PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 278, 27 December 1865, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The following are the important action 8 taken in the Provincial Council \ On the motion of Mr Mouatt, the House j went into Committee of Supply, to consider \ his motion for the reduction of the Export Duty on Gold to Is 6d per ounce. After tome discussion the motion was negatived — The motion of Mr Bell that a subsidy should be granted to steamers to run between Dunedin and Clutha, was affirmed, the Secretary stating that £2,000 a-year in all, as a bonus, not a subsidy, was the amount contemplated s by the Government. \ Upon the meeting of tb.3 Council on the 30th, Mr John Cargill informed members tnat he had been sent for by his Honor the Superintendent, who had placed in his hands the task of forming an Executive. He had succeeded in doing so, viz., himself as Provincial Treasurer, Mr Brodie as Provincial Secretary, and Messrs A. Burns and Mouatt without office. He trusted that the Government would now be able to go on with the business of the session, and moved that the Council should adjourn until seven o'clock this evening, when he hoped that there would be a full attendance of the country members, so that the work might be got through. Mr Gleeson strongly objected to the adjournment. The members wanted to get home. He was never more surprised than at seeing the hon member who had spoken occupying the seat of the Provincial Treasurer. He (the Provincial Treasurer) had quite enough to do to attend to his own business, and he (the speaker) was prepared to move a vote of want of confidence. The Provincial Treasurer (Mr J. Cargill) rose to a point of order. That was not the proper time for the hon member to proceed in the direction he had indicated. The Government would be glad to afford every opportunity for the member of Oamaru (country) to express his opinion of the Executive. Mr Grant objected to the proposed adjournment. Provincial Secretary (Mr Brodie) said that it was always customary for a new Government to ask an adjournment, at least for a day; the new Ministry merely wished one for a few hours. The motion was carried. r » LATEST TELEGRAMS. (From the Southland Times.) Dunedin, Dec. 21, 4.30 p.m. The Head of Yarra is totally wreaked at Hokitika, in eight feet of water, and a bad channel The steamer Eleanor has also been wrecked at the Grey. Chbistchurch, Dec. 20,11 p.m. By telegram from Bealy immense yield ef gold reported from the Grey. In six to eight feet sinking the yield is 50 ounces per claim. Another has turned out six pounds weight, and others fifteen to twenty ounces daily. The rush to Lake Brunner has turned out a failure. ft ——— The «Perth Inquirer' publishes the following additional items:— • London, 7th October. The Paraguayan invasion of Brazil has terminated. General Florcs being victorious, and capturing 1700 Paraguayan troops. The report that Consul Cameron was released is unfounded. He is confined closer than ever. The American Press states that President Johnson contemplates a general amnesty to the Southern people, including Jefferson Davis, who is now allowed to correspond openly with his'friends. 13th October. Cholera has made its appearance at Southampton. ,14th October. The rise in the English discount market to seven per cent, with the prospect of its going higher, is confirmed. The Massachusetts Convention declares strongly against the exclusion of the Southern States from Congress until the passing of the Negro Suffrage Bill. The following additional particulars are taken from Californian papers brought by the Othello, to Sydney:— The Convention has unanimously resolved that the Act of Secession is null and void. The Osage Indians have ceded a million acres of rich land in Kansas to Government. A line of new steamers has commenced running from Baltimore to Liverpool. Desperate fighting with the Indians continues. Guerillas had appeared in Tenessee, robbing and murdering indiscriminately. The South Carolina State Convention has declared itself favorable to the abolition of slavery, and repealed the Secession ordinance. I The United States squadron in the Pacific is to be reinforced by ten heavily-armed vessels and two iron-clads additional. The * Evening Star* asserts that, in the new Ministry Mr John Cargill will be leader, and Mr Brodie will undertake the combined offices of Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Public Works.