LAST NIGHTS COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 133, 4 June 1873, Page 2

LAST NIGHTS COUNCIL.

TThe Council met at 5 o'clock. Mr O'Conor moved :—-" That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to -place upon the supplementary estimates the sum of £100 for the purchase , of 100 acres of! land in the Inangahua' Valley, as an endowment upon Miss Rose Williams as*" the first child born, of European parents in the Inangahua, district/ He was aware ; that the resolution was. somewhat of a novel nature, and in explanation he would say that the young lady alluded to was the • daughter of one of the oldest .settlers in the ; ■province, certainly my the ,. loangahua Valley. When the child* was 7 born, some seven or eight years ago; Mr Kynnersley happened to be in the Valley,, and r said that on cqnsideration of her being the* 'first child of European parentage born in that part of tho province, and the daughter of the pioneer of the district, he would recommend the Government to make her a grant of land. He (J\lr O'Conor) had been asked by her father to ; bring the matter forward, and be considered that the child was deserving of some recognition, particularly at the hands of the old Nelson r settlers, 7/ jfer parents' had. undergone.* 'great hardships, and he trusted that the Council would agree with him in : recommending^ this vote, or if they thought fir to reduce the amount, some lesser, but substantial; grant -of land. Precedents for such a course were not wanting, as in many countries the first European child born: in them received a certain amount of feting, and very frequently a grant of land such as that he now asked for. This was no West Coast goldfields, sort of motion, and he earnestly hoped, it would be supported. For the old settlers he had the highest respect, and especially for their daughters,

and for this reason he had brougb*yprward fthe rg»sutioijr-k Mr 88 ■sa^Q^I 6 !^ the |resol*li*M), retUlng aeliftid toj-*|^|e|yent ■gin hi|fp|^ticujar^dist*y4 Hkjsvitt^ellacquainted vmh the interesting"* young lady referred^, and also her father, who had done gpod service to the country (A Membejf; : In what* w^y ?) f ,bjr jactin^ - *ito|eke;eper in tt|g |arly parjf bf !tn| gpjd- ' k fields,' and supplying the diggers with the necessaries of life. The child had long been, promised this dowry, ; and .-Yeas anxiously looking forward to receiving it. The Council might thinkvthajt a), sitijillen grant would suffice, but it was not for its value that the land was sought, so much as being a recognition" of the services'' rendered b^he^'i'atber ... <(. A:t;tliisr:st6ge . W the discussion it was impossible to follow the speaker 'i owing to,; the' /shouts of laughter that arose. on^llsides).. Mr Reid thought there was a streak of witticism running through the whole question. He found \tha£ Miss Willianhs wasialluded* to as the first child born of " Europane " parents in the -Inaugahua*' district (A printer's error had resulted in the word being, sp spelt on. the Notice Paper).,,. Jle .was hot propped'; to s f t'ate jtbafc thjißJ yas attributable to the nationality of the author of the resolution, .but -it, looked suspiciously like it. He was glad to find that Mr O'Conor, although an opponent of ; Mr Yogel, was becp-diigg a convert to bis views as to tbe desirability of populating the country as speedily as possible. Mr Yogel had suggested that it might be a •wise plan to adopt to .present every brid|e withy "a- wadding 1 ring '"on ■ the occasion of her Carriage,' and,' if^* occasion required, with „t*L T .cradle, ,in . the course of the following 1 ' year,' bill;' he did not remember *that it was ever recommended that in addition to this, the young couple should receive a grant of 100 acres >f land. 'A Full' many? &.- flower .'inborn to blush unseen," and he .was not sure that there were not in the province many blossoms quite as bright arid atti-aetive as this Rose, and who were fully entitled to an equal 'amount of consideration, but were not--, brought so prominently fprward. A similar 7 motion had been brought before the Westland County Council, where it had been .received'-' -with little .ridicule, some of l tlie speakers suggesting that the first calf born in the district was~quife as fully •entitled to a bonus," * '.'As the question referred to a yoyng lady, he : did, not like, •.'-to say much' about it, but thei'e 'wks no' doubt that her father ..was equally intdrested ; in -the 'matter. 'Fori His !. part/ however, he would prefer to see a bonus of this kins,' given ,tp , ,tho*3e. who ; *w,ept abroad prospecting the country. Mr Guinness could state that a similar pro-, pbsition had once bee,ti. laid before the Westland County Council, when it was argued with - \ /some fon^ „• that \ $ grant might just as well be made to the owner of , the first cow that produced .a calf in the district. The ! ques'tibn was*. certainly 'open to ; ! dis-" cussion whether money should not be spent v ! j)on '" reproductive r works, * and : possibly at some future date the subject of the resolution' before them might prove reproductive. At the same time he was scarcely prepared to support the' motion. Mr O'Conor, in', reply,;, s.aid^ that the orthography, of the Notice Paper-was not his, but that the printer, or reader, was responsible for it. Seeing.- the 'jocular mood in which the Council- appeared inclined -to. trfiat. the , resol.qtion^'ho.jjw.ouldjx , i" in| deference to the young lady, ask leave 'to withdraw \ it..rr The , , resolution, -was-, , consequently withdrawn. — The Council went into Cpmmittee- on.;- .the Impounding. Bill, the two clauses of which were passed, "the schedule\being. postponed'. ".-Ths Cattle? Trespass Bill was also considered in Committee, -and,;' after * sckuie ; discission',- ■) witbVdrawn for thepurpose of being amended. > ~4Mr Reid" riioved : — "That his Hofibr' the Superintendent be requested to "place "on the feuppiementary estimates an siinbMt' equal to six. month's' salary. ( of^tl^e^ader^t WestpoVt, the same' 'to hd paid 'to Mr James Arthur ViMaguir'e, yjm .consideration of. his loss of office, and of the expense which* he> has' incurred- as -a* petitioner to f this Council." One or, two amendments were ' propo'Wea, 'kbti' 'ultiriaately ° it/ was resolved to grant j.«'[si*"-nx equSl; to four months' salary. — Mr Donne moved : — " JThat Standin > g"Or i de*r ! 57 be suspended to enable him to move-w«*T.hat. his Honor the 7 Superintendent, be •requested ;: to p|ace.9n, the supplementary estimates i -Jthe sum of* £750, fo^., the .c^mpjeUpqo^ jt^e^ray , f oad from Charleston "to Westport via Addison's Flat* and.' the:. : :Shami*ock y.liießd." ; Agreed. t9.7-r.The. Council then A we.nt into., Commitiiee on the Estimates, "ahd 1 passed " the "whQle,iofy;the4t.e.ms;ex^*^,fr^vf^ . ' had been reserved. The vote to the Suburban 'NbVtb tßoad ßlkt d'V^sinc'-re^sed by £40, maMngo;the\ r sum i l£l'sP. The Council then .r.e,su«ied, r .and, adjourned until this evening.