The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 111, 12 May 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1871.

Football i^A match between -the collegians : and town club, fifteen tin a side, will be played in the Botanical gardens' to-morifepw afternoon. ■■■■,■■• '■■ * » ; Takaka Ceickbt CLUB.—The Takafea Cricket Clab played their closing, match of the season, on rltionday ia'^t, : in Mr. Carlio Giil^paddbck, after they adjourned to the Junction lon, where .they sat down to an excellettt dkner,, ,Mr. G-ill itt^tne ; chair, and Mr; B?B. Dix^jn, the secretary, in the vice-chair. After the usual -toaets; songs, and seni^iments^iljie par.ty. broke upjv.high/y eiitfeiriainedi v^ith the deiy's ainusemebt.

LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

A message was received from the Superintendent signifying his assent to the Executive Bill, and the Provincial Solicitor stated that the SuperiutendKnt had re-appointed himself, Mr. Greenfield, and Mr. Shephard members of th< j Executive. On the motion of Mr. Gibbs it was resolvect that the time for claiming the bonus recommended in the report of the Select Committee ou the Buller and other Coalfields, adopted by the Council on the 25th Jiily,lß67,should beexteuded to Ist July, 1872. The Provincial Solicitor moved the third reading of the Dv« Bill which was curried ou a division by n majority of 10 to 8. Mr.. Macmahon moved, That should the construction of the line of railway from Nelson to Foxhill not be agreed to by the General Assembly during the next session, this Council is of opinion that the Superintendent should still- make arrangements with the Colonial Government for the extension of the line of telegraph to Motueka without further delay. The probable cost of the line would be £1600, and the postmaster would do the work of telegraphist at an additional salary of £25 per annum, and the salary of the messenger would probably be £75. He had ascertained that the number of messages at present was fifty each way per month, and as this would in all probability be^roubled if the line were in existence^ue . iuterest'«aud expenses would be anijwTovereu 1 . MesVs. Tarrant, F. KeliJng, *" SflM^gAip jftul Baigent supportedythe resolution'!r l ' N Mr. Rutherford suggested that the line should b« tj^ren through Dovedale. Motion agreeijrto. Ml. Wastney moved That his Honor the be respectfully requested, in re-considering the Estimates with the New Executive, to effect by abolitions, allocations of offices, or otherwise, reductions in departmental expenditure, to the amount of at least 15 per cent, on the total amount. He might be looked upon as assuming more ihcya he had a right to do, but lie conceived it to be the duty of the members of the Council to see that economy was practised in the departmental expenditure. This could be best done by asking the Government to recoosidert.be Estimates as 'the/ were the best judges of what reductions could be effected. Pie did not wis-h to make invidious individual distinctions, but, thought that his ideas as expressed in the resolution might be carried out. Mr.\ Gibbs seconded the resolution. He 1 thought that unless considerable reductions were made in the departments there would be but very little money to be spent on public works, the more so as he believed that the Superintendent had over-esti-mated the revenue. The whole of the amount, exclusive of £2000 for that very necessary work, the wharf, at present proposed to be spent in the settled was £6400. He would like (o see a combination of offices,' and a rejection made iv every salary over £200. Mr. O'Conor moved as an amendment that all the words after "expenditure " be struck but. Hh believed that large reductions mitrht b« j made, but thought that the Council should not dictate to the Superintendent the exact amount of such reductions. Mr. Wilkie seconded the ameudrnent. Mr. Donne thought it was the special privilege of the Council to make what reductions \t thought proper without referring trre matter back to the Superintendent. Mr. Ltjckie thought the time of the Council would be far more profitably employed iv considering the Estimates, thuu in discussing indefinite and unintelligible propositous such as this. Mr, Wastney, instead of dealing in the merest generalities, should have pointed out what offices he proposed to abolish or to allocate. Mr. Reid believed it to be the special pr rotative of the Council to deal with the Estimates as they thought proper. If they sent them back to the Superiuteudent;for reconsideration he might, return them just as they were, and as there was now no responsible Ministry ? those who held office being mere pQppets, this would lead to a deadlock. ,The Provincial Treasurer said 'that the Estimates which had been most carefully considered by the Government, were sent down only as proposals, and not as. dictating to the Council whatitshouldido, and it was therefore open to members to' deal with them as i hey pleased. The Government had carefully considered the matter and could not see their way to makinjj any material reductions. , The motion before them was 1 one of those vaguo anil,' uncertain j resolutions that it was impossible.,- to d,eal ■with ; to combat it would.be to fight with a shadow, and this. Mr. Wastney very well knew. .With regard to Mr. Gibbs^doleful predictions; as to the. rreveaue being • over estimated, he might say, that if that \ gentleman, instead of- trusting to his : bilious imagination, had considered the "falctsi hii 'would tave^ seeV that thb're wefe j 'no ' grounds., of .^disjqaal j!forebp,d^nj*B^ { He was, .glad rfp that" since the rainfall on ! ttie West Coast the export of gold had in-

