PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 27, 31 January 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, January 29, Mr Cobbett moved " That his Honor the Superintendent bo respectfully requeued to urge upon the General Government the necessity of completing the two sections of the Hochstetter Water Eace, with all possible despatch, as in the completion of the foregoing work a larger area of country will be profitably worked, and an impetus be given to milling operations in the Grey Valley." — This was a matter of vital importance to the province and calculated to have a great influence on its future prosperity. If not undertak- n soon the district would be deserted by Europeans whose place would be taken by Mongolians. The General Governmont had once tnken the matter in hand so far as to advertise for tenders but those sent in were for some reason or another greatly in excess of the estimate, and no now asked the Council to recommend the matter once again. The district had been prospected for years and gold was found everywhere but could not be worked for want of water. He waa sure that the work would repny both principal and interest in ten years while the prosperity of the district would be greatly enhanced. He had seen it remarked in the papers that he was the first miner that had ever been sent to the Council and he was proud of it. He had come up on a prospecting expedition net to look for gold, but for justice to the heavily taxed and hard working miners — Mr Shapier seconded the resolution as he thought the work was a highly necessary one. It was a great advantage to the Courcil and the province generally that they had a real hona fide digger such as Mr Corbet* among them, and it wan surprising that the miners had not before taken care to be efficiently represented by one of themselves. Mr Guinness hoped the' resolution would be universally adopted, ami that t.e Provincial Government, which ought to have taken action sooner in the matter, would use the telegraph to urge it on. Mr Baigismt supported the resolution, and was exceedingly pleased to find the mining class represented in the f'ouncil by one who could place before them so straightforward a at-tecaeht, and make the wants of his constituents so cleaily known. Mr Donnk, after remarking upon the cheap praise bestowed by Mr Shapter on the mover, expressed his intention of supporting the resolution, which was carried unanimously — Mr Co rbett moved " That his Honor the Superintend' nt be reepectfully requested to mnke provision for the sum of £11,000, in tbeNelson Provincial Loan Bill, for the construction ef reservoirs to supnly the No Town portion of the Grey Valley with water for mining purposes; and that the District Engineer be requested to report upon the best method of appropriating the foregoing amount. This was another resolution of the same family, of which he had three from the Grey Valley, all being on the same subject, namely, the supply of water. Mr Guinness seconded the motion, nnd trusted the Government would find themselves in a portion to act without delay. The Provincial Thea surer said that the Provincial Government had nothing to do with it beyond , urging on the General Government and this they had done to ths best in their power. He would recommend the postponement of the motion until the sitting at the end of the yenr. Mr Shapter also thought it would be better to postpone it. Mr Sha.bp was pleased to hear the remarks of Mr Corbett, but mu.st agree with Ihe Provincial Treasurer. Ho would move as an amendment, " That his Jlonor the Superintendent be requested to direct the Provincial Fngineer to repirt on the best manner of supplying with water the District of No Town, together with the probable cost thereof." The amendment was seconded by Mr Rout and agreed to —Mr Corbett moved, " That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to communicate with the General Government with a view of obtaining the services of an officer to eflect the survey of the Hand all Creek Water-race at an early date; and that such officer be instructed to furnish a detailed estimate as to, the cost of construction, and the number of Government heads of water likely to be obtained." Mr Shapxbr seconded the resolution. Mr GuiNNiiss suggested that tlie words "Napoleon Bjll " be substituted for Randall Creek, and the resolution phus amended was carried. — Me Corbett moved, " That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to instruct the Provincial Engineer to furnish a report as to the most efficient and economipal plan of extinguishing the burning coal seumsat theTen-mile Beach, north of Cobden." He was surprised that nothing h»d been done in this direction before, as one of the saams bad been burning for eight years, an,d the other for several months. He thought; it might be don.e fop about £J3Q. Mr Boasb seconded the resjoution. Be had heard that an offer had been made to the Government by a party of diggers some time ago to extinguish It for £20 The Provincial Secretary hnd no recollection of such an offer having been made. The resolution was carried unanimously. Several motions for returns having b -.en agreed to, Mr Kelling moved, That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable, as far as possible, to complete in the pressn^ seBSJon the ordinary bu.siupsa of the Council, ■with a view 6' avoiding the expense and inconvenience inseparable from again meeting at the usual period, as theimportant questions connected with the probable Loan cannot be properly disscussed till the decision of the General Assembly is known. He thought that it would be a mere waste of time and money to call the CounciJ together ftgain at the usual timp of the year. The Provincial Bkoretabt seconded the resolution. Air A. Adams objected to it as it hticl been carefully given out that this was to be only a short session for special purposes, and therefore membirs were not pw-pired to remain long. He regretted, indeed, that they had been called together now at all, as he thought it was wholly unnecessary. Mr Gibbs was opposed to prolonging the present session. The Provincial Treasurer anid that (he matter was <ntirely in the hands of the Council, whose wishes) the Government were quite prepared to acceiiit to. Tli^re were several reasons, each of which was of sufficient weight to justify the present session. If tliey did not meet before April or May as usual, and then authorised the surveys of the blocks of land to be given as security, it would be impossible to complete them before ihe meeting of the Assembly. Another reason was that the t'uperintendenp invited ihe jjssent of th.e Council to borrowing £60 OPQ in anticipation of the Assembly for the Buller Koad, and ic would be unwise to postpone the commencement of this work until the winter. A third reason wos that it was necessary to provide for immediate immigration as labor would be badly wanted for fche. public works. Mr Donnk acknowledged the 'force osf Uv Shepherd's argument with regard to the surveys, but felt that there should be another session at the usual time. The Provincial Solicitor thought' there were very good reasons for calling tlie Council together now. He hoped that if they decided to look upon this as a special session only, members would stick to their text and rot load the Order Paper too heavily. Mr Gdinness and Mr Ivess also oppoß^d fU e resolution, whirh after Mr KELLiNa had replied, yaa negated on a divisibibyi3 to 8. Ayes— The Provincial Secretary, Provincial Treasurer, Provincial Solicitor, Messes Maclean, Sharp, Shupter, Tarrant, and Kelling. Noe — Messrs Parker, Donne, Gib,bj). lyees, Fisher, Adams, Baigent, Bout, Kcrr, Guinness, Wagt'ney, Qorbett, and Boasc,