PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 118, 20 May 1868, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, May 19. The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock. Present, all the members except Messrs Baigent and H. Redwood. The Speaker read a letter received from the Colonial Secretary, acknowledging the receipt of addresses from the Council to her Majesty and H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. The Provincial Secretary laid on the table a letter addressed to his Honor the Superintendent by Mr Warden Broad, conveying the high sense entertained by a large number ofthe inhabitants of Brighton of the judicious manner in which Mr Commissioner Kynnersley had acted with reference to the disturbances at Addison's Flat. Mr Home presented a petition from the licensed vietuallers of Charleston, praying for an enquiry with regard to the mode of carrying out the law as to publicans' licenses.' The Provincial Secretary laid on the table a petition addressed to his Honor the Superintendent by the inhabitants of Brighton, and praying for the continuance of a grant to the Brighton Hospital. Mr Donne presented a petition from Mr J. R. Eraser, which was laid on the table. Mr Sparrow presented a petition from the settlers and diggers of the Takaka and Collingwood Districts, urging the necessity of increased road accommodation between the head waters of the Wai-ngaro, Anatoki, and Aorere Rivers. Mr Donne having ..again withdrawn his resolution with reference to the reduction of the gold duty, called the attention of the Speaker to the . presence of strangers in the House, and the reporters immediately withdrew. We afe informed that the Provincial Solicitor then moved the suspension of Standing Order No. 135, (which enables the Speaker, on the representation of any member of the Council, to order ' strangers' to withdraw),, wbich was seconded by Mr Pitt. Mr Donne opposed the motion at'considerable length, complaining' that the Press had lately refused to report him, and also that marks of approbation and disapprobation had, froni time to time, proceeded from the reporters' table. He also referred,

f to certain remarks made to him by members of the Press outside the House to the effect that, in consequence of his ' impertinent ' conduct on Thursday night, no reports of his speeches would henceforth appear, and he concluded, amidst universal laughter, by protesting against the tyranny of the Press, and by calling upon the Council also to protest against any coercion of the dearly bought privileges of Parliamentary representation. Mr Home most ably defended the members of the Press from the charges made against them by Mr Donne, administering a very severe castigation to that gentleman, and imputing the action taken by him to personal pique. Several other honorable members also spoke decidedly in support of the motion, Mr Pitt especially animadverting upon the weak pomposity and vain egotism habitually displayed by Mr Donne, and the motion was ultimately carried unanimously on the voices. The reporters then re-entered the Council Chamber. Mr Simmonds' motion for the recommittal of the Cattle Trespass Bill, in order to make additions to Clause 3 aud 7, was, after some discussion, withdrawn, under the expectation that the Provincial Secretary would introduce some clause which would meet the cases in point. The report of the Select Committee on the proposed alteration of the road over the Moutere Hills having been read, Mr C. Kelling moved for a grant of £650 for that purpose, which was assented to. The Provincial Secretary moved the postponement of the consideration ofthe Estimates in committee until to-morrow, in expectation that the report of the Financial Reform Committee would be brought up by that time, wliich, after expostulatory remarks from Mr Home, was carried. Mr Simmonds' motion that the Chief Surveyor . be instructed to color the trunk hnes of road upon the large map in the Council Chamber, and also to mark the names and sites of villages, bridges, and other places, so as to render the said map more complete and useful to the Council, was carried. The third reading of the Cattle Trespass Acfi was postponed, and the Cattle Slaughtering: Bill having been read a third time and passed, the consideration in committee of the Country Roads Bill was postponed until the report of the Select Committee had been brought up. The Houre then adjourned at 25 minutes to 8 o'clock until 5 o'clock to-day.