PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 16, 16 December 1871, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, December 14. The following items are all we find of interest to the Thames population in the meagre report of the Provincial Council proceedings in the Auckland newspapers of Friday:— Mr Mitchell presented a petition from the European and native inhabitants at OhinGinuri, praying that the Provincial Council would aid in opening up the district by granting a subsidy to the steamlaunch ‘ Fairy,’ now plying between Grahamstown and that place.—The petition was read and received. LAND FOR VOLUNTEERS. Mr Gordon asked the Provincial Secretary, “ When and where any land will be available, so that Volunteers holding land certificates will be able to exercise them ?’’ The Provincial Secretary replied some misunderstanding must have arisen respecting this matter, because there was, at the present time, town and country land immediately available for being taken up by Volunteer certificates, an aggregate of 155.084 acres. These lands were in the county of Mangonui, county of Hokianga, Queen’s county, &c. THE lIAURAKI LADIES’ BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. Mr Ellis moved, “ That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Supeiintendent, requesting him to cause to be placed on the Additional Estimates the sum of £l5O, to supplement the private subscriptions to the Hauraki Ladies’ Benevolent Society.” Mr Beveridge seconded the motion. Mr Brookfield moved as an amendment “ That the words ‘ Auckland and Onehunga ’ be added after the word ‘Hauraki.’ ” Mr Lundon seconded the amendment. On the question beiug put, whether the words proposed to be added be so added, the Council divided, Mr Brookfield and Mr Ellis tellers, Aj'es, 8 ; noes, 10. The amendment was therefore lost. On the main question being put, the Council again divided, Mr Beveridge and Mr Douglas tellers: Ayes, 5 ; noes, 13. The motion was therefore lost. A RAILWAY FROM TIIE THAMES TO THE EAST COAST. Mr Mitchell m«ved, “That in the opinion of this Council any railways constructed under the Public Works and Immigration Act, 1870, upon the Thames goldfield, should be by way of the valley of the Thames to the East Coast, in the neighbourhood of Tauranga.” Mr Mackay seconded the motion. A lengthened discussion ensued, during which it was explained that the intention of the motion was, when a railway was constructed in the Thames district, it should be across from Ohinemuri to Tauranga. Mr May thought it would be better to carry a railway up the Thames Valley into the Waikato district, and thus southward. The motion was agreed to. TIIE THAMES MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE. Mr Mitchell moved, “ That a respectful address be presentep to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place upon the Additional Estimates for 1872 a sum of two hundred and fifty pounds (£250) in aid of the Thames Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library.” Mr Mackay seconded the motion. A lengthy debate ensued, after which Mr Buckland moved as an amendment, “ To strike out all the words in the original motion after 1 £250,’ in order to insert the following : ‘ to assist in the formation of a public library at the Thames goldfield, to be conducted under the Act of the General Assembly for promoting the establishment of free public libraries.’ ” Mr Gordon seconded the amendment. The amendment was negatived, and the original motion carried.