TUESDAY, 28th APRIL.

Southland Times, Issue 943, 1 May 1868, Page 5

TUESDAY, 28th APRIL.

The Council met this evening at seven o'clock. Present — Messrs Wilson (Speaker), Dalrymple, Howell, Blacklock, Lumsden, Cowan, Calder, Hodgkinson, Cuthbertson, Basstian, Johnston, and Armstrong. Proceedings having been opened with prayers . The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. REPLY TO THE ADDRESS. Mr Ctjthbebtson- laid on the table the report of the Committee appointed to prepare a reply to His Honor the Superintendent's address, and moved that it be read. Mr Basstian seconded the motion, and the Clerk read as follows : — . The Council concurs with your Honor as to the expediency of calling it together at the present time for the purpose of submitting to its consideration the proposed plan for the completion of "the Oreti railway, which shall receive its deliberate attention. The Council observes with pleasure, that in terms of recent colonial legislation, the territorial revenue is again placed at the disposal of the Local G-o---vernmen t; and that the result of this has been a marked benefit to the settlers, by the improvements thereby effected on the roads in various directions. The suggestions of the Honorable the Attorney-Greneral, for amending the standing rules and orders passed last session, will receive its consideration. The Council shares your Honor's feelings of satisfaction at She • failure of the recent attempt on the life of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, and will gladly avail itself of this opportunity to offer a loyal address to Her Majesty the Queen, expressing its gratification at his happy recovery. The Council is glad to observe that the traffic at the Bluff Harbor has so increased as to demand additional warehouse accommodation. While approving of your Honor's promptitude in despatching an expedition to search for castaways on the Auckland and other islands, the Council at the same time considers that this was a duty equally incumbent on other neighboring Governments, and thinks that they ou^ht to contribute to the expense The Council is glad to learn that there is a prospect of extensive coal beds bein» found in the Province. ° The Council recognises the importance of the concluding paragraph of your Honor's address, and will devote its attention during the recess to the subjects mentioned therein. Mr Ctjthbebtsos- moved that the report be adopted. Mr Caldeb seconded the motion whioh was agreed to.

IMMIGRATION. Mr Calder. in the absence of Mr Pearson, asked the Provincial Treasurer to lay on the table a copy of a letter on the Subject of Immigration, dated 29th Feb. last, addressed to His Honor the Superintendent by Mr Pearson, and whether the Government is prepared to take any steps in the matter." Mr Blacklock, in laying the letter on the table, remarked that while he was in Wellington the subject was mentioned to the members of Government, and he saw it was needless to press the matter further. At present they could not listen to laying aside a block of land especially for immigration purposes. The letter, -which appears in another column, was then read. EDUCATION RESERVES. Mr Lumsden moved — " That there be laid on the table a return of all reserves in the Province, exclusive of those in the ; towns of Invercargill, Campballtown, and 'Biverton, specifying their extent and : situation and the purpose for which such reserves have been set apart, and dis- ! criminating between thosß which have ; been confirmed by the Provincial Council : and those which have not received such confirmation, accompanied with a map of the Province indicating in coloring the situation of the various reserves." In I asking for these returns, the hon. j member said it was to supply himself with information, which might be useful also to other members of Council He had found that of the reserves set apart j for educational purposes, the Board were unable to deal with a large nnmber, because it was in doubt as to their situation, and others had not been authorised by the Council. He thought the motion would briusj the whole matter out. It was desiraUo ti t these reserves should be in the hands of the Board, in. order that it might increase its revenue. Already this had been done with some, and others might be dealt with in the same way if they were specified in an Endowment Ordinance, so as to enable the Board to deal with them. In the course of his travelling he had looked at some of those reserves, and thought that a return of the sort asked for, accompanied by a map, would make the Council acquainted with the facts of the case, and perhaps suggest the idea of advising the Government to go a little further in the matter. Mr Johnston, in seconding the motion, remarked that owing to there being no returns of these lands the Board was unable to come at them. Mr Blacklock said that since the . notice of motion had been given he had had a conversation with the Chief Surveyor, and it appeared that it would take some time to prepare the returns. There was no doubt the reserves were in a state of confusion — no doubt were somewhat neglected; — but the present Government had nothing to keep back regarding them, as all the reserves they had made were registered. Mr Lumsden, as a reason for wishing for the return, referred to the fact that several sections which had been set apart were sold ; and if this was the case, where were the funds, for educational purposes to come from ? He did not blame the I present Government, but considered that I the matter should be looked into. The motion was then agreed to. Mr Peaeson was to have asked the Provincial Treasurer whether the Government was prepared to act on his suggestion of last session, and bring in a bill altering the sheep reserves into educational ones. Dr Hodgkinson, in the absence of Mr Peai'son, who had not then arrived, put | tLe question. It seemed very desirable, he said, that this should be done. It j appeared to him that these sheep reserves might be made to serve both purposes in this way: that they could be used as sheep reserves till they were required for educational reserves. Mr Blacklocb: said the Government had the matter under consideration, but were not prepared at present to bring in a bill. These sheep reserves were sd much land set apart for sale, and for their use the runholders paid a fee of twopence per acre. If they were declared education reserves, the squatters would at once claim compensation, as a matter, of course. The reserve would have to be withdrawn from a part of the run, or it would be of no benefit to the Education Board. By-and-bye this claim for compensation would decrease in amount ; in fact, in some instances be nil ; , and then he thought it would be time to enter into the matter. The subject then dropped. CATTLE DISEASE. Mr Armstrong asked the Government what precautionary measures it intends to adopt in order to prevent the spreading of the disease called pleuro-pueumonia amongst the cattle in this Province. He knew the Government had taken some steps in the matter, and that a report had been sent in. Perhaps the Government would lay it on the table and let the Council see what had been done. He knew the disease was in the Province. Mr M'Cltjre laid on the table the report of the Cattle Inspector, and assured the House that quarantine grounds, fenced in, would be put up if the disease appeared to spread ; but if there were no indications of its doing so, Government were unwilling to incur the expense. He moved that the report be read. The Peovincial Treasurer seconded the motion, which was agreed to and the report read. Mr M'Clure, at this stage of the proceedings, stated that he had just been informed that the Ladies' Benevolent Association was holding a meeting, which was languishing because of the hon. members not attending. He therefore asked leave to postpone his motion as to the completion of the Oreti Kailway, in order that the members of the Council might have an opportunity of being present. Mr Armstrong seconded the motion. He had just left the Ladies' Association meeting and could state that it was languishing.

Mr BaSs*ian supported the motion. When ladies admitted that they could not get on without them, the gentlemen ought to second their views. The motion was then put and carried. Mr Blacklock called the attention of the members, before leaving, to the fact that it was Southland's coal which was burning in the grate. Mr Cowan gave notice that at next sitting of Council he would move for the appointment of a select committee to prepare an address to Her Majesty, on the escape of Prince Alfred from the late attempt made on his life. Mr Caldee moved that the House adjourn till to-morrow, (this day) at 11 a.m. Mr Armstrong: Yea, on the understanding that all the members go to the ladies' meeting. Dr Hodgkinson seconded the motion which was agreed to, and the speaker left the chair. (For remainder of Council see page 3.)