PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 67, 23 December 1871, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21. The following business was transacted at the former sitting of the Council after two o’clock a.m., and before the Council rose : COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The Council went into committee of the whole to further consider the Estimates. Mr Fanner in the chair. The following items were agreed to :—Two boatmen, Shorthand harbour, at £0 per month each, £144; new buoy, Thames River, £25; Sub-Inspector of Police, Thames district, £250 ; additional salary of chief clerk to Warden (Thames), £SO. The item was passed as proposed. The following item was agreed to without objection: In aid of Volunteers, Thames district, £125.

THE KAIPARA RAILWAY CONTRACT. Mr Gordon asked the Goldfields Secretary, “When the Government intend to give the Council an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the Kaipara Railway contract ?” The Goldfields Secretary replied that the Kaipara Railway contract bad turned up three or four times in the discussion of the Council. In fact he had got Kaipara Railway on the brain by those discussions. He was willing to fulfil the promise made and to take the discussion the lion, member referred to, and to defend the action of the Government in the matter if required. His excuse for not having given the Council an opportunity of discussing the matter before was the great press of work which had been on baud. EFFICIENCY OF VOLUNTEERS. Mr Lundon moved, “ That in the opinion of this Council it would tend to encourage Volunteering in this province if prizes were offered by the Provincial Government to the best shots amongst the Volunteers, and also to those who showed the greatest efficiency in drill. That a respectful address ha presented _to his Honour the Superintendent, requesting him to recommend for appropriation by this Council the sum of £7OO to promote the above object, to be distributed as follows: —£ooo among the Volunteers, and £2OO among the enrolled Cadets and boys learning drill at school in connection with the Board of Education. That his Honour be requested to confer with the commanding officers of the districts of Auckland, Hauraki, Waiuku, Waikato, and Tauranga, as to the best mode of offering these prizes.” Mr Philips seconded the motion. After a rather lengthened debate, the motion was pat and the Council divided— Avcs, 15 ; noes, 5. the case of mu a. untiiank. Mr Mackay moved, “ That this Council concurs in the report of the Select Committee on the case of Alexander Unthank. That a respectful address be presented to his Honour the Superintendent, requesting him to give effect to the recommendation of the report.” Mr Mitchell seconded the motion. Discussion at some length ensued ; the motion was agreed to. COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. The following items were agreed to : Native land purchase (additional), £1,100; special order for 1871, £2,443 13s lid ; purchase of public recreation ground, cemetery, hospital site, and rifle range at the Thames, £1,000; construction of main road to southern boundary of Thames goldfields, £3,000 ; opening and developing of new goldfields, £I,OOO ; refund of wholesale license fee paid by Messrs Hooper, Oliffe, and Co., brewers, £2O ; in aid of the Cadet Corps Volunteers, £IOO ; establishment of female reformatory, £2OO ; in aid of Auckland Mechanics’ Institute £75 ; in aid of the Thames Mechanics’ Institute, £IOO : erection of lock-up at Ilowick, £150; grant to family of the late Rev E. 11. Heywood, £l5O ; boring for Artesian wells, £250 ; roads and works north of Auckland, £1,000; in aid of erection of hospital at Thames, £I,OOO. The various clauses in the Appropriation Bill were then agreed to. The Council resumed, and the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again presently. ADJOURNMENT. The Council at 1.45 a.m. adjourned until 3 o’clock p.m. at the next sitting.