PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3495, 6 May 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, May 6.

On the Council assembling this afternoon, Messrs Reid, Turnbull, Webster, and Lumsdeu took their seats on the Government Bench.' Message No. 3 was read as follows : The Superintendent informs the - Provincial Council that he has received and accepted tho resignations of George Turnbull, Esq., as Provincial • Secretary and Treasurer, George Murray Webster, Esq,, as Secretary for Land; Horace Bastings, Esq!, as Secretary for Goldfields ; and James Shand, Esq as members of the Executive Council, and has appointed Donald Reid, Esq., Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Land and Works; George Turnbull, Esq., Provincial treasurer; Rober Stout, Esq,, Provincial Solicitor; George Murray Webster, Esq., George Lumsden, Esq., members of the Executive Council.!’ FORMATION,OF A GOVERNMENT. Mr REiB explained that, as intimated in the Supermtendent’s speech, he had succeeded so far with the task he undertook en Monday ; but the Government had not yet had - sufficient time to confer together so as to place him in the position of Oeing able to make a statement to the Council of the policy they would adopt in regard to the important questions that would Rave to be discussed by the Council this session. It was due to the Council to make such a statement in order that members might understand with clearness what the the views of the Government were, and that statement, would be made at to-morrow’s sitting. They were, however, prepared to go on with the bvsiness on the order paper A Why and personal debate followed. Mr Fisa attacked the personnel of the Gof rn ment, characterising the association' of Mr Turnbull, and Dr Webster, with Mr Reid, as an unholy alliance, charged Mr lurnbuH with deserting his party and throwing over his hard worked colleague Mr Bastings, referred to the rumor that Mr Reid had been promised the support of the High street clique, on condition of taking in Mr Turnbull and Dr Webster; and concluded by intimating that he should oppose the Government in its present iorm. Mr Eeid replied, denying the truth of the' tumor referred to by Mr Irish but said some members had banded together to force a certain member 1 on the Government —action which Mr Tumoull and himself had resented. Davie, Mr M‘Kellar, and Mt Bkown made explanations. Mr Clarke said he' would not support a Government that would overlook the goldfields interest. Mr' JLurnbull said he took the Treasurership because its duties were chiefly routine, and' at the desire of a large body of the members; and he tauuted Mr Fish with deserting his colors. Dr Webster explained that he did not accept the Secretaryship of Lands becaUß® he ffilt the holder of that position sh >uld £be a member of the Waste Land Board, which Mr Heid was. The motion for adjournment was met by the previous question, which was carried. [L'Jt sitting,]