Thursday, 13th July.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 180, 20 July 1871, Page 5

Thursday, 13th July.

Mr. Cargill brought up the report of the Select Committee appointed to consider the petitions of the Roman Catholic inhabitants of the province, expressing disapproval of the educational system. Mr. Haughton, one of the members of the Select Committee, recorded a protest against the report. On the motion of Mr. Cargill, it was resolved that the report, together with the evidence, should be printed. Mr. Haughton moved, " That this Council, in accordance with Part 111. of the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870, desires to recommend, under the provisions of the said Act, that the following works, without delay, be initiated for water supply on the goldfields, with a view to their construction under subsidy, or by guarantee of interest on the money expended: — 1. Head race from Coal Creek to Bannockburn Ranges, Dunstan district. 2. Head race from the Little Kyeburn to the workings about Naaeby, to be used as flushiug water, Mount Ida district. 3. Reservoir in the Tuapeka basin, Tuapeka district. 4. And such other works as the Government may deem advisable. That a respectful address be presented to his Honour the Superintendent, requesting him to forward the foregoing resolution to the General Government." Carried. His Honour's Message, No. 11, was taken into consideration. The following is the message :—" The Superintendent solicits the attention of the Provincial Council to the necessity of making provision for meeting the past deficiency in the revenue as compared with the expenditure. With this view, he would suggest an expression of opinion on the part of the Council, to the effect that the Executive Government should, if necessary, dispose of, say, 50,000 acres of land in one or more blocks. Although as a matter of policy it would no doubt be undesirable to dispose of such a large area of land to one person, at the same time such sale would at once relieve the province from a considerable burden in the shape of interest, and would enable provision to be made more freely than can otherwise be done for the construction of neceseary public works, and for the cancellation of such pasLoral leases as are requisite for the acquiring of land for settlement." Mr. Reid moved the following resolution as a reply to the Message :- -" That this C.uncil, having had under its consideration His Honour's Message No. 11, is of opinion that it is desirable to provide revenue for the purposes indicated, and with this view resolve to authorise the Government to dispose of 50,000 acres of land in one or more blocks, T,nd would' recommend that before the sale of any land under the authority of this resolution, full and careful enquiry should be made, with a view to prevent the alienation of any land, the sale of which may be, or may be deemed to be, prejudicial to the public interests." The resolution was carried. Mr. J. C. Brown moved the third reading of the Paym.nt of Members Bill. After some discussion the Speaker said that the House' had already decided that the payment should be fixed at. 15s per diem. A provision was now inserted in the Bill before the Council that the payment should be fixed at a sum riot exceeding 20s pe>' diem for: country members, and 10s for town ni»mber». Hi: ruling was that that provision, did . not alter the resolution .previously, agreed to. The Bill was tliea read a third time aud passed. The House -.-went into Committee for the purpose -.of considering, certain additions ' to. . the Land Resolutions- already : parsed. The debate was adjourne4. until Monday, 17th inst. ....'.