PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. YESTERDAY.

Evening Post, Issue 139, 19 July 1865, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. YESTERDAY.

The Speaker took the chair at five o'clock. The Clerk read the minutes of the previous sitting. Mr. HICKSON wished, before the business of the evening commenced, to draw attention to the bad arrangement of the Council Chamber ; nothing in his opinion could be worse, as where he was placed it was impossible to hear a single word the clerk had just read. The SPEAKER recommended that the Chairman of the Council Chamber should be asked to alter the arrangements, and he had no doubt but he would do so. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY begged to lay on the table a petition signed by over eighty of the residents in the Manawatu district, praying for the consideration by the Council of the " Manawatu Race Course Act." He considered that as the Manawatu Block would shortly be opened, and that as numbers of persons would flock there, it might well be attended to. The petition was ordered to be printed. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY laid the following returns on the table : — The general report of the Chief Engineer of the Province, and the return of amounts voted in the Appropriation Act of 1864 and 1865. Mr. READING asked the Provincial Secretary if the Government had taken any measures for opening up the road from Te Aro, by the way of Polhill's Gully, to a point on the Karori Road known as Baker's Hill, and if so what steps had been taken, and if none whether it was the intention of the Executive to place the same amount as voted last year, (namely .£500) upon the Estimates of the present session. He thought tlmfi many of the members remembered that the work had been commenced and never continued. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY replied that the amount voted would not nearly suffice to carry on the proposed work and to buy the land through which the line of road would run. The returns of the approximate expence would be laid on the table on Friday. Mr LUDLAM asked the Provincial Secretary if the Government were prepared with a plan of the pioposed Provincial Government Buildings, and if not, whether they were prepared to lay a plan before the

Council before the vote on the estimates was proposed. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY replied that ie was left to the Council to decide on the site, ami when that was done the plans and specifications would be laid on the table. Mr. LUDLAM asked the Provincial Secretary if the Govornment proposed taking any steps to strengthen the second river bridge on the lower Waiwetu line of road, so as to render it capable of carrying an ir.oreased and heavier triiific than was required tor that distrir-t ? The PItO VINCI AL SECRETARY replied that any repairs recommended by the Provincial Engineer would be carried out. Mr. HIOKSON moved for leave to bring in a Bill to establish Municipal Institutions within the City of Wellington. Leave given, read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Friday next. Mr. WELCH moved that his Honor the Superintendent lie requested to place on the Estimates the sura of £250, for the purpose of introducing into the Wellington Province birds, beasts, and fishes, with a view to their acclimatisation ; and that the said sum be placed at the disposal of the Superintendent for the ensuing year for the rewarding of captains of vessels and others who may introduce those likely to be of future advantage to the. Province ; and that his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requeated to communicate this resolution to the neighbouring Colonial Associations, with a view to their assistance. The House sat in Committee on this question, and the Speaker left the chair ; after a lengthy discussion, in which Messrs Ludlam and Welch joined, the motion was carried. Mr. DRANSFIELD moved that an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting him to place on the estimates the sum of £250, for the establishment and maintenance of a Volunteer Fire Brigade in Wellington. Mr. WATT moved as an amendment that the word brigades should be substituted for brigade. Mr. BORLASR objected on the grounds that if a brigade was wanted for Wanganui, a separate motion to that effect might be made. Mr. Dransfield's motion was carried nem. con. Mr. Borlase's motion with reference to small farm settlements, was postponed until Friday next. The returns moved for by Mr. Bunny, relative to the strength of the Survey Staff in the Wairarapa district, with the costs of the same from the Ist day of January, 1864, up to the 30th June, 1865. 2nd, for a return of the acreage surveyed by such staff during such period, were laid on the table. The PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR moved that a Select Committee be appointed to enquire into and report upon the allegations and prayers of petitions on Private Grievances, such Committee to consist of Messrs. Hickson, Pharazyn, William Milne, James Taylor, James Allison, John Bryce, and the Mover. The motion was carried. The House adjourned at half-past seven until five o'clock this eveuing.