PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 369, 21 May 1869, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(Condensed from the Daily Times.)

Mr. Gillies moved, “ That the honorarium payable to members entitled to it be limited to a sum not exceeding £2O for the session. ’’

Mr. Shepherd moved aa,an amendment, that twenty shillings per day be a'lowed all members who reside two miles or more from the Post Office, and that mileage either way be allowed to members residing more than five miles. Amendment carried.

Mr. Brown presented a petition from the inhabitants of Black’s, asking that ten thousand acres of land in that district might be thrown open for settlement. In reply to a question by Mr. Haughton, Mr. M’Lean said that the duties of the Chairmen of depasturing Boards of Wardens were to preside at all meetings, and to see that no stock was depastured on Goldfields commonage without a certificate. It had also been arranged that in future they must see to the regular collection oil agricultural lease rentals, and that al other rentals accruing to the Government on Goldfields'were duly paid. They might term them Inspectors of the payment of revenue. Hitherto there had been great want of punctuality in that respect. Mr. Haughton asked theJProvineial Sec retary, “ Whether the. recommendation of the Select Committee of last Session, on Wakatipu Euns,[withrfegard to the petition of certain Waitahuna, has been carried out ? ” The petition of William Charles Wright, late Government Surveyor at Queenstown), was referred to tho Select Committee on Private Petitions. Mr. Ashcroft askod'the Govsrnment what course they intended to adopt, if any, in respect to opening up non-auriferous land within the goldfields for sale and settlement.

Mr. Gillies said'jthe. jGovernment were prepared to make inquiry into the matter, and that those lands proved to he nonauriferous would be withdrawn, surveyed, and sold.

On [the motion of Mr. Sea'on, it was agreed, after some debate, That a select committee be appointed to inquire into the working of the Cattle and Sheep Inspector’s Department, with power to call for persons papers, and reports. During the debate on the land resolutions Mr. Shepherd saiil-x If gentlemen representing the pastoral interest asked for concessions, he also asked for concessions on the goldfields. He asked that, in the event of blocks being withdrawn from runs, the right of pasturage should cease. This would be valuable to the Government. He would also ask that 4 r blocks of land might bo withdrawn as on the goldfields He would advise the Council to pause before allowing any tinkering in the Act. Mr. Fraser spoke in favor of the proposa for free selection. The extent to which the present system of Hundreds had been abused was almost incredible. He also objected to the agricultural lease system. Under its operation anyone could take up as many sections as he chose. By that moans the objects of free selection wore entirely defeated, and the advantages of the capitalist over the poor man remained as patent as ever. He believed that if the Council appealed to the country, it would be found that the great question would be that of the land question, and that none but members pledged to see it carried out would be returned.

Mr. Gillies brought up aBIll cntituled the Cattle Ordinance, 1864, Amendment Ordinance 1860, intended to enable the Government to enforce thepenrlty for not branding cattle.

The Bill was read a first time,'and the second reading was made an Order for next day.