PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 239, 9 June 1874, Page 6

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Friday, May 29. Mr MacKellar presented a petition from the Mayor and Town Councillors of Cromwell, with reference to the extension of the Tokomairiro and Lawrence railway. The Gold-fields Committee reported on the petition of Kirton and party, who prayed for a reward for the discovery of the Orepuki gold-fields; ond on the petition of John Aldred, who prayed for a reward as the prospector of the Longwood gold-field—that the petitioners had no claim on the Government. SALE OF AURIFEROUS lAND. This subject came up, on the motion of Mr M'Lean. The debate will be found in full on our seventh page. Monday, June 1. Mr De Lautour presented a petition from 948 miners, praying the Government to defend the action in connection with the Maerevvhenua water pollution case.

After the transaction of some unimportant business, Mr Reid brought forward the remainder of his resolutions in re Railways. Number two of the resolutions, after debate, was carried; and the debate on number three was adjourned. Wednesday, June 3. Mr Turnbull made his Financial Statement, a short summary of which was given in our telegrams last week. The resignation of the Speaker, (which will be found explained in an extract from the Daily Times elsewhere,) occasioned some discussion, and it was proposed that the House should adjourn. Mr Gillies, however, had no wish for this, and business proceeded. After some unimportant matters had been disposed of, Mr Reid brought up his third railway resolution, and after considerable opposition and the failure of many amendments, it was eventually carried on the voices. Thursday, June 4. small cultivable areas for miners. Mr R. Clarke moved—"That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that provision be made in the Gold-fields Regulations of this Province to enable holders of miner's rights to occupy, by virtue of certificate granted by the Warden, for purposes of cultivation, an area of land upon any Gold-field not exceeding in any o.ne case ten acres. Such land to be held subject to resumption for mining purposes without compensation, except as against fence or crop ; that the certificate be annual, and the land be chargeable with rent at the rate of not exceeding one shilling per acre per annum, payable in advance. And that a respectful Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will be pleased to give effect to this resolution." COMMITTTEE OP SUPPLY.

On the item of the salary of the Secretary for Gold-fields, L.400, Mr Fish moved that the item should be postponed. This was ruled out of order, and Mr Fish then moved that the item be struck out, as no one had been appointed to the office. He stated that the vacant office was kept by the Government as a bait to dangle before the noses of certain honourable members, in case of another vote of want of confidence.. The Chairman then ruled the motion out of order. Mr Fish then moved that the item should be reduced by L.399. The motion was lost on a division, the voting being—Ayes, 7 : Noes, 21. Mr Fish then moved the reduction of the item by L. 398. This was lost. Mr J. 0. Brown moved a reduction by L.397. This was lost. Mr M'Dermid then moved a reduction by L.50. Mr J. C. Brown moved an amendment to the effect that the item should be reduced by L.396. Mr Fish then stated his intention of withdrawing his opposition, as the Government would not give way. Mr Brown's motion was lost. Mr Brown then moved that progress should be reported, and leave asked to sit again presently.

The motion was lost. Mr De Lautour moved—"That the item should be reduced L.395." The motion was lost. Mr J. C. Brown then moved—"That progress should be reported." The Hon. Dr Menzies suggested that after the division the House should adjourn for a few minutes for refreshment. Seeing that the divisions were carried—l 6 and 17 to 2, and 14 to 5, and since the minority appeared to be quite determined to make a night of it, he thought it was a waste of pcwer on the part of the majority to continue dividing as they had been doing. He would suggest that themajority might lighten their labours by dividing into two or three watches of seven or eight, after the adjournment for refreshment ; and then do the work in turn 3 of three or four hours. He would suggest that the majority should adopt such a course if the minority of two or three continued their senseless obstruction.

The motion for reporting progress was lost on a division. A short adjournment then took place, and when the House resumed, Mr Brown moved that the item should be reduced by L.394, A motion to report progress was made, and lost on a division by 18 against 10. The following is the division list: — Ayes : Bastings (teller), J. C. Brown, H. Clark, Be Lautour. Fish, Reeves, Green, Hazlett, M'Bermid (teller), MTvenzie, and Turton. Noes : Allan, Baniel, Henderson, Ireland, Kinross, Lnmsden, Menzios, Mollison, MacKellar, M'Lean, M'Neil, Rogers, Shand, Stout (teller), Turnbull, Webster, Wilson, and Wood (teller). The motion for reduction of the sum by L.39-1 was also lost on a division. Several other motions for reporting progress and proposing to reduce the sum by L.l were also lost. The minority were still dividing the House when our reporters left,—shortly after midnight.