The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1868. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 129, 3 June 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1868. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, June 2. The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock. All the members were present. Two messages, Nos. 6 and 7, were received' from his Honor the Superintendent: — No. 6 in reference to a resolution of* the Council, that all public works shall be performed by public contract, and enclosing a memorandum from the Provincial Engineer, recommending that the resolution be amended to a certain extent by adding the words 'except in cases of great emergency, or where, for well assigned reasons, it is really and clearly advisable;' No. 7 enclosing copies of correspondence between the lion, the Colonial Secretary and his Honor the Superintendent dated. Ist June, with reference to the payment of the Nelson Debentures, which become due on the Ist of July next. Sir Gibbs presented a petition from Mr James Jack, of Richmond Hill, Massacre Bay, praying for compensation for the jumping of his claim, wbich was read and laid on the table. The Provincial Secretary then moved the Order ot the Day — the further consideration of the Estimates in Committee, but in deference to the expressed wish of tbe House, he stated his readiness to withdraw bis motion, and thus allow the Council to go on with the first motion on the notice paper. Mr Wastney then moved tbat, as in the BepoTt of Mr Wrigg, and in the evidence given by Lim before the Committee appointed for that purpose, he 6tates distinctly that it is absolutely essential to the success of the railway scheme that tbe Brunner Coal Mine should be available for any company undertaking the construction of a Railway from Nelson t to Cobden and Westport, this Council urgently requests the Waste Lands Board to refrain from disposing in any way of that mine, until the negotiations for that work are determined, and said that he considered it highly desirable that the Council Bhould express a decided opinion on the subject, believing that it would be premature to lease the mine before the railway question is disposed of. He quoted Mr Wrigg's Report and evidence in support of his views. The motion was seconded by Mr E. Kelling, and opposed by Mr Dreyer, who denounced such a motion, if carried, as illegal, injurious to the West Coast, and ruinous to the connection between it and Nelsson. Mr Burn then moved as an amendment that the following words be inserted after the word J requests '— -' that such arrangements only should be made by the Waste Lands Board for the working of the said mine as would not prevent it becoming a portion of the estate of the Railway Company,' observing that as the land itself alone would not offer sufficient inducement to any company to undertake the construction of the railway, he thought that every possible encouragement from mineral products should be held out. Mr Bentley seconded the motion, and a long debate ensued, which was terminated by Mr Gibbs, moving that the debate be adjourned until this evening, which waa seconded by Mr Pitt, and carried by 13 to 11. The Council then went into committee on the Estimates, and the following votes were passed: — Warden of the Collingwood Goldfields 50/. (an amendment by Mr Wastney that the item be increased to loot, being lost) with contingencies £50?. Fuel for the Government Buildings, 70J. ; Printing and Advertising, 1000, (Mr Donne's amendment that the item be reduced to 750/. being lost); expenses of Beturning Officera, 50/. ; hire of rooms for Magistrates, 32/.; Charitable Aid, 1000/., Mr Donne's proposed reduction to 500/. being lost, and Mr Akersten withdrawing his amendment for its increase to 1200/. in compliance with the wish of the House -, Interest on Debentures, 2,356/. 12s. IOd.; Sinking Fund on Provincial Loan, 860/. ; Repayment of portion of Education Loan, 150/.; Education, 6600/., Mr Donne's amendment that it be increased to 6850/. having been withdrawn on explanation ; Education, Collection of Rates, 125/.; Nelson Institute Library, 50/..; Nelson Museum, 50/.; Public Libraries, Country Districts (to meet equivalent subscriptions), 300/.; Provincial Agricultural Association, 100/.; Introduction of useful Animals. 300/.; Insurance on Government Buildings, 100/.; Supreme Court Witnesses, 200/.; ' Steam Service, Blind Bay, 600/., passed after some opposition from, Mr Donne ;* Volunteers, 350/, Mr Gibbs having moved that the item be struck out, and Mr F. Kelling that it be reduced to 250/. The original item was supported by Messra Pitt and Burn, and carried by a majority of 15 to 8 ; Fire Brigade, 50/., this item was increased on the proposition ofthe Provincial Secretary, to 100/.; Miscellaneous 5000/., Mr Gibbs's amendment that this item be reduced to 1000/. having been lost after considerable discussion, by 18 to 5. On the department of Public Works and Purposes, the item 'Dry Dock, Nelson Harbor, 17,000/.,' was postponed until the Report of the Harbor Committee be brought up, and the Correspondence with the General Government on the payment of the Nelson Debentures, laid on the table that evening, be printed. Government Buildings, including construction of Committee Room, Grand Jury Room, &c, 600/. ; additions, &c, tothe Gaol, 100/. The item 'Government Wharf, repairs and improvements of Harbor' was postponed. Queen's Warehouse, 100/. j Hob-

pital, 2,000/.; Hospital Furniture, &c, 850/.; Buildings for Lunatics and Poor, 275/.; Footbridge, Maitai Valley, 79/.; Maitai Riverbanks—protection of roads and bridges, 300/. Maitai River-banks, to meet equivalent subscriptions, 50/,. was increased to 100/. on the amendment of Mr Kingdon ; Haven Road and Waimea Koad to Gardiner's Ford, 500/.; road to Quarantine Ground, Stoke, 120/.; Pounds — Stoke and Moutere, 60/ ; Pelorus Koad — repairs, 150/.; Bridges — maintenance, 40. /. ; Road into Pigeon Valley by Motueka Valley, 350/., increased on the amendment of the Provincial Secretary to 600/.; Roads into Dovedale, Baton, &c, 350/.; Roads between Wai-iti, Motueka-valley, Motupiko, Tadmor, and Wangapeka, 400/.; Horse track, Waiwero to Moutere, 100/.; road to Heaphy — repairs, 247/.; Riwaka Trunk Road improvement, 100/.; Collingwood Suburban Koad 250/.; road — Clifton to Motupipi, 35/. ; Waimea Bridge, 2,329/.; Cartbridge, Wai-iti, 1,400/. The House then resumed, and several notices of motion having been given, the Council adjourned at 10 minutes past 10 until 5 o'clock this evening.