FRIDAY, APRIL 20.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 41, 21 April 1866, Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 20.

The Speaker took the chair at 11 o'clock. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. F. Kelling moved, that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates the sum of .£IOO, for the erection of Public Libraries and Reading Rooms, to meet equivalent subscriptions. Mr. Oliver seconded. Mr. Baigent suggested that all such reading rooms should become private property. Motion passed. The Provincial Secretary moved, that a Printing Committee he appointed to select papers to be printed in the votes ancl proceedings of the council ; such committee to consist of the Speaker, Mr. Parker, Mr. Burn, and the mover. Mr. Simmonds seconded. Motion passed. Mr. McMahon moved, that his Honor tlie Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates the sum of ,£3:5, for the purpose of repairing the jetty and improving the harbor at Riwaka. He enlarged on die importance of Riwaka as an influential agricultural place, and said the navigation of the harbor was verj' dangerous. It was too much the habit of the council to neglect such places as he had the honor to advocate on this occasion. Mr. Burn second the motion. The Provincial Solicitor suggested that it was the province of the inabitants to improve the navigation of the river, and they should not expect the Government to do everything for them. Mr. F- Kelling said the Provincial Engineer ought to recommend such expenditure as was now contemplated, or the expense incurred might not be correctly appropriated. In placing sums on the estimates, the revenue ought to be taken into consideration. He had no doubt of the necessity of the work. Mr. Oliver said it was quite impossible for the Provincial Engineer to recommend every trifle of this sort. He could not be present everywhere. Mr. Gibbs whilst supportii g the motion, disapproved of the Government having too great a discretionary power. Mr. Baigent supported the motion. The motion, was passed. Mr. Sparrow moved, that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates of the current year the sum of 4 I, for improving the approaches to the wharves situated in the Takaka district. He said the Council had alreaiy been memorialized in vain, on the subject. He showed that the wharves were very difficult of approach, and that so small a sum would be well expended. The Superintendent had inspected the work, and he thought, concurred in the necessity of the work. He was surprised at the omission of the sum on the Estimates. Mr. Gibbs seconded the motion, and gave a melancholy description of the wharves complained of. Tli 3 Provincial Secretary thought 40/ was too much for the purpose, but supposed the motion on being informed that it was a district vote. The motion was passed. Mr. Oliver moved, That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish this Council with copies of all papers and correspondence having reference to the appointment of a constable at Motueka. He would not dwell on a subject of such public notoriety. Mr. McMahon seconded the motion, and intimated that it would be better if the documents were allowed to remain where they were. He said he could see m> fault in tlie constables who had been complained of by certain magis crates, and who were, he doubled not, the victims of political animosity. The Superintendent had very properly declined to discharge this man, without some special reason. He thought the combination of the magistrates against Boyce, amounted to a conspiracy, if the word meant to effect a legal purpose by illegal means. In Ireland poor ignorantmen were punished for such condiu-t ; and he hoped Boyce would enter an action against the magistrates. The Provincial Secretary said the Government was anxious to facilitate the production of all papers, but wished proper notice to be given of the intention of members to ask for correspondence. The motion passed. Mr. Akersten moved, That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates the sum of £200, to erect a suitable boat landing at the harbor of Nelson. He said the present landing was much complained of. The steps and ladder were inefficient, the rails equally so. As one-third of the passengers arriving used the steps, it was important the landing should be made safe and convenient. He suggested that the drags and the lifelines be moved close to the ladder, and a causeway constructed. Mr. Kindlon seconded. Mr. Baigent supported the motion, instancing the lauding place at Wanganui as one worthy of imita? tion. Mr. F. Kelling opposed the motion on the score of economy, thinking £50 would make a good landing placeMr. C. Kelling would prefer to see this sum transferred to the Supplementary Estimates. Mr. McMahon supported the motion on the ground that life was endangered in winter time by the- slippery state of the steps. Money was no consideration in the question, and Mr. F. Kelling would change his views if he had to land frequently at the place complained of. The Provincial Secretary and Mr. Oliver supported the motion. Mr. Burn did not consider the sum sufficient. It was highly desirable to prevent loss of life and public inconvenience. Mr. Akersten advocated a stone causeway, and suggested the sum might be taken from the harbor improvements. Motion carried. The Provincial Solicitor moved the second reading of the Motueka Reserves Bill. Mr. Kingdon seconded. Motion carried. The house went into committee, Mr. Oliver in the chair, to consider the bill. The bill was reported without amendments, and the house resumtd.

