LAST NIGHT'S,COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 130, 4 June 1870, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S, COUNCIL.

On the Council meeting, a message was received from his Honor the Superinten-. dent, containing the following telegram, from the Mayor of Greymouth :— To his .Honor the Superintendent, Nelson. At a public meeting of. an .influential, character held yesterday, it was" unanimously resolxed that immediate steps be taken for the purpose of obtaining annexation to the Province of Nelson of that portion of the County of Westland situated north of the Teremakau. I have been deputed to ascertain from you the feelings of your Government on the subject, and whether the movement will obtain your support. A committee will wait upon M£ Whitefoprd to furnish him with information, in order that he may fully represent to you the viewß of the meeting, One of the members for Westland in the General Assembly, Mr. Harrison, will bring the matter forward at the next sitting of the Assembly, supported by a memorial which , will meet with" the unanimous approval of the inhabitants of the district. '" Joseph Kilgouk, Mayor of Greymouth. Greymouth, June 2 1870. The Provincial Secretary said that the Executive Government Bill having received the Superintendent's assent, he had been requested by his Honor to state that in order fully to give effect to the spirit of the Act in question he had sent for Mr. Luckie, the mover of the third reading of the Bill, and asked him to recommend three gentlemen to form the responsible portion of the Executive Council. Mr. Luckie wished to state that he had during the day been sent for by the Superintendent who had expressed his expectation that he (Mr. Luckie) would himself accept a position in the Executive Council, but as he had never entertained views of such a nature he had respectfully declined. This, he might state, was after some conversation as to who should fill the different offices. It being understood that it was desirable that the present Solicitor and Secretary should continue to hold office, he then took the liberty of suggesting some re-arrangement of the offices of the Treasurer and SubTreasurer, so that the work of the Treasury Department might all be done within the walls of the Government Buildings. He also suggested that Mr. Shephard should be sent for as well as Mr. Reid, who he considered was well qualified to fill the office of representative of the Goldfields. The Superintendent, he understood, had since had an interview with those gentlemen, and something definite would no doubt be laid before the Council at its next meeting. Mr. Shephard would- state that the Superintendeat had sent for him at Mr. Luckie' s suggestion and . said that it would be acceptable to him, and he believed to the Council, if he would accept the office of Treasurer. To this he had consented upon the understanding that the accounts should not be placed in- his hands until the expiration of the present quarter. He would further state that the appointment of Mr. Reid as the representative of the Goldfields appeared to him most desirable, as he believed he would be a valuable addition to the strength of the Executive on the Goldfields where he was thoroughly respected, and with the wants of which he was well acquainted. Mr. Reid wished to explain the positions in which he stood, and also the condition on which he was willing to accept office. He had intimated to the Superintendent that he could only do so with much diffidence as to his qualifications, and with great deference to the superior claims of other Councillors. He had also taken the liberty of suggesting (he name of another member whom he should like to see in office, and one whose experience, earnestness, and faithfulness in representing the goldfields interests had long been known. The Superintendent, in reply, had said that, while appreciating the views stated, he bad accepted Mr Shepherd's recommendation of him, hoping it was in accordance with the wish of the Council, and in the hope that his presence in the Executive would be advantageous. He left the Superintendent undecided as to his acceptance of a seat in the Executive, but after consultation with some of the members, he consented to take office on the understanding that he should merely, in the words of tbe Act " represent the goldfields " in the Executive until the Estimates were passed or until the close of the session. Mr Donne wished to thank the Comptroller of the Goldfields — for such he supposed was the most appropriate title — for the delicate and kindly manner in which he had referred to his (Mr Donne's) merits. It was oue , thing to have office offered, and another ;

to accept it, and he might state that ha had never expected to have the offer made to him, but at the same time he thought that the compliment of consulting him as to the personnel of the Executive might have been paid" to him. The hew Ministry appeared to have been created entirely at the suggestion of the so-called leader of the Opposition, and not by the Superintendent who seemed to have adopted the suggestions" made to him in the most docile manner. He was willing to accept the new Executive as most able and trustworthy men, but he objected to the modus operandi, for if they were to submit to the tyranny of an individual he would prefer that of the Superintendent to that of the supposed leader of the Opposition. Mr. LrjCKiE, lest aoy misunderstanding should exist in the minds of members, desired to state most clearly, that in suggesting the names he had mentioned to the Superintendent, he did so in the full beI lief that they would find favor with the Council, and his Honor had similar ideas, both as to the fitness of those gentlemen and the opinion of the Council. He (Mr. Luckie) had since then made inquiry, and was more than ever convinced that the choice made by the Superintendent was a wise one, and was received as such by a large majority of the He wished most decidedly to say that he had never assumed the position of leader of tho Opposition, and that he had assumed nothing, and ..esired nothing, except tho satisfactory working of the Government of the Proviuce. The Council then went into Committee on the Board of Works Debenture Bill, when the following clause was inserted : — "Provided always, that no money shall be borrowed under the authority of this Act*tinless two-thirds in number of the persons to be specially rated, representing at least one-half of the value of the property liable to the special rate, shall first signify their consent thereto in writing, nor until one month's notice by advertisement has been given by the Board, of their intention to borrow the sum authorised, or any portioa thereof." After some other business of a formal uature, the Council adjourned until Tuesday evening, at 5 o'clock.