NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 808, 2 May 1871, Page 2

NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The Council opened on April 25th. There were present: The Speaker, the Provincial Solicitor, the Provincial Secretary, the Provincial Treasurer, Messrs Luckie, Donne, C. Kelling, A. S. Collins, Mackley, Gibbs, Tarrant, Macmahon, Baigent, and Wastney. Three West Coast members, Messrs Reid, O'Conor, and Wilkie, and Mr Rutherford from the Amuri, had not arrived.

The Superintendent stated in his speech that the actual receipts during the year 1870-71 amounted to £BO,OOO, against £82,000 in 3869-70. The effect of the substitution of a capitation allowance for a share of the consolidated revenue, paid by the General Government would be to simplify accounts and to admit of an accurate estimate of the annual grant, while the payments t<fßoad Boards would release a portion of the Provincial funds devoted to the works executed under the direction of those bodies. Reference was made to certain amendmeuts to be introduced in " The Waste Lands Act, 1863," and " The Leasing Act, 1867," and to the alteration made by the Legislative Council in " The Nelson College Bill," by conferring the appointment of Governors upon the Visitor of the College, instead of upon the Provincial Councils of Nelson and Marlborough as proposed by the Council. Enquiry had been made into the proposal of some of the leading inhabitants of the southern part of the Grey Valley to annex that portion of the County of Westland to this Province ; and the report of the gentleman to whom the enquiry was entrusted would be submitted to the Council. In connection with the question of Immigration, he had expressed to the Colonial Government, in correspondence which would be laid before the Council, his opinion that it is not desirable to encourage the introduction of immigrants to this Province, otherwise than in connection with public works of a nature not only to give employment to immigrants on their arrival, but also to render land, hitherto practically inaccessible, available for their occupation. Resolutions would be submitted to the consideration of the Council, recommending to the Colonial Government the construction of a small portion of each end of the proposed line of railway—namely between Nelson and Fox Hill at the Northern, and between Cobden and the Brunner Coal-mine at the Southern extremity. Anticipating concurrence in these resolutions, the promise of the Colonial Government had been obtained, should they consider further surveys to ho needed for the information of the Legislature, to cause them to be executed without delay. The assent of the Council would also be asked to the preparation of a bill, to be laid before the General Assembly, authorising a loan of £30,000 for the extension of Waterworks, and the construction of Gasworks in the City of Nelson. With a view to obtain for the benefit of the Province a portion of the sum of £300,000, authorised by the Legislation of last Session of the General Assembly, to be raised for the supply of water upon the Goldfields, the District Engineer had been instructed to report upon the manner in which such funds as may be allotted to Nelson, could bo most advantageouslv expended. Resolutions founded upon Mr Dobson's report would be brought before the Council.

The District Engineer had prepared a report, showing the various blocks of land suitable for agricultural settlement, which could most readily be made available in the Valleys of the Buller and Grey, and their tributaries. The largest in area, and one of the most desirable on other grounds to bring into occupation, is situated in the Valley of the Inangahua, and it would be for the Council to consider the expediency of moving his Excellency the Governor to withdraw this or other of the blocks referred to by Mr Dobsou from the operation of " The Goldfields Act," in order that the land may be divided into sections, and dealt, with under the provisions of " The Waste Lands Act, 1863," and of "The Leasing Act, 1867." The speech concluded with a reference to the Superintendent's visit to the Goldfields, and he trusted that the result of that visit had been not only the acquisition of valuable information in reference to the administration _ of the affairs of that energetic and prosperous part of the community, but also the removal of much injurious misapprehension which existed as to the troatment which the Goldfields had received from the Provincial Council and Government.