Order op the Day. the estimates. The motion of the Provincial Secretary that the house go into committee for further consideration of the Estimates, was negatived. ■ At 12-15, the house adjourned till Tuesday next, at 5 p.m. NEW ZEALAND PATRIOTIC FUND. The committee appointed by the public meeting of the 13th instant, to carry out their wish to co-operate in the good work of raising a New Zealand Patriotic Fund, met for the transaction of business, on Thursday afternoon, in the Provincial Hall. The members of Provincial Council for country districts were present by invitation. Mr. Barnicoat, M.P.C., in the -hair. Mr. Hunter Brown, Honorary Secretary, stated that Mr. Lucas had gratuitously supplied a number uf printed subscription lists, and that in accordance with a resolution passed at a first meeting of the committee, copies had been deposited at eacli of the banks, at Mr. Stanton's, at the Custom-house, at the Bank Hotel, the Criterion, the Trafalgar, the Coach and Horses, the Wakatu, the Commercial, the Golden fleece, Custom-house, and Jasper's Hotels; and that the landlords of those hotels had promised their hearty co-operation in obtaining subscriptions. Also, that an account had been opened for the fund at the Bank of New Zealand. The following resolutions were then carried unanimously: — Moved by the Rev. J. H. Johnston, and seconded by Captain Rough.— " That tlie undermentioned gentlemen, Members of the Provincial Council, be requested to become members of committee, and to obtain subscriptions towards the New Zealand Patriotic Fund in their respective neighborhoods: — Waimea East, Messrs. Barnicoat, F. Kelling, Beitt, Thompson; Waimea South, Messrs. Oliver, Baigent, Sitnmonds; Waimea West, Mr. Redwood; Motueka. Messrs. Parker and M'Mahon ; Moutere, Mr. C. Kelling; Collingwood, Mr. Gibbs; Takaka, Mr. G. Sparrow; Amuri, Mr. Rutherford." Tlie greater number of these gentlemen were present, and signified their hearty assent to this invitation. Moved by Mr. Hunter Brown, seconded by Mr. Greenfield. — " That subscription lists be placed in the hands of each member of tlie committee in country districts ; and that each member of committee be requested to receive subscriptions, and transmit them to the honorary treasurer, Captain Rough, at the Bank of New Zealand." Moved by Dr. Irvine, seconded by Mr. Gibbs. — '• That the members of the committee should wait on the householders of the town of Nelson, to solicit their co-operation towards the Patriotic Fund ; and that for that purpose two members of committee should be told off for each district of the town." Moved by Mr. Hunter Brown, seconded by Dr. Irvine. — " That to meet the wishes of such as desire to contribute without the formality of subscription lists, money-boxes to receive contributions for this fund be placed, by permission, at the Nelson Institute, and at the stores of Messrs. Stanton, Hounsell, Tingle, and Johns." Moved- by Mr. G. Sparrow, seconded by Mr. McMahon, — " That the proprietors of the local newspapers be requested to publish a copy of the resolutions passed at this meeting." Moved by Captain Rough, and seconded by his Honor the "Superintendent, — ''That the Honorary Secretary be requested to forward the newspapers containing the resolutions of this and the previous meetings, to the Resident Magistrate at the Grey, and to -olicit the co-operation of that gentleman in bringing the subject before the population of that district." The Honorary Secretary was also instructed to communicate with his Honor Justice Johnson, Honorary Secretary of the Central Committee at Wellington, to obtain from that gentleman all further information possible regarding the objects, distribution, probable recipients, and other details concerning the fund, previous to carrying out resolution 3. The meeting then separated, after passing a vote of thanks to the chairman. Tho committee earnestly entreat the public to come forward promptly, as veil' as heartily, with their gifts to this noble fund. The good news of such a fund being set on foot has, doubtless, ere now waked up hope in the heart of many a sufferer. Will not the men of the Nelson Province do their best not to let that hope dwindle into the "hope deferred that maketh the heart sick." Nelson Committee. — His Honor the Superintendent, Rev. G. H. Johnston, Capt. Rough, Dr. Irvine. Messrs. Greenfield, Symons, Hunter Brown and Burn, Speaker. — Mr. David Monro, Speaker of the House of Representatives in New Zealand, is to he knighted under letters patent. Resident Magistrate's Court. — This morning, George Browning, on the information of Constable Fitzgerald, was fined lO.s. per head, for allowing three head of cuttle to ivauder in the streets. John Jenkins, charged by Constable Flatt, with allowing his horse to wander, was fined 10s. aud costs. Henry Paap, charged by Constable Shore, with allowing his horse to be at large, was lined 10s. and costs. A. Case. — Maria Godhears v.* Samuel Goddard — claim, £2 3s. Cd., for maintenance of a child, was dismissed, on the ground that, plaintiffhad not taken out the summons in the name of her husband. It was stated that the defendant was willing to pay the money.

A patriotic Warden. — An amusing discussion took place in the Provincial Council, on Thursday evening last, ou the item £20 set down for the Collingwood Gold-fieids. It appeared that the sum was for payment of the Warden, who according to Mr. Gibbs, discharged the duties of Resident Magistrate, Customs Collector, Postmaster, Collector of sums for Miners' Rights, aud rent from leases. Such multifarious duties required a considerable amount of travelling ; and the Wardenhouse wanted some forage now and then. To those members who thought the salary a ridiculously small one The Provincial Secretary, replied that £20 was the sum fixed by the individual himself, and he saw no use in adding to the sum. Mr. Gibbs took up the cudjels manfully for Collingwood, saying, last year there were 100 diggers there, and £207 was collected by Miners' Rights. The discussiou resulted in raising the amount for the Collingwood multi-official, disinterested patriot from £20 to £50. The late Earthquake. — We {Marlborough Press) observe that the _N T elson Colonist, in noticing the earthquake which occurred on the 29th ult., and its effects in Nelson and Wellington, adds, "it was also experienced with eonsidreable force in Picton, where it caused the fall of a store." This last part of the paragraph is news to the people of Picton, as the only damage we ever heard of was a slight shock to the nervous system of a select few who felt it rather queer, but by no means appalling. Execution of Stack, the Murderer. — James Stack, the murderer of Mrs. Fiunigan and her three sons, was executed at the gaol, Mount Eden, Auckland, on the 7th of April, without making any public confession. He was attended by Father M'Donald. On retiring from the yard Mr. Tuckuell, the Sheriff, put the question plainly — "Has Stack confessed his crime to you ?" The reply was — "I am a Minister of God, and cannot answer your question. Stack is in the hands of God."