PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 135, 10 June 1868, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, June 9. The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock. All the members were present except Mr Baigent. In reply to a question from Mr Simmonds, the Provincial Secretary stated that the Supplementary Estimates would be brought down this evening. Mr Pitt brought up the report of the select committee appointed to consider the petition of Mr William White, which stated that it was of opinion, from the intricacy of the case between Mr White and the Provincial Government, the Council is not an adequate tribunal to decide upon it, and recommend that the case be referred to arbitration. Two messages were then announced from his Honor the Superintendent, which were read by the Speaker. Message No. 8 transmitted, in compliance with the request of the memorialists, a memorial from certain inhabitants of Charleston, praying that the lands in that township may be withdrawn from the Goldfields and sold. Message No. 9 transmitted for the consideration of the Provincial Council a copy of a resolution agreed to by the Waste Lands Board in reference to a resolution passed by the Council on the 3rd instant, relative to the leasing of the Brunner Coal Mine. The enclosure stated that in the opinion of the Waste Lands Board it 'was desirable that a conference should take place between the Provincial Council and the Board, for the fuller consideration of the course whfch should be taken in reference to the Brunner Coal Mine. Mr Dreyer's motion that the sum of £20,000 be placed on the Supplementary

Estimates for the purpose of forming a railroad from the Brunner Coalmine to the Port of Cobden, was lost on division by 18 to 4. The adjourned debate on Mr Donne's motion that it is the opinion of the Council that the Expenditure of the Public Funds on roads and other public works on the West Coast, should be under the immediate control and direction of an Engineer to be appointed for that purpose, was further adjourned until Thursday next. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, the Scab Bill was read a second time, and the Council having gone into Committee, Mr Burn in the chair, three clauses were passed, and the House then resumed. The Provincial Secretary moved the suspension of the Standing Orders to enable the Council to go into committee on the Superintendant's Message, No. 9, Mr Kingdon in the chair, which was assented to, and the Provincial Secretary then moved that Messrs Burn, Wastney, and Home be appointed to confer with the Waste Lands Board in reference to the course to be pursued in relation to the Brunner Coalmine, and stated that the Board would be ready to meet the confer- < ence at 1 1 o'clock this morning. Some objections having been taken to the constitution of the conference, it was eventually arranged, after some discussion, that such members of the Council as were so disposed should confer with the Board. Mr Beitt asked the Provincial Secretary whether the Government had paid out of the public funds any sum to the Nelson Jockey Club, and for what object such payment had been made? The Provincial Secretary stated, in reply, that the Government had contributed £100 from the Miscellaneous Fund for the purpose alluded to. When H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh was expected to visit this province, a deputation from the Turf Club waited on the Government, and asked for some supplementary aid towards the forthcoming Race Meeting. The Government replied that a certain sum would be granted to the Reception Committee, on the understanding that some portion of it should be applied to the Races, as forming an essential part of the public amusements to be provided for the occasion ; and when it was ascertained that the Duke would not come, the Government had thought it only fair, considering that horses had been brought from the neighboring provinces in the expectation of large stakes, to contribute £100 to the fund. Mr Akersten then moved that the Council resolve itself into committee to consider the Superintendent's Message No. 6, Mr Redwood in the chair, which was carried, and on the House going into committee, Mr Akersten moved * that the £12,000 referred to in his Honor's Message be appropriated for the public works of this province.' A long and very animated debate ensued, which extended over two hours, and in which the Speaker, the Provincial Solicitor, the Provincial Secretary, Messrs Home, Parker, ' Wastney, Gibbs, Pitt, Macmahon, Akersten, Burn^ Donne, Simmonds, Kingdon, and F. Kelling took part. The motion was lost on division by 12 to 11, and an amendment, proposed by Mr Parker, that 'In the opinion of this committee it is inexpedient to appropriate to other uses any moneys set apart for the liquidation of the Provincial Debentures,' was carried by the same majority j the Provincial Solicitor, Provincial Secretary, and Messrs Pitt, C. Kelling, Kingdon, Donne, F. Kelling, White, Bentley, Akersten and Burn voting with the minority in both divisions, and the Speaker, with Messrs Gibbs, Sparrow, Dreyer, Wigley, Thompson, Home, Beitt, Simmonds, Parker, Macmahon, and Wastney, with both majorities j Messrs Baigent and Smith being absent. Mr Akersten presented a memorial, very influentially signed, from certain merchants &c. of Nelson, praying that the Council wiil not separate without making soma provision by which vessels visiting this port may be repaired, when necessity shall arise. The petition was read and laid on the table, and several notices of motion having been given, the Council adjourned at 9 o'clock until 5 o'clock this evening.