LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 134, 5 June 1873, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Tbe Council met at 5 o'clock. Mr Ivess moved : — " That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the supplementary estimates the sum of £50, for the construction of a horse track from Landing Road to Larry's Creek, Inangahua." The motion was seconded by Mr? O'Conor, and agreed to.— -Mr F. Keeling moved : — " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the supplementary estimates the sum of £75 for the Farmers' Clubs of Stoke, Motueka, and Totara Flat." These Clubs had done an immense deal of good in keeping up the information of farmers on agricultural and pastoral matters, and were altogether of so useful a nature that be trusted the Council would unanimously agree to the resolution. Mr Guinness seconded the motion. He could speak with the greatest confidence of the amount of good achieved by the club at Totara Fiat, where farming was as yet in its infancy. The club, although only three years old, had collected a valuable library, held annual ploughing matches, and had generally done good service. Mr Shephajbd said that the first grant to Farmers' Clubs had been voted at his suggestion three years ago, and he was convinced that they had led to considerable improvements both in agriculture and the breeding of stock, besides which they had been the means of bringing together the farmers from various parts; of the country, and producing an interchange

of ideas which could not but be productive of good. It was satisfactory to find that a Club had been formed in sp- distant a district as the Ahaurl, and he -should be very .glad to see claims for\thes6 small money grants coming in from other places, since the establishment of these Clubs must lead to an improvement in agriculture, and consequently add to the wealth of the Province.-— Motion agreed to*- — ,-'Mr Guinness asked the Provincial Treasurer when he would lay on tlio table the statement of accounts, showing tbe estimate of revenue derived from the settled districts and the goldfields, according • to' the resolution of this Council passed on 1 4th May Jast. The Provincial Treasurer repied that he had been exceedingly busy since. the Council' met- arid had not been able to prepare such a return. Mr Guinness hoped that itj would be : :laid before the Council, as it was essential-to a fair consideration of the estimates. — The Council then went into Committee on the Estimates, after which the' Goldfields Districts Bill passed^ .through,. Committee, and the Council; having resumed, adjourned until this evening.