The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS, SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 283, 27 June 1868, Page 4

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS, SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1868.

At last the Provincial Council session has terminated, and the flood of talk that has been let loose during nine weeks has brought to the surface seven bills, neither of them of any special importance to the province. The railway bill, the most important by far, has been passed, or rather a number of resolutions on which to found a bill for the sanction of the Assembly, have been carried. At the same time in this triumph the Executive must have had a bitter alloy and disappointment in the subsequent action of the Council in the matter, and as will be seen from a condensed report of the last debate, having reference to the subject, the scheme is virtually shelved. In the first place, if Mr Morison's evidence is of any value, there would be no hope of the company being floated if the Brnnuer coal mine was not included in the property to be acquired by the promoters, and to the credit of the Council this is now cut off from the advantages to be derived, the Council having rescinded the previous resolutions to lock it up till the railway scheme had been tested. Of course, though no direct vote was ever taken on the subject, the Mount Rochfort mine will be now open to be worked, and will not be closed as it must have been, had the resolution in reference to the Brunner mine stood good. ~We are sincere in saying that the residents on the coast will hail the change with as great satisfaction, as they previously objected to the original resolution of th 9 Council on the subject, and without doubt the destruction of the railway plan will have a vastly beneficial effect on the opinions of thinking men in reference to the question of separation. As Mr Home candidly admitted, the conduct of the Nelson authorities to the mining interest on the coast, and we fully endorse his declaration, has been marked with perfect fairness and justice, and unless some actively exciting cause threatens the welfare of the I community, it is hardly probable that they will care to change a government which, though by no means perfection, has up to the present time acted equitably towards us. At the same time, beyond question, there is a growing desire to have greater powers of self-government, and it will be for the Nelson Executive to determine

how and in what way effect can be given to the idea. Aa to the question of municipal institutions, though at a recent meeting a senseless opposition was manifested to their establishment, it by no means follows that it is not desirable; and the value of the opinions of the majority at the meeting referred to may readily be gathered from the fact that they did not vote for or against a municipality, but they actually vetoed a resolution, that a committee of enquiry to report on the matter should be formed. "When j people stultify themselves so far as that, the honesty of their opposition mav well be doubted, and it is more than probable that a large proportion of the malcontents on the occasion were afraid that their own private toes might in some manner be trodden on by the operation of municipal byelaws. Be that how it may, however,! on the general question of extended powers of self-government, even the majority of that majority are agreed, whether it take the form of road boards, shire councils, or other; and concessions in these respects could be made without loosening, but on the contrary rather binding more tightly, the bonds of union between the western and north-eastern sides of the province. The whole subject, however, will be probably decided by the Assembly in the next session, for there is no doubt whatever that provincialism, if not actually doomed, is in mortal danger ; and how the map of the southern island will then be drawn, what powers will reign, and what will come to an end is yet wrapped up in the womb of the future It is admitted that the question of the maintenance of provincial institutions will be decided on the Assembly coming together, and both its friends and its enemies will next month wage war a Voutrance. In the meanwhile the abandonment of the coal mines has, without doubt, allayed much irritation on the West Coast, and we can with greater composure watch the impending struggle.

One of the members of the General Government has spoken, though the oracle is so far distant as Balchutha in Otago, and from the subjoined we can gather the intentions of the General Government on the gathering of the supreme colonial parliament. Majo Richardson addressed his constituents at Balclutha on the 17th inst. We extracted from the Otago Daily Times, a telegraphic summary of his speech, as follows : —Major Richardson spoke an hour and three-quarters. The subject was the polstical aspect of New Zealand, especially with reference to Provincial institutions. He gave a historical review, to show that th« original intention was that Provincial institutions should be temporary, and that they should be succeeded by locally-governed districts, having one-third of the land revenue for publick works. The time had now come for abolishProvincial Institutions,, but not for abolishing Provincial boundaries, which he would retain, if possible. Separation was never more impossible than now ; but if it was possible, he would accept it rather than have the Colony cut up into petty divided powerless States. The General Government, instead of having been aggressive, had been criminally indifferent to its duties to the Colony in that matter. He advocated : First, the abolition of Provincial Legislatures. Secondly, nominated Superintendents, with each an Elected Council of 12, meeting quarterly. Thirdly, a portion of the Consolidated Revenue, in proportion to the population, to be given to each Province. Fourthly, an allocation of the Land Revenue : one-third to Immigration : one third to Trunk Roads : and one-third to District Road Boards. Fifthly, keeping separate accounts of the different funds. Sixthly, the Division of Provinces into Counties and Road Districts. He considered the sale of Land at ten shillings an acre as a wrong to the settlers, and a gross depreciation of the value of the landed estate. The hundred system was the most prominent feature of the Land Act of 1866 ; and the sale of Land in blocks, without declaration of Hundreds, was simply a ruinous policy as regarded settlement."

