PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4404, 1 May 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The twenty-eighth session of the Provincial Council was opened yesterday, the members presentbeing—the Provincial Secretary, Messrs. Hunter, Pearce, Cruickshank, Wright, Buckley l . Graham, Lowes, Andrew, Hutchison, Crawford, Brandon, and C. Pharazyn. - PROCLAMATION. The Speakeb (W. W. Taylor, Esq,) having taken the chair, The Clehk read the proclamation summon--ing members to attend the opening of the Council. The Seegeant-at-Akms having announced the approach of the Superintendent, his Honor entered the Chamber, and delivered the SPEECH, which will be found in a supplement to this, day's issue. On the motion of the PROVINCIAL SECRETARY, the Speech was ordered to beprinted. PAPERS. A number of papers laid on the table by theProvincial Secretary, were ordered to be printed. PETITIONS. Mr. BUCKLEY presented "a petition from-two-thirds of the ratepayers in the Upper Takapu district, pointing out that they have for years been cut off from communication with the Ferry at Porirua, and Duck Creek at Pahautanui, for want of a road ; that the "Wellington District Highway Road Board has refused to take steps to remedy the grievance*; that they have for "some time used a temporary road through Mr. Chew's property, which is now closed to them ; and that their only remedy was to ask the Council to constitute the district into a separate highway district. Mr.' C. PHARARYN presented a petition from Mr. M: G-reathead, praying for redress for ' damage done to his property by the formation of a new road, necessitated by the overflow of the Waiohihe River. The petitions were received. MESSAGE NO. 1. The SPEAKER, announced the receipt of message No. 1, enclosing a Bill to appropriate the sum of £44,884. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY asked for permission to move that the Bill be passed through all its stages during the present sitting, in order that the Treasurymight be empowered to make payments on account of the liabilities enumerated in clause 2. Leave being given, the Bill was passed through all its stages and read a third time. MESSAGE NO. 2. The SPEAKER announced the receipt of message No. 2, - enclosing the estimates and expenditure for the financial year 1875-6. NOTICES OP MOTION. Several notices of motion were given, amongst them being one by Mr. Hutchison, ■ to the following effect,—That this Council, approving of the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 20th August last, expressing the opinion that " taking the circumstances of the colony into consideration the provincial form of Government in the NorthIsland should be abolished," request the Executive of the province so to arrange the business to be brought before the Council, during its present session, and . provincial business generally, as to facilitate the carryingout of the aforesaid resolution, and to cooperate with the General Government with the same object in view, that the abolition of provincial institutions in Wellington may be effected economically, easily, and without any jar or interruption to the public business. The Council then adjourned till Monday* at the usual hour.