By Electric Telegraph

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 275, 12 June 1874, Page 3

By Electric Telegraph

■ ■ w J_ (From our own correspondent.) . .-. ♦ Dunedin, Thursday Evening. In the Provincial Council Fish tabled a motion affirming the desirability of the Museum being opened for three hours on Sundays. .. .. Reeves' resolution in reference to the reduction of the number of Councillors was negatived on the voices.

In moving the fourth railway resolution, Reid asked that, in the event of the loan being obtained, the Government should have the power to enter into contracts for the contraction'of the lines on the schedules before the. end of the year. Gillies moved, in addition, that; in; the event of the loan not being sanctioned, the Government be authorised to enter into arrangements with public or private companies -willing to, construct lines without guarantee, which was carried.

The Waipahi to Tapanui line has been re-moved-to. the schedule, of lines to be surveyed only. Kaitangata to Inch Clutha has been transferred to the schedule of works to be constructed. A strong effort was made to have, the Tuapekai to Teviot line placed in the latter schedule, but it was opposed by the Government, and failed. Whit on to the Nightcaps, and the main line to the Shag I*oiut coalfields: were also added to the fifth schedule.

The debate on Fish's motion, re railway tenders was resumed. Ayes: Clark, Clarke, de Lautour, Fish,' Green, Haggitt, M'Kenzie, Oliver, Sumpter, Turton, ; Wood. Noes: Allan, Cumming, Henderson, Ireland, Lumsden,- Mollison, M:Lean, M'Neil, Pweid, Stout, Teschemalcer, Turnbull, Webster, Wilson. ■ M'Glashan's amendment, regretting the acceptance of tenders in excess of appropriations, , and ■ condemniug the principle, which' should be avoided in future, was accepted by the Government. .

The salaries,of the Commissioner of Police, Inspectors, and Sub-Inspectors, are increased by ten per cent: The Superintendent's recommendation that £lO be granted to each volunteer entitled to' a claim was carried, .on the understanding that an opportunity, should-be given to test the feeling of the Council as to whether the grant should be increased. '

It is stated on good'authority that the ap.proaching;session of -Parliament will not exceed six or eight weeks. The Hero is at Auckland.' ; She brings no late cablegrams.

... Parke's Government is likely to be defeated on the motion disapproving of Gardirierthe bushranger's release.

The rate of interest allowed on deposits in tlie Post Office Savings Bant will be.increased from July tO;4£.,per cent, on deposits of £2OO, to .4 per cent'on £SOO deposits. Canterbury, on May 31st, had a caslv balance of £649,986';. the estimated receipts for nine months ending March was £31,512,579 ; total revenue; £1,170,308. The proposed expenditure was £l,ll3;4l2j'including £196,000 on branch railways. - A. fire broke out in .Gv F. Eeid's store in Stafford-street. The buildings are two storey; and one,, <|he' upper part, was occupied as a warehouse for the Mosgiel Woollen* Factory's goods. There was a largo stock of inflammable goods in Eeid's store. The flame soon got a strong hold —for a long time resisting the efforts of the Brigade. The insurances on Eeid's building are, £SOO in the Norwich Union ; stock and fixtures, £IOOO in the South British.; stock,.. £SOO in the New Zealand ; stock, £SOO in the Standard; in all, £2500, while, he. roughly estimates s his loss at nearly £6OOO. The' Mosgiel Woolen' Factory: Company have insured—Stock, £2OOO in the New Zealand ; stock;- £ LOOO in the Nouth Briti-h—in all, i 23000.>' The, estimated loss is £IOOO. Houghton's building was insured fori £SOOO, in the South British 'ln the", Council this afternoon, on Turnbull moving for a grant to meet the s unauthorised expenditure' of the year, 1 M'Dermid moved, as an addition—" A t the same time expressing regret that the Treasury Department should be in such an unsatisfactory state as to render 1 it necessary that the public accounts for the past financial year should be laid on the table/ of the Council uncertified by-the auditor, as required by the Audit Act • and further,- that it is desirable in- future that a detailed account of all unauthorised expenditure be 'laid on the table, instead of merely a summary of special orders issued.i'

/ > -The Government opposed the addition; urging that- advantage was' being taken of a thin House; and.that notice should have been given 'of a motion of such importance: > ; j-Reid-further declared* he did' 'not - care which -way the division went. The Government would take no notice of the amendment.

The addition was carried on a division by 12 against 2. ' Reid then rose and said the Government treated it is a vote of censure, and declined to proceed, with further business. Turnbull followed suit, and said he could have explained why the auditor did not certify, but he declined to shelter himself behind the Treasury Offices. Did not care for the abuse and vindictiveness endeavored to be heaped"upon him' by certain'members, and particularly by Fish, ibr whose opinion he did not care a straw. Amid loud cries of question, he said he was willing to'' test hiß 'position ,as against Fish's by appealing" to his constituency at the close of the. session. ■ . . ■ i

Fish declined to reply to Tumbull's attack.- ■

After ten minutes adjournment, Reid proposed that the debate-should be continued at seven this evening. He said the Government did not regard-the . resolution just carried as" representing the opinion of the Council. If the resolution were allowed to remain on the' minutes in its presentishape the Government would resign. M'Dermid's resolution to reduce the fares of the Port railway, and Browne's resolution affirming the desirability of holders of residence areas on Goldfields, ■ after five years' residence, to become purchasers, subject'-, to' resumption for mining purposes, were negatived. ■

Wilson's motion—"That the system of free emigration at present in operation is liable to great abuse, is ;in some respects very objectionable and calculated to produce most inj urio us results, and tliat immedi ate action should be taken to remedy the evil! That the selection of emigrants suitable to the requirements of the country should be the first ;consideration with' the British emigrationagents, i and is of moat vital importance to the present and future interests of ■ the Colony." Carried.

. On Brown's motion,-that the sessional-free ipasses for .railways be continued during recess, there were ayes ten audioes ten.' The Speaker gave his casting vote with the noes. Fish's motion, affirming the desirability of establishing a > Sailors'. Home at Port Chalimers, was earned, the Government under- ' itaking to forward the,movement. - i Oil Driver's motion it was resolved to withdraw the Cadion Hundred.