LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 117, 19 May 1871, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

N — 0 The consiSferation of., the Estimates was proceeded with; ki^JWith the exception of one or two items "That had previously been postponed, concluded, the various sums being agreed to as sent down by the Superintendent, with one or two trifling amendments. On the motion of Mr. Reid a Select Committee was appointed to enquire into a report upon the constitution and management of the Nelson Police Force, the mover stating that in , proposing his resolutifwi he did not mean in the slightest degree \) -cr^flect upon the force, but a petition whicnvmid come up from the Buller district rendered such an enquiry necessary. Mr. Wastney moved That this Council respectfully recommeud his Honor the Superintendent to place upon the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £150 for the purpose of defrayiug the expense of such members of the Provincial Council as may be disposed to visit the Goldfields. on the West Coast. Several complaints had been raised by the West Coast members as to tbe ignorance displayed by the representatives of the settled districts of the requirements of the goldfields, and he thought that they should have an opportunity of travelling and seeing for themselves what was wanted, and for this purpose he did not think that £150 was too much. Mr. Tarrant seconded the resolution pro forma. Mr. O'Conor moved, as an amendment, that the Svords "to meet equivalent subscriptions" should bo" inserted after "£150." He quite . recognised the desirability of introducing some knowledge of the West Coast into the heads of the members of the Council. Mr. Reid seconded the amenJmeut. Mr. Gibbs would not support the motion as he considered the sum was so small that it would be absolutely useless. He thought it very desirable that members should have some knowledge of the requirements of the various parts of the province, and not remain so much iv the dark as at present, but to euable them to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the wants of the Coast would require at least £150 each. The amendment was then put and negatived on the voices. Mr. Donne thought that the sum mentioned by Mr. Wastney would be utterly inadequate to cover the expenses of the nine members who had n#t yet visited the Coast. The expend! ture of £500 on such au object would be aMjandsome thing, and the money would be so well spent that he would have no objection to see the Goldfields. debited with it. The sum proposed by Mr. Wastney would only amount to £16 per member, and such a sum would be quite insufficient,^ they would have to visit Charleston and Brighton b^ coach or on horseback, and also proceed tci. Wo Town, the Jnangahua, and Lyell districts, and several other places where they would doubtless obtain a vast amount of useful information. For this, at least £60 per head would be necessary, and as nine sixes were 54 it was clear that at least £500 would be required. He wus exceedingly anxious to see the members visit the Coast, especially Mr. Wastuey, and he could assure them that the amount of regaling, feting, and sumptuous feasting they would meet with would greatly astonish them. Mr. Reid had seconded the amendment, treating it iv a jocular spirit, but after the speech of Mr. Donne who iv delivering it had exceeded his ordinary powers of satire he was disposed to regard it in a more serious light. He(Mr.Donne)had furnished an interesting and •comprehensive account of the journeys that would have to be undertaken, and in so doing had giv^n a gentle hint to those members who Asrere as yet unacquainted with the v various localities. Another reason for supporting the resolution was that the; Executive would be included among the visiting members, and if a specific sum were placed on the Estimates for this purpose they would ,no longer have an excuse for remaining at home as they had hitherto done. Mr. Collins" thought he had never heard so absurd a proposition. It was an attempt; to convert the members of , the Council ..into , a body of "Peripatetic Philosophers."' Mr. Donne seemed to think that: members .must, be consumed with .an s ardent desire to visit the ,West CbW, but he did riot believe that such a desire existed"' : ' T If <: thb ; Superintendent would yhrit the. Goldfields three, or four •tim'es'ayear, that] he tbcjught-, 1 Vitou'ld-be ampiyr sufficient.: Mr. ,; Rutherford

opposed the motion. Last year Mr Luckie's head had proved a sort of Pandora's box. from whence had sprung the Provincial Treasurer, Goldfields' Representative, and other officials, but now Mr. Was{,oey had fairly beaten him for he wished to convert the whole Council into travelling Governmentofficers. He was willing to allow that many of the members were insufficiently acquainted with the various districts, for instance, he himself knew very little of Wakapuaka, excepting that he had. heard that it was about nine miles in length, and a yard in width, and very probably Mr. Wastney knew just as much of tbe district he (Mr. Rutherford) represented, namely, the Amuri. From Mr. Wastney's previous speeches, he had concluded that it was that gentleman's wish to reduce the number of Government officials, whereas it now appeared that he was desirous of largely increasing it. The resolution was then put and lost, Mr. O'Conor moved, That in the opinion of this Council, no public , money should be voted for Fire Brigades, except to meet "equivalent subscriptions." After some little discussion, the motion was lost on the voices. The Council then adjourned uutil this morning.