The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1868. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 114, 15 May 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1868. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, May 14. The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock. Present, all the members, except Mr Thompson. Mr C. Kelling brought up the report of the Select Committee on the Moutere Road, which was read an i laid on the table, Mr Burn's motion, seconded by Mr Kingdon, that the Speaker, in accepting the resignation of Captain Rom;h, as a member of the Hospital Committee, be instructed to convey to him the thanks of the Council for his valuable services in that capacity, was carried. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary, the consideration of the Estimates in committee was postponed until Tuesday next. Mr J. V. Smith's motion that in the opinion of the Council all Crown Lands in the South West Goldfields for sale should be exposed by public auction in the town of Westport, and also an amendment by Mr Donne, seconded by Mr Home, to the effect that these sales should take place in the township of the district in which the land is situated, were both lost, the Provincial Solicitor stating that land had been sold at Cobden, but that this procedure had been found to be very incouvenieut, aud involved unwarrantable expense, whilst persons on the West Coast, who wished to buy land there, could inspect it on the spot, and instruct their agents in Nelson to bid for it. Tho motion standing in Mr Wastney's name for a return of the names of all persons receiving charitable aid from the Government since the Ist June, 1867, and the amounts received by each, lapsed through the absence of the mover. Mr Home, in moving that his Honor the Super • intendent be requested to use his best endeavors to induce the Government at Wellington to authorise the sitting of a Court of Appeal at Charleston, to hear appeals from the Wardens, ■aid that litigants in such cases had now to go to Westport, and in consequence had frequently to submit to considerable loss. The motion, which was seconded by Mr Beitt, was carried. The debate on Mr Home's motion that the Council urge upon the Superintendent the absolute necessity of a continuance of the Government subsidy to the Brighton Hospital, on which almost every member spoke, occupied the Council for upwards of two hours and a quarter, the statements made and quoted from the Hospital Report by the mover being at variance with those made by Mr Commissioner Kynnersley, and quoted by ihe Government. Ultimately, an amendment by Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Kingdon, substituting the words • all necessary aid' for * the Government subsidy,' was carried without discussion. In reply to a question from Mr. Home, the Provincial Secretary stated that the Government did not intend to pay the sum of £100, voted last session, for the finding a practical road to the Little Grey, the claim having been referred to Mr Commissioner Kynnersley, who had reported against it. Mr Donne's motion for a grant of £200 for educational purposes, to be placed at the disposal of the Central Board of Education, to be applied by them to tlie of schools at Charleston and Brighton was withdrawn, .it having been shown by the testimony of tv»o members of the Central Board, Messrs. Burn and Wastney, that such action was quite unnecessary and uncalled f r. Mr. Smith's motion for a grant of £150 to assist the inhabitants of Westport in forming a Public Library and Mechanic's Institute there, was modified, an amendment by the Provincial Solicitor, substituting the sum of £200, to assist the inhabitants of the West Coast in erecting Public Libraries and Mechanics' Institutes, having been assented to. A motion by Mr Donne for a grant of £900, to throw open the Nile Bridge, on the outskirts of. Charleston, lapsed through the absence of the mover. Mr Burn withdrew his resolution in reference to the Brunner Coal Mine, asserting the expediency of granting no lease of the Mine, unless under conditions of surrender at the end of three * years, as an inducement to any company proposing to construct the Railway to the West Coast, under the anticipation that the Railway Committee will embody the resolution in their report. Mr White, for Mr Thompson, moved for a select committee to consider and report upon the petition of Mr Thomas Andrews, which was assented to. ' Mr Wastney's motion for a select committee to prepare and bring in a bill on the 19th inst, to consolidate and amend the laws relating to country roads, was opposed by the Provincial Solicitor, as not being within the powers of the Council, the Roads Bill having been legalised by the General Assembly. Mr Wastney having stated, however that his object was to obtain a definite expression of opinion on the part of the Council on the subject, the motion was carried. Mr Dreyer moved for a select committee to consider and report upon the petition of the inhabitant!, of the Upper Grey District; praying for the cancelling of certain title deeds, which was carried. Mr Baigent's motion for a grant of £158 towards clearing and improving the trunk road from Pigeon Valley to Dovedale, was carried. , The motion by Mr Sparrow for a select committee to take into consideration the memorial of the Takaka settlers, for the introduction of an act for the suppression of Scotch thistles in that district, was opposed by Messrs Parker t and Wastney as being futile and impracticable. Mr White's motion for a grant of £600 for the completion of the drayroad to connect the districts of Motueka, -Stanley-brook, and Dovedale with the Waimeas, was, with, the permission pf the House, postponed until Wednesday 'next. Several notices of motion were given, and the Council adjourned at half-past 9 until 11 this morning. :