LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 106, 3 May 1872, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

The Council met at 5 o'clock. On the motion of the Provincial Treasurer, it was resolved to request the Superintendent to declare by Proclamation, that parts two, three, four, five, six and seven of the Highway Boards Empowering Act, 1871, shall extend and apply to any District constituted or to be coustituted by or under any Provincial Act heretofore or hereafter to be passed, and to the inhabitants, ratepayers, and governing body of such district, as tbe case may require. It wns agreed on the motion of the Provincial Treasurer to request the Superintendent to apply to his Excellency the Governor prayiDg him to declare by Proclamation that the " Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Act, 1871," shall be in operation in this Province. On the motion of the Provincial Treasurer, it was resolved, That his HoDor the Superintendent be authorised to expend a sum not exceeding £6000 for public works, salaries, and contingencies. Mr. Luckie moved, That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to furnish this Council with a copy of- tbe correspondence on the subject of the advance of £250 made to the Doran's Reef Goldmining Compauy. He did so because there was considerable feeling outside witb respect to the circumstances under which the advance was made, and he trusted the Government would be able to give such explanations as would remove all dissatisfaction . The Provincial Secretary at once laid the correspondence on the table. Mr. Donne asked the Government, through the Provincial Secretary, " Whether his Honor the Superintendent, in the exercise of his delegated power, in making the reductions of area of the twenty goldmining leases applied for at the Inangahua, and advertised in Gazette No. 12, dated April 24th, 1872, was guided by the recommendation of the Warden in each case ; and also, whether the eighteen applications for similar leases that were refused (vide Gazette of same number and date), were so refused on tho recommendation of the Warden." The Provincial Secretary, in reply, said it is not the duty of the Warden to decide upon application for leases, but only to inquire and report upon them. The Government have given every weight to the recommendations of the Warden, but they have exercised their own judgment after haviog done so. The area to be granted under lease in such a case as that of the Inangahua reefs, is a question of policy, upon which the decision rests with the Government, and for that decision they are alone responsible. The average area granted in leases for quartz-mining, at the Inangahua, is rather over eight acres, and, on the Thames goldfield, rather under five acres. Leases have been refused altogether when the applications have been

obviously of a merely speculative character, and where the granting of them would only have had tbe. effect of locking up tbe land from the bona Ude miner.: Leases have also been refused where applications have been made for several large blocks of ground by the same person. Mr. Donne expressed considerable dissatisfaction at the indefiniteness of tbe reply, and stated his opinion that it was no use for members to attend the Council if their inquiries were to be shirked in that remarkable way. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor tbe Highway Bill was read a second time. On the motion of Mr. Gibbs a Select Committee was appointed to take into consideration the management of the Lunatic Asylum; such Committee to consist of the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Donne, Mr. F. Kelling, Mr.Tarrantjthe Speaker, and the mover with power to call for persons and papers. On the motion of Mr. Tarrant, a Select Committee was appointed to take into consideration the Highways Bill, to report to this Council on Wednesday next, such Committee to consist of tbe Speaker, tbe Provincial Solicitor, the Provincial Treasurer, Mr. Wastney, Mr. Donne, Mr. Reid, and the mover. The Council then adjourned until Monday evening, at five o'clock.