DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 240, 30 November 1866, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

2Cth Nov. I have the satisfaction of announcing that the business of the Provincial Council is again under weigh—Mr Vogel having succeeded in forming a Ministry; the component parts are not what might have been wished for, but I think the goldfields have no cause to complain. The Secrotary, Mr Mouat, being a goldfields' man, and the Treasurer, Mr Vogel, having great gympathies and interests with that section of tho community, there is no doubt but that the intereats of the miners will receive every consideration. Mr Vogel at somo length, on the 21st, entered into the details of tho policy of the new Ministry; among other things, he stated that financially he entered office under most favorable circumstances, thero being L. 37,000 in hard cash to the credit of the Province, in the Treasury. The following is the substance of reT solutiona he intended bringing down to the House : —That an adjustment of existing liabilities should be made, so that the South should be released from any further contribution towards native purposes." That an arrangement be made so that the North Island should preaorve law and order within its limits." "That the Territorial Revenue be secured to the Provinces." "That the present tariff be decreased." Mr Mouat, the Secretary, is to give a notice of motion, petitioning the Governor to cause the clauses of the Goldfields Act relating to the Agricultural Leases be brought into force. "That a Select-Committee be formed to search into the working of the Goldfields' Department." "That the Government will offer no opposition to the motion standing in Mr Haughton'a name, for a reduction in the Gold Export Duty, if the motion is put in a more dofinito form." " That the Government are preparing a measure to establish District Municipalities." It is the opinion of the Law-Oiiicorn, that the Bill will be prepared in time for the passing it this session.

I Ho considered the form of local self-government the only true system and the only ono that will , tend to allay the little jealousies that were so f roonently rising up and interfering with the pubili; business. "That tin maximum sum of L. 2 : for L 1 raised by the Town Mu-iicipalitiea should Ib» subaidisud by tha Government." He con- : eluded hh remarks by stating, that it must not be supposed the points touched upon by him were the only ones to be considered; on the contrary, they were the ones that required paramount attention : but there were others which would be brought forward in all due course. Mr Grant, with his usual pertinacity, persisted in asking questions that wa3 considered, to say the least, very troublesome. He complains bitterly at the expense the country is put to by the continuous adjournment. The Treasurer's motion on immigration grates harshly on the ears of some, but there is no denying it is one of the measures that attention must be paid to. I cannot close this letter without acquainting you with the fact, that Mr Grant brought into requisition his prerogative, and had the Council Chambers cleared of strangers—reporters and all, for the reason that the pith and really valuable portions of the speeches, more especially his own, was suppressed by the press.