LAST NIGHTS COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 128, 1 June 1871, Page 2

LAST NIGHTS COUNCIL.

The Council met last night at 5 o'clock. Mr. Tarrant moved the foi lowing resolutions contained in the report on the Motueka petition, namely — 1. That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that tbe Central Board of Education should have power to sell any part of the lands held by them in trust, or to exchange the same for other freehold lands : Provided that aU moneys arising from such sale shall be expended in the purchase of other freehold land : Provided also, that every such sale, exchange, or purchase, shall be previously sanctioned by the Superintendent for the time being. 2. That powe.r of alienating by way of lease any lands held on trust by the Central Board, should be extended from fourteen to twenty-one years. 3. That grants of land to the Central Board of Education*, issued in accordance with the provisions of the 10th clause of the " Waste Lauds Act 1863," should be free of cost to the Board. 4. That a copy of these Resolutions as adopted by the Council, be sent to the Central Board of Education, so that the said Board may take such action in relation thereto as they may think fit. The resolutions were agreed to. On the ' motion of Mr. Gibbs, it was resolved "That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to. obtain, by. a careful examination . of the district, information as to the best. means of; pro-" viding the goldfi_ld3 of Collingwood witli a water supply, and enable him to judge as to the expediency of advi&iujg the General Government to carry out such works." Mr. Donne asked the Provincial j Secretary,. " What were the circumstances., uni-ier which, the .jgirl -Alinda : .SmiV^^no 'w| an inmate of the Nelson. Hospitalvfonnerly Z. a resident ;;ija> the, Motueka Orphanage) first became an inmate of the Charitable

Institutions of the Province ; the (fate of liejp':firs|tp&<taisßjon io auy or fei.ther of the* said. insjtitJtjtions.Y; upon whose introduction j : OP,jecora,||iiand 1 a h tio ! n:,she was first admitted H to; the institutions aforesaid ; whether anything has been contributed towards her maiiitenfinep,andifeo,by whom, and when?" The Provincial Secretary said tha.t he was sorry this question had been |/nt. He was at all times willing to give all the informatioj! in his power, but this was a question that the Council would hardly expect him to answer, and therefore he must decline to reply. On the motion of Mr. Wilkie it was re?olv s ed " That in order to remedy existing oomfpiafcts with regard to the short weight at ih^ Brunner Coaf Mine, all the coal barges on* the river shall be marked at every ton above seven tons; and that the Government he recomrapnded to see the same carried into effect." Several reports of Select Committees were brought up and read, and the Council then adjourned until to-day at 12 o'clock. THE PROR 'GATION. \ The Council met at 12 o'clock. The Provincial Secretary laid on the table telegrams from Westpnrt stating that Mr. Blackett could aot recommend the expenditure asked for on the v river hank, as he doubtfd whether it would be effectual, while it might cause greater damage on ilia other side. His Honor was t!,en aunouueed, who read the following speech : — Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council, I congratulate you upon the large amount ofv important business which you have transited in a session of less than ordinary length. Ou behalf \of His Excellency the Governor I have asseuted to the following Acts : — v An Act to repeal the Executive Government Act, 1870, and to inuke other provisions in lieu thereof. An Act to promote the safety of persons travelling on public roads. An Act to amend the Dog Nuisance Act.. An Act to repeal an Act for the Management of ihe Nelson Hospital, and to make other provisions iv lieu thereof. An Act to appropriate the revenue of the Province of Nelson for the year ending the thirty-first day of March, 1872. I will endeavor to procure the passing of measures in the General Assembly providing Courts of Appeal from assessments under the Country Roads and Town Improvement Acts, authorising the raising of a loan of the sum of £30,000 for the extension, of waterworks and the establishment of gasworks in the City of Nelson, secured upon the local rates ; and securing rhe freehold to lessees of Crown lands upon the conditions embodied in your resolutions. I will also seek {he assent of the General Assembly to the following public works, under the provisions of the Immigration and Public Works Acf, 1870.:—A railway from the Port of Cobden to the Bruouer coal-miue. A railway from the town of Nelson to Foxhill..: A railway from the town of Westport to the Mount Rochfort coalfield. The several schemes for water supply recommended by tha Provincial Engineer. Proposals shall also be made to the Colonial Government for the construction of lines of telegraph from Greymouth t© the Ahaura. and from Nelson to Motueka upon the usual conditions. ■ The proposed anexation of the southern portion of the Grey Valley to this province shall have my earnest attention when the subject i 3 brought under the ; consideration of the General Assembly, : and I shall be guided by the spirit of your resolution iv reference to it, so far as circumstances will allow. The promotion of permanent settlement upon the Goldfields is a matter . of the deepest interest aud concern to all parts of the Province^ and I will loae.uo time iv taking such steps, in accordance with your recommendations^ as may tend to produce the desired results, in the most speedy and effective manner. I now declare this Council prorogued.