PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2382, 19 November 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

At yesterday afternoon’s sitting, the Secretary for Laud and Works laid on the table a return, showing the munhsrlof agricultural areas, and the opinion of the AttorneyGeneral on the subject of the Stuart and Traquair Hundreds. Mr Ashcroft presented a petition by 240 landowners and agriculturists in the Oarn.iru district praying for the formation and metalling of certain roads in the district ; and by Gapt. Mackenzie from the inhabitants of Ropotunoa, objecting to the leasing of the bush reserves. In answer to questions the Government stated that the reason why the new cuttings on the road between Dunedin and the Taieri were loft so long in an unfinished state was because the first contractor had failed, when tenders were again called the amounts received exceeded the engineer’s estimate, and subsequently the contractor, whose tender was accepted, had been delayed by the weather ; that no money had been spent or repairs effected in connexion with the Waipahi and Waikoi bridges ; that the completion of the roads between Clutha and Bopotunoa and Tokomairiro and Balclutha had been delayed by the recent wet weather ; that it was the intention of the Government to erect bridges across the streams at Evans’ flat, Pomahawka and Winding Greek; that the Invercargill hospital would come under the same arrangements as country hospitals ; that the Inspector had reported that there were no good grounds for the statements that pleuro-pneumoniahadbroken out in the northern districts ; and that unless instructed by the Council so to do, the Government would not abolish the tolls now existing in the north and south caids of the City. The Provincial Secretary’s motion, recommending that section d, block 1, Roxburgh, be set apart as a site for a Courthouse was carried, as was Mr Turnbull’s motion that Mr Dalgliesh's petition he referred to the Petitions Committee. After a protest by Mr fish against the unnecessary waste of time, the House at a quarter past tnrec adjourned until seven o’clock this evening. T At the eVeniug sitting the debate on the Secretary for Laud and Work’s resolution was resumed by Mr Calder, who condemned rather mildly the financial policy of tin; Government, as not being of that nature which would justify the belief that in the future the Middle Islam! would receive the attention it deserved. Mr MTndoe, who followed, attacked Mr Reynolds for having altered his opinions in regard to the scheme, and pointed out the great difference between the position he now tonic up in regard to it, and those he held in the Assembly, and when addressing his constituents at the Princess Theatre. He expressed an opinion that the attitude of the Provincial Government was prompted by jealousy, because the General, Government had offered to construct those works which the local authorities cither could or would not undertake ; and hoped that the General Government would carry them on, if the Council refused to take the matter up. Captain Mackenzie, after a little sparring with the Secretary for Land and Works, charged the Government with, gross incompetence, instancing the delay in the construction of the Clutha Railway, and the mismanagement of the road to the Clutha Railway. While disagreeing with the policy that railways should be constructed out loans, he could not help thinking that the General Government scheme was calculated to uphold the interests of the Colony, and such being his opinion, he would support it. Mr Gillies took up the cudgels in defence of the Government, and Mr M‘Gillivray defended his action in the Assembly. Mr Thomson’s speech was greatly marked by dreariness, and he was followed Ly Mr Mosely, who distinguished himself even in the eyes of his own clodocratic party, by the bad taste which characterised the remarks he favored the Council with, in what ought to have been a discussion ou Mr Beid’s resolution. Instead of addressing himself to the subject, he indulged ii) fish-fog abuse of Mr Vogel, not even stopping short of comparing him to the Prince ef Darkness, in what he termed a “ Paudemonia.” So far was this virulence carried, that the Chairman of Committees was eomplcllcd to call him to order. At a little after eleven o’clock Mr Pish managed to get progress reported, and the House adjourned until Monday.