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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2628, 20 July 1871, Page 2

Yesterday. At the evening sitting, the Provincial Secretary brought down his additional land resolutions which, after slight discussion and sotn j small alterations, were adopted as fol* lows:—That this Council approves of the principles contained in the land resolutions ps s ;d in Committee, and is of opinion that, if passed into law, they will tend to allay the agitation and class fee ings which have recently existed in regard to the land question, and will promote the occupation and settlement of the waste lands of the Province by a bona fide class of settlers. 2. That the Government be requested to prepare a Bill to consolidate the resolutions now adopted with the various clauses of the existing Acts which are not recommended to be repealed, with the view to the land laws of Otago being contained in the consolidated Act to be passed in the General Assembly. 3. That a respectful address be presented to the Superintendent, requesting him to take charge of said Bill in the General Assembly, and this Council hereby pledges itself to use all constitutional means to support him and the members of the Genera. Assembly in their endeavours to get it passed into law.” Air Bastings moved, as an amendment on the first resolution that after the word '‘committee” the words “and is of opinion that if passed into law,” be struck out, and the following inserted in lieu thereof: With'the exception of those clauses which relate to the prices of laud to be sold on deferred payments, which this Council recommends should be fixed at a price not exceeding 25s per acre. And this Council is of opinion that if these alterations are made that the resolutions be passed into law. ’ Mr Basstiau moved that the price of laud should be reduced to 20s, but the motion was negatived on the voices. This Day, The Speaker took his seat at noon. BUSINESS OF THE SESSION. The following return was read by the Speaker :—Length of session, 57 days ; sitting days, 37; messages, 13; petitions p.esented, 70 ; notices of question, 54 ; notices of motion, 317; bills introduced, 30; bills passed, 25; addresses and resolutions forwarded to the Government, 154; papers, 125; divisions, 88; committees appointed, 10 ; reports from committies, 40. Mr Barton asked the Piovincial Treasurer ; “ Ist. Whether the Waterworks Company have made any return to the Government which will inform the Council whether the amount claimed on the estimates for guaranteed interest on the L 50,000 is calculated by ted rec ors after having first deducted from their income the dividends payable upon the additional L 15.000 not guaranteed by this Council. Thus, in effect, making the Province pay a guarantee upon LOo.OOO instead of L 50,000, the lawful amount?” 2nd. Whether it is not the fact that the Waterworks Company has now due to them Tjq? collected rates sufficient to pay the whole alleged deficiency iu the dividend upon the guaranteed L50,0t)0 ?” And in replying, the Treasurer was understood to say that the . eturn had been sent in. He found by that account of the L 15,000 there was a deduction of L 250 on account of the L 15,000 lent by Colonel Kitchener at 10 per cent. ; which would make the total sum to be guaranteed L2d,000 instead of L 15,000. There was a balance of L 257 16s 3d, but not for this year only; LI 18 3s 9d was brought down from the previous year. There were also arrears of LGSI 7s lOd on the new account, and L 329 14a 2d on the old account; so that if ihe arrears were deducted the deficiency of L 991 would be met. Iu answer to another question by Mr Barton, The Treasurer repeated that the actual amount in respect of which guarantee was claimed was L 70,000. Air Cargill said the Treasurer was not correct in h:s information or his facts j and was about to show that the Treasurer’s explanation consisted of “ mis statements of a very gross character,’’ when The Superiute ndeut was announced. His Honor delivered the following speech ; Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council, — On behalf of the Governor, on the 14th day of June last, I assented to the imprest Supply Ordinance, 1871, and now assent to the following Ordinances passed by you : The Invercargill Atheiucum Ordinance, 1871; Goat Nuisance Ordinance, 1871; Sheep Ordinance, I SCO (Southland), Repeal Ordinance, 1871; Payment of Alembers Ordinance, 1871; Sheep Inspection Assessment Ordinance, 1871; Fencing Ordinance, 1807, Amendment Ordinance, 1871 ; Appropriation Ordinance, !8 71-2. The following Bills passed by you I reserve for the significations of the Governor's pleasure thereon ; Hampden Mechanics’ Institution Reserve Alauagemont Bill, 1871; Not them Agricultural and Pastoral Reserve Alanagemeut Bill, 1871; Education Reserves Management and Licensing Bill, 1871; District Roads Compulsory Land-taking Bill, 1871; Clyde School Reserve Sale Bill, 1871 ; Roads Diversion Bill, 1871; Thefinvercargill Reserves Leasing Bill, 1871; Ferry and Accommodation House Reserves Leasing Bill, 1871 ; Invercargill Athemeum Reserve Management Bill, 1871; Oamaru Drill Shed Reseive Alanagemeut Bill, 1871 ; The Otago Road Boards Bill, 1871; Sale of Laud to Dunedin City Validation Bill, 1871; Dunedin Drill Shed Reserve Management, Bill 1871 : Porto hello School Glebe Bill, 1871 ; Education Reserve Jacob’s River Hundred Sale Bill, 1871. Gentlemen, I now declare this Council prorogued, and it stands prorogued according-