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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 144, 20 June 1868, Page 2

The Provincial Council met this morning, at 11 o'clock. Mr Donne commenced the proceedings by bestowing a parting benison upon the Press, in the form of a^complaint as to a report which appeared this) morning in the Examiner, respecting the item, ' Commission on Provincial Expenditure,' stated to have been placed on the Supplementary Estimates at Mr Donne's instance, r which he described as unjust to himself. He then went on to allude to some remarks which had appeared in this journal, expressing: a hope that the Council would not allow any interested motives to influence them in their decision", and concluded by abusiug the Press, and accusing its members of dishonesty and want of truthfulness. The Provincial Solicitor said that the item had been placed on the Supplementary Estimates, on account of a motion which Mr Donne had proposed, and the Council had adopted, to have a Commission to enquire into the expenditure on the West Coast; on the resumption of the adjourned debate, that no arrangements should be entered into with any agent or agents, on behalf of the province, for the Nelson, Cobden, and Westport Railway, Mr Smith withdrew his motion that £1000 be made the extent of cost incurred. Mr C. Selling, seconded by Mr Bentley, then • moved that the blank be filled up with £4000, which was carried by 14 to 7. On the motion of Mr Wastney, the Estimates were recommitted, and in the Provincial Council Department, the item 30s per diem to members residing above 50 miles from Nelson was struck out, and the original amount, 203,..retained. Mr Gibbs's motion seconded, of course, by Mr Donne, for a recommittal of the Estimates to obtain the reduction of the Provincial Secretary's,

Chief Surveyor's and Provincial Engineer's salaries, as well as those of the Commissioner, Resident Magistrate, &c, on the Southwest Goldfields, &c, was negatived decisively on the voices. Mr Donne's motion, seconded pro forma by Mr Parker, that the next annual Session of the Provincial Council be held at WVstport, was uuanimously negatived. The hon. member spoke for three quarters of a hour on this motion, amidst the most undisguised marks of disgust and ridicule on the part of his confreres, placards beiug exhibited in various parts of the Chamber, bearing the words ' Shut up,' ' Lunatic Asylum,' &c, and whilst enumerating the benefit, which would arise from the adoption of the motion, he again indulged in further personal rei marks with reference to the Press, concluding with calling the attention of the Speaker to the fact that ' the Reporter of the Colonist was looking at him in a most barefaced way,' an announcement which convulsed the House. Mr Pitt's motion that a sum of £40 should be devoted to the erection of a tombstone, &c, over the grave of the late Mr George White, Clerk of the Council, was carried, and another motion by Mr Gibbs, that the Dry Dock should not be commenced until it be ascertained whether the revenue is sufficient to allow of its being carried on without retarding other public works, was lost, on division by 11 to 6. The House then adjourned at a quarter past 1 o'clock, until 3 this afternoon, when the Appropriation Bill will be sent down as a Message, and this having been passed, the Council will then be prorogued. Mr Inspector Shallcrass has shown us a very clever counterfeit coin, purporting to be a five-shilling piece, which came into his possession yesterday, and requests us to warn the public against taking these pieces in exchange, as there is some reason to believe that there are others of the same description in circulation. The Right Rev. Bishop Suter rettfrned yesterday to Nelson in the John Penn, after a visit of some length to Canterbury and the West Coast. * Election of members of Local Committees of Education took place at Upper Moutere, Riwaka, and Suburban North on Saturday last. At Upper Moutere, Messrs Simous and Anthony were elected in the room of Messrs Drummond and Bensemann, whose term of office had expired, Mr C. Kelliog being re-slected. Mrßarnicoat was afterwards elected as representative of the committee at the Central Board. At Riwaka, the Rev W. Sherriff", and Messrs D. Goodall, A, Drumraond and W. Nicol were elected, and at Suburban North, Messrs J. Mack ay and D. Slater were re-elected as members of the committee, Mr J. M. Pierson being elected in the place of Mr W. Wastney. The preliminaries have been taken for the erection of a new church for the Wesleyan body in Dunedin. The site selected is in Stuart-steet, at the corner of Smith-street, where they have purchased a piece of land which is very well adapted for such a purpose, having extensive frontage. In aid of the fund a soiree was held in the present place of worship, in Dowling-street, on the evening of the 2nd inst., which was very successful, the place being crowded. Before the close of the meeting a collection for the building fund was made, and close on £300 gathered. It is not yet decided what style of building is to be erected. A Minnesota physician has the unpleasant habit of knocking out two panes of glass and hitching his horse to the sash when he does not find a hitching-post. If he gets rid of his patients' internal pains as summarily, he will do.