PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2379, 16 November 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

This Day, At this afternoon’s sitting, Mr Fraser presenter! a petition from Goldfields officers on the subject of the reduction of their salaries, which was received. A string of notices were given, those which excited any atten- ' tion being one by the Secretary for Land and Works of his intention to move an address, praying the Superintendent to cause the necessary steps to be taken forthwith for vesting in the University of Otago the New Post Office building and the land on which it is built; one by Mr Mosely of Jus intention to ask the Government if they intend to give the Council an opportunity of discussing the financial legislation of last session of the General Assembly, in so far as it affects the interests of this Province ; and by the saino gentleman of his intention to move that an address be presented to the Superintendent, requesting him to offer, on behalf of the Provincial Council of Otago, to unite the two Provinces of Otago and Canterbury, the liases of union to be determined upon by three members of each Provincial Council, such bases to be ratified by each Council ; and by Mr M‘lndoe, that it is desirable that the provisions of the Volunteer Act of 1805 should be extended so as to embrace members of lire brigades, and that the Superintendent be requested to bring the matter under the notice of the General Assembly, with the view of the Act being iso extended.

Message tNo. 1, from the Superintendent, in wliicli his Honor impressed upon the Council tbe importance of making adequate provision for the insncction of the various schools in the Province. With the message was transmitted a memorandum by the Secretary of the Education Board mi the subject. Tire '.'cc rot ary for Land and Works gave notice of his intention to move that the message be taken into consideration tomorrow.

Mr Hughes referred to the rumor current in the lobbies during the morning, that the Superintendent’s speech, as printed, was not the same as read, and that it had been tampered with after it had been delivered, and called the Speaker’s attention to the matter, stating that the House should know whether there "was any truth in the rumor. The Speaker, after making some explanations. called upon the Government to say whether the speech was word for word the same as the original. This the Secretary for Land and Works declined to do, pointing out that the information was to he obtained by summoning the printer before the Printing Committee. The subject then dropped. In answer to quest ons, the Government stated that Mr Fyke, the commis-ioner apI pointed for the purpose, had furnished a valuable report upon the Nascby sludge channel. According to that report, the work was estimated fo_ cost some L 1,300 on the part of the Government and between L4OO ami LSOO on the part of residents in the district. It had been referred to an engineer to report upon. Whether the Government would give effect to the report would depend upon a report as to its durahilitjL the cost of construction, and in some measure on the vote of the Council. That when the apnroaches to the Ocean beach road through the Town Belt were made, it was not intended to complete it further than from the main road to the district road. The Government had promised, and it was prepared to car y out that promise, to carry out the road a chain wide, hut seeing that by so doing the properly of settlers would bo enhance!, it was nothing but fair to expect them to meet the Government in the matter. Mr Wood proposed, and Mr Fish seconds 1, the following address in reply : “We cordially reciprocate the hope expressed by your Honor, that the re-union of the Provinces of Otago an 1 South'and will tend greatly to promote the interests of the Province as a whole. “ The returns to be laid before ns, setting forth the nature and extent of the public estate in the late Province, shall receive our careful consideration. “ We will give our earnest attention to the consid ration of the question how far it may be deemed advisable to assimilate the land laws of Southland to those of Otago, and also to the question of assimilating the existing Provincial Ordinances. “ The question of extending the operation of the Otago Settlements Act, 1867, to Stewart’s Island, and also to a block of land in the Tauluku bush, shall receive our consideration. “ We regret that the application for a loan of Lfioo,ooo did not receive the sanction of the Colonial Legislature. “ We agree with your Honor in the opinion that the construction of the works proposed to he earned out by the General Government could he conducted with a greater regard to economy, and so as to give more satisfaction to the districts, if carried out by the Provincial Government than is likely to be the case under the supervision of the Colonial Executive. “ We regret to learn that no offer has heen received for the construction of the Southern Trunk Railway within the power conferred by tire existing Ordinances ; and that it is considered by the Attorney-General to be beyond the power of this Council to extend the term of the guarantee. “We coincide with your Honor in the opinion that the Province presents a largo field for immigration, and concur with your Honor that vigorous steps should be taken towards settling a population on the lands. “ Wo regret to be informed that the General Government has been advised that the Governor has no power to issue Crown Grants for the lands reserved on the recommendation of this Council, except those for purposes of education, and trust that if the lands are again set apart, cither the law adviser may be induced to take a different view of the matter or that the action of this Council may be given effect to by the Colonial Government. “We assure your Honor that the important matters olaiming onr attention will receive due consideration at our hands.” Messrs Thomson, MTmloe, and Gillies spoke, but said nothing fresh. (Left sitting.)