reid made a long statement to the Council as to the views the Government held. At the conclusion of this statement, the House adjourned.