OUR MARLBOROUGH LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4403, 30 April 1875, Page 2

OUR MARLBOROUGH LETTER.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Blenheim, April 28. Since the opening of the session of the Provincial Council last Saturday, the announcement then made by the Superintendent of his intended departure from the colony has been the topic ■of . general conversation. "Urgent family affairs were stated. by Mr. Seymour to demand his presence in England ; but there ia an impression that there are other reasons inducing his absence besides the one alleged, and the very strict secrecy preserved about the matter up to the moment it was announced, would seem to favor the notion that there is more thau has been publicly communicated. One of the rumors is that though Mr. Seymour voted for the abolition resolutions last session, he would not support a measure that would be extended to the Middle Island, and so involve the abrogation of provincial institutions in Marlborough. Yet is would not do- for him, the Chairman of Committees, to vote against the Government, and" so the difficulty is got over by a trip to Europe. Of course this is all mere gossip ; but there have teen indications of Mr. Seymour's feelings (I will not say anything about his opinions) anent the preservation of the provinces in this island, justifying the inference that if he did vote for abolition it would be very much malgre lui. The Provincial Council are getting on rapidly with their work, and : it is generally believed that the session will be brought to a close with the end of the present week. I don't know whether the fact that the members receive no honorarium nor payment for travelling expenses has anything to do with it, but it is nevertheless true that there is a strong desire on the part of country members to get the business of the Council despatched as quickly as those who have the conduct of it desire. On the opening day all the Government Bills were brought in, and yesterday they were read a second time and partially passed through committee. The only measure that provoked any material discussion was a Bill for amending the Education Act. It is not a pretentious measure, being for the most part intended to remedy some defects in the existing Act, which experience has shown to be necessary ; but it also contains provisions for establishing grammar schools and for regulating the appointment of qualified teachers, which I think will prove valuable aids in promoting education in the province. During the debate there was a great deal said about providing board and lodging for children residing in the outlying districts, which, is restricted in the Bill to those children attending grammar Bchools, but which the country members desired to extend to children attending elementary schools, and I think that something in that direction will be done before the BUI is finally passed. At the close of the business of the Council last night, the Superintendent informed the members that the French ship of war, L'lnfernet, being at Picton, he had invited Captain Gierre and the officers of the vessel to lunch to-day, and he asked the members to assist him in receiving his giießts. The lunch took place, at one o'clock to-day, at the Royal Hotel.