The two nuggets from the Lyell, to which we yesterday referred have been purchased by Mr Jones of the Tramway hotel, and he intends raffling them on Monday evening next. We have no doubt his list will fill fast, for not only are they intrinsically valuable but many would wish to have them, either as Souvenirs of the "West Coast, or to make presents of, to friends at a distance. It is with no small satisfaction that the public will see Woolfe and Co's

notice, reducing the price of meat to a reasonable figure. The high prices 1 of provisions are telling heavily on the « residents on the coast, both miners and j others, and we trust that the initiatory step made by this firm towards their reduction, will be profitable to them- i selves as it is advantageous to the public. Will not the bakers follow so good an example. G-old has been struck on a creek about twelve miles from here, on the north bank of the Buller, half a mile on the Westport side of the " Big Ourki," better known as Mickey French's ferry. Mr French is now in town to get protection for a ferry across the Buller at this point. The prospecting parties are at work at the head of the creek, which by a curious detour throws itself back to within about six miles of the Caledonian, and is supposed to be a continuation of that lead. Though not positively out of danger we are glad to say that O'Brien, who recently had such a miraculous escape from instant death at Addison's Flat, is progressing as favourably, as can be expected. Everything that skill and care can do, is being done, and Dr Cotterell has been most assiduous in his attention We hopehowever, that before many weeks are over that a more commodious building and better appliances will be at hand for the treatment of such as may unfortunately need them. Tha Gazette of the 22nd inst contains two notices of insolvency. The first is an illustrious bankrupt viz., Sir William Stuart Forbes of Nelson ; who or what the titled unfortunate is, we confess we do not know. The other is that of Michael Duffy, storekeeper, of Addison's Flat, and the date of filing is the 13th inst. The Nelson Provincial Council on Friday the 19th rescinded the resolution previously carried, whereby the Brunner coal mine was to be closed till the railway scheme was floated. It will now be open for leasing on formerly laid down conditions. On considering Mr Wrigg's railway report the council determined that he was not a fitting person to send home to float the Nelson and West Coast railway, as the capitalists at home might attribute interested motives in his advocacy of the scheme. On the same day Mr Smith brought forward forwa d is motion for a bonus of £SOOO to be given to any company or private individual forming an iron tramway between Westport and Charleston, via Addison's Flat. After some dis- , cussion, in which, by the way, Mr Home opposed the motion, it was carried, thus amended. "That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to introduce a bill next session to giye a bonus of £SOOO to any company or private individuals on the completion of an iron tramway between Westport and Charleston via Addison's Flat." A motion of Mr Donne's, for £IOOO to be placed on the supplementary estimates for protecting the Buller banks, was negatived. After protracted debate .£4OOO was voted as the limit of further expense to be gone to in bringing forward the West Coast railway in the London market. A large number of the members expressed their belief that all chance of the railway being made was at an end, as the coal mines had been withdrawn. A very acrimonious, and at the same time very undignified debate ensued, on the proposition of Mr Wastney, that the amount of honoraium to country members last voted, viz., 30s per day, be reduced to the old standard of £l. The estimates were re-committed, in order to allow the motion to be brought forward, and it was carried by 14 to 10. Mr Donne's motion that the next session of the Council should be in Westport, was negatived. The Appropriation Act was passed through all its stages, after which his Honor prorogued the Council, assenting to six bills passed during the session, and reserving one for the approval of the Governor. A large number of passengers left for Nelson by the Charles Edward, including amongst them, Dr Giles and other officials, who have to attend on a perjury trial in connection with the late election of a member for the General Assembly. A number of witnesses in two other cases ' also went, and one prisoner charged with embezzlement, as well as several miners who are proceeding to the Thames goldfields, and expect to catch the Taranaki, bound north from Nelson. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, the business was of an unimportant nature Cecilia Clarke was summoned by Mary Carlisle for assault, which the Magistrate dismissed. Several civil cases for the recovery of small debts were also heard but none were of the slightest public interest. When , the next court will be held is uncertain as Mr Kynnersley is away at Cobden, and Dr Giles has left for Nelson.

Under these circumstances, possibly Mr Broad will divide his time between here and Charleston, if neither of the above gentlemen return very shortly.