PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1741, 4 March 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

[condensed from the westland register.] Monday, March 2. His Honor presented a petition from Martin Cashion, police constable, asking that certain inquiries might be made into his case, and applying to the Council for relief. miners' rights extension act. A message from his Honor was read by the Speaker, cordially agreeing with the resolution of the Council re "The Miners' Right Extension Act, 1872," and promising to endeavor to give effect to it. His Honor, also by message, signified his approval of the Standing Orders, as adopted by the Council. PAPERS. His Honor laid on the table a report of the value of tbe tolls oolleoted during

1873, and cost of collection ; also a letter from Messrs Kilgour and Perotti, claiming compensation for their tramway, uuder the regulations made by the County Council in the year 1869. FIRE BRIGADES. Mr Curaing asked — "When will his Honor the Superintendent pay over td the Hokitika, Greymouth, and Ross Fire Brigades the sum of £25 each, voted in the last session of the County Council by way of subsidy ?" His Honor said that the matter rested with the Council. Since he had the honor of holding office he had no funds at 1 his disposal. All the votes had lapsed, and monies unappropriated would have to be re- voted. It was, however, his intention, with the concurrence of the Council, to pay these amounts. LAKE BRUNNER SURVEYS. Mr Dungan asked—" Have any further reports been furnished to the late County Government, except that of MrFrasetfs in the third session of the County Council, relative to surveys of Lake Brunner and adjoining country." His Honor said no further reports had been received. The report of Mr/Fraser (late Chief Engineer), had been 'so unfavorable that no further examination was deemed necessary. ' PUBLIC WORKS AND IMMIGRATION. Mr Tabart moved— "That a Public Works and Immigration Committee be appointed, consisting of Mr Speaker, Messrs M'Gaffin, Canavan, Woolcock, Guinness, Lahman, and the mover." Mr Todd seconded the motion. Mr Houlahan suggested that the motion should be amended, by the addition of the names of Messrs Seddon and Robinson, and the omission of those of the Speaker and Mr Lahman. Mr Tabart concurred, and the motion, as amended, was carried without dissent. RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' SALARIES Mr Guinness moved — "That his Honor * the Superintendent urge upon the General Government the injustice of the salaries of the Resident Magistrates in Westland being paid by the Provincial Government, and that his Honor request the General Government to make provision for the payment of such salaries." Mr Lahman seconded the motion, which after considerable discussion was carried on the voices. . POLICE SALARIES. Mr Guinness moved — " That in framing the Estimates for the police department, this Council respectfully requests his Honor the Superintendent to place upon the Estimates such a sum as will increase the pay of the members of the police force to the same amount formerly voted before the reductions made by the Lite County Council." He referred to the late reductions in police pay as illadvised and impolitic. The police constables were paid less than constables received on the Nelson South-west Goldfields. But not only was' the pay reduced but the Westland police have to pay for their uniform clothingi ' The police force was most efficient, and by its efficiency Westland had become almost free from crime. Mr Robiuson agreed that the police were a most efficient body, but the necessity for economy still existed. The state of the revenue was to be considered. The Provincial Council was ah experiment, and it should not be made a failure through costliness. They had already been accused of stupidity, but lat them not be charged with, extravagance. Perhaps as the police were so efficient, extra pay would banish crime altogether. Mr Cuming suggested the withdrawal of the motion until the Petitions Committee brought up their report. After some further discussion Mr Guinness withdrew his motion. > CHINESE, Mr Seddon moved—" That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish this Council with a statement of the number of miners' rights taken out by Chinese up to Ist March, 1874." Mr Houlahan seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent, after considerable discussion, during' which the original motion was amended to read as above. '

GREYMOUTH MARINE SURVEY.

Mr Wickes to moved—' ' That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place the sum of Ll5O upon the Estimates towards defraying the expenses of the Marine Survey now being prosecuted by Mr Moriarty, C.E,., on the Grey river harbor works." He alluded to the circumstances which led to the employment of Mr Moriarty by tbe Greymouth authorities. The total expense would be between L4OO and LSOO. The Nelson Government contributed one-third, Greymouth one-third, and it was not too much to ask the Province to contribute onethird. The deepening of the channel of the Grey river would be absolutely to the advantage of the Province, as vessels of large tonnage could enter the river, and . the coal-fields would be opened up. From the want of opening up her resources, 'Westland was now languishing. The matter was more general than local. It was proved beyond a doubt ; that from ; 50,000 to 60,000 tons of coal per month could be supplied, if there were vessels to take it away. An enormous revenue would accrue from the harbor works. Tf the Government did not carry them out, the Province could recommend private enterprise. Mr Wbolcock seconded the motion. Mr Cuming said the motion, if carried, would be more for the benefit of the Greymouth Borough Council and the General Government than the Province at large. He thought the matter should be delayed. Mr Houlahan heartily supported the motion. The great energy displayed by the people of Greymouth deserved credit. Mr Todd would have been much better pleased if one of the Government en« gineers had been called in. Mr Moriarty's plans had hot been adopted either in ' Auckland or Sydney. Mr Seddon did not give the motion i very cordial support, but would vote fee it, as he considered it a Provincial matter. .• His Honor considered that the ch&e should have been borne by the Geseral 3overnment, by whom the harbor Works had been undertaken. He thought the sum asked for rather much, but would no# object to a smaller amount. Mr Wiokes, by leave} amended his motion by reducing the sum asked for to LIOO.

After some farther remarks from Messrs Woolcock and Wickes, the motion was carried unanimously. ROAD BOARDS. Mr Robinson moved— "That a committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs Cuming, Seddon, Guinness, Wickes, Canavan and the mover, to consider the advisability of handing over to the Road Boards the care of the horse tracks and foot bridges in the various districts, leaving to the Government the care of the main roads." Mr Lahman seconded the motion. Mr Guinness objected to the appointment of so many committees. His Honor agreed with Mr Guinness. He suggested the motion should read so as to move the Council into committee. It was necessary to ascertain the feeling of the Council on certain points, so that by next session a Road Boards Bill might be framed. Mr Lahman would oppose the motion until the relative positions of the Road Boards and the Provincial Government were made clear. Mr Robinson withdrew the motion.