PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2623, 14 July 1871, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Yesxekday. There was another “free fight” la t even iug over the Land Bill, he discussion lusting until the small hours th s morning. Then was considerable (iiscusiou on tlie amendments proposed by Government classifying rural land as follows;—!, liural land first class, being land adapted for the growth of cereals. 2. Kural land second da s, being land of a hilly or mountainous character, only useful for pastoral purposes, or lands being shingly plains unfitted for agriculture; second class lands to be offered for sale by auction at an upset price of 10s. The amendments were carried on the voices. The Government proposal to give pastoral tenants whose lauds (of the second class) might be taken for the purpose of settle ment, compensation at the rate of Id pei acre per annum during the remainder of the term of their lease —such compensation not to exceed IGd per acre in any case—was opposed on the g:ound that il was likely to jeopardise the passage of the Bill through the Assembly, on account cf the smallness of the compensat on proposed to be given. Ultimately Mr Mervyu moved an amendment fixing the figures at lid and lod respectively, which was carried. On the third reading, Mr Cargill moved the series of amendments of which he had previously given notice. A motion for adjournment was negatived, and after much recrimination the amendments were put with tie followinn result: —Ayes, 1C —Basstian, Blacklock, Cargill (teller), Daniel (teller), Driver, Galbraith, Haughton, Mervyn, Mollison, M‘Arthur, M’Glashan, Reynolds, Seaton, Shepherd, Turnbull, Webster. Noes, 17 —Allan, .Armstrong, Barr, Bathgate, Bradshaw, Brown, J. 0.; Duncan (teller), Green, Henderson, Hutcheson, Lumsden, Mackenzie, Keid (teller), liobertson, Smith, Thomson, Pair —For, M‘Lean; against, Barton. Notice was immediately given that the Bill he read that day six months ; whereupon the Provincial Secretary moved the adjournment of the debate to Monday, intimating that he would then test the strength of the Governipent.

This Day. M[r BroAvn hoped to distinguish himself by being looked upon as the author of a very finely worded resolution, the burden of Avhich Avas that information should be furnished to the members of the Assembly that the Dunedin Press had furnished unfaithful reports of the debates on the land question, but to his chagrin, Air Speaker ruled that he could not receive the resolution, as the Council could not pretend to rule the Press. In answer to questions, the, Government stated that there was no objection to ihe correspondence botAveen the Dock Trust and the Government being laid on the table; that the subsidy for roads boards received from the General Government would be distributed as usual, in proportion to the sums raised iu the respective districts, except iu cases where there Avere no road boards, in which case, in all probability, contributions by private persons would be subsidised as hitherto. The probable rate of distribution would be LI to LI ; but the amount Avould depend entirely upon the sums collected in districts : it might probably be 308 to every £. The Sales of Land to Dunedin City Valuation Bill, Avhich, as the title implies, is to validate the recent private sale by the Government to the City Corporation of sections in Bond Street, and the Dunedin Drill Shed Reserve Alanagement Bill, passed their second readings. A number of formal moti ns were carried. The Provincial Secretary, in moving the resolution standing in his name—“ That this Council having learned that Air Charles Smith is, OAving to a failure of health, about to resign his appointment as Clerk of Council and Librarian, Avhich offices he has filled for a period of nearly ten years, desires to express sjpcei e regret that Air Smtji be compelled to resign from such a cause; and, further, to place on rc cold its testimony to the efficient and satisfactory manner in Avhich he has discharged the duties of those ofiicea said that he felt sure that he but expressed the views of members on both sides of the House avlicu he said that it Avas with regret they learned that the Clerk had been obliged to give up his p sition on account of ill health. It Avas now nearly ten years sii.ee Mr Smith entered upon his duties ; when he fiivt undertook them he had the vciy difficult tagk of making up the Votes ; pd Proceedings of previous years. This avi rk, together Avith the classification of Ordinances, Avas one of great care, but had been done Avith invariable correctness. During the whole of the time he had becu Clerk, while there had been much diversity of opinion iu the House, the records had alAvays been looked upon as being strictly correct, and never had they been called into dispute, On the con-

trary they had been invariably regarded as truthful and impartial recoids. Mr. Smith had held office during fifteen sessions ; had been under four different speakers, and himself bad put the election of three speakers from the chair ; he had also held office during two entire Parliaments and pait of a third. Mr. Eeynolds endorsed the observations of the head of the Government, and spoke iucomplimentary terms of Mr. Smith’s valuable services in compilting the records and ordinances of the Council. The motion was carried unanimously, as was one authorising the appointment of Mr W. E. Sessions to the clerkship.