PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2386, 24 November 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

At this afternoon’s sitting, Mr Kinross presented a petition from certain inhabitants of Invercargill protesting against the removal of the pilot station at New River Heads, which was received. In compliance with Mr Allan’s request, the Government laid on the table the evidence taken by the Retrenchment Commission. Among the notices of motion given was one (read amid much laughter) by Captain Mackenzie of his intenti n to move that Government hu mess take precedence during the remainder of the session, and one by Mr Haughton for a return showing the number of miners’ rights hold by Chinese, and the number of Chinese immigrants for the year ending October 31. In answer to questions the Government said only one application, and that by a resident on the {’Oldfields, had been received from parties willing to take up land for the purpose of planting forest trees, and the applicant had alrea ly taken up an area under the agricultural lease regulations. The application was referred to the warden of the district to suggest any necessary conditions to he attached to the Ease, and it had since been granted. No other formal application had been made, although some pci-sons in the South had con-

suited about the matter. Recognising the very great importance of the subject, a draft of the conditions under which the grants would be made had been prepared by the Government, and was in the hands of the Provincial Solicitor for revision. Those conditions would be printed with a view to their being circulated throughout the country, and they would be ready before the Council rose. Grants of land would be made within Hundreds, if the circumstances justified their being made. That the f,5f10 vote, Queenstown to Arrow via Arthur’s Point, had been expended ; and the votes LSD Arrow to Cardrona, and L2OO Arrowtown roads, would be expended before next winter. A dray bridge over the Shotover River at Arthur’s Point, and the formation of a road therefrom to Arrowtown, were recognised as important works ; and a sum for the bridge would be placed on the next estimates, and the same would be done in regard to the road, if the expenditure came within such a reasonable amount as would justify the Government in asking the vote. Mr Wilson moved his separation resolutions, which were given in our last evening’s issue. The motion was seconded by Mr Kinross. Captain Mackenzie thought the quests m inopportune, and moved the previous question, which was seconded by Mr Fish. The previous question was carried. Captain Mackenzie withdrew his motion for the alteration of the constitution of the Waste Laud Board. Mr Brown, for Mr Haughton, m )ved the appointment of a select committee, to consider the question whether any and what persons are entitled to the rewards for the recovery of the treasure stolen from the Camp at Clyde ; with power to cull for persons and j)apers. A large number of members expressed their opinion that the matter was purely an executive one, and should not bo relegated to a committee ; and although the Government recommended the appointment of the committee, the motion was negatived on the voices. [Left sitting.]