NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 511, 1 June 1869, Page 2

NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

WEST COAST AFFAIRS. Tuesday, Mat 25. membeb of executive eoe west COAST. Mr Hennelly moved " That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable his Honor the Superintendent should appoint a member of the Provincial Executive for the West Coast, who shall reside in that portion of the province, in order that the inhabitants of the South-west Goldfields may have a sufficient guarantee that moneys voted by this Council for public works and other departments of the South-west Goldfields will be equitably expended." The mover pointed out the necessity for such an appointment, which would give the inhabitants of the West Coast some guarantee that the amounts voted for that portion of the province would be expended there. . Having on* a former occasion alluded to the subject he did not wish to trespass on the time of the Council, but left it in the hands of the members. Mr M'Dowell seconded the motion.

Mr "Wastney wished to have some explanation on the matter, as to the duties of such a member. Mr Kelling expressed himself rather in favor of doing away with the Executive altogether, as he saw little or no necessity for such a body. Mr Simmonds considered the resolution was somewhat practical. He believed that the granting of this resolution would in a measure allay the present feeling on the "West Coast, and he Would therefore give it his support. Mr Donne looked upon the motion with suspicion. He was not in favor of again placing the West Coast under another Kynnersley despotism. He believed the resolution, if carried into effect, would be productive of no good. He did not believe that the member for the Grey (Mr Hennelly) was the father of this resolution. He considered the mover was only the passive, and not the active member of the Council, in bringing this matter forward. He feared it emanated from one of the Wertport representatives, and. as he could not see any advantage to be derived by the West Coast from such a resolution, he would vote against it if the subject came to a division.

Dr Irvine thought the latter portion of the notice was an admission that heretofore the West Coast had a just grievance, and that in consequence thereof this salve was to be granted to it. He moved an amendment striking out all the words after the word " provinee."

This was negatived, and another, amendment was proposed, striking off all the words after the word " Coast/' leaving the motion as follows:—" That in the' opinion of this Council it is desirahlo that his Honor the Superintendent shall appoint a member of the Provincial Executive for the "West Coast."

MrLuckie thoughtiihat,; seeing, there, were three Wardens on the Coast and a large Engineer and Survey staff, there wag not much necessity for such an appointment. Mr Reid supported the resolution as amended. He did not agree with Mr Luekie in considering that the Wardens Were sufficieshti for the object sought to be gained by the motion. Neither, the Wardens nor the Engineers or Surveyors had aught to do with the expenditure upon the Coast. Their instructions as to the. amounts to be expended on the various works. there, were received from the Provincial Secretary or Executive) and, in accordance .with those instructions, and plans and specifications, the works were carried out. What was now asked was the appointment of some one whose especial duty vvould be to see. that the

monies voted during this and future sessions, in the event of the Province remaining without any dismemberment, should be expended in that portion of the Province where the bulk of the revenue was received. He could only account for Mr Donne's opposition to the motion, on the supposition that he (Mr Donhe) had discovered that he-was not the'father of the resolution. Mr Hennelly, as the mover, replied, commenting upon Mr Donne's opposition ; after which the resolution as amended was carried. M& DONNE AND THE BEPOBTEBS, Though this subject may scarcely be classed as a West Coast item, we give a short report of the proceedings, as the complaints of the insufficient and inaccurate reports of the Press have been very numerous among the members of the Council. Mr Donne moved " That this Council considers it undesirable that the Eeporters of the Press should occupy any of the space allotted to members of the Council, particularly that portion of the chamber between the Speaker's chair and the places of members, and therefore resolves that the Speaker be requested to provide .other accommodation for the representatives of the Press."

Mr "Wastney seconded the motion. Mr Luckie opposed it, saying that year after year this subject was brought up by the same member for the simple reason that all his superfluous talk, which was admitted to be a bore to the Council, much more so to the public press, was not reported. It was a matter of small concern to waste time upon, as had been the case in former sessions.

