PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1073, 20 May 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

In discussion on M> Shephard's motion that increased representation should be given to the 'Groldfields, the mover said a good deal of the unpleasant feeling 'existing on the 'Groldfields arose from the fact that the people thereon 'Considered themselves insu'f'ficiently represented. There could be no worse desciption of class representation than that which existed in this province, where with a population of 8000 sonls, principally adults, out of a total of 22,000, the goldfields were so disproportionately represented in the Council. The argument that the West; Coast population was chiefly of a migratory character no longer 'existed, for the miner who had invested -considerable capital in the country had gradually superseded the digger whose sole property consisted of his swag and pick and shovel. Mr Gruinness seconded 'the resolution, and said 'that at present the prevailing opinion on the Coast was, that in consequence of the-small 'number of representatives allowed them, it was scarely worth "the trouble of electing members at all. The proportion of adults to the total 'Goldfields population was far greater 'than in the settled districts, and they produced a greater share of the revenue, and therefore were fully entitled to that now demanded for them.

The Provincial Secretary opposed the motion, chiefly for the reason thai; the population of the goldfields were of a migratory character. He "would instance Charleston, where in the course of two years the population had very largely decreased. It was true that the minors were still in the province, but they had left that district, and had superior attractions offered in Westland or elsewhere they would have gone there. Mr G'Conor appealed to the Electoral Eoll to show whether the West Coast was not entitled to more equal representation. He should like to see the adjustment'take the form of reducing the number of representatives and so bringing the Council to smaller dimensions. He would prefer to see the Council re-constituted under the New Provinces Act, the officers of the Government left out of it, and not so much -of a mock Parliament about it.

Mr Eeid would vote for the motion, though he did not support it with anygreat heartiness, but merely looked upon it -as one that might do a little goodand could do no harm. The representation certainly should be more equalised, bat it was the members of the Government more than the Council with whom the people of the Coast found fault.

Mr Ivess heartily snnpor'ted the resolution. He considered an additional member should be granted to the Inangahua, and thought that the Lyell and Matakitaki should be represented:; and at the -same time he thought the City had too many members. The motion was carried. Ayes—9. Noes—B.

May -7 to 9. Mr Tarrant brought <np the reply of the Select Committee to the Superintendent's address, and moved that it should be printed and laid on the table.

Mr Donne seconded the motion. Mr O'Conor moved an amendment in order to do away with such a mockery of Parliamentary forms. He looked tipon the address as not only debateable, but absolutely offensive to some of the members, and calculated to promote an acrimonious discussion of a most useless nature. He meant no disrespect whatever to the Superintendent by his amendment, but proposed it as the most feasible way of disposing of the address. He would move that the following be substituted for dt>—" That the Council thanks his Honor for his opening address, and assures him that the matters therein contained will receive their earnest attention."

Mr Ivess seconded the amendment, which on a division was carried bv 10 to 8. J

Ayes—Messrs Ivess, Acton Adams, Pinkerton, Eeid, P. Kelling, O'Conor, Gibbs, "W. "Wastney, Guinness, and Shephard. Noes The Provincial Solicitor, Provincial Secretary, Messrs Macmahon, Tarrant, Burn,Baigent,'C. Kelling, and Donne. A Select Committee, consisting of Messrs Shephard, Donne, Ivess, P. Kelling, Macmahon, the Speaker, and the Provincial Secretary, was appointed to report on the laws and regulations affecting the sale and leasing of lands •on the Goldfields.

The Provincial Secretary " That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that the railway from Brunnerton to Greymouth, wheu constructed, should be leased to a company by his Honor the Superintendent, with the advice of his Executive Council, and with the sanction and assent of the Colonial Government and the County of Westland." He said the people of the province were unanimously in favor of the Poxhill and Brunnerton line, and that there was no other way of properly opening up and settling the "West Coast districts than by making a railway from one

•end of the province to the other. He hoped the Goldfields members would not offer any factious opposition. Mr Shephard seconded the resolution. Mr Donne considered the resolution was brought on at too early a stage of the session. He proposed that and the two following resolutions on the Notice Paper should be postponed. The matter would have to come before the General Assembly, as the alienating of large quantities of land on the 'Goldfields and other vital points in the scheme, would have to be carefully considered by the members of the House, therefore, ho thought these re- : solutions ought to be dealt with by the new Provincial' Council twelve months hence. But if the members were obliged to discuss the scheme, they should first be called upon to consider the report of the Inland Communication Committee.

