PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Tuesday, December 27.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 878, 31 December 1853, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Tuesday, December 27.

After several notices of motion had been given, Mri Revans gave notice he would move that the sum of £200 be placed on the Estimates to obtain information as to the mineral resources of the Province. This was no new proposition, it had been acted on in other communities, namely South Australia and Canada, with the most beneficial results. MR. Wilson's claim. Mr. Lyon moved the adoption of the report of the Committee on Mr. Wilson's petition, recommending the sum of J6700 to be granted as compensation for loss on contract of Gaol, and hoped that under the peculiar and unpre-

cedented circumstances of the case the House would agree to it. Mr. Moore Supported the adoption of the report, and urged Mr. Wilson s claim on the public as being a just and equitable one. The Pkov. Secretary at some length argued against the view taken hy the previous speakers as to the justice of such claims, hut admitted the expediency of entertaining the present as an exceptional case, especially as they were now about to enter into the contract system, and if they were to deal too severely with contractors, they would at the outset strike a blow at the system which would operate very prejudicially. Under all the circumstances he would move as an amendment that the sum of £ 3&0 be granted as compensation, which after some further discussion, was agreed to. COMMITTEE .OF SUPPLY. The Provincial Secretary said hefore moving the next item, he would state it was not his intention to, -press the passing of the Appropriation Bill until near the end of the session, so that the Council would not let the power with, respect to this measure pass wholly out of its hands. In the Sterns for repair of the North road and Hutt -road it had been deemed expedient to curtail the former amount to £GOO, and the latter to £1000, to allow of the greatest number of. new works being undertaken. . . - Mr. Brown at great length urged the claims of the Porirua road to consideration, and contended that the amount allowed for the repair of 'that road should he increased to £800. A<• good deal of discussion ensued ; the items were at last agreed to, on the understanding that the North road would be open to a supplementary vote. , In answer to a question from Mr Hart, the Provincial Secretary stated that no sum had , been placed on the estimates for a bridge over . the Kaiwarra, or the Koro korro. ..On the item of £1000 for widening the beach road. ; , The Prov. Sbcbetar* Said the Jbe&dh Toad must be regarded as part of a trunk line, and not simply for the benefit of those living on the street. The traffic which cut up the road most would be found to be the country traffic, and until it was prat into a thorough state of repair it was not reasonable to call upon the inhabitants to bear the "expense Mr. LunxAMTsaid the owners <jf some of the Town Acres along the Hne had been formerly allowed tv take in the space originally laid out as the road on an «nders_taading that they would make the road themselves, aad if they had completed their engagement there would have been no necessity for the present outlay. Mr. Moore said if the Beach road was to be regarded a part of a trunk line, it was only fair it should be treated entirely as the rest of (the road, and not only constructed but also kept in repair as part &f the trunk line. Mr. Bfll, en the part of the Chairman, proposed the sum >of £300 should be placed on the" Estimates «to encourage geological inquiries, stnd -to obtain information as to the mineral res^&rces of the Province. Such a course would be attended with the best results to -the cortfmunity, particularly as it was known that by the land regulations mineral lands were reserved for sale by auction. Mr, Moore inquired if the Government had any person in new on whom they intended to confer the appointment. The Prov, Secretary replied in the negative. He highly approved of the suggestion, and stated ia correboration, that a friend of Jars who had #rsat practical experience in minerals had assured him of his firm conviction oH the existence in the Upper Hutt of silver to :a great extent ; he had also heard similar observations in another quarter. Cornish miners had also declared there were strong indications of oopper on the Eastern side of the Hutt Mr. Lton was of opinion it should be made generally known out of the colony that the services -of a practical geologist were required. He could bear testimonj to the existence of extensive fields of •coal. Some discussion took place as to the arrangement with reference to the Pilot's salary > when it was understood that the salary for the cur-rent-year was to be £100 with half the amount of Pilotage. . The Chairman then repdrted progress, and | the house adjourned*.