PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1080, 13 June 1873, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

hORSE TRACK TO LARRY'S CEEEK. Mr. Ivess moved, " That his Honour the Superintendent be respectfully requested id place on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £SO, for the construction of a horsetrack fr'Om Landing Road to Larry's 'Creek, Inangahua." Seconded by Mr. O'ConOr, and passed. GOT/6-FIELDS DISTRICTS BILE. The Council went into Committee on this Bill, and passed the remain ing 'clauses without amendment. EDUCATION ACT PETITIONS. Petitions praying that the 37th clause of the Education Act .may remain unaltered-, and that the Educational laws Of the province be unchanged were presented. these petitions together were nine in number, ; and were signed by 1,070 persons. Mr. Shephard presented four petitions, signed by 86 persons, .in favour of the bill for amending the Education Act. The petitioners stated that they Viewed with great concern the zealous "endeavours "which had been made to seriously impede the harmonious working of the Act, through the interpretations in some cases put upon the '37 th clause, and praying that it be repealed. - ' HORSE TRACE AT THE INANGAiIUA. Mr Ivess moved, " That his Honour the Superintendent be requested to place on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £SO for the construction of a horse track from the junction of Flower's Creek with Boatman's Creek to Redman's Gully diggings, Inangahua. Seconded by Mr Pinkerton. The Provincial Secretary opposed £his inotion as he would every like item on the paper that evening, because there was no money to meet them. Lo3t on a division ; Ayes, 5 ; Nos, 9. TEUNK EOAD FBOM WtSTPORT TO CHABLESTON. Mr Bonne moved, " That in view of the further expenditure that will bo needed to maintain the traffic between Westport and Charleston by the present route, his Honour the Superintendent be requested to cause the main trunk rOad between Westport and Charleston, via Addison's Flat, to be completed with as little delay as may be practicable, out of the sum of £1,197 6s lid, at the disposal of the Government undier the Payment to Provinces Act, 1871, and such further sum as may hereafter be appropriated by this Council for the road in question." Seconded by Mr Guinness. A long discussion arose out of this motion, it was opposed by Provincial Secretary, who contended that if the road was made it would not be used owing to its hilly character, while there was a level road along the beach by way of Cape Foulwind, which cost nothing to keep in repair. All that was needed by the route indicated, was a good horse track. Mr O'Conor took the same view. He said heavily laden waggons would not be able to travel by the road the member 'for Charleston proposed to have made. EOAD AT THE BULLEB. Mr. O'Conor moved, "That his Honour the Superintendent be requested to place the sum Of £6OO upon the Supplementary Estimates for the construction of a road from the punt at the Buller to the head of the Lagoon." Seconded by Mr. Pinkerton, Question pUt and passed. TEACK AT ANATOBI. ■ Mr. tGS-ibbs moved, "That his Honour Superintendent be requested to place on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £2O, for the purpose of repairing the track to the Upper Auatori, Golden flay." Seconded by Mr. Burn, and passed. CLERICAL ASSISTANCE. Mr. Guinness moved, "That his Honour the Superintendent be respectfully requested to furnish the Provincial Treasurer with the necessary clerical assistance to enable him to prepare the Statement of Revenue, in accordance With the resolution of this Council passed oh the 14th of May last." He could not see why the Government should slur Jovßf the request of the Council. It had desired the return to be made, and last night the Provincial Secretary had treated the matter slightingly by saying he had been too busy to prepare the paper asked for, and in order that the requirements bf the Council might get necessary attention he would move this resolution.

Mr. IvesS seconded the motion, and supported it \frith considerable waririth. The Provincial Secretary said it was toot a question of clerical assistance. The resolution was absurdj for the return asked for could not be made out satisfactorily, as the division of the revenue could, only be a matter of opinion. Question pUt and passed. iIIVEB PROTECTIVE WORKS AT BEEFTOS. Mr Ivess moved that the sum of £IOO should be placed on the Sup. piementary Estimates to meet equivalent subscriptions for river protective works at Heeftoni Such money to be expended with all convenient speed Under the supervision of the Provincial Engineer. Mr O'Conor seconded the motion, which was carried.

COMPENSATION TO SUFFERERS AT WESTPORT. . Mr Reid moved, " 1. That the porti )n of Colliery Reserve situated above Kintoul street, at Westport, should 1 e divided into business sites, and be allocated among those who are em titled to claim sites under the terms of a resolution passed by the Council on June 13th, 1872, and whose claims are yet unsatisfied; the portion so divided to be not less than three chains distant from the river frontage. " 2. That a sufficient sum bo placed upon the Estimates to enable the Government to comply with a resolution passed by the Council on Juno 13, 1872, regarding freeholders in Westport whose holdings have been affected by sea or river encroachments • that the allocation of sections under that resolution should be carried out under some equitable system of classification,sUch as that recommended by the Council, last year, and adopted by bis Honour's Commissioner; that all claimants sbould take iip "their Crown Grants, on surrendering existing rights, within twelve months, or forfeit their claims ; these conditions to extond to all freehold, including those held by or purchased from natives, to which the resolution of last session may apply. "3. That his Honour the Superintendent be respectfully requested to instruct his previously appointed Commissioner to proceed without delay to Westport, to complete the objects of his commission.

A warm debate arose over these resolutions through the opposition of Mr Donne, who moved the postponement of No. 2, on the ground that more information was needed. The hon. member appeared to labour under a mistake as to the advantages this resolution, if passed, would give claimants who held land through native title, and contended that these gentlemen would obtain unfair advantages. This was replied to by Mr O'Conor who showed that claimants of this class would stand in exactly the same position as other claimants. Ultimately the resolution!was carried on a division, Mr Donne being the only dissentient. The first and third resolution did not go to a division. The Council then adjourned.