Mr Selling thought details were necessary. Before passing such a ■resolution'they should see if the comIpan'y would be formed, as the attempt ; to form One might be unsuccessful. Mr Beid thought the subject had been brought forward on a wrong basis ; they were discussing it at the tail end instead of the head. It would be impertinent for the Council to pass : a resolution affecting'the disposal of a 'property that was outside this province. He considered it preferable to postpone the subject. Mr Shephard didnbtsee any necessity for the introduction of a resolution dealing with the -general question. The'power Of dealing with the land had been already given under the provisions of the "Nelson and Cobden Bail way Act," which 'were still in force. The Council in former years had by decided majorities settled the general question. The suggestion by Mr 'Donne would, if acted upon, be 'fatal'to the formation of the company : ma ; large portion' of the capital that would'be "required must be obtained Vut' of • the colony. The prospectus 'must go forth to the'world founded on • a solid' basis, "and' must state what in- ' ducements they were prepared to offer : to a company. The benefits accruing; from railway communication with the 'heart of the province would be greater to'Greymouth than'to Nelson, as it would 1 np'en-up a large trade to Grey'mouth merchants. He deeply:regret'ted that therepresentatives from' that i part -of the province did not appear 'to recognize that the Inland Communication Committee, has entered 'upon the matter in no selfish-illiberal •spirit but with an earnest desire to benefit the whole province. He •entreated those gentlemen to help 'to 'carryout a measure that would bring increased prosperity ; to 'the 'Gold■fields.

Messrs Guinness, ; O'Connor, Ivess, ; and *Pinkerton, 'protested against alienating auriferous lands ' from ' the 'Crown. They wished to know how the miners''interests would be affected 'by the company gaining possession of such large tracts' of country/known' to ! be aUriferOus.

Messrs. Gibbs and Wastney desired the'matter to be referred to a Select 'Committee.

The ! Provincial 'Solicitor 'heartily 1 supported the' resolution. Mr Acton Adams said the'company 'had 'no' desire to "work the land for its Auriferous "wealth. The-object of the 'company'was'to encourage as : largo a 'mining.population as possible l to settle in the 'country. The company 'would : simply be employed in carrying—they 'would be carriers on a large scale—- : and' more benefitwould accrue to the 'miners than the settled districts if the 'objects of the company were carried out. It was quite possible for the 'Government to place such restrictions on/the land, that on a surveyor, apnorntedby the ; Government, reporting iffy portion of it to be auriferous,'it should be open to the miners on the same conditions as at present exist on 'the Go-ldfields. The company had only been adopted as a last resource, and it *was intended to make it 'thoroughly popular be fixing the shares at such a price as would place them within the reach of all settlers and miners. He 'hoped that when the West' Coast members thoroughly understood the motives by which the promoters of the scheme had been Actuated in making the proposition now before them, they would join with the people of Nelson in assisting to promote a great provincial work, that would-secure increase of population, and do good generally. The debate was adjourned on a division by 16 to 2. Mr Ivess moved for a return of the 'number of goldrnining and agricultural leases -granted in the Inangahua, and for production of letter referring to appointment of Mr AVooley as Mining Surveyor. Mr Ivess asked, " "Whether persons who have oncepaid survey fees upon applications for agricultural leases (the survey of which has been made by contract with the Provincial Government) are required to pay a second survey fee when applying for the same land ■under the "' Nelson 'Crown Lands Leasing Act?'" The Provincial Secretary said the Chief Surveyor had been requested to give the information. Mr Ivess asked, " "Whether miners are charged for the survey of the alteration tff leases when such alterations are necessitated by the action 'of the delegate in reducing the quantity of ground; and if so charged on what authority ?" The Provincial Secretary said such the law. Mv Donne -moved, " That a return

be laid upon the table, at the earliest possible moment, of all unpaid public works entered upon by, and of contracts entered into with the Government." Agreed to. Mr Donne's motion ! for a Select Committee to consider* the question of Railway Extension, and the report of the luland Communication Committee was negatived ; Mr Shephard suggesting that a conference of all the members would better suit Sir Donne's pupose. The Goldfields District Bill was read a second time. The details were opposed by the 'Goldfields members, and the Bill was referred to a Select Committee. The 'Council then adjourned until Monday,'the 12th instant.