PROROGATION OF THE COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 982, 25 June 1872, Page 4

PROROGATION OF THE COUNCIL.

The following speech was made by his Honor the Superintendent of Nelson, at the prorogation of the Provincial Council:— " Mr Speaker, and gentlemen of the Provincial Council —I have assented on behalf of his Excellency the Governor to the following Acts passed in your present Session : —■ No. An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to Highways in the Province of Nelson. No. 2. An Act to provide for the making and maintaining of Roads, Streets, and other Public Works in certain Towns. No. 3. An Act to make provisions for the management of Rivers in the Province; of Nelson. No. 5. An Act to amend the Law relating to Publicans' Licenses. No. 8. An Act to regulate the Sale of Spirituous Liquors, Ale, Beer, Porter, and Wine, on the Goldfields of the Province of Nelson. No. 9. An Act to appropriate the Revenue of the Province of Nelson for the year ending 31st March, 1873. I have reserved the following Acts for the signification of his Excellency's pleasure thereon: — No. 4. An Act to promote the construction of certain Public Works in the province of Nelson.No. 6. An Act to amend an Act to determine the number of Members of the Provincial Council, and to appoint Electoral Districts in the Province of Nelson. No. 7. An Act to Repeal an Act to authorise the Superintendent to sell or lease certain Lands granted for Public Purposes, situated in the District of Amuri, in the Province of Nelson, and to make other provision in lieu thereof. A Bill shall be prepared for the consideration of the General Assembly, to enable me to carry into effect the resolutions you have agreed to in reference to the establishment of special settlements—by which I trust that the permanent occupation of the country may be efficiently promoted. A measure shali.also be submitted to the General Assembly for the amend-

ment of the "Waste Lands Act, 1863, in accordance with your wishes. In the event of a measure for the consolidation and amendment of the existing Goldfielda Acts being brought before Parliament,! will endeavor to give effect to your proposed amendment relative to the purchase of the freehold by lessees of agricultural land within the Goldfields. The Colonial Government having assented to my request for the construction of a water race from Lake Hochstetter to Nelson Creek, I trust that this important work will be commenced without delay. I look upon the construction of a wooden tramway from the Brunner Coal mines to Cobden, in order to maintain and extend the existing coal trade until they proposed permanent railway to Greymouth can be commenced and completed, from Colonial funds, to be a work of urgent necessity, and I shall use every exertion to secure its execution with the least possible delay. The report of your Select Committee upon the present condition of the Town of Westport, and the measures which you recommend for the maintainance of the Ijown and for the relief to some extent of those of its inhabitants who have suffered by the ravages of the sea and the river shall receive my immediate attention, with a view to carry out your wishes as speedily as possible. Tour resolution in favor of the union of some of the small road districts, with a view to the establishment of Eoad Boards, having the control of larger funds, and in other respects better able to carry out the provision of the "Highway Boards Empowering Act 1871," shall receive the early attention of the Executive Government. I now declare this Council prorogued.. ,1 ; •,' Oswald Curtis, '■:'. Superintendent. A darkey in attempting to cross a hatchway fell through, Jand his head struck a big piece of coal, breaking it fine. On looking up, he saw his his employer, and fearing he had done something wrong, exclaimed sorrowfully. " Golly, massa. I'se very sorry I broke dat coal." The phrase " He's a brick," seems to be of classic origin, as follows :'- King Agesilaus, being asked by an ambassador from Epirus why they had no walls for Sparta, replied, "We have." Pointing to his marshalled army, " There, sir. are the walls of Sparta, and every man you see is a brick."