PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 294, 30 June 1875, Page 7

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Fhiday, Junk 18. The Speaker took the chair at 2 o'clock, LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL SETTLEMENT IN DUNSTAN DISTRICT *»i . Mr DeLatjtour moved—" That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintended requesting that effect be given to the recommendation of the Goldfields Committee in re petition of 87 settlers in the Dunstan district, aa contained in interim Report No. 12, from the said Committee, viz.: That cer-tain-lands on Run No. 221 be thrown open for agricultural settlement, as set out in the prayer of the said petition." Agreed to. circulation of mr ulrich's report. Mr moved—"That, in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable to circulate Mr Ulrich's report, on the goldfields of Otago and in the various mining centres of Victoria ; and that his Honor the Super: intendent be requested to give effect to the resolution." Agreed to. Saturday, June 18. The Speaker took the chair at 2 o'clock. ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS*. The Speaker said that before calling the motions on the Order Paper, he would read an analysis of the business of the session; and, to enable honorable members to compare the business done this session with that of last, he would also give the business of last session. It would be found that the quantity of work, at all events, done this session wa3 as great as that done last session. The following is the statement : ANALYSIS OF THE BUSINESS, SESSION 34—1875. 1875 1874 Length of session ... 48 days 48 Days of sitting ... ... J . 32 31 Average length of sittings 6h. 27 min. 6i Messages from hie Honor the Superintendent ... 20 21 Addresses, &c., forwarded to His Honor the Superintendent ... 177 183 Bills introduced 63 39 Bills passed 58 39 Petitions presented to the Council 60 112 Papers (Departmental Returns, &c.) laid upon the table ~, 77 80 Notices of questions given ... 80 72 Answers to questions entered in Journal ... ... ~ ... 79 68 Notices of motion given 298 303 Committees appointed .., ... 10 9 Reports from Committees ... 47 55 Divisions entered in Journals ... 91 89 -Entries in Journals... .„ ~ 759 760 Wm. R. Sessions, Clsrk of the Council. • June 19th, 1875/ ' VOTE OF CENSURE. Mr J. C. Brown moved—" That this Council is of opinion that the conduct of)the. Government during the recess is censurable for the unnecessary delay that has taken place in opening the Waipori drainage channel for mining purposes, and also for their neglect in not placing the work under proper control." In asking the Council to agree to "this motion I may be The Clerk ; His Honor the Superintendent. At this stage, Mr Brown's remarks were cut short by his Honor entering and delivering THE PROROGATION SPEECH. After enumerating the various Ordinances passed by the Council during the session, and which had received his assent, his Honor •went on to Bay :—Gentlemen, your various resolutions which have been transmitted to me for executive action shall have my best attention. I may say, however, with respect to one of these that there is little probability of any practical result. I allude to the question of riparian rights on goldfields as being one which is surrounded with many difficulties, for the solution of which I am disposed to think that we shall have to look more to the judicial than to the legislative ; at the same time, I shall solicit the aid of the Colonial Government to give effect to your resolution on the subject. Gentlemen—The resolution passed by you urging that no organic change should be made in the system of government of the Colony, I shall forward to the Colonial Government. I cordially agree with you that any proposed change should first be defined, and then calmly and deliberately considered by the people ; and, if this be done, the, proposal to abolish the Provinces will, in my opinion, find few supporters. Gentlemen—l desire again to call attention to the inexpediency of placing upon the Supplementary Estimates large sums for expenditure, without making an equivalent provision in the shape of Ways and Means. At your recommendation, & considerable amount has been so placed, the power to expend which mu3t be entirely contingent upon the revenue for the year being in excess of the amount upon which the main Estimates bave been based. Gentlemen—l have to thank you for your attendance, and to declare this Council prorogued, and it stands prorogued accordingly.