PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2391, 30 November 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

At yesterday afternoon’s sitting, Mr Thomson brought up the report of the select committee on the petition of settlers in the Mataura district. Mr MTndoo moved that the House at its rising to adjourn until Thursday. The proposal was objected to by country members, on the ground that it involved a great waste of time, and was negatived on the voices. In answer to questions, the Government stated that they had not taken any steps to cause the railway between Invercargill and Winton to be ojftned for traffic. They felt very great reluctance to interfere b tween the chief engineer who has control of the work, and the contractor. The chief engineer had reported, making certain complaints as to the rate of progress with which the work was being carried on, and suggesting the termination of the eon tract, and that the engineer should bo authorised to proceed with the work. The matter had been referred to the Provincial Solicitor for an opinion as to the powers of the Government under the contract. No action would bo taken without first obtaining a vote of the Council, inasmuch as money would be required to enable the works to be carried on, although it would no doubt be a charge against the contractor. That there had only been three cases of arbitration under the Goldfields Act, 1866, since its passing, and the average rate of compensation was 4s 8d per acre. That the screw piles for the Moeraki jetty were expected to arrive in February, and that no steps had born taken towards the formation of the embankment to the proposed jetty. The Otago Road Ordinance, iB6O, Amendment Bill, was retul a third time. In moving the second reading of the Otago Municipal Corporations Ordinance Extension Bill, the Provincial Solicitor stated that the object of it was to extend the provisions of the (Jingo Municipal Ordinance to Southland. It might bo a question whether the Province had power to do so after the passing of the Colonial Act, but it was worth while running the risk. There were several municipalities in Otago which had found it inadvisable to adopt tbe Colonial Act as a whole, preferring to work under the Provincial Ordinance, and he saw no reason why Corporations to be formed in Southland should not have extended to them the same privileges which had been conferred upon townships in the Province. The Bill was then read a second and third time and passed. In moving the second reading of the Representation Bill, the Provincial Solicitor protested against any alteration of tho districts of the late Province of Otago, which were settled last session after much discussion. Mr M‘lndoe demurred to that proposition, and pointed out instances aa showing h»w necessary it was to make certain alterations. He said one district returning a member had only twelve electors in it. Then tho Caversham district, as shown upon the map, was different from that in tho schedule, and he complained that while it

had 513 electors, and only returned a single member, Waikari also returned one with only 140 electors. In committee, Mr Reynolds followed in the same strain pointing out how unfair it was that Waitaki, with only eight electors, should return a member. He expressed him«olf .as being prepared to more as an amendment, that the General Assembly electoral districts should be taken as the Provincial districts, and that the number of members should be reduced to about 2S. On the Bill going into committee, and on clause 4 being moved, Mr Reynolds pi wed that the words “Waitaki one member,” be struck out of the sixth line, which was negatived on the voices. To give effect to the report of the select committee on the Matanra petition, Mr Thomson moved the insertion of the words “ Tapanui one member.” Captain Mackenzie pointed out that the justice of the .Matanra district being divided into two separate districts, had been admitted at the last session of the Council, and Messrs Mosely, Calder, and others stated tliat were .ho district to remain as a whole, it would he practically disfranchising a considerable portion of the electors. The motion was negatived by 15 to 18. The Bill was reported with amendments. The debate on Mr Shepherd’s land resolutions was resumed, and after a lengthy discussion, Mr Shepherd’s resolution, as agree i to in committee, was adopted. Mr Gillies moved—“ That the Government be requested to give effect to the recommendations of interim report No. 3, private petitions committee but after a discussion, the motion was negatived by 9to 17. Captain Mackenzie moved a resolution affirming the desirability of carrying out the recommendations of the select committee on the Popotmioa petition, which was negatived by 4 to 12. This Dir. In the Provincial Council lo day, Mr Miller presented a petition from Scanlan Brothers, asking for a bonus on the manufacture of glue. Mr Millar gave notice that to-morrow ho would move that the petition be referred to a select committee.—ln reply to a question by Mr Millar, the Secretary for Land and Works said information was sent to the engineer to act with the harbor piaster to examine the sandbank at Tairoa Head ; but the ins tractions were given just prior to Capt. Thomson's leaving town, and nothing had been done since.—ln further r.ply to Mr Millar’s questions, the Secretary for Land and Works said nothing had been expended at Kakanui Harbor in pursuance of the vote of last session. The notices of motion were postponed until to-morrow. The estimate of the proposed expendituie to 31st March, 1871, was sent down by Message No. 4. The amount was L34,G7G, including appropriations to Southland. At 2.45 the Council adjourned till to-mor-row, at two o’clock.