The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1867. NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 20, 24 January 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1867. NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, January 23. The Speaker took the chair at five o'clock p.m. The following members were present : — The Provincial Secretary, Provincial Solicitor, Messrs. Curtis, C. Kelling, Kingdon, Gibbs, Thompson, Akersten, Burn, Simmonds, M'Mahou, Parker, and Baigent. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Burn brought up the reply of the Committee appointed, to reply to the Superintendent's address, and moved it be read. It was as follows : — The Select Committee appointed to prepare a reply to his Honor the Superintendent's speech, beg to recommend the following : — The Provincial Council of the Province of Nelson accept your Honor's reasons for our being summoned at this inconvenient season as of a fully satisfactory character. At your Honor's announced intention of departure from this province, we desire to place on record the thanks of the Council for the vigorous action taken by your Honor in giving effect to the expressed wishes of the Council, as well as in anticipating its wishes on those various and difficult emergencies which have arisen during your Honor's short term of office. But we cannot avoid expressing our dissent from your Honor's opinion of the character and value of the land in this province, which it has been proposed to offer in payment for a railway to the West Coast. Of the adequacy of the proposed payment, which, in pursuance of the resolutions passed by the Council, the Superintendent of the province is empowered, by Act of the General Assembly, to offer, the Council sees no reason to alter its opinion ; and, therefore, any steps taken by your Honor to place fairly before capitalists and the public generally thetrue nature and magnitude of that inducement, will meet with the most thorough approbation of the Council. The importance of the development of the goldfields of the province, especially that at the Buller, cannot be over-rated, and we look with confidence to well-devised efforts in this direction for exercising a most material and beneficial influence on the prosperity of the province. Robert Burn, Chairman. Council Chamber, Nelson, January 23, 1867. The Provincial Secretary laid on the table the plan of the new hospital. Mr. Curtis asked the Provincial Secretary, whether the rates of pilotage, and other port and harbor charges are uniform for all vessels entering the Port of Nelson, or whether a reduction is made in favor of any particular company or individuals. His reason for asking was that a reduction had been made in favor of one particular company, causing a loss to the province of from £700 to £1000 a year. The N.Z. Company paid the full amount of pilotage, and it appeared irregular that one company should be exempted. The Provincial Secretary replied that the reduction was made ia 1863, when the Harbor Master and pilot received all the fees, and a fixed salary. It was customary to make reductions in favor of vessels constantly trading to the port. The exemption was in accordance with the harbor regulations, and it was competent for any other company to avail themselves of the same advantage. Mr. Curtis asked the Provincial Secretai'y, If the Government have received any intimation of the intention of his Excellency the Governor to visit this province, and if so "what steps they propose to take for his reception and accommodation. The Provincial Secretary said the Government had received no information whatever. Mr. Curtis moved that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish a return showing the amount raised by the Provincial Grovernment by way of loan during the year 1866, under authority of Waterworks Loan Act, or otherwise, with the rate and amount of interest paid or agreed to be paid thereon during the same period. Also a return showing the am ount of funds of all kinds, whether the proceeds of loans or otherwise, to the credit of the Provincial Government at the Union Bank of Australia, on the last day of each month from the 31st of December, 1865, to the 31st of December, 1866, both inclusive ; with the rate aod amount of interest received by the Government upon the same. He wished to know the amount of , money that had lain idle in the hands of the Provincial Government, if any had so

remained. It was desirable to know the actual facts of the case, and to what extent the Province had suffered from loss of interest. Mr. Gibbs seconded the motion. Mr. Parker said there was a clause in the Waterworks Loan Act providing that the money should be invested at the option of the Government. It was desirable that all, correspondence should be furnished that had taken place between the Provincial and General Government. He moved an amendment to this effect. Mr. M'Mahon seconded. The motion as amended passed. Mr. Burn moved that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place the sum of £350 ou the Supplementary Estimates, for the celebratiou in town and country of the 25th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Settlement of Nelson. He said the celebration of the Anniversary was a most desirable thing, and as the country people could not come to town, at this season, some part of the money would be required for them. Mr. M'Mahon seconded. Mr. Burn explained that £200 would be for the town, and £50 for each of the country districts of Motueka, Waimea South and West, and Riwaka. Mr. Parker moved that a committee of three be appointed to report to the Council in what manner the money should be distributed, to consist of Messrs. Burn, Baigent, and Parker. Mi 1 . Kingdon seconded. Mr. Simmonds objected to the expenditure of public money, unless he was informed of the way in which it was to be spent. If the people of Nelson wanted amusements of th's kind let them put their hands into their pockets and pay for it. If this was established as a precedent, other applications would be made. The motion was negatived on the voices. A division was called for, which resulted as follows : — Ayes, 9. Noes, 4. Motioa carried. The Provincial Solicitor moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Auctioneers' Licensing Act. He showed that circumstances had arisen on the Goldfields rendering legislation on this subjeotnecessary. It provided that no license 1 issued under the third section of the said recited Act, shall authorise any person to act as Auctioneer within the limits of any proclaimed Gold-field in the Province of Nelson, nor within three miles of the boundary thereof. It authorises the Superintendent to appoint a person to issue licenses on the Gold-fields. The fees are to be paid to the Provincial Treasurer. Mr. Baigent seconded the motion, and it passed. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor the Bill was read a first time. The Provincial Solicitor obtained leave , to bring in a Bill to provide for the issuing of Publican's Licenses on the. Gold-fields. This Bill as well as the other had been prepared at the request of Mr. Kynnersley. and to supply a defect in the new Gold-fields Act. The Commissioner had been issuing licenses pro tern, and it was desirable to give him the power to do so permanently. It authorises the Commissioner, or any person authorised by the Superintendent for that purpose, to issue licenses. When the license shall be granted for one year, the fee shall be £30, and when granted for six months, £17. Licenses may be transferred by the Commissioner, or other person authorised to issue the same. The Provincial Secretary moved the first reading of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill. The items are as follows : South-West Gold-fields Department £3000 0 0 West Coast Hoads ... 6000 0 0 Railway Report ... 1000 0 0 Bridges — Maintenance, Tarring, &c. 250 O 0 Roads into Dovedale ... 800 0 0 Road— Wai-iti to Stanley Brook 47 6 0 | East Takaka Road, and repairing road over ranges ... 150 0 0 Roadway & Embankment Wairoa river 54 13 6 Lockup & Constable's Rooms, Amuri 6 0 0 Melbourne, Paris, & Bombay Exhibtn. 100 0 0 Bonus to Mr. Austin ... 200 0 0 Maungatapu Murders ... 1811 0 0 Queen's Warehouse, Nelson ... 510 0 0 Clearing Telegraph Line ... 202 1 0 Public Baths ... 407 0 0 Gaol— Alteration, and enlargement 400 0 0 Total 15.018 0 7 The motion was seconded by Mr. Burn, carried, and the Bill was read a first time. The Provincial Solicitor moved that this Council is of opinion that sections No. 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 51, of the Gold-fields Act, 1866, relating to agricultural leases, should be at once brought into operation in this province,

and that the Superintendent be requested to take the necessary steps for that purpose. The motion was seconded by Mr. Kingdon and carried. At a quarter to 7, the Council adjourned till 5, this evening.