PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2605, 23 June 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Yesterday. A short discijsgioq followed Mr Haugbton’s motion for a select committee to take into consideration the petitions of the Roman Catholic inhabitants of the Province, Mr Reynolds declined to serve on the committee, because ha was thoroughly opposed to any alteration of the existing educational system. A ballot resulted in the following being elected members of the committee Messrs Cargill, MVJlashan, Cutten, Turnbull, Allan, Gillies, and Haughton. Leave was given to Mr Seaton to introduce a Bill to amend the Dog Ninsane > Ordinance, which was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. Mr Lumsden’s motion—that ‘ ‘ opportunities for travelling and despatch of mails On all railways under the c >ntrol of the Government should be provided on Sim days to the extent of at least one train per day, when required, for the forwarding of the mails without unnecessary delay towards their destination ’’—revived the Sabbath desecration question. On the one baud, the Speaker protested against the attempt made to interfere with the “liberty of the subject,” by compelling railway employes to work on Sundays ; and Mr Thomson contended that he and others “had no right to be dictated to by the community, so as to interfere with the day he considered belonged to him as a right.” On the other hand, Mr Bastings opposed the idea of people being forced to go to church by Act of Parliament ; and the Hon. I'illon Bell ridiculed what ho termed the “Sabbatarian trash” of the hon. member for Milton, an<J expressed bis determined opposition to any attempt to prevent persons enjoying “the Sabbath asthey pleased, ortotheStatc being made the “ conscienca keeper” of the people. Various amendments, including one for the postponement of the debate to allow of the receipt of petitions from Invercargill against Sunday trains, were put and all rejected. Ultimately the motion was carried by 20 to 18. Mr Bastings’ motion, “That the Government be requested to introduce a bill into the Assembly to amend the law on goldfields, so as not to enforce tbo payment of business licenses by holders by agricultural leases” was carried. The evening setting was wholly occupied with thelßoads Boards, beads Diversion, and Clyde School Reserve Sale bills, wliich were considered in committee.

This Day

Petitions were presented bj Mr. Shepherd from miners in the Mount Benger District asking for the opening up of the Millers Plat Block, and by Mr. M‘Clashan from Hugh M'Padyn and John Kaye, praying for an inquiry into the “ persistent refusals ’’.of the Ceueral Bond Board to recognise tho petitioner’s claim to have roads made to their properties. In answer to a question it was elicited that tho Government were not aware

of any difficulties in the way of granting applications for leases of country for tree planting At one time the Provincial Solicitor did see difficulties, as without legislation it would involve considerable difficulty on his part, but he now agreed that the object could be c irried out under the present law. Instructions had been given to prepare draft forms of agreement; but the Government could not say whether that had been done. The Government had come to no decision in regard to the applications already before them, but it was intended to introduce into the new Land Act a clause which would obviate the necessity of agreements, and give applicants Crown grants on certain conditions being fulfilled. Resolutions to the following effect were carried :—l. That the capitation charges on account of Volunteers should not exceed L3OOO during the current year. 2. That in order to keep the charges within that amount, the Governor should be requested to consider the expediency of cither limiting the number of Volunteers, ra-sing the standard of efficiency, or of making provision to reduce the capitulation grant. 3. That grants of 50 acres bo given to volunteers who have served seven years, conditionally on one-third of the land being enclosed and cultivated within three years from the date of the certificate; Crown grant to issue as soon as these conditions are fulfilled, and if not fulfilled within the time specified, none to issue.