PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2194, 19 May 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

At this afternoon’s sitting Mr Mitchell presented a petition from residents in the Waikouaiti district.—The Secretary for Laud fin I Works laid on the table a report hy the Engineer of Roads and Works as to the best means of rendering the lagoon at Waikouaiti of use to the inhabitants of the district, either as a dock or as reclaimed land.— Among the notices of motion given for tomorrow was the following by Mr MTndo?: “ That a committee be appointed to enquire into and report on the management of the Dunedin Hospital, with power to call for persons and papers ; said committee to consist of Mr Speaker, with h : s his consent, Messrs Turnbull, Hughes. Gillies, Taylor, Frazer, and the mover.” In answer to a question by Mr Haughton, (he j Secretary for Land and Works slat-d that he agreed that a vo/y superior class of immi- ,■ grants were to be obtained from Germany, but the attention of the Government had not been specially directed to the qiusthm. They had not, however, overlooked it, and it might be necessary to obtain so ne immigrants from Germany, if immigration did hot go OU at t|ie rate that was anticipated. It would be seen from the CoiTespopdepce I i with the Home agent tint lie had bad authority to get some immigrants from Norway, Sweden, and Germany, if the necessary uum- ! her could not be obtained from Great Bri- 1 tain. The Government, however, would ’ prefer that tha required number should lie < obtained from Great Britain. Mr M‘Der- J mid’s motion in reference to the inner bar i was postponed until to-morrow. Mr Shep- i herd’s motion—“l. That this Council is of 1 opinion that the present system of electoral { registration is not adopted to the require- < ments of the colony. 2. That this Council 1 recommends to the consideration of the Gene- ( yal A&sombly tl|e advisability of amending <■

the existing Electoral Registration Acts, • with the view of simplifying the present i system so as to afford, increased facilities for i the registration of qualified persons. 3. That the shore resolutions be forwarded to ■ the Colonial Executive by Mr Speaker > was 'Without discussion. On the i motion of Mr Ashcroft, the debate on motion No. 2 —“ That (the Government be rei quested to give effect to the interim report of Select Committee on Private Petitions res- ; the petition of intending settlers at Martin’s Bay was resumed by the Se.ro- ’ tary for Land and Works, who objected to a r bonus being given to the persons starting a ) sawmill, as one would be started without the interference of the Council. The report was adopted, with the exception of the ' clause relating to the bonus. The following > m ssage from the Superintend ant was read : J '‘Referring to the report of the Council of the University of Otago, which has been already . paced upon the table of the Provincial Council, and especially to that portion of the report in which an addition to the other chairs, which arc being instituted, it is proP'scd to establish a professorship ef mineralogy and chemistry, provided the Government will pay one half of the professor’s salary, until such time as the revenue of the University is sufficient to cover the . whole. The Superintendent Ins been given to understand, by a deputation from the Council of the University, that in two or at lea t time years, the funds at its disposal will be sufficient to pay the whole salary of the professor in question. Under these circumstances, and se ing that a school of j mines and of agricultural chemistry, is pe;j, haps more calculated to develop the material t resources of the Province than any other, the Superintendent expresses an earnest j hope that the Provincial Council will concur 3 with him in giving effect to Mie proposal, While upon the subject, it may not be out of [ place to advert to the circumstances, that in 3 the event of the re union of Otago and Southland being accomplished, the 20,000 acres of land which have been reserved in the latter Province, for a New Zealand Unij. versity, may possibly be applied to the endowment of one or more chairs in the , University of Otago, in which case the t University will commence with five or six y professors. r “ J. Macakdrew, “ Superintendent. ) “ Government Offices, “ Dunedin, May 19.” Mr Haughton’s motion for the abolition of the duty on gold, led to a discussion, after which he asked leave to withdraw it, ■ but permission was refused. It then went , to a discussion, and was negatived by 11 to