NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 817, 27 May 1871, Page 2

NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, Mat 18. Mr Wastney moved, That this Council respectfully recommend his Honour the Superintendent to place upon the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £l5O for the purpose of defraying the expense of such, members of the Provincial Council as may be disposed to visit the goldfields on the West Coast. Several complaints had been made by the West Coast members as to the ignorance displayed by the representatives ot the settled districts of the requirements of the goldfields, and he thought that they should have an opportunity of travelling and seeing for themselves what was wanted, and for this purpose he did not think that £l5O was too much. Mr Tarrant seconded tbe resolution pro forma. Mr O'Conor moved, as an amendment, that the words " to meet equivalent subscriptions" should be inserted after "£150." When the loud and prolonged laughter, which the proposal created, had subsided he said that he quite recognised the desirability of introducing some knowledge of the West Coast into the heads of the members of the Council. Mr lieid seconded the amendment. Mr Gibbs said he would not support the motion as he considered the sum was so small that it would be absolutely useless. He thought it very desirable that members should have some knowledge of the requirements of the various parts of the province, and not remain so much in the dark as at present, but to enable them to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the wants of the Coast would require at least £l5O each. The amendment was then put and negatived on tbe voices. Mr Donne said that the sum mentioned by Mr Wastney would be utterly inadequate to cover the expenses of the nine members who had not yet visited the Coast. The expenditure of £SOO on such an object would be a handsome thing, and the money would be so well spent that he would have no objection to see the Goldfields debited with it. The sum proposed by Mr Wastney would only amount to £l6 per member, and such a sum would be quite insufficient, as

at least £6O per head would be neces. sary, and as nine sixes were 54 it was clear that at least £SOO would be re. quired. He was exceedingly anxious to see the members visit the Coast, especially Mr Wastney, and he could assure them that the amount of re. galing, feting, and sumptuous feasting they would meet with would greatly astonish them. Mr Collins thought he had never heard so absurd a proposition. It was an attempt to convert the members of the Council into a body of " Peripa. tetic Philosphers." Mr Donne seemed to think that members must be consumed with an ardent desire to visit the West Coast, but he did not believe that such a desire existed. If the Superintendent would visit the Goldfields three or four times a year, that, he thought, would be amply sufficient. Mr Rutherford opposed the motion. Las year Mr Luckie's head had proved a sort of Pandora's box from whence had sprung the Provincial Treasurer, Goldfiehia' Representative, and other officials, but now Mr Wa->tney had eclipsed him, for he wished to convert the whole Council into travelling Government officers. He was willing to allow that many of the members were insufficiently acquainted with the various districts; for instance, he himself knew very little of Wakapuaka, exceptiag that he had heard that it was about nine miles in length, and a yard in width, and very probably Mr Wastney knew just as much of the district he (Mr Rutherford) represented. From Mr Wastney's previous speeches he had concluded that it was that gentleman's wish to reduce the number of Government officials, whereas it now appeared that he was desirous of largely increasing it.