WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1828, 15 June 1874, Page 2

WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Friday, June 12. [from the west coast times.]

The Council met at 12 noon yesterday, as is usual on Fridays. There were present, the Speaker, the Provincial Secretary, the Provincial Solicitor, the Goldfields' Representative, and Messrs Woolcock, Wickes, Canavan, Mitchell, Tabart, Cuming, Seddon, M'Gaffin, and Houlahan.

The Speaker said that he had received two letters from one Henry Coe, of Greymouth, which were read. They appeared to be the ravings of a lunatic rather than a sane man, and were very properly consigned to the waste paper basket, without even going through the formality of being received.

TOLL-GATE ORDINANCE,

Mr Seddon asked — " Whether the Government intend to bring in a Tollgate Ordinance this session, and if answered in the affirmative, when."

The Provincial Secretary, in reply, said that it was not rhe intention of the Executive to introduce any Toll-gate Ordinance this session. Though its provisions might be very simple, it was thought desirable that more opportunity of ascertaining the bearings of the subject should be afforded, instead of rushing legislation under the experience that could possibly have hitherto been gained.

THE EDUCATION BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed.

CHAIRMANSHIP OP COMMITTEES.

In the absence of Mi Todd, Mr Wickes was unanimously chosen Chairman of Committees.

TRESPASS AND IMPOUNDING ORDINANCE

The Council went into Committee on the Trespass and Impounding Ordinance.

Clause 24, that originally gave power to poundkeepers to purchase impounded stock themselves, in order to recoup their fees and charges, was struck out, or rather amalgamated with a new clause proposed by the Provincial Solicitor, to the effect that where the stock in question was of such a nature as to appear to fetch the costs, that two Justices or a Resident Magistrate should have power to order its immediate sale.

Another clause, also proposed by the Provincial Solicitor, that the owner, if known, should be liable to pay- any deficiency that might arise for expenses was held over.

- In clause 33 the sum of one penny for homed cattle and horses was. ordered to be inserted, and the words " during one night or day" struuk out.

Clause 35, in reference to cattle wandering in towns, was agreed to, with the modification that the penalty instead of being not less than ss, nor more than 20s per head for each animal, was reduced to not less than 2s 6d, &o,

After some further discussion on the Impounding Bill, the Council adjourned till the usual hour on Monday evening.