LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 122, 23 May 1872, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Mr. Donne moved for a return in detail of the expenditure of the item " Contingencies £800" under the heading of "Justice" as per Appropriation Act of last year.— ln reply to Mr. Gibbs, the Provincial Tbeastjrer said that the sum of £250 paid by the General Government to Mr. Batchelor as a bonus for the planting of five acres of mulberry trees had not been charged to the province. — Mr. Gibbs moved, That his Honor the Superintendent he requested to furnish this Council with a return comprising an account in detail of revenue derived from that part of the Province included within the South-west Goldfields, during the years 1866 to 1871 inclusive, together with the expenditure on that part of the Province during the same period." He did so in the belief that in the early days of the goldfields a far larger Bum had been expended on them than they had yielded to the revenue. The Provincial Treasurer explained that, owing to the complication of Provincial and Colonial accounts, it would be almost impossible to compile such a return satisfactorily, while it would occupy some months in the preparation. A similar view was taken by the majority of the members, and the motion was rejected. — On: the motion of Mr. Reid, a Select Committee was appointed to consider and report upon the present position and condition of the town of Westport, having regard specially to the security of the residents from further loss of property, and to any consideration which may in equity be due to those persons whose freeholds have been destroyed by the encroachments of river or sea. The Council then went into committee on the Estimates, and sat till 9 o'clock, when itj adjourned until this morning at 11 o'clock. This Day. The consideration of Mr. O'Conor's resolution in favor of the disintegration of the province was, after the mover had made his opening speech (which we shall report with the remainder of the debate), adjourned until Monday.— A motion of Mr O'Conor's, to the effect that £450 be placed ou the Supplementary Estimates as a steam subsidy for Westpqrt and Ngaka-' whao, was negatived.— On the motion of Mr. Wastnby it was resolved, that the- 1

resolutions embodied in the report of the Select Committee relative to Provincial Scholarships, be adopted. — A resolution of Mr. Luckie's, that the additional sum of £25, to meet equivalent subscriptions, for the Nelson Fire Brigade be placed on the Supplementary Estimates, was negatived by 8 to 7. — The Council then adjourned until Monday evening.