WESTLAND IN THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 355, 12 November 1866, Page 2

WESTLAND IN THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(from our own correspondent.) Christchurch, Friday morning, Nov. 9, 18G6. I have little time to do more than enclose the accompanying notes from your reporter, giving some fuller details of Council proceedings as they affect the interests of your district than you will find in the Christchurch papers which do not profess to report the details — summarising the talking work of two or three hours by some such statement as " there was considerable discussion on this subject." Of coursein the general abstinence from the practice of reporting, Westlaud holds a very infinitesimal space in the records of Council business. This is natural er ough. Westland affairs are accounted of much less importance here than you hold them to be. I think, therefore, you have adopted a judicious course in making special arrangements for furnishing your readers with a record, if not full at least tolerably accurate, of what is said and what is done in the Council concerning you. Your members have certainly not been inactive. They have brought a large number of subjects under the notice of the Council, and have been allowed to do so without any manifestation of impatience on the part of theEastland members. I notice that the general tone of the House is sympathetic towards Westland, and I certainly think that the four representatives who are over here from your side, have adopted a judicious policy in cultivating the good will of the Council, which they have done equally by a show "of firmness and independence, and by an abstinence from obstructive opposition. I will now briefly summarise the proceedings which the subjoined report narrates more fully. Mr Barff withdrew his bill for leasing Ferries on the West Coast, as it was discovpred subsequent to his introduction of the measure of the sound policy of which the whole House have appealed to approve, that the new Goldfields' Act conferred on the Superintendent the powers which the Bill proposed to give him. The same hon. member has taken the preliminary steps for the passing of an ordinance to amend the the law regulating the profession and practice of medicine, and an Ordinance to establish a School Board in Westland. Mr Whall, on putting a question as to the extension of the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate at Greymouth, elicited the statement from the Provincial Secretary that the contemplated appointment of a district judge for Westland would render such a step unnecessary. Mr Bright has obtained his select committee to report upon the reserves and re-survey question in the town of Hokitika. It is understood that the whole subject will be placed at the disposal of the Municipal Council, the Provincial Government going only to the extent of retaining such portions of present reserves as may be absolutely necessary for the accommodation of their own establishments. Mr Bright has also obtained from the Provincial Secretary the promise of an approximate return of the population of Westland, and a further promise to introduce a Bill to hand over Gibson's Quay to the Municipal Council, and to amend the Ordinance passed during the last session. The Bill to declare valid the " election of certain persons to serve as members of the Municipal Council of Hokitika," was introduced by your town member on Wednesday night, and read a first time. I was promised a copy of it from the Government printers in time to send it by this morning's coach, but it has not yet reached me. The second reading is an order of the day for Tuesday. It will be passed as a matter of course. The Fire Ordinance Amendment Bill was read a second time on Wednesday, and passed through Committee after a very arduous struggle. Although bi'ought in by the Provincial Solicitor, the bill was virtually in charge of Mr Bright, who was supported strongly by Mr John Hall and other members of the Council. The Government also stuck to the bill manfully. After various amendments in the second clause had been made, in order to meet more completely the object for which the bill had been introduced, an amendment was proposed in the third clause by Mr Murray Aynsley, which, if carried, would have had the effect of entirely defeating the purpose of the meg sure. Mr Aynsley called for a division on his amendment, but as almost the whole House went over against him, he withdrew his call, and the votes were not formally taken. This has been the only bit of real fighting that has 'taken place during the session, and the Hokitika Fire Brigade may congratulate themselves on the distinction of having given some two hours and a half of exciting occupation to the Council during a very dull session. I may add that it is very probable that the bill, after being reported, will be re- committed, in order to enable the amendments made to be put in better ship-shape Last night Mr Barff moved a resolution recunmemding some library improvements to the House Committee, which was supported by Mr Duncan, Mr Ormsby, Mr Bright, and other members, and carried. ■ " The financial statement was made. It amounted simply to a recapitulation of the items embraced in the printed estimates, which I enclose. The West Coast estimates are kept separate, and have not yet been submitted to the House ; they are promised in a few days. The Westland members are understood to have been holding a conference to prepare a " statement of case " on behalf of the district, and it is said'that they have an interview with his Honor appointed to come off this morning. The substance of their " Bill of Rights" m reported by gossip tq be as follows ;—

• The expenditure of Westland revenues upon Westland -mints ; the adjustment of the debt said to be due on the part of Weßtland to the General Treasury ; the treatment of that debt as a loan, to be repaid within a certain number of years ; the addition to such, loan of any moneys that may be expended in the maintenance of the trunk roads; the sale of such lands as may be declared by a competent commission available for sale without injury to the mining interest ; the employment of the proceeds of such land sales in the formation of. roads and other public - works ; tlie anticipation of the revenue derivable from these lsmd sales by an immediate expenditure by the Government of such moneys as may be required for the construction of roads, &c, urgently required ; and the suppression of the present system of administration by an irresponsible Commissioner, by the establishment of institutions of local government based on the principle of constitutional responsibility. If these representations do not meet with the concurrence of his Honor the Superintendent, and your member in the Greneral Assembly be it borne in mind; I think I have warrant for saying that they will be brought in the form of resolutions before the Provincial Council. I now append the notes from the gallery to which I have alluded, and which I may say are only a brief resume of what took place in the House.