ARRIVAL OF THE ESCORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 174, 6 June 1862, Page 4

ARRIVAL OF THE ESCORT.

Owing to the heavy state of the roads, the Es cort did not reach town last evening until halfpast six o'clock. The following are the severa quantities : — 07.3. dwts. Tuapeka 2336 10 Wnitahuna 589 15 AVaipori 122 10 Woolshed 152 15 Total 3201 10 • . ■"""'" "n«w OTAGO PROVINCIAL CO UN CI L. THURSDAY, sth JUNE, 1802. The House resumed, ,punuant to adjournment, at half-past four o'clock, when the Speaker read the usual form of prayer.' MINUTES. ' The Clerk of the House read the minutes of the last proceedings, which were confirmed. STEAM 'POSTAL-COMMUNICATION. Mr. WALKER, pursuant to notice, asked "what steps the Government ar>; taking regarding Steam Postal Communication with Melbourne, in anticipa- | tion of the expiration of the contract entered into by Mr. Crosbie Ward." ,;^ Mr. DICK explained that as negotiations'jfor the purpose referred to by the lion, member (Mr. Walker) were now pending1, it would be inconvenient to give a direct answer to the question, as it might prejudice those arrangements. After this explanation Mr. Walker would, not press the question. PIRE BMGADE. Mr. WALKER moved,." That the Government be authorised to loan the sum. of £1000 to the Dunedin Town Board, for the special purpose of organizing a Fire Brigade, in anticipation of money to be raised by the Municipal Body, when properly constituted." It was urged on behalf of the Government that the Town Board, having made no application for such a grant, it would not be desirable tor the Government to make the offer. Mr. KILGOUR, as a member of the Town Board, expressed his disapproval of the motion. After a few remarks by Messrs. Howorth and Patersou, the question was put and negatived. SEPARATION. Mr. WALKER, pursuant to notice, rose to move the adoption of'the following resolutions on Separation :— 1. " That tho province of Otago, in common with the other Provinces of the Middle Island of New Zealaud, is subject to great inconvenience and. injustice jn consequence of the distance from the seat of Government, and the diverse interests of the two islands."

2. " That the Middls Island of New Zealand has attained to sufficient importance, both in regard to population and. the magnitude of its resources, to warrant its being constituted into a distinct colony ; and this Council desires to express its opinion that every legitimate means should, be resorted to by tha Province of Otago to obtain this result, due regard being had to the honorable discharge of existing liabilities."

3. " That to promote the separation of the two islands, the Province of Otago should endeavor to secure the co-operation of the other Provinces, and for this purpose that the Speaker be requested to communicate theae resolutions to the several Councils of the Middle Island Provinces, accompanied by the request that they will assist towards forwarding the object desired."

Ho remarked that they agreed with what had been intended, to have been proposed by the lion, gentleman at the head of the Government. The hou. member referred to the great inconvenience accruing to the Legislature of the Province horn the distance of tho seat of Government, and that Native: aiFuirs, which did not affect this island, occupied the principal attention of the Genei-al Assembly.

A discussion ensued in which, most cf the lion, members present expressed their approval of the tenor of the resolutions, but it was urged that aa the pre-

. cut Meeting of the Council was merely an adourned one specifically for the passing of a Building Ordiuswcc, and that tliore had been a tacit understanding with Ihe country members that no i;c-,r business was to be introduced in their absence, it would not be fair to enter upon so important .v subject in the absence of the country members. It would be also more satisfactory, that the question should bo •discussed by the full Council, and any definite resolution they might adopt would then carry more weijtht. ' Mr. WALKER would, with leave of the House, withdraw these resolutions, and would re-introduco them at a future meeting' of the Council. BUILDING ORDINANCE, 1802. Mr. HOWOHTH moved the second reading of this ■ Bill, which wns-re-coiumitted..' Mr. CUTTEN thought that the Bill ought to bo referred to a Select Committee, and would ask the Government to Jay on *Jie table of the House tho Reports of the several Committees on tho subject. Question put and carried. Bill re-committed. The CHAIRMAN reported progress. Mr. M'GLASHAN gave notice, that to-morrow he would move the third reading of the bill. ADJOUIINMKNT. Mr. DICK moved the adjournment of the House until i o'clock to-morrow. THIS WOOLSIIED DIGGINGS. Mr. CATCGILL bugged leave to call the attention of the House to the present state of affairs at the Woolshed diggings, as the lion, member had been informed that there was no law or order there of any kind. There were no less than fourteen grog shanties in one street, and there was no police stationed there at all. Mr. GULLIES observed that the statements made by the hon. member were utterly uncalled for, and pronounced the conduct of the diggers on tho locality in question as having been most exemplary. Mr.OAHGILL would state that he believed that there was no body of men better conducted than the diggers generally. The House adjourned at seven o'clock until tomorrow (this day) at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.