NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 811, 13 May 1871, Page 2

NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Monday, Mat 8. The following motions were adjourned until Monday, the 15th inst., pending the formation of a new Executive Act, and the reconsideration of the Estimates : Adjourned debate on motion of Mr O'Conor, viz : —That his Honour the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place upon the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £ISOO, for the purpose of making a towing track up the Buller River from Westport. Adjourned debate on motions of Mr Wilkie viz : —That his Honour the Superintendent be requested to place upon the Supplementary Estimates, the sum of £ISOO, for the repair and maintenance of the Amuri road. That his Honour the Superintendent be requestel to place upon the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £SO, for the purpose of repairing the fence and clearing the scrub from the Cobden cemetery. Mr VVastney to ask the Provincial Solicitor, What position the Country Road Acts and the Nelson City Improvement Acts, will be in, and what steps it will be necessary to take in consequence of a resolution passed by the Legislative Council on the 9th of September, 1870, a copy of which has been laid on the table of this Council by his Honour the Superintendent. Mr C. Kelling to move, That his Honour the Sup rintendent be respectfully requested to place on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £SOO for the purpose of constructing another road over the hills between Waimea West and Moutere, which sum has been voted for the last three years but never expended. EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT BILL. Mr GHbbs moyed for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the " Executive Government Act " and make other provisions in lieu thereof. After consulting with several of the members of the Council he had drawn up such a Bill as he considered best adapted to the present circumstances, and which would be found to be as nearly as possible similar to the A.ct repealed last session. Mr Collins seconded the resolution urging the desirability of proceeding with the Act as soon as possible. Mr O'Conor said that it would he evident that, as the Council had affirmed the desirability of repealing the present Act, another should be substituted. Afte a short discussion the motion was carried on a majority of ten to one, a number of members leaving the Chamber, the division being as follows : Ayes, 10—The Provincial Solicitor, Provincial Secretary, Messrs Kelling, Collins, llutherford, Mackley, Wilkie, O'Conor, Gibbs, Wastney. Noes, I—Mr Donne. Mr Gibbs moved the suspension of Standing Orders in order that he might give notice of the second reading for that evening, with the object of setting the matter at rest as soon as possible. Mr O'Conor seconded the motion. Mr Donne objected to such extreme haste. However much it might suit those members who said they represented the Goldfields interests while in reality they misrepresented them, he could not approve of such haste, and thought time should he allowed for him to communicate with his constituents iu order that his vote might be influenced by their opinions. He then proceeded to refer to certain election incidents on the coast, but was called to order by the Speaker, who said that it was not desirable to re-enact electioneering tactics in the Council. A discussion then ensued, in which Mr Luckie also took part, and he attempted, on Mr Donne's behalf, to lecture t'.ie Speaker. It resulted in the Speaker ruling Mr Donne out of order.

Mr Donne then went on to argue against the second reading being hurried on in such a manner, and concluded by saying that if members looked upon the repeal of the exiting, and the introduction of the new Bill in the same light as himself, they would not allow the question to be thrust upon them in such a hasty manner. Mr Reid had no desire to impede the business of the Council, but he thought this was rather a sudden move. Unlike Mr Donne he did not care one single solitary value of the paper on which the bill was printed for the opinions of his constituents on the subject, as he was not there as a delegate, but as a representative, but he thought it was but fair that he should have an opportunity of making himself acquainted with the provisions of a bill he was asked to assist in making law. Mr Luckie followed with a r 4 lecture to the Council on temper, good manners, and civility, intermixed with very personal remarks. He proceeded to state that Mr Gibbs, who had already appeared in various characters, had now come out in quite a new one, namely, as a sort of Attorney General and framer of legal bills. He should have been disposed to look upon the one now before them with some suspicion, had he not known that it had been drawn with the assistance of the Provincial Solicitor, and it would have looked better if Mr Gibbs had said so instead of taking all the credit for it to himself. Mr O'Couor thought the second reading should bo got over as soon as

possible, as the Council had said thai the Estimates could not be proceeded with until this matter was sottledM The opponents of the bill used n<fl arguments against it, but satisfied with abusing its supporters! As to the remarks of Mr Donne hafl would only observe that he was novrH evincing a desire which was entirely! new—to consult his constituents,™ There was no danger of a represout«.H tive misrepresenting his constituents! if he made it a practice to consult then! both before and after the session! He (Mr O'Conor) had met his eon! stituents after last session, and hoi hoped that Mr Donne would do so for! the future, He would not notice tboS hectoring tone adopted by one during the debate, beyond saying that! such conduct was calculated to dis-l gust members more and more with »9 manner which betrayed a malevolent disposition, entirely un-'H curbed by good breeding. The Standing Orders having been suspended Mr Gibbs moved that the Bill be read the second time on Tues. day ; at the same time he wished to refer to some remarks that had been made with regard to what was called his presumption. He did not pretend to any legal knowledge, and did not wish to deny that it was the Provincial Solicitor who had drawn the Bill; but he deprecated the personalities indulged in by some members who, for lack of argument, resorted to abuse. Mr Mackley seconded the resolution. Mr Luckie understood that there was some desire for a compromise, and therefore moved that the second reading should take place on Wednesday. Mr Reid seconded "the amendment, saying that it took five weeks to pass the bill last year, and he did not think that two days were too much to ask for now. Mr O'Conor thought the longer the matter was postponed the more trouble there would be in putting the Act into proper working order. The experience of last year told the Council plainly what postponement meant. The Bill was extremely short, and almost similar to the old one, and its provisions could be mastered in half an hour by any one. Opposing the introduction of the Bill, opposing it every stage, meant fighting the ground inch by inch. No doubt, some members had occasion to regret the change which the Council forced upon them, but it would be better, as it was now in. evitable, that they should show resig. nation, rather than become mere obstructionists. Mr Luckie denied being an obstructionist, and said that his motive in proposing the compromise was in deference to the scruples expressed by other members. It was then resolved that the Bill be read a second time on Wednesday. The Provincial Solicitor moved, " For leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Dog Nuisance Act." Mr E. Kelling seconded the motion, which was agreed to, and the bill was brought in and read a first time. The Council then adjourned, and various committee business was advanced.