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Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 223, 9 May 1872, Page 5

powers of Provincial Councils were to cease, and in lieu a Council of nineteen members should be adopted. The General Government proposed to withdraw all the powers of Provincial Councils, and vest them in the Governor and his Executive. Although the Bill did grasp the whole subject, it provided local powers of administration, in which others might be grafted. The adjournment , would give opportunity for considering the provision of that Bill. Mr Mervyn supported the adjournment. Mr Cutten said there could be no doubt a change in the Institutions of New Zealand was intended. It was therefore essential to discuss the measure, and take the initiative. Any proposal for self Government, emanating from a central Governmant, invariably ignored outlying districts, more or less.. Mr McLean proceeded to discuss some of the provisions of the Bill which he considered too limited; and that many road districts were as extended as the proposed shires. Mr Hutchison supported the adjournment of the debate, but proposed it should" be to Wednesday evening instead of Monday. This was seconded by Mr Bastings. The Provincial Secretary said his only objection was, there was but little business before the Council, and it might be a waste of time to postpone it so long. He explained that the Government were not wedded to areas of twenty-five square miles ; and that it was altogether left to distdcts to decide whether they would join the shires or not. On the question being put, the debate was adjourned to Monday. LA WHENCE RESERVES MANAGEMENT BILL. The second reading of the Lawrence Reserves Management Bill was postponed to Monday. LAWRENCE HOSPITAL. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary it was resolved to present an address to his Honor the Superintendent, recommending certain reserves to be added to the Hospital* Reserve, Lawrence — viz. section 16, 17, 18, block 2, Lawrence (1 rood 32 poles.) ORETI RAILWAY. The Hon. Dr Menzies moved, " That an addressed be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will be please to cause copies of the specifications and contracts for the construction of the Winton railway ; of the correspondence referring to the completion of tha contracts ; of the deed of submission referring disputes to arbitration ; of the evidenc given before the arbiters ; and of the award of the arbiters, to be laid upon the table." The hon member reviewed the various circumBtances out of which the arbitration had arisen, and urged the necessity of the House being placed in possession of the informaion required. The Hon Mr Holmes seconded the motion. The Provincial Secretary intimated that there would be no objection on the part of the Government. , ' After a few remarks from Mr Lumsden, the motion was agreed to without opposition. ,v r Bradshaw laid on the table the Report of the Roads and Works Department for the year 1871-2. . no On the motion of the Provincial Secretary, the FTouse, at 3.30, adjourned till two o'clock on Monday.

Ma-s 6. The Speaker took the chair at 2 o'clock. Several papers were laid on the table, amongst them copies of the Otago Waste Lands Bill, as passed by the House of Representatives. 5O5 O • . , / MESSAGE NO. 4.' His Honor, by message, recommended to the consideration of the Council the propriety of recommending to the House of Kepresentatives a Bill to enable the Otago Dock Trust to borrow an additional LIO.OUO for the purpose of providing plant and other necessary appliances. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. The Government, in reply to Mr Reynolds, said that as to a proposal to lease the Southern Market Reserve by the Corporation, they would not interfere to prevent it, as it had been producing no revenue for ten years, and was to be let on favorable conditions at L2OO a year, which would be allowed to accumulate for market purposes.— ln reply to Mr G. F. C. Browne, tnat no steps had been taken to set aside unoccupied districts specified by him in the Waitahuna district for a market reserve. No application for agricultural leases had been applied for. The matter had been accidentally overlooked.—ln answer to Mr Sumpter, the reason why no steps had been taken to put the main road between Awamoko and Oamaru in repair, was that the tenders received were so far in excess of the appropriation that they did not feel justified in accepting any of them. — In reply to the Hon. DrMenzies, that no engineer had been sent to survey the line of road from the Oreti aud Mararua Valleys to the Hollyford River. With infermation received from the Chief Surveyor, they did not think it necessary to make "a special survey.