PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2380, 17 November 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

This day. At this afternoon's sitting, Mr M ‘Dcrmid laid on the table the bye-laws of the Corporation of Port Chalmers ; and Mr Haughton presented a petition from S. M. Dalglcish, lately a sub-inspector in the police force, the prayer of which was that the House mmht ho pleased to take into its favorable consideration the long and arduous services of the petitioner, the peculiar circumstances attending the robbery of the treasury at Clyde, its recovery, the fact of the petitioner’s suspension, ami compulsory retirement from the force in winch he had for so many years enjoyed an honorah e and responsible position, and accede to the petitioner’s request for reinstatement, or afford him such other relief as to the Council might seem lit. The petition was received.—ln answer to a question by Mr Seaton; as to whether any action had been taken on the motion of Mr Fraser, 13(57, requesting the Superintendent to communicate with the Superintend- nt of Canterbury, with a view of their jointly devising the best means of defending the two Provinces against attack from the scahord, the Secretary for Land and Works stated that certain action was taken, but he regretted to say it did not lead to any delinite result. He believed certain experiments had been made in the harbor with a hag of gunpowder, which would show that the harbor could he defended against any largo vessel. The action taken was, that oir June 11, 18(57, a letter was addressed by his Honor to the upcrintcudent of Canterbury, suggesling that application should he made to the Imperial Government for a vessel to defend the Coa-t. The reply received from Mr Moorhouse, the then Superintendent of Canterbury, was to the effect that he would confer wifh the Superintendent when in Wellington, hut there, were no further records ; and ho (the Secretary) was not aware whether that conference ever took place. The ho;i. member might feel confident from, the experiments made within the last two mouths, that we were quite competent to defend the harbor. On Mr Fraser’s motion the Government promised to lay on the table the portion presented to the Superintendent from residents at Clyde, praying for the erection of a gaol, and the establishment of criminal sittings there. In moving Ida motion authorising the taking of steps for handing over (ho now Post Office building to the University of Otago, the Secretary for Land and Works stated that there were already sati--factory proofs of the results to be anticipated from the establishment of the University. Thu Government had had enquiries from a gentleman in the ho ne country who was desirous of emigrating as to tin University, and he staled it was his intention to bring out his family on its establishment. No j later than yesterday a g- ntleman from one of the Australian colonies made enquiries as (o the provision for education, and satisfied on that subject liad determined to come here. These wore only isolated cases of many which would occur when the system was in operation. Mi usage No. 2, transmitting for the consideration of the Council communications from the General Government respecting a railway from Tokomairiro to Lawrence, a water supply for the auriferous lands in the Tuapeka district, a water supply for the Wakatip district, and the construction of the Southern Trunk Kail way was read, and the Secretary for Land and Works gave notice of his intention to move that it be, considered to-night. Mr Sheppard's motion, for a committee to report upon the desirability of the Government taking charge of the Morvyn and Nevis ferries, was carried by 5 8 to 13 ; and Mr M‘lndoe’s motion, that it bo an instruction to the Government to complete the formation of that pontion of the Ocean Beach Koad through the Town Belt without delay, was rejected by 20 to 0.

The Provincial Solicitor introduced the Representation Ordinance, No. 2, 1870 ; an Ordinance to amend the Otago Municipal Corporation Ordinance, IS7O ; and the Port Chalmers Reserves Management Ordinance, which were read a first tune, and notice of second reading given for -Monday. Till’, I'LUTIIA KAII.WAV. Amongst the correspondence transmitted to the House by message to-day, was a letter from the Secretary of Public Works, enclosing an offer from Messrs Reyman and Abbott. Mr Gisborne asks the views of the Provincial Council, and suggests that under existing circumstances it would not be expedient to construct the Clutha line except on guarantee. Messrs Peyman and Abbott, under date November 1-t, offer to contract for the construction of a railway from Dunedin to Clutha, at the rate of LoOOd per mile, if carried on to Mataura and Invercargill, at the same rate, payment to be made in General Government debentures to the amount of LIOO,OOO at par, and the x’cmainder cash, or subject to arrangement to take debentures for the whole cost. If the line to Mataura and Invercargill were urst proceeded with, the and could be obtained on favorable terms if not free of charge The work to be at once proceeded with at each end. Messrs Peyman and Co. point out that, under the Railway Act, 1870, the Governor had power to authorise the work. Messrs Peyman suggest that by entering into the contract before going to Parliament, the consent of Parliament would be almost certainly secured. The .Secretary for Land and Works gave notice that ho would move that the works in Me-sage No. 2 should n >t be proceeded with until the cointituenecs had had an opportunity to consider the Public Works Act, 1870. (Left sitting.)