THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 354, 9 May 1874, Page 3

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, 6th Mat. Mr. Ireland asked the Government — " Whether it is intended to open land for settlement on the following runs, and, if so. (o what extent respectively— Nos. 326, 328, 3^7212, and,l7B ?.*' ; . . , Mr. Ecid said it was their intention to open land on these runs, but he could not state to what extent at present. THE NEW GOVERNMDNT-. Message No. 3, from the Superintendent, was as follows :^— " The Superintendent informs the Provincial Council that he has received and accepted the resignations of George Turnbull, Esq., as Provincial Secretary and Treasurer ; George Murray Webster, Esq., as Secretary for Land j • Horace Bastings, Esq., as Secretary for Goldfields ; and James Shand, Esq., as members of the Executive Council ; and has appointed Donald Eeid, Esq., Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Laud and Works ; George Turnbull, Esq., Provincial Treasurer ; Eobert Stout, Esq., Provincial Solicitor ; George Murray Webster, Esq., and George Lumsden, Esq.. members of the Executive Council." MINING> CONFERENCES. Mr. De Latour' asked the 1 Provincial Secretary whether the Government would be prepared to take advantage of the powers delegated to them under the Goldfields Act, 1866, and- the Amendment Act of 1867, to grant tho desire expressed by the Mining Conferences of 1872 and 1874, " That a Mining Board, to frame their own by-laws, should be appointed for the province of Otago." The hon. member said he did not wish to press the Government to give an answer at the present time, unless they had made up their minds on the point, as it was a matter that would reg uire serious consideration. Mr. Eeid said the Government would take the matter into their serious consideration, and state what course they intended to take. MINERAL LEASES. Mr. B, Clark moved, " That thers be laid upon the table of this Council a return showing the quantity of land held by virtue of mineral leases in each gold-field of the province, and of the amount of rent receive during the last twelve months for such leases " — Carried. BTJNS. Mr. J. C. Brown moved, " That there be laid upon the table a return showing the position of each run in the province of Otago, number of stock depastured, and amount of rent received during 1873-4 ; also, date of expiry of said leases, acreage of land taken from each run, whether for sale, lease, or deferred payments, during the last five years, detailing each year separately." — Carried.