WEDESDAT, APKIL 26. All the members were present except three West Coast members, and Mr Rutherford and Mr Baigent. PETITION. Mr Gribbs presented a petition from the inhabitants of Takaka, praying for a certain expenditure on the road from Takaka to Riwaka. The petition was received. NELSON HOSPITAL The Provincial Secretary moved, "That a Select Committee be appointed to enquire and report upon the best means of managing the Nelson Hospital, such Committee to consist of the Speaker, Messrs Tarrant, Luckie, Gribbs, Wastney, Macmahon, aud the mover, with power to call for persons and papers." The object of the Executive, was to ae-

certain whether any reduction coulfl be made in the cost of the Hospital, The daily cost per head in Nelson Hog. pital was higher than that of any Hos. pital in any other part of the Colony, j Mr Gibbs seconded the motion ! which waß agreed to. ' DEFALCATIONS OP FEANCIS HABBtS. Mr Luckie moved, «' That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into and report on the circumstances under which arose the defalcations of I Francis Harris, while holding the office of Provincial Sub-Treasurer on the West Coast of the Province; such Committee to consist of Messrs M'Mahon, Reid, Gibb, Wastney, Mackley, the Provincial Secretary, and the mover, with power to call for persons and papers." Mr Tarrant seconded the motion which was passed. wabben's clebk in the tippeb mt. LEB DISTBICT. Mr Luckie moved, " That his Honour the Superintendent be respectfully requested to furnish this Council who all correspondence and documents in possession of the Executive connected with the conduct of Mr Henry Handy, side when acting as Warden's Clerk on the Buller, and also to furnish par. ticulars of the causes which led to the removal of Mr Handy side from that office." Motion agreed to. ANNEXATION OF THE GBEY DISTBICT. The Provincial Treasurer moved, "That a Select Committee be ap.' pointed to take into consideration paragraph No, 5, of his Honour the Superintendent's opening address; such Committee to consist of the Speaker, Messrs Collins, Tarrant, O'Conor, Wilkie, Donne, and the mover, with power to call for persons and papers." Mr Donne seconded the motior, which was agreed to. SETTLEMENT OF LANDS ON THE SOUTHWEST GOLBFIELDS. Mr Donne moved, " That a Select Committee be appointed to consider and report upon paragraph No. 11, of the speech of his Honour the Superintendent, having reference to opening up lands upon the Nelson South-west Goldfields for settlement; such committee to consist of Messrs Macmahon, C. Kelling, Reid, Mackley, the Provincial Treasurer, the Provincial Solicitor, and the mover." Mr Gibbs seconded the motion, and the Council adopted it, WATEB SUPPLY ON GOLDFIELDS. Mr Donne moved, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs Gibbs, Tarrant, Reid, Mack, ley, the Provincial Treasurer, the Speaker, and the mover, to consider and report upon paragraph No. 10, of his Honour the Superintendent's speech, recommending an inquiry with regard to the extent to which application shall be made for a portion of the General Government loan for Water Supply for the Goldfields, and the nature and position of the works to be executed. The said Committee to have power to call for persons and papers." The Provincial Treasurer seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Thubsdat, Apeil 27. agbiculttteal land on goldfields. Mr Gibbs moved "That, in the opinion of this Council, it is highly expedient to offer to the Goldfields' population every inducement to settle in the country ; that the charge of a rental of two shillings and sixpence (2s 6d) per acre, per annum, as provided by the Nelson South-west Goldfields' Regulations, is too high' to tempt the mining population to take up land for agricultural purposes on the Goldfields; that this Council, therefore, respectfully requests bis Honour the Superintendent (as Governor's delegate) to reduce the rental on such leases to a charge somewhat similar to that charged under the ' Crown Lands Leasing Act, 1867.'" Mr Mackley seconded the motion. After a short discussion, the motion was referred to the Committee on paragraph No. 11 of his Honour's speech.

J THE DOG TAX. The Provincial Secretary moved, " That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that the dog tax should be reduced one-half." Mr Luckio seconded the motion, which was agreed to. CONTINGENT VOTE. The Provincial Treasurer moved, " That his Honour the Superintendent be authorised to expend a sum not exceeding £6,000 for salaries, contingencies and public works." Mr Tarrant seconded the motion, which was adopted. PETITIONS COMMITTEE. This Committee was appointed by lot as follows :—The Provincial Treasurer, Messrs C. Kelling, Rutherford, O'Conor, Wastney, and Gibbe,