RAILWAY AMENDMENT ACT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 110, 12 May 1869, Page 2

RAILWAY AMENDMENT ACT.

Mr. Wastney moved, That his Honor the Superintendent he respectfully requested to furnish this Council with the reasons why three months -were allowed to elapse after the passing of the " Railway Amendment Act" in the General Assembly, before the necessary, instructions were forwarded to Mr. John Morrison, the Provincial Agent in England, to enable him to lay this very important question before the capitalists in that country. Motion agreed to. PETITION OF THOMAS CARTER. Mr. Wigley moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to take into consideration the Petition of Thomas Carter and other Leaseholders under the •' Crown Lands (Nelson) Leasing Act, 1867;" such Committee to consist of Mr. Edwards, Mr. E. K lling, Mr. Eeid, Mr. Redwood, Mr. Speaker, the Provincial Secretary, and the mover. On the motion of Mr. Parker, the debate was adjourned. PETITION OF J C. 11. KARSTEX. Dr. Irvine moved, That a Select Committee he appointed to take into consideration the Petition of J. C. M. Karsten; such Committee to consist of the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Luckie, Mr. Edwards, and the mover. Motion negatived, on the ground that the same petition had been presented to, and rejected by, the Council in its last session. COMPENSATION TO MK. LIGHTBAND. Mr. Donne moved, That the Committee appointed to consider the claim of Mr. Lightband be discharged. Mr. M'Dowell opposed the motion, and thought that Mr. Donne's motive in introducing it was simply to create delay. Motion negatived. ESTIMATES. Adjourned debate on motion of Provincial Secretary, viz , That the Council resolve itself into Committee on the Estimates. Mr Luckie wi-hed to explain that the reason he had moved the adjournment was that a number of raembprs -were desirous of discussing the items so that less time might be taken tip in the Council. The Provincial Secretary might take exception to such a course and say that any arguments of his might be thrown away upon men who had already made up their minds, but he did not consider this Avould be the case, and that they would be found amenable to reason. Hitherto* the fault of our several Governments had been that their schemes were too large for our requirements. For instance there was the Railway, the Dock, and the Ho-pital^ Mr Kelling hoped that the principle laid down by the Superintendent of reducing the number of officers and not the amount of salaries would be adopteil by the Council. He thought Mr Luckie's remarks with regard to the railway came from him with a very bad grace, as he of all other men was the one who had placed e*ery possible obstruction in the way of its completion. Mr Simmonds thought that Mr Blackett's salary had been put down at a high figure in order that it might be ust-d as a fulcrum to raise the Superintendent's salary to £800. He th-'ught it was the duty of the Council to clip the salaries of all officers to the lowest point that could be done without inflicting injustice. The Provincial Secretary wished to make a few remarks on what had fallen from hon. members. Objections had been raised to the sum of £5000 for the Brunner Coal Mine being placed to the account of the S-.uth "West Gold Fields, but it shou'd be remembered that the inhabitants of that part claimed the revenues th:»t were derived from it. Hon. members, in finding fault with the Government for over-estimating the revenue for last year, should not forget that they were not blameless, as their votes had exceeded the Government estimates bv £20,000. He had been asked why the expenditure for the current year exceeded that of 1867 ; the reason was that less money had then been voted for the South West Gold Fields. He thought it was most unfair that members should meet outside and make up their minds as to how they would vote on the Estimates, without hearing what was to be said on the other side. It was unfair of Mr. Luckie, to impute all the blame of the Hospital to the present Superintendent, as he must be perfectly aware that it was ordered to be proceeded with during Mr Saunders' term of office. The Council then went into Committee on the Estimates, Mr. Edwards in the. chair. EXECUTIVE. On the item, "Superintendent, £600," being put, Mr. Simmonds moved as an amendment that £500 be substituted for £600. Amendment lost. The original item was then put and carried "Provincial Secretary, £400." Mr. F. Eelling- moved th^t after the words Provincial Secretary, the words "and Commissioner of Crown Lands, six months," be inserted, as he considered the Provincial Secretary might do the work of both departments. The Speaker said that as a member <>f the Waste Lands Board, he had an opportunity of judging what the Commissioner's duties were, and he was perfectly certain that it was impossible that one man could do the work of Provincial Secretary and Commissioner. The amendment was then put and carried by 14 to 8. The following items were passed without amendment: Clerk, £250; Messenger and Office Keeper, £100; Contingencies. £35; Provincial Solicitor, £250; Provincial Treasurer, £150; Clerical Assistance, £50;' Stationery, &c, £10. LAND AND PUBLIC WORKS. Commissioner of Crown Lands, £400. On the motion of Mr. F. Kelling, the following amendment was carried: Commissioner of Crown Lands (six months), £200. The items, Clerk, £100; Clerical Assistance, £50; Stationery, £50; Chief Surveyor, including expensss (six months'), £212 10s.; Consulting Surveyor (six months^ £87 lbs.; Surveyor, including expenses, £375; Draughtsman, £250; Labor, &c, £850; were passed without amendment. On the item, "Provincial Engineer, including expenses, £650," being put, the following amendment, on tho motion of Mr. Gibbs, was agreed to: Provin-

] cial Engineer, £450. The item, Temporary Assistance, £75, was struck out on the motion of Mr. Gibbs. Contingencies, £25. was amended to Contingencies, £100. The Speaker then resumed the Chair, and Mr. Edwards having reported progress, the Couucil adjourned until to-dav, at 5 o'clock.