NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 250, 20 May 1868, Page 3

NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The following reports of Council proceedings are extracted from the Nelson papers, and contain the bu- , siness of interest to this portion of the province:— TUESDAY, MAT 12. The Speaker took the chair at five •o'clock, when the minutes of the previous sitting were read and confirmed. The Provincial Secretary laid on the table a correspondence that had taken jplace between the Government and Mr Kynnersley, respecting the Westport "Wharf; a letter from Mr Thompson "about the Waimea-road; and a report from the Provincial Engineer on the Karamea road. BtXLLEB QUIT BESERVE. Mr Bentley moved, and Mr Donne •■seconded) " That a Select Committee be appointed to consider the legality of the steps taken by the Government in allowing the Buller Quay Reserve to be occupied under the Goldfields Business Licenses, and aB to the power of the Government to lease or sell any portion of the said reserve $ such cominittee to consist of Messrs Donne, Pitt, Home, M'Mahon, Wastney, Burn and the mover." Mr Pitt moved as an amendment, *" That a Select Committee be appointed to consider the steps taken by the Government in allowing the Buller ■Quay Reserve to be occupied under the G oldfields Business Licenses; such ■committee to consist of Messrs Donne, Pitt, Home, M'Mahon, "Wastney, Burn, the Provincial Secretary, and the mover." The amendment was adopted. PUBLIC WHARVES BILL. On the motion of the Provincial -Solicitor, this bill was read a third time and passed.

THUKSDAY, MAT 14. Mr J. V. Smith moved, and Mr C. Selling seconded, " That in the opinion of this Council, all Crown Lands for sale in the South-West Groldfields should be exposed by public auction in the town of Westport." Mr Donne moved as an amendment, "" That all land for sale on the SouthWest Croldfields should be offered for sale in the town within the district Where the land is situated." Mr Home seconded the amendment. Mr Simmonds and Mr White opposed both motion and amendment. The Provincial Solicitor reminded honorable gentlemen that no land could be sold on the goldfields. The Government had caused certain lands to he sold at Charleston, but it was very unsatisfactory, for people in Nelson really knew nothing about them. Experience had taught Government that land would be much better sold here than on the West Coast. Mr Home said he differed from those honorable members who spoke against the motion. He thought that land for sale in Charleston should be sold there, and the same with regard to land at Westport. He hoped the Council would look liberally at the motion.

Mr C. Kelling thought that all porsons at the "West Coast should he allowed to purchase Crown lands in the large towns where they reside. As regarded new machinery, he didnotsee what necessity there was for it, as one of the Land Office clerks could easily sell the land.

Mr "Wigley opposed both motion and amendment, because he thought Government desired to get the highest pnce they could for the land. If this motion was carried* there must be a duplicate set of maps; and he did not see how that could be done without Considerable expense,

The Provincial Secretary Said the motion, if carried, would work very inconveniently. After the last sale at Cobden, it was not possible for some time to sell land hem, situate in that district, because the officers in the Land Office knew not what land had been sold there. On a division, the motion and amendment were lost. Ayes, 5 ; Noes, 14. COURT OF APPEAL. Mr Home moved, "That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to use his best means to induce the Government at Wellington to authorize the sitting of a Court of Appeal at Charleston, to hear appeals from the Wardens and Eesident Magistrates." He -said there was enormous expense incurred itt taking witnesses in these cases to Westport. All he therefore sought was that the district judge should be required to sit at Charleston to hear appeal cases. It would incUr no additional expense. Mr Beitt -seconded the motion.

The Provincial Secretary said there was but a distance of some twenty-five miles between Charleston and Westport, on a good road, and that there had not been more than some six cases of appeal yet preferred from the Charleston district.

Mr Smith said he saw no reason for the motion.

Mr Simmonds supported the motion because, after all, it rested with the Government to decide whether they would comply with the motion if carried.

On the motion of Mr Dreyer, it was resolved that the words, "and Eesident Magistrates " be struck out. The motion was then put and adopted.

BBIGHTOIf HOSPITAL. Mr Home moved and Mr Donne seconded, "That this Council urge upon the Superintendent the absolute necessity of a continuance of the Government subsidy to the Brighton hospital." A lengthened discussion ensued, in which the Provincial Secretary, Mr White, Mr Selling, Mr Gibbs, Mr Donne, Mr Burn, Mr Akersten, and Mr Pitt took part. Mr Smith moved, and Mr Kingdon seconded, as an amendment, to strike out the words " Government subsidy," and to insert in lieu thereof the Words " all necessary aid.' 1 * This amendment Was adopted.

ROAB TO BITTLE GREY. Mr Home asked, If the Government are prepared to pay the sum of £IOO, voted last session, for the finding of a practicable road to the Little Grey ? The Provincial Secretary said it was not the intention of the Government to pay the claim, the Commissioner having advised that nothing had been discovered by the parties claiming the bonus.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT CHARLESTON. Mr D*onne moved, and Mr Home seconded, " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place Upon the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £2OO, for educational purposes, which sum shall be placed at the disposal of the Centra] Board of Education, to be applied by them to the establishment of schools at Charleston and Brighton, contingent on the Board being satisfied as to an equivalent sum being raised towards that object by school fees or otherwise, within these townships." Mr Burn said if the honorable mover had asked anyone connected with the Central Board, he would have seen how out of place his motion was. The Inspector of Schools was actually on his way to the "West Coast) including Charleston, to see what the requirements of those districts were. Mr Home, who cordially supported the motion, still thought it hardly necessary to pursue it, seeing that an application of this nature should be made to the Central Board. Mr Wastney Was surprised that the honorable mover had not applied to the Central Board, and recommended him to withdraw the motion. Mr Pitt said the mover should have honestly admitted that two schools had been established by the Central Board, and that there could be no doubt that schools at Charleston and Brighton would also< be assisted, if communication were made to the Central Board. Motion withdrawn.

Public Ijbrabt at westeort. Mr Smith moved, and Mr "White seconded, " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place upon the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £l5O, to meet equivalent subscriptions, for the purpose of assisting the inhabitants of Westport in forming a Publie Library and Mechanics' Institute there." The Provincial Solicitor proposed, as an amendment, to make the sum £200; to make that sum refer to the

West Coast generally; and for the purpose of erecting public libraries, &c. This amendment was adopted. PETITION PBOat THE UPPER GRE*. On the motion of Mr Dreyer, seconded by Mr Macmahon, it was resolved, " That a Select Committee be appointed to consider and report upon the petition of the inhabitants of the Upper Grey district; such committee to consist of the Speaker, the Provincial Secretary, Mr Home, Mr Donne, Mr Kingdom and the mover. BRIDGE OVER THE NILE A.T CHARLESTON. Mr Donne moved, " that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place upon the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £7OO, for the purpose of purchasing and throwing open for traffic* free of toll charges, the Nile-bridge, on the outskirts of the Town of Charleston. rt Mr Home seconded the motion. The Provincial Secretary explained that in 1866 protection Was granted for five years, for this bridge* but shortly after the bridge was seized in execution, and the original owners now threatened to take it back. It would be improper for the Council to fix a sum, as by the terms of the letter of protection the Government had a right to withdraw it, and take the bridge at valuation ; and they thought the time had come when they might do so now. He moved an amendment, to the effect that the bridge should be open to the public free of charge, and that the Government be requested to take the necessary steps for carrying out that object as soon as practicable. The amendment was agreed to, and, the Council adjourned till Tuesday 19th inst., at five o'clock. j