PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 372, 11 June 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(Abridged from the Daily Times,)

Mr, Gillies moved, That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to give effect to the recommendation of the Select Committee on '‘Otago Representation Bill.” 1. That the recommendation of the Select Committee in respect to a re-division of the Province into electoral districts be submitted to the General Government previous to their passing Into law, with a view of some arrangement being come to, having for its object the making of the boundarie B coincident in the event of any redlstribtu tion of electoral districts for the Assembly. 2. That the returns prepared by Mr, Hislop he printed and forwarded to mem hers of Council, with copies of plan of provinces, showing proposed electoral district.

Mr. Shepherd, while acknowledging the desirability of re-diatrlbution, reserved to himself the right of objecting to any

rrangement that might be made durineo the recess, i f;■ '' Mr. Fraser thought there ought te be in expression of opinion on the general Assembly. He did not agree with the report of the Committee as it was brought up. There had been changes in it; among others, one with reference to the votes of hi'tiers. He was quite aware that miners ought to have a special franchise ; but, at the same time, they ought hot to be able to Vote by virtue of their miner’s rights and also by virtue of their being freeholders.

The House divided on the original motion and it was carried by thirteen votes to twelve.

Mr. Hay moved, That it is desirable all taails and contracts for the conveyance of mails be advertised for public competition, and that such contracts, in all vases, be given to the lowest tenderer, provided such tenderer holds no other appointment or receives any other remuneration from the Government, and that an address be presented to h’B Honor the Superintendent, request-ng that he will be pleased to take steps to give effect to the same. Mr. M‘Lean explained that policemen were only employed in connexion with the conveyance of the mails in places where their time as policemen was not fully oeCup : ed. It was only in a few places that they were so employed, and a considerable saving was effected. Under the circumstances the Government must oppose the motion. The motion was put and lost. Mr. Haugh ton moved, That the case of Charles Colclough, who was wounded in assisting a policeman to secure a lunatic at the Cardrona, be referred to the favorable consideration of the Government. Carried.

PROROGATION ADDRESS. The following is the speech of his Honor the Superintendent on the occasion of the prorogation of the Provincial Council: — Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council The business of the session having now come to termination, I have to assent, on behalf of the Governor, to the following Bills passed by you, viz. : “The University of Otago Ordinance, 1869.” “ The Southern Trunk Railway Guaranteed Interest Amendment Ordinance, 1869.” “ The Southern Trunk Railway Guaranteed Interest Amendment Ordinance, No. 2, 1869.” “ Licensed Auctioneers’ Ordinance, 1862, Amenument Ordinance, 1869.” “ Grammar Schools Ordinance. 1869.” “Appropriation ordinance, 1869-70.” The following Bills which you have also passed, I now reserve for the signification of his Excellency’s pleasure thereon, viz. : . “Port Chalmers Reserves Management Ordinance, 1869.” “Milton Reserves Management Ordinance, 1869.” “North Tuakitoto District Road Ordinance, 1869.”

“ Oamaru Dock Trust Ordinance, 1869 ” “Education Deserves Management and Leasing Ordinance, 1869 ” “ Oamaru Town Reserves Management Ordinance, 1569.” “Roads Diversion Ordinance, 1869.”

Your resolutions anent the re-union of the province with Southland I have transmitted to the Government of that province, together with the expression of my earnest desire that a union so conducive to the interests of both provinces, and so important in its bearing upon the general policy of the colony, may be speedily effected. The various other important resolutions which have been passed by you I shall endeavor to give effect to in due course. I much regret that you have been unable to consent to the proposals to purchase a steam tug for the Port of Otago, and to subsidise a steam service round the southern and western seaboard of the province, fully persuaded as I am that the one would have effected a saving of several thousands a year to the revenue, and that the expendi. ture in the other would be far more than recouped by the extension of our commerce and the promotion of settlement, which otherwise must remain dormant.

The attention of the Government during the recess will be specially directed to the important question of the re-adjustment of the representation.

The discussion which has been elicited by the prsposal to consolidate the road districts, and to alter the constitution of the General Road Board, will, I trust, result next sess'on in a measure which may be generally acceptable. I hope that when you next assemble I shall have the pleasure to congratulate you upon the commencement of railways toPortChalmers and the (Jlutha, and also upon the establishment of a University in Dunedin. The ability of the Government to carry carry out the various important public works which have been sanctioned by yon will, of. course, depend upon the means at its disposal being adequate to do so. In any case I have to assure you that it shall be rty earnest endeavour to make the most of the revenue, whatever it may amount to, and to distribute the expenditure equitably throughout the province. You will no doubt be pleased to learn that the Government has resolved to depute one of its members to visit the different localities on the goldfields, With a view to ascertain the wants of the people, and, if possible, to make such arrangements as will meet their reasonable rbquirements. It is also proposed, in so far as the provisions of the Waste Lands Act and the Goldfields Act will admit, to give the option of acquiring non-auii'erona lands within the limits of proclaimed goldfields, either by ggricultuval lease, or by purchase on the same terms as regulate the sals of lands withih hundreds. I trust that by these means bona-fide

agricultural settlement may be greatly faciHinted, 11

I now declare tVs Council to be prorogued, end it stands prorogued accordingly