creased 50 per' cent, as compared with the first three' mouths of. the year. He trusted 'hat the Council would refuse to have' its time. ' wiisted niuht after night in ; discussing these vague propositions. Mr. Wastney said that, be was glad to find t!:at Mr. Ltickie, after being a party last session to wasting five or six weeks over the Executive Bill, was now anxious to save the time of the Council. Ho had always been preachiog retrenchment and economy, but now appeared to have abandoned this line altogether. The amendment was then put and lost. The Provincial Secretary said Mr. Wastney was constantly making incorrect statements with regard to the departmental expenditure having increased since the present Superintendent took office. In order to conviuce him of his error, he would state that the total amount of salaries when the Superintendent came into office was £29.495 ; in 1868 69 it was reduced to £20,813 ; in 1869-70 it was £18,890; in 1870-71 £17,150 at which figure it was also set down for the current year, thus showing a reduction as between the present year and that in which fhe Superintendent was first fleeted of £12,344. Mr. Wastney admired tiningenuity of the Provincial Secretary in retting out of his dilemma, and produced figures to show that the expenditure in the Superintendent's department had increased, from which it was but fair to infer that the others had increased in the like ratio. The Provincial Solicitor said the apparent increase was easily accounted for by the fact, that the departments of the Superintendent and Proviucial Secretary were now combined instead of being distinct as had previously been tho case. The resolution was then nut and, ou a division, lost by 12 to 6. On being called upon to move That this Couucil is strongly of opinion, that it, is very undesirable to appoint to any office of responsibility, persons. whose other avocations will be at all likely to take them from the province for a considerable portion of the year, Mr. Wastney stated that after ihe division on the last resolution he would prefer not to move ibis one. Mr. Siiefhard said that the resolution was so clearly directed against him that he would wish to see it brought on. Mr. Wastney indignantly denied any -such intention,., and considered himself insulted by Mr. Shep'iard's hinting at such a thing. Mr. Shkphard had intended no insult. Mr. Wastney said he took it as such at all events, but if the cap fitted so well, by all means let Mr. Shephard wear it. Mr. Shephard considered such language calculated to provoke disorder, and that it came very badly from one who prided himself on i>eing one of the oldest members of the Council. It was no question of the cap fitting, but it was the impression of 99 nut of every 100 persons that the resolution was aimed specially at him, and he should like the Couucil to decide the question. The motion was withdrawn. The Council then went into Committee on the Estimates, ;md the following items were passed without any but a very trifling alteration, except " GoldfMds' Representative £500" which was struck out ; "Land and Public Works £4,762"; «• Justice £3,766" ; Gaols £2,902"; " Police £7,378 " ; "Harbors £2,353." The Council then adjourned. This Day. The Council met at 11 o'clock, and proceeded with . the Estimates. The following items were passed ; — " S^ab Act £725";" Westport Hospital £900"; "Charleston and Brighton -Hospital £750"< t a;nd Grey Hospitals £1000.