OPENING OF THE-PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 23, 27 January 1874, Page 2

OPENING OF THE -PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The twenty-fourth session of the Provincial Council; was opened at. noon tei- day. Present: Messrs. Barnicoat, Greenfield, Shephard, Pitt, Shapter^' Rout, A.Adams, F. Kelling, Donne, Guinness, Boase, Sharp, Maclean, Ivess, Gibbs, Parker, Tarrant, Baigeh^ ; Wastney,: Corbett, Kerr. Absent : Mr Fisher. | The Clerk having read the proclamation calling the' Council together !! ' >'■ i Tbe Provincial SECRETARYsaidthat their first duty was to elect a Speaker, and he had great pleasure in proposing the re-appointment of Mr Barnicoat. To the old members he need not say a word in that gentleman's praise,' but" as there were many new faces in the Chamber, he might state to them that Mr Barnicoat had for fifteen years presided over the deliberations of the Council in an able and dignified manner, and to him it was largely owing that the Nelson Provincial Council was one o£, thefmost orderly and best conducted legislative assemblies in the Colony. By virtue of his office, he, .^s alsp.a member of tlie Waste Lands Board, and from his long experience and general and professional knowledge he was eminently fitted to occupy a seat at that Board. He had muoh pleasure in proposing Mr John Wallis Barnicoat as Speaker. ; Mr Guinness seconded 'the motion, but in doing so he wished to animadvert upon the Provincial Executive for their unconstitutional action in taking upon themselves to propose, the Speaker, as it might be said 4hat he -had^really been appointed by the Executive, and that was not at all a. desirable position fdr the Council to be plaoed in. He heartily endorsed the eulogium passed by the Provincial Secretary qn» Mr Barnicoat, and had the greatest pleasure in seconding the nomination, but he wishefl ! ati the' sa-rie time tb< express' his opinion on the impropriety of the action of the Executive.

-, Mr F. Kelling said tbat it had T always been the practice in the Council T v for the Speaker to be proposed by a o£ the Executive. "\ Mr Shephard thought it most unfortunate that on the opening of the Council offence should have been taken at that which had always been the practice in the Council. It was the jwish cj%the Executive to see the thing properly done, and they had do desire to take the matter out of the hands of the Council as Mr Guinness appeared to think. I'No other, candidate being nominated, the Clerk declared Mr Barnicoat elected. The Speaker was then conducted to the cbair by the mover and seconder, when he thanked the Council for the honor they bad conferred upon him, and said that he should have peculiar pleasure in presiding over the deliberations of this Council, the present session ot which was looked upon as most important to the Province. He should now have to be presented to the Superintendent for his approbation., Mr Barnicoat then retired and returned shortly, saying that his Honor bad been pleased to approve of his appointment. His Honor then entered the Chamber arid read the following speech : — Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council, In accordance with the intention which I expre.sed during the late election, I have callelyou together at this unusual time in tho year in order to lay before you proposals Tor submission to the General Assembly, empowering tho Provincial Government to raise money for the* construction of public works essential to the further settlement and prosperity of the province. The sum which I think th's province may prudently borrow, nnd profitably expend, is two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, and the var ous works which I shall submit to you ;as those to which I consider that the proceeds of the loan should be devoted have been carefully selected as being best calculated to open up the interior of the province, and to enable its resources to be utilised in the most speedy and effectual manner. Although the General Assembly has, from the passing of the Consolidated Loan Act in 1867, steadily set its face against the raising ot loans for Provincial purpose. , the events of the late session of Parli.ment show a decided tendency towards a change of policy in this respect. ; In common with the Superintendents of most of the other provinces, I introduced a bill to authorise this province to raise a loan of £11 0 000 for the construction of certain specified public works. But although the bill received tbe assent of the House of Representatives, ib was rejected, together with the other similar measures to which I have referred, by the Legislative Council. jl he necessity for supplementing ths main trunk lines of Eailway, the construction of which has been authorised, and in some cases commenced, bv branch roads and bridges connecting them wilh the surrounding country, was, however, almost universally recognised inj both branches of the Legislature, and there is, I am confident, little reason to fear the ejection cf well-considered measures of this character presented on behalf of the Province ,pfj Nelson. at the approaching session of Parliament, The increased demand for labor, which will necessarily arisfe during the construction of tbe public works I am now proposing to you to provide for by means of borrowed mon n y, combined with that arising from the works already/in progress pr in contemplat'on by the General Government, induces me to recommend to ycur consideration the policy of „t aking immediate steps,, to obtain such an • additi *rr to 'our population as will enable these works to be carried out without materially interfering with the progress of the permanent ; industrial occupations of the colony. Resolutions requesting the General Government td make provision for the introduction of one . .hundred and fifty immigrants per month will *be submitted for your approval. In the "event of your acceding to '■ the proposals *I now make to you in reference to >Publfc: Works and Immigration, it appear* to me that in all proba bility it will be necessary for me to summon you to a special session iitpmcdiately after the prorogation of the General, Assembly, and that under these circumstances it W ill be worthy" of your consi,deratiodTw,hether;it will hot be expedient to •save yourselves the trouble and inconvenience, and the .public the expense,' of holding three sissions^ jpi, one j ear' by making provision during ybu? present sitting 'for the conduct of tlie business of the province until November n6xt, when the result of the proposed application to Parliament for' a loan will be before •[you, and you, will therefore be in a position to deallnapre effectually and more satisfactorily With. the financial and other affairs of the Pirdvince'i i .','•' ' Tbecompletirn ofthe main coach roado frora Nelson through to Greymouth 'and Westport is of so much urgency and importance, that I feel .justified iri suggesting to you the expediency 'of authorising me to obtain a temporary advance, in anticipation of the proposed permanent loan, for the purpose. The* Bum required will be about £60,000. With a view to establish an Executive Council upon a broader basis and under conditions, satisfactory" to the public and to 5 ourselves I have again separated the offices of Provincial Secretary and Treasurer, and have also given a seat in the Council to a gentleman, resident on the goldfields, in order td secure the special representation of the interests of those important districts." So;ne pecuniary provision will "be required to carry out these. alterations to which your assent will be asked. i. * Tam gin d to be able to inform you that the survey for' the main line of railway from Foxhill to TBrunnerton is now being rapidly pjished forward; that the Burvey of the line from Westport to > I grikawhao is aho beirg e_terg.J*ically proceeded with; that' tenders for the town'section of tlie Nelson and Foxhill line will be called for within ten days from tliis time; and that the construction of the line from Brunnerton to Greymouth has made considerable progress. jlnow declare thia Council open for the' despatch of busine 38. ; The Proyincial Solicitor then proposed, Mr Gibbs as Chairman of Committees, ; Seconded -by Mr F. Kelling. The Provincial Treasurer supported the nomination, and said he .*■ thought the office of Chairman of Comniitfees was one to which some small honorarium should be attached. , The motion was then put and carried. :Mt Shapter proposed Mr John Percy as.,C|erk of the Council. Seconded by Mr Baigent, and agreed to. , Several notices of motion having ; been, given, the Council adjourned until td-morrow' afternoon at half-past tWo.>*77 . .... ;-. 1...