PURIC PETITION'S COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 50, 3 April 1878, Page 2

PURIC PETITION'S COMMITTEE.

- . BRinaa over, toe man_w_.t*ct_l - In reply to a petition, from, r the residents qE this District*, the chairman!, reported that the Gommitteerecomendedi that the petition he reEerred to. the Go-vernmerit-for consideration. APETITION OF JI. L, BULLER; "•' The petitioner stated that m consequence Of the extra, and arduous, duties he had to perform, m negptiatirtg. the purchase, aud,, subsequently; settli ig claims m respbbt.to the Rangitikei- Manawatu Blocks the latb Dr. Featherston; the Superintendent cf Welliugton, promised him a. bonus of JSS'JO, arid recommended the "Provincial Council to pass, the same.. The vote was submitted to the Council, but m. consequence of the action, of ■ AMr Bunny, who was then- leader bE" the; Opposition, the consideration .was. postponed until the purchase.Awds an. accomplished fact, but that cwirig to a. variety of circumstances, nothing waa. done liy.the late Provincial Government, to. give effect to. the promised bonus.; The Committee was of the opinibii that LV. Buller was not entitled to any . extra pay merit for services, renderbd id. ihe negotiation, and that he had tiebii; amply remunerated. It would appear}, however, that the report was referred! back to the committee, and m; obedience to the direction of the House*. , fresh, evidence was taken; with. theY result that a promise was discoi* l ei'6dft*i

having been made by Dr. Featherston, that he would ask the Council to vote a honorarium, no specific sum ' being mentioned. That promise wis ful Riled ' by the Government placing a sum qE £500 on the estimates of 1860, but as it met with opposition m the Council it was withdrawn. In 1871 a private member moved that £500 be placed ori y the estiriiates for. Dr Bull jr m the form ofland scrip.* The question was dealt with by a motion by the Provincial Treasurer, that the Chairman leave the chair, and carried by majority of one. As, .therefore, the promise made by the Superintendent was carried out, but the douricii on two. Occasions declined to give it effect, the Committee saw no reason to alter its former decision. ._'-■•. ...... ; LOCAL OPTION BILL. With regard: to a petition form 205 residents of Rangitikei, 82 of Manawatu, and 89 oE Sandon, m favor of the Local Option Bill, and praying for the closing of public houses on Sunday, the Committee rbported" that it did not consider it necessary to offer any opinion to the House on the subject. DISMEMBERMENT OF MANAWATO COUNTY. The petition of Mr E. Thynne, and about 430 land owners and settlers of Manawatu County; praying the House a to prevent the dismemberment oE the County was not entertained, being un- . fortunately informal, not being signed - by any petilioiibr within the meaning of the Standing Orders. ■-•. Xy- X y A.0.F., PALMERSTON. 1 The prayer of some twerity-nine'mbm-bers of the above Order resident m Palmerston; asking that the trusts of an allotment of land, which was sold to the Society by theGovernmeritat a rioihinal price, be altered, so as tb allow of ?the .sale of the land without paying £200; the siiin -mentioned in the deed, was not ■ rbcotiimfehded; The chairman reported that the coinriiittee considered it unde- ; iirabib to comply with the request; as it wotdd practically be altering the original trust under which the land Was belcLL