NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 502, 11 May 1869, Page 2

NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

WEST COAST AFFAIRS. On Tuesday, the 4th instant, the first matter of any importance to the inhabitants of the Coast, after the address of the Superintendent, already published, was the

DEBATE ON TIIE ADDEES3 and the reply to be given thereto by the Council. Upon this question Mr Parker moved that " the Report of the Select Committee on the Reply be adopted." It was, however, resolved that the Council should go into committee of the whole to consider the Reply; and parapraphs 1 and 2 were read and ljassed. On pai'agraph 3, Mr Gibbs moved that all the words after " estimated" be struck out, (as marked in italics below) : " The Council regret to observe that the actual receipts of revenue for the year have fallen so far short of the sum estimated, and they accept the ex-

planations, as to a large part of the deficiency, given by your Honor in the address." Mr M'Mahon said that a great many members could not accept the Superintendent's explanation respecting the error iu the over-payment; and if the committee would consent to strike out the last clause of the third paragraph, that might be done simply and prevent discussion. The paragraph would read as well without it, and would obtain general concurrence. Mr Parker defended the paragraph. There had been an error of £16,000 in the payments, and that error was mainly due to the over-payments made by the General Government in the previous year, which misled the Executive, and made an absolute difference of £35,000 on the Estimates for the past year. Mr M'Mahon said he had heard it stated, and he believed it to be true, that the Superintendent knew last year, while the Council was sitting, that there had been an over-payment, and yet he kept the fact from the ' Council. Whatever the people of the : town might think, the people of the 1 country thought the Superintendent, • as a commercial man, ought to have known business better than to make 1 this mistake.

After a lengthened debate on this paragraph, on which Messrs Gibbs, AVastney, Irvine, Luckie, and Barnicoat spoke in favor of the striking out of the words referred to, which was opposed by the members of the Executive and Messrs Kelling and Parker, a division took place, the result of which was that the words were struck out. The division list showed eleven for and ten against, all the "West Coast members voting in the majority. The next paragraph of importance to the West Coast was paragraph 6, as follows : —" The Council regret to find that so much dissatisfaction has arisen on the West Coast, and hope that measures may be taken in the present session to remove just causes of complaint; at the same time they approve of the determination of your Honor to oppose in the General Assembly any dismemberment of the Pro-

vince."

Mr M'Mahon moved, that all the words after "complaint" should be left out. He did not see why the Council should ask the Superintendent, as member of the Assembly, to prevent the separation of the West Coast, if the people really had reason on their side. If we did them all the jusrise we could, and gave them fair play and they still insisted on separation, the blame and responsibility rested with them ; and if they were continually finding fault and grumbling with Nelson, it would be better to let them s;o. —(Hear, hear and a laugh.) The Council, he thought, should not pledge itself to anything of the kind proposed. Mr Gibbs felt strongly in favor of the amendment. The people of the West Coast, both geographically and socially, were distinct from the people of the East.—(Hear, hear, and No.) Ho thought they were likely to spend their own money better than Nelson could do it for them. Considerable discussiou here ensued, and on a division on the motion that the words stand, the following was the result: Ayes, 11. Messrs Parker, Burn, White, F. Kelling, Luckie, Sparrow, Edwards, Redwood, The Provincial Secretary, The Provincial Solicitor, The Speaker. N-es, 10. Messrs Wastney, Bai2ent, M'Mahon, Simmonds, "Irvine, M'Dowell, Eeid, Thompson, Hennelly, Gibbs. The amendment was therefore lost by ono vote. It is necessary here to explain that Mr Donne had been placed in the chair when the Council went into committee, for what reason is best known to the mover of the proposition, and the Separationists, as they are now termed in Nelson, were thus deprived of his vote. The other paragraphs were put and agreed to. The chairman reported progress, and the reply as amended was adopted. SALE OF TOWN - LAKDS OK THE WEST COAST. Mr Hennelly moved, "That, in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable to submit by Public Auction the Surveyed Town Lands on the South-west Goldfields; such Sales to be held in each district where thelandis situated." He desired to bring this matter under the notice of the Council, as it was the wish of holders of sections on the West Coast to be possessed of some better title than that which they at present held. The mere holding of the ground under a business license prevented many from making improve-' ments on their properties, which; would be done were they possessed of' Crown grants or freehold titles. revenue would thus be considerably! increased, and the wish of the holders' of land on the West Coast be satisfied.; Mr. Donne seconded the motioa.