Mr Donno expressed his own indifference as to whether he was reported or not. He believed the majority of the members would agree with him in saying that nothing but garbled reports of any of the proceedings had yet been published. It was the merest accident that a thoroughly efficient reporter did not come up from the West Coast, and he thought, before another session, that some steps should be taken to furnish the Council with a reporter who would and could report its proceedings. The motion was put and carried, both reporters wiped their peus and left the chamber. Next day, however, the Speaker made arrangements with them that the same table should be provided, alongside the the Speaker's chair, in place of, as formerly, iu the body of the hall.

Wednesday, May 2G. EEUBEN WAITE's CLAIM. Mr Donne moved " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to lay on the table, a copy of the memorial recently forwarded to the Government by certain resident dairymen, cattle-dealers, butchers, packers, and others, regarding the throwing open of Waite's Pakihis to the local public ; and he asked the Provincial Secretary whether it is the intention of the Governmeut to protect Mr Waite in the enjoyment of his preemptive right, or.the privileges secured to him under his leasehold." The Provincial Secretary said that the Government had no intention of interfering in the matter. Mr Waite had the same remedy as other occupiers had. ANTI-SEPABATION PETITION. Mr Donne moved " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish the Council with copies of all correspondence between the Govern, ment and a certain committee alleged to have been appointed at Cobden, for the purpose of ascertaining the views of the miners in the Grey district, upon the question of Separation. Also, for copies of instructions (if any) issued by' the Government to Mr Lightband, who was despatched to the South-west Goldfields with a counter petition upon the question of Separation."

Mr. Euckie said that Mr Donne had adopted his usual style of insinuating dishonest practices. It was like the first robber on the stage. —(Laughter.) Mr. Donne rose to order, and objected to the application of the words to him. Mr. Euckie said he did not mean to apply the words to Mr Donne. He meant that the Government, in Mr. Donne's eyes, appeared like the first robber, coming in with stealthy tread and mysterious intentions to injure the public purse. The fact was, Mr. Donne was prolific in discovering mare's nests, and this was another of them. The committee in Nelson by whom ' Mr Lightband had been sent down, consisted of a few gentlemen who were induced to act because of the spontaneous application made about a month ago by a deputation of diggers and storekeepers from the Upper Buller, the Mata'kitaki, and the adjacent diggings, who opposed to separation '; and a similar course was resolved on .respecting the West Coast. Mr Eightband was sent by, and got his instructions from, the same persons, and not fr6m the Government at all; and it was not likely the committee would tell Mr Donne what these instructions were, that they might be used to checkmate their efforts on the coast. As for the Government aiding the. prevention of Separation, he'thought it was the duty of the Government to preserve the unity of the province'.. Such spectacles of disaster as Marlborough,- Southland, Napier, and,, last and worst, Westland, displayed—(hear, hear)—were of themselves: reasons in a general light why they should act; and besides; many

were aware that when Marlborough was separated from this province, the Provincial Government of the day were strongly censured by the public for not taking steps to stop that occurrence. —(Hear, hear.)

Mr Gibbs did not think it was the duty of the Government to undertake to pay out of the public funds for any such agitation. If the people of the West Coast thought they had a grievance they had a perfect right to express it; and those who wished to represent the other side might do so without the Government interfering, or agreeing to assist in paying the expenses. Mr Donno considered the Council had a right to know what pecuniary assistance was given to this committee spoken of, or to Mr Lightband. The Government had no right to dip its hand in the public exchequer in this manner and dispatch a messenger on such a mission. The people of the West Coast never applied to the Government for any assistance, and an important principle was involved and a precedent was seemingly established, which was very objectionable. He deemed it unauthorised expenditure. The motion was adopted without further opposition. The Appropriation Bill was then brought forward and, with a few alterations, was adopted. As two months of the financial year had passed, it was arranged that no reductions on the salaries should take place until the end of June. In the item of " Tents, Labor, and Contingencies " in the Survey Department on the West Coast, the amount which was formerly reduced from £IOOO to £603 was raised to the original sum.