NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1804, 18 May 1874, Page 2

NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

We, take ] the -. following • items from the' Nelson ■Eyiniiig Mail:—' ■:;v < ! Mi: Gibbi introduceq a motion forthe : app.t.)ii!tnieiit!.'pf.'. a $elept .Committee, to take^ into ■consideration^nd^report upon the question of ,tHe representation pf i .the settled r districts /in the , iGouncil ;with a view to seme 4 . alteration being made therein: ,Herre'feired, ; ,esp i ecially > ,to ;) his own 'district; whicV 1 was bn'e'of large'resources 'and 'quite , inadequately represented by one' member. There was a large amount of country in it adapted for settlement,- there being , in; the Aorere . Valley alotie iO.OOO. acres , of ! splendid' bush land,, and' the population 'was likely to increase largely^ He, as a member for the -Goldeu Bay district, was placed in a moat difficult position, having to:represent 1 two; district -interests^ that pf-the. gold miners and that of the agriculturists. ' r ; ; 'Mrißaigsnt seconded the resolution. ; . Mr ,Sh^apter proposed to .amend v the r resolution hy making it aipply to the|representation: pf 5 - ,the whole .Province'and not of^ the settled districts only. ' Mr Kelling opposed the amendment, as he thought the gold-fields were ,quito sufficiently represented. :,,•;,.; I . Mr Maclean deprecated- .any yhasty pp undue 'alteration of 'the laws, as it imparted a feeling of instability'fand-uncer-tainty with regard to them. ;tbvthose who were asked to. re3pect : them; He did not think any good cause had been shown by the mover of the respludpn^ espVcially if its operation were to be confined to what was invidiously called the settled districts. • :. . : ■

The Provincial Treasurer quite -concurred with what had fallen from.jp Mr Maclean, and hoped that Mr Gibbs would accept the amendment. . . ,

Further amendments were proposed, and the resolution was ultimately; , passed in the following form :— v That a Seleqt Committee be appointed to take into consideration and report upon the question of the representation, of the Province in the Council ; such Committee to consist of the Speaker, Messrs Parker, Ivess, Kelling, Baigent, and Maclean." TheGonfimittee was appointed by ballot. § ! Mr Ivess moved—' 'That in consequence, of the ; rising importance of the Boatman's district, and the serious inconvenience, experienced by its inhabitan|ts in consequence of the want of road communication,, his Honor the Superintendent be empowered to enter into contract with persons willing: to undertake the construction of a road from George Town Landing Road on the deferred paymejit system, to an amount not exceeding: LISOO, such payment tp becornp due fit the expiratipn pf twelve mpnths'tptlp wing the due completion of the .- coptractl" After so ne little discussion the 1 debate was adjourned until the consideration jof the Eatiinates. > ! In reply to a question from Mr Corbett, whether the Wardens of the , SouthrWdst Gold-fields have auy control over the public works, . „ ' The Provincial Secretary replied that they had. hone, unless specially requested by the Government to take control. Tllis was occasionally-done, but now that local: Boards were ... established, , the / Boards would be asked to take charge of|priblic works, should the Engineer's services' not be available. : '•"' „ !