LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 110, 8 May 1873, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

0— The Council met at 5 o'clock. A Select Committee was appointed to inquire into and report upon the laws and regulations affecting the sale and leasing of land on the goldfields, the Committee to consist of the Speaker, the Provincial Secretary, Messrs Donne, Ivess, F. Kelling, Macmahon, and Shephard. The Pbovincial Secretary moved " That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that the railway from Brunnertbn to Greymouth, when constructed, should be leased to a company undertaking the construction of the through line from Foxhill to Brunnerton, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon with such Company by his Honor the Superintendent with the advice o£ his Executive Council, and with the sanction , and assent of the Colonial Government and the County of Westland." He would not now enter into the details of the railway scheme, .but , would leave them to other members of the Council who were also members of the Committee.. Mr Donne thought -that such a resolution was premature, as the Council should first be called to consider the report ofi the* Inland Communication Committee, and he suggested that it should be postponed ; until the whole: question bad ;been discussed, p. Mr. '■ KELLi^rwas of opinion that they BhouldwMt before pas ,: 'ing suchT^W^ k was^^m^ I of Tbinding the G^ ; i^actedr^^ Atijil/Ylhe) p gxound .that it proposed to open up the subject for discussion at the tail end instead of Tthe head ; -because it would be impertinence on the" par t or the Council ' to

pass a resolution concerning a property 'that did not belong to tbem; and because it proposed to give the power to the Superintendent to deal with a company withoutreference to tbe Council. Mr. Shephabd would not allow tbat any necessity existed for the introduction of a resolution dealing with the general question, as that had been affirmed by the Council years ago, and the provisions of the Neleon and Cobden Railway Act were still in force. The suggestion by Mr -Donne tbat there was no occasion to pass the resolutions until the company was formed, would, if acted upon, be fatal to its formation, as the prospectus must state plainly what inducements we were prepared to offer to a company. Mr Rolling had objected to binding the Government to lease tbe Brunner line to a company, but that waa exactly what was wanted. The question of railway communication with the interior was of quite as large, if not larger, importance to Greymouth as to Nelson, as it would open up a large trade to the Greymouth merchants, and he deeply regretted that the representatives from that part of the province did not appear to recognise that tbe Inland Communication Committee bad entered upon the matter in no selfish, illiberal spirit, but with an earnest desire to benefit the whole province. Mr Guinness thought more time should be allowed, and fuller information afforded to the Council before they were asked to come to a decision on so important a question as was opened up by the report of the Committee. As a representative of a mining constituency, he could assure the Council that there, was nothing the miner more dreaded than the acquisition by a private company of auriferous lands. Mr O'Conor had witnessed in Victoria the I evils arising from alieniating auriferous lands from the Crown, and would be sorry to see them repeated here. The Superintendent and Executive had the power to act in this matter without consulting the Council; if they thought they were right they should not ask them, if wrong, they should avoid it. He hoped however that the Council would unanimously protest against the giving away of mineral lands. With this exception he was prepared to support tbe railway scheme, and would be glad to see the Foxhill Hue extended, for, as at present proposed, it could never pay. Mr. Ivbss had heard no satisfactory answer to the question how the Company would affect the interests of the miners, who were very jealous of any attempt to alienate mineral lands. The Pbovincial Solicitob would be glad if the General Government would undertake this work, but as there was no hope of that, the people must do it themselves. He attached so much importance to it tbat be was prepared to make any sacrifice to obtain it. Mr Pinkebton felt bound to enter an earnest protest on behalf of the poor men he represented against forcing them to accept any conditions the company might cboose to impose upon miners. They did not want their valley to be taken away from them in payment for a railway. Should the Company gets in full swing on the Coast, they would, of course do the best for themselves, and the miner would probably have to pay £20, where now he only paid £1. He protested most strongly against having this railway thrust upon him. Mr Acton AdjIMS said that there appeared to be a dread that the Company intended to occupy the land themselves for mining purposes, but this was entirely a mistake, as they would be merely carriers, and it would be to their interest to encourage the miner to follow his pursuits. The Company had only been adopted aB a last resource, and it was intended to make it thoroughly popular by fixing the shares at such a price as would place them within the reach of all. He hoped that when the West Coast members thoroughly understood the. motives by wbich the Committee had been actuated in making the propositions now before them, they would join with the people of Nelson in assisting to promote this great work. The debate was then, on the motion of Mr Tarrant adjourned: until Thursday, the loth instant.