PUBLIC RESERVES.

Evening Star, Issue 2892, 27 May 1872, Page 2

PUBLIC RESERVES.

A meeting of the Otago members of the General Assembly was held in the Provincial Council Library, at noon to-day, for the purpose of taking into consideration the refusal of the General Government to issue Crown grants for the reserves set apart for educational and other public purposes daring last session of the Provincial Council. There were present—His Honor the Superintendent ; the Hon. Mr Paterson, the Hon. Mr M'Lean, the Hon. Captain Fraser, the Hon. Mr Holmes, and the Hon. Hr Menzies members of the Legislative Council; and Messrs. Reynolds, Reid, Thomson, Cantrell, Brad- 1 sbaw, Bathgate, Shepherd, and Brown, members of the House of Representatives. There were also present Messrs Allan and Hutcheson, members of the Provincial Council. On the motion of his Honor the Superintendent, Mr Reynolds was voted to the chair, and explained the object of the meeting. The proceedings of the Select Committee now sitting respecting the Endowment Reserves, were submitted for consideration. Mr Bathgate produced the opinion of counsel. The following resolutions were agreed to, the first unanimously, and the second with one dissentient:—lst. That the members of the Legislative Council, House of Representatives, now present, will use their united endeavors to receive Crown Grants for the Reserves made by the Otago Provincial Council towards endowing Educational, Hospital, and Benevolent Institutions ; and that the members now present will endeavor to secure the co-operation of the members representing Otago who are not present. 2nd. That even granting there are legal objections against the issue of Crown Grants for the reserve for Clutba River, this meeting is of opinion that as the objects sought to be accomplished by setting aside this reserve are extremely desirable, a Bill should be introduced into the Legislature by the General Governmeut, with the view of removing any objections that may exist to the issue of a Crown Grant.