PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 105, 6 May 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, May 5. The Speaker took the chair at five o'clock. Present: — All the members but Messrs. Thompson. Home, and White. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL BILL. This Bill was read a second time without discussion, and on the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, the Council resolved itself into Committee on the Bill, Mr. Simmonds in the chair. Several amendments were proposed in the second clause, and also in the different items in the third clause, but ultimately the Bill was passed without amendments. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. Baigent moved, That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish a Return of all Correspondence between the Government . and the Chief Inspector of Scab under the " Nelson Scab Act,,' with the late Inspector at Fox-hill, since his appointment, such Return to be laid upon the : .table of this Council with as little delay as possible. Motion agreed to. . scab act. Mr. Baigent, moved, That his Honor the Superintendent' be requested to furnish the Council with a Return of the amount of all Fees, either as Head Money or Fines, received by the Government under the " Nelson Scab Act," for the last three years, stating the district from which such amounts have been received; also, the amounts paid to each Inspector as Salary? also, what has been paid for Travelling Expenses and Contingencies (if any) to each Inspector, and from what fund such monies have been paid; also, the Cost of the Dipping Tanks at Fox-hill, and whether let by public tender or otherwise. Motion agreed to. OVER PAYMENT TO THE PROVINCE. Mr Donne moved, That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish the Council with Copies of all Correspondence ■with the Colonial Government upon the subject of the alleged over-payment to the Province of the sum of £16,000 Motion agreed to. MOTUEKA CEMETERY. The Provincial Solicitor moved the third reading of the Motueka Cemetery Bill. A discussion arose as to the desirabilit}' of postponing the third reading of this Bill, in order to enable the Council to obtain the opinion of the inhabitants of Motueka. Mr. Simmonds moved as an amendment, That the Bill be read a third time on Tuesday week. Amendment agreed to. NILE bridge. Mr. Donne asked the Provincial Secretary Why it was that the Government had not carried out the resolution arrived at by the Council last year, to the effect, " That the Nile Bridge should be opened to the public free of charge, and that his Honour the Superintendent be requested to take the necessary steps to effect that object ?" Also, Whether it was the intention, aud if so, when, of the Government to give effect to that resolution ? The Provincial Secretary replied, That the Government had given effect to the resolution, and if ihe honorable member were to go away in the next steamer to the West Coast, he could go over the bridge without paying toll. COUNCIL SITTINGS. Mr. Macmahon moved, That it is desirable that this Council should meet for Public Business five days in each week during the session, viz., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Mr." Luckie thought it would be far better if they were to set to work in earnest when they were assembled, and get through the business before them. If there were. less talk and more common sense displayed, the session would soon be over without increasing the number of sitting days. The Provincial Solicitor considered, that having been in the Council for sixteen years he could form some opinion of what would be the consequence of carrying this resolution. He believed that it would only increase the expense without any more work being done. On a division, the motion was agreed to. Ayes 11. Noes 9. ROBERT CARTER'S PETITION. Mr. Burn moved, That the petition of Robert Carter be received by this Council. Motion agreed to. select committee. Mr. Simmonds moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to take into consideration the working of the Scab Act, with power to call for. persons and papers ; such Committee to consist of Messrs. Wastney, Baigent, Macmahon, Parker, F. Kelling, Wigley, Sparrow, Redwood, Thompson, and the mover. Mr. Luckie seconded the motion, in the hope that it wouldj lead to the abolition of the Scab Act. Motion agreed to. The Council adjourned at 9.45 p.m. notices op motion for this day. 1. Mr. Hennelly to move. That a sum of money be placed on the Estimates for providing Mooring Posts and Lines for Charleston Harbour. 2. Mr. M'Dowell to move, Thafa Select Committee be appointed to take into consideration Mr. Lightband's claim for Compensation, as laid before the Council last Session ; such Committee to consist of Mr. Hennelly, Dr. Irvine, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Luckie, Mr. Burn, and the mover. 3. Mr. M'Dowell to move, That the sum of £5,00 > be placed on the Supplementary Estimates, for the purpose of forming Protective Works and Wharf Accommodation at Westport. 4. The Provincial Solicitor to move the Becond reading of the Floating Dock Bill. 5. Mr. Wastney to move, That a Select Committee be appointed to take iuto consideration the present Country Roads Acts, with a view to their consolidation and amendment; such Committee to consist of the Speaker, the Provincial

I Solicitor, Mr. Parker, Mr. Baigent, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Redwood, Mr. C. Kelling, Mr. Sparrow, Mr. Wigley, and the mover. 6. Mr. Macmahon to move, That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place the sum of £700 on the Supplementary Estimates, for the purpose of establishing a Horse Ferry on the Motueka River, or making a Ford, if considered to be preferable. 7. Mr. Baigent to move, That a Select Committee be appointed to take into consideration, and report upon, the Petition of James Groves; such Committee to consist of the Provincial Secretary, Mr. F. Kelling, Mr. Macmahon, Dr. Irvine, Mr. Simmonds, Mr. Wastney, Mr. Wigley, Mr. Speaker, and the mover. 8. Mr F. Kelling to move, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider and report on Mr W. Jessop's Petition ; such Committee to consist of the Speaker, Mr. Macmahon, Mr. Sparrow, Mr. Edwards, and the mover. 9. Mr Donne to ask the Provincial Secretary, Whether his Honor the Superintendent has complied with a resolution of the Council arrived at last Session regarding the making Charleston a Port of Entry and Warehousing Port. 10. Dr Irvine to move, That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish the Council with a Return of the amount received as Water-rate in the City of Nelson during the year ending March 31, 1869, and the total extent of the property assessed, snowing how much of that property is now assessed at the four per cent, rate. 11. Mr. Donne to move, That the Council resolve itself into Committee for the purpose of considering the Standing Orders recommended by a Select Committee of last Session. 12. Mr. C. Kelling to move, That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to put on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £650, for the purpose of altering and lowering the Road over the hills from Waimea-west to Moutere, according to the survey and plans prepared by Mr. Thompson, and adopted by this Council during last Session. 13. Mr. Parker to move, That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish this Council . with a Copy of a Petition from the Electors and Inhabitants of the Nelson Southwest Gold Fields, praying "for the General Assembly to pass an Act to abolish the Provincial Government, so far as regards the present Nelson South-west Gold Fields, and constituting the said Nelson South-west Gold Fields into a County." 14. Mr. Macmahon to move, that his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to give instructions that a Bill be prepared and laid before the Council, (with as little delay as possible) for the purpose of facilitating the Drainage of Land.