YESTERDAY'S COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 33, 7 February 1874, Page 2

YESTERDAY'S COUNCIL.

The Council met at three o'clock. Mr Tarrant moved, " That in accordance with "The Nelson Hospital Act, 1871,' this Council proceed to nominate three persons aa members of tbe Nelson Hospital Committee " The ballot was then twken, when out of six proposed, Messrs Barnicoat, Maclean, and Renwick were elected — On the motion of Mr Parker, it was resolved, " That recognising the importance of a bridge over the Motueka river, this Council recommends that it should be one of the first works undertaken under the loan." — On the motion of Mr Pakker, it was resolved, " That his honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £100, for the purpose of protective works on the river banks in the Pangatotara district. — Mr. Donnb asked the Provincial Secretary "What course his Honor the Superintendent proposes to adopt with respect to a petition from the inhabitants of Charleston, presented to his Honor on the sth instant by the member for Charleston, baying reference to tho subject of affording some ready assistance to a certain scheme of permanent water supply for that district." The Provincial Seoretary replied that the Government had decided to recommend the General Government to construct this desirable work under the provisions of the Immigration and Public Works Act, and that a resolution would be moved to obtain tho sanction of the Council to the Government proposal. — Mr Tarrant asked the Provincial Secretary, " Why not more than one-third of the sum voted to Road Boards had been paid, and whether it is the intention of tho Government to pay the remaining two-thirds before the end of the financial year." The Provincial Secretary replied that it was intended to pay the balance of the votes for Road Boards before the close of the financial year. The condition of the revenue would not admit of an earlier payment — The Goldfields District Bill, and the Appropriation Act were passed, and the Licensing Bill read a second time and committed, and the Council adjourned until

This Day,

The Licensing Bill was passed after some discussion, and at 2 o'clock His Honor prorogued the Council in the following speech;— Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council. I have assented on behalf of his Excellency the Governor to the following Acts : —

" An Act to amend the Law relating to the sale pf .Alcphplic Liquors!" "An Act to amend the Goidflelds Local Revenues Act, 1873." "An Act to further appropriate the Revenue of the Province of Nelson for the Year ending 31st March, 1873."

lam much gratified to find that the important proposals I submitted to you in reference to Public. Works and Immigration have received your approval. I forwarded your resolution on the latter subject to the Colonial Government by telegraph, and have since been informed by them that they have instructed the Agent-General to despatch 150 immigrants per month to this province.

It may, I think, be fairly assumed from f]ie readiness with which fhe Colonial Government haye cpmplied with the wishes of the Province in respect tp Immigration, that they will give an ebually cordial support to the other portion of the scheme— namely, the proposals for opening the country by the construction of Public Works, without which the introduction of bo considerable an acceajsion to the laboring population would, in my opinion, be at the best a doubtful experiment. 'The •unanimity with which these proposals as a whole haye been approved by the Provincial Council will' greatly assist the representatives of the province in procuring the (sanction of the Colonial Legislature, ' I now declare this Council prorogued.