WESTLAND IN THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 112, 26 January 1866, Page 2

WESTLAND IN THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

We aye indebted to the eourtosv of Mr Mallet, of tlio Resident Magistrate's. Court, for a copy of the Ly Helton Times of the 201 h hist., brought yesterday evening overland from Oh riM church, Tj, contains flint-tors of p-omo imporUiwo to lliisdiatvif.i. In ||(f» i'rovinfiul Van\\o\i c,\\ i]it> lfj|]i iiini., flw uititlon oH'^ fiwtfwy I'm- WfPfei o»i H»

'iibjocb o(' rural laiuls on tlio A Vest Coast came •uhUt consideration. MY Hall moved the adoption of an address to (lie Superintendent, requesting him to apply to the. General Government to set apart the lands s-pecififd in the printed list. Mr ]s;irff opposed the motion, and stated ten thousand persons ivero engaged in mining on the very slip of hind which the Government proposed to appropriate. He urged at least, siiould Ihe re&o utioii lie carried, of a reservation in favor of the niinrrs, should the lands sold prove to be auriferous. Mr Prosser supported Air Barff's views, and advocated the policy of leasing the lands instead of selling them. Mr Hall said he thought the question was being discussed too much from a mining point of view, and considered thc.t the mining interests ought not to override every o'her, Mr Wilson supported the resolution, believing that in a short time the West Coast would become a vast agricultural country, and that the mining interest was destined to give place to the agricultural interest. Mr Ilawkes thought the lands should be sold in order to stimulate settlement, and that it was impossible to define the auriferous area of Weftland. Mr Hall Paid, if it was found in any ea^c successful mining opeiafcions were being carried on, the land would not be Fold. MrPioeser moved the following amendment, iv the form of an addition to the resolution of thp Government :--"That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that plans of the blocks of land proposed to be .sold, be submitted to the Council for their approval, together with the upset price," This amendment vas earned on division by ten votes to .six. The Secretary for Public Works iminedi.itely withdrew lite resolution. In Committee the Provincial Council Extension Bill was considered. The Government provide to fix the number of members for the West Coast at five. Mr Prosser moved for an additional member but his motion was lost on a division. On the motion of Mr. Hall an additional clause was inserted, to the effect of the portion of the bill defining the representation of Westlarid shall remain in force only until the 31st December, 18G7, in consequence of the fluctuating character of ilie population. A motion by Mr. l'rosser was assented toby Mr. Hall, and carried by the House, in favour of the transfer of the gold escort to the "West Coast as a district escort. Mr. Hall, in assenting, baid the Government had determined to suspend tlu further working of the escort on Ihe original plan in consequence of the greater facilities for taking gold from Ilokitika by sea. On the 19lh instant, Mr. Jlawke'a motion for a sum of ,C2OO to be placed on the estimates as an acknowledgment of the services of Albert Hunt as a gold ciiocovevcr, was carried without opposition.