PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2179, 2 May 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

This Day. The Speaker took the chair at two o’clock. Some slight discussion took place on Mr Mitchell’s motion on the interim report of the Printing Committee. Mr Seaton then moved that an address should be presented to the Superintendent for extending and validating the Thistle Prevention Ordinance. He pointed out the necessity for taking steps to prevent the spread of thistles, which he described as an intolerable nuisance. Mr MTndoe seconded the motion. Mr Main suggested that the motion should be postponed until Mr Mitchell’s motion for the repeal of the ordinance came on to-morrow. Mr France said it was impossible for anyone to keep his land clear of thistles so long as the Government neglected to keep the Crown lands clear of thoseweeds. Mr Ashcroft affirmed that, unless on pain of hanging, nothing would induce farmers to clear their land.— Mr Mouatt confirmed Mr Ashcroft’s opinion, and said it was impossible to clear the land. Mr Hutcheson showed that endeavors bad been made by votes of money to clear thistles, but it was thrown away. If money were voted for destroying thistles, why not for upropting sorrel ?—The Secretary for Land and Works pointed out the impossibility of attempting to extirpate thistles. The seeds may be carried perhaps one hundred miles during a gale of wind. It was perfectly true they were an annoyance for a year or two, but eventually they did the land good, as the thistle is not a weed that exhausts the soil,—Mr Haughton might have voted for the resolution, but did not understand it. He could support the statements of the Secretary for Land and Works. —Mr Seaton replied.—On a division, 3 voted for the motion and 20 against it. The Provincial Solicitor laid on the table the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway Compulsory Land Taking Ordinance, which was read a first time. The Provincial Solicitor laid on the table the Licensed Theatre Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 18T0, which was ordered to be printed. Mr SibbahJ moved that the peti-

tion of certain intending settlors at Martin’s l!ay he referred to the Select Committee on Private Petitions. The petition prayed for the establishment of means of communication with Martin’s Bay. The motion was agreed to.