PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2066, 18 December 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Yesterday. Our short notice of the proceedings in the Council yesterday afternoon, tended to prepare our readers to learn that the Executive had resolved upon certain resolutions to be proposed in lieu of those originally introduced by them, The evidence that parties were nearly equally balanced rendered such a course necessary, although it was leaving the high ground taken by the Executive in the first instance. Mr Tayler’s conciliatory amendment -was first disposed of. It was an amendment on the amendment proposed the first evening of the debate by Mr Ashcroft. On being put to the vote, Mr Tayler’s was negatived as if by consent; and on Mr Ashcroft’s being put,' the resolutions introduced bv Mr Clark were proposed by a goldfields member, Mr Brown, Mr Brown was replied to by Mr Fraser, and Mr Driver, who gave the history of the Bill, reviewed its principles and intention, and expressing himself willing to aid in carrying any amendments required, proposed an adjournment of the House with a view to a conference of leading members on both sides, that amendments mutually conciliatory might be agreed to. This attempt at compromise was not responded to on the part of the Executive, who were bent on bringing on the division, apparently having accurately ascertained the majority likely to vote in their favor. Early this morning Mr Green, the member for Blueskin, proposed that the division be taken. Mr Driver remarked that it was understood, when the debate commenced, that the House should not be pressed to a division, but he was overruled : 16 voted in favor of the motion, and 15 against it. The same relative numbers' negatived Mr Ashcroft’s resolutions, and theiy the Government resolutions were fairly before the House. On them Mr M'Dermid, according to notice, moved an amendment, which being seconded, a short debate ensued. Mr Hutcheson rose to address the House, and spoke at some length, when, it being intimated to the Speaker that the short-hand writer, who had been in the House nearly twelve hours, required rest, an adjournment of twenty minutes took place. _ This was followed by an attempt to obtain an adjournment of the debate to Monday, during which the special reporter, who was relieved by lbs colleague taking his place in the gallery, left the House. Mr Hutcheson then continued his remarks by endeavoring to argue that, because in the first days of the settlement large Hundreds were allowed, even larger ones should be proclaimed now. In this strain he continued for ten minutes, but finding that the House was becoming impatient, he wisefy resumed his seat. Mr Green then moved and Mr Mosely seconded, that a division be now taken. Mr Main made an attempt to speak to the House, but the Speaker ruled him out of order. Mr MTndoe put off a little time by asking if the result of the debate would he recorded in Ifaitsard, and received a reply in the negative from ’Mr Speaker, doubtless forgetting that there a Hansard reporter in the House, A division was then called for and taken, as follows ! Ayes, 17; noes, 16. Mr Main again essayed to speak, but was not allowed to proceed. Mr M‘Dermid’s amendment was then put and lost by 17 to 15. The amendments of Mr Brown which were adopted by the Gyvernniept, were then put seriatim, and ’divisions' ijreija .called for on each of the first three clauses. ‘ The Government had a majority of two on each of the first two. On No, 3 being put, the Treasurer moved an amendment, which w&e adopted, The rays of the morning sun illuminated the chamber, and one hon. member thought he could not do better than move that the gas be put out, which was done. Then Mr Main tried for a while to talk against time, whilst some hon. members enjoyed a laugh at his expense, and others bad a sleep. When he took his seat, after protesting against the way in which the Council was being forced to a discussion by the Opposition, he resumed his seat. A division was then taken on resolution No. 5, with the same result as before. The Opposition then allowed the remaining clauses to be carried on the voices ; and at a quarter to six o’clock this morning the House adjourned. The resolutions adopted are as follow : “ That whereas it is admitted on both sides of the House that certain amendments should be made in the Otago Hundreds Regulation Act, and keeping in view that this Council at its l f ast session agreed to recommend His Excellency tlfe Governor to proclaim certain Hundreds, and it being desirable that these Hundreds should be proclaimed at tbe earliest possible date, and seeing that some time must elajise before the requirements of certain unobjectionable clauses of the said Act can be complied with : Resolved —That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to communicate with His Excellency the Governor, requestiu" him to appoint one or more officers, as provided by sections 5, 6, and 7 of the Otago Hundreds Regulation Act, so that on the Act being amended a? follows, the aforesaid Hundreds may be immediately proclaimed Ist. No Hundreds shall be proclaimed in the Province of Otago after the passing of this Act, unless one-third at least of the area thereof shall be determined under the provisions of this Act to be land available for agricultural purposes. 2nd. That section 4 be amended as follows : —That in determining the boundaries of Hundreds due regard be paid to the natural features of the country, but no Hundred shall exceed 20,000 acres in extent. 3rd. That section 8 be amended as follows ;—lf upon such report being made it shall appear that _ it js' expedient to proclaim the said district

v a Hundred, it shall be lawful for the Governor at any time within six months there- ■ after, at the request of the_ Superintendent, by proclamation published in thereto Zealand Gazette and in the Provincial Gazette of Otago, to proclaim the said district a Hundred. 4th. That section 9be amended as follows :—Every person holding a lease of any pastoral lands comprised within any district proposed to be proclaimed a Hundred as aforesoid, shall be entitled to compensation for the determination of his lease. Provided always that the amount of such compensation shall in no case exceed two shillings and sixpence per acre in respect of the determination of such lease over such portion of the run so to be proclaimed a Hundred as aforesaid, and that the holder of such lease over such portion of the run so to be proclaimed a Hundred as aforesaid, and that the holder of such lease shall be entitled to compensation in respect of all fencing which is on the ground and erected in accordance with the provisions of the Fencing Ordinance, 1867. sth. That a new clause be inserted, to provide as follows: —That lessees of pastoral lands be entitled to purchase in one block 640 acres as a homestead, inclusive of the existing pre-emptive right of 80 acres, and that the lessees of runs within Goldfields be entitled to lease a block of 640 acres under terms similar to those provided for agricultural leases granted under the Goldfields Act, 1860, provided that such block may be sold if upon investigation it shall be proved to be non-auriferous. 6th. That claure 35 of the Goldfields Act, 1860, may apply to Hundreds proclaimed within Goldfields.”