THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 355, 13 May 1874, Page 3

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Monday, Mat 11th. Petitions were presented from the Wakatip district ; from Invercargill and from Oteramika, and Mount Ida districts, praying for the stoppage of Sunday traffic on the Port Chalmers Eailway. Mr. Brown presented a petition from Thomas Grundy, praying that enquiry might be made into the circumstances leading to his removal from the office of Inspector of Depasturing Licenses at Tuapeka. Mr. Brown also presented a petition from 85 settlers at Crookston, asking the Government to set aside land in that district for settlement. OF EAILWAY PEOM IA'WBENOB TO" Mr. Mackellar asked the Secretary for Works — " What steps were taken during the recess in re proceeding with the extension [of the Railway from Lawrence to Roxburgh simultaneously with the construction of the Tokomairiro-Lawrence line ? " Mr. Reid replied that the only step he was aware of having been taken was that the matter had been brought before the General Assembly. He believed a Bill was passed through the House of Representatives recommending that the railway should be proceeded with, and that land should be set aside as security for its construction. That Bill was not passed by the Legislative Council, and there, he believed the matter dropped. THE DEEE&RED PAYMENT BLOCKS. In reply to Mr^. Wood Mr. Reid said — that he expected to be able in the course of a few days to lay on the table plans showing the blocks of land to be disposed of upon deferred payments. He believed that the* area of land which the Government intended to open during the year was quite as much as they could get surveyed during the year. If the Assembly did amend the Act it would be necessary for the Council to rcommend special areas to be fetaken, and the Government did not desire, in anticipation of what might be done by the Assembly, to submit any proposal to the Council. REPORT ON PETITIONS. Mr. Bastings brought up Interim Report by the Goldfields Committee upon the petition of certain miners at Blacks — praying that some land should be thrown open in theif district. The Committee recommended that the prayer of the petition should be granted to the extent of 2500 acres. EAILWAX TO KINGSTON. A resolution requesting His Honor the Superintendent to urge upon the General Government the jiecessity of completing the railway from Winton to Kingston was agreed to. . ■ Some other 'business of an uninteresting kind was transacted, when the Council adjourned till 2 o,clock yesterday.