Mr. Reid opposed it on the grounds that he did not consider the present a wisely-selected period for such a resolution being brought into effect, and from his belief that, at the present juncture, such a step was not desired by the "West Coast population. He argued that building sites on the coast differed materially from those in such places as Nelson, where mortgages might be effected and where a Crown grant forms, for such purpose, a more valid security. On the West Coast mortgages on town allotments were unknown, and seldom or never were town sections even taken as a collateral [security. In instances of sales, possession was generally looked upon

as ample title, accompanied with the necessary business license. He could, therefore, see no advantage to be gained to the "West Coast by such a measure being passed, beyond the gratification of increasing this year's revenue, and he desired to see the matter stand over at all events/o?' this session.

Mr. Donne supported the motion, but in doing so attacked Mr. Reid, and, by implication, all other members of the Council who would not vote with him. He reminded the member for the Bailer, that he (Mr. Donne) represented a larger and more important district than did that member —that he had therefore better means of knowing the wishes of the people, of which the Buller member was ignorant. —(Laughter.) He begged of the Council not to be led in any way by the opinion of the Buller member, who only represented a small portion of the Coast. The remarks were resented by Mr. Luckie and the Provincial Secretary, and The Provincial Solicitor said it was such an unhappy habit of Mr. Donne's to cast imputations on all around who differed with him, that he possibly might not remember all he had said ; it was, however, positive that he had got into that habit. He allowed no one to know anything of the "West 'Coast save himself —it was he alone who knew all; others could know nothing. His constant habit was to tell the Council that all other members were wrong ; he alone was right. Mr Donne here interrupted and was called to order by the Speaker, who said Mr Donne had no right to continually rise except to explain ; his conduct was most decidedly out of order. The motion was lost by a majority of 10 to 3 ; the votes in favor being Messrs. Donne, Hennelly, and Sparrow. THE REPRESENTATION BILL. Mr Donne moved that Brighton should be a district and should have a member of its own, and called for a division. Mr Luckie asked the speaker, whether, when there was only one '• Aye," a division could be called for. The Speaker ruled that, not knowing whether the member who called for the division was the only " Aye," it should be allowed. The votes were then taken, and resulted in 1 to 20, the mover, Mr Donne, standing alone. Amendments were moved for an increase of members to each of the districts on the West Coast, but in each instance were lost, the four West Coast members being unsupported. The Billwas then passed as originally prepared. NILE BRIDGE. In reply to Mr Doune, the Provincial Secretai-y stated that the Government had purchased the Nile Bridge, and if the hon. member (Mr Donne) were to go down to Charleston by the steamer to-morrow —(hear, hear,) —he could pass along the bridge tree of payment. —(Laughter.) ritOTECTIYE WORKS AT WESTPORT. Mr M'Dowell moved "That the sum of £5,000 be placed on the Supplementary Estimates, for the purpose of forming protective works and wharf accommodation at "Westport." He said the port was now almost without wharf accommodation; and that the river threatened to destroy much of the town. He did not agree with the Engineers' reports upon this subject, because at Greymouth similar works to those now contemplated had very successfully been carried out at a most moderate charge. He hoped honourable members would favourably consider the motion, the object of which was to prevent the destruction of really the best harbour on the West Coast. Mr Kelling moved, as an amendment, " That the item be postponed until the Estimates shall have been considered."

Mr Edwards supported the amendment. Mr jßeid said lie should strongly support the motion, as it was one for providing an absolute necessity for Wcstport. He did not believe in this attempt to shelve the matter. It was an item which should have been on the Estimates, and he could not understand how it had been omitted. The Government had had the matter before them for a year and had done nothing. The opinion of experienced Engineers was, that the work couk he done at a much less cost thar that alluded to in His Honor's address After a few remarks from Mr Donne who would support the motion if the members for the Buller would agree t< a reduction in some other items foi the same district, a division took place which resulted in the motion beini

lost. CHARLESTON A POET OF ENTRY. Mr Donne asked the Provincial Secretary, whether his Honor the Superintendent had complied with a resolution of the Council arrived at last session regarding the making of Charleston a port of entry and warehousing port. The Provincial Secretary said that the resolution of the Council had been sent to the General Government : who replied that they did not deem it desirable to create Charleston a port I of entry. SEPARATION PETITION. On the motion of Mr Parker, it was resolved, " That his Honor the Supermtendent he requested to furnish this r Council with a copy of a petition fron

the electors and inhabitants of the Nelson South-west Goldfields, praying ' for the General Assembly to pass an Act to abolish the Provincial Government, so far as regards the present Nelson South-west Goldfields, and constituting the said Nelson South-west Goldfields into a county.'"

Priday, Mat 7. petition op john william lynch. On the motion of Mr Donne, it was resolved, " That a select committee be appointed to consider and report upon the petition of John William Lynch."