PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, January 3. The Speakeb took the chair shortly after two p.m. Present —All the members except Messrs B. Buchanan, Garrick, Gray, Hall, Hargreaves, Johnstone, Mallock, and Maude. j Prayers having been read by the Very Rev. ! the Chaplain, the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. CIVIL SEBVICB COMMISSION. Mr Walker wiished to ask without notice in what manner the Government intended to appoint the Civil Service Commission, whether by bringing down a Bill before the closing of the session for the sanction of the House, as was done in the case of the appointment of a similar commission by tho General Government,'Or in what other way. The -Pbovincial Soxicitob said he could not give a satisfactory answer, as the question had not yet been discussed by the Executive. In reply to a further question from Mr Walker, The Pbovtncial Solicitob sail that the hou. member would receive the information asked for during next week. >t a:< GOVEBNUENT MONEYS STOLEN. Mr Bahi_ asked the Provincial Solicitor if the Government held themselves responsible for the moneys contained in the cashbox stolen from! tho Resident MagiatrateV Court, Hokitika.

The Pbovincial Solicitob replied in th« negative. Mr Hawkes wished to be allowed to ask a further question, lie wanted to know whom tho Government held responsible in tU matter. Ho happened to be awnre of tho facts of the case, which were as follows • The officer in ehargo of tho ensh-box at tho timo it was abstracted was merely an acting officer, and had not been presented to the post he hold at tho time of Clerk to tho Bench, but had only been gazetted as War den's Clerk. The Provincial Solicitor said that the question asked was tho very point tho Goteminent wished to ascertain, as they did not hold themselves responsible, it was not for him to say who was. HOKITIKA MUNICIPAL COBPOBATION Bill 1866. ' Mr Bbigiit moved the second rending of this Bill. Ho trusted the House would pass the Bill this session, as much of tho success and improvement of the town depended on its becoming law. Sir Cassius seconded tho motion, which was passed. The House then went .into committee on the Bill, and after tho consideration of several of the clauses, which were passed with alight amendments, resumed, and immediately ad* journed until seven o'clock in the evening. The Speakeb resumed the chair at seven p.m. Present—AH the members except Messrs Garrick, Gray, Hill, Johnstone, Mallock and Maude. nONOBABIUH TO THOMAS CAS3, ESQ. Mr Wilson moved—"That a respectful address be presented to his Honor tho Superintendent, requesting that tho sum of £250 be placed on the estimates as an honorarium to Thomas Cass, Esq., for his long and valuable services to the Provincial Government." That gentleman's name had been so frequently before the Houso that it was unnecessary for him to take up their time with a repetition of the merits of Mr Cass, and ho would therefore simply move the resolution. His only regret was that the sum was such a small one, but from conversation he had had with several hon. members, he found that their opinion was that it woe better to move a small emu in order that it might be carried unanimously. He had no doubt, that the Council would eupport the motion. Mr Rhodes seconded the motion, and after a few words from Mr Habgbeaves in eupport, it was put and carried unanimously. BILL 3 ASSENTED TO. The Speakeb anuounced his Honor's assent to the following Bills : —Medical Practitioners' Bill, 1867, and Westland Board of Education Bill, 1867. PUBLIC-HOTTSB AMENDMENT BILE. On the motion of the Pbotincial SolicitoS this Bill was re-committed, for the purpose of effecting certain alterations, and aftci. , a very long discussion the clauses were ultimately ■ passed as follows :— '• " Whereas an Ordinance was passed by the Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council in the 24th Session of the said Council entituled the Public-house Ordinance 1866 and whereas it is expedient to repeal a certain clause in said Ordinance and to make certain provisions in lieu thereof and to amend the : eaid Ordinance be it therefore enacted by tho Superintendent of the said province by and with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council thereof as follows :— 1. "That Clause 31 of the said Ordinance shall be and the same is hereby repealed. 2. "In lieu of said section bo it enuctedthat every holder of a license shall have a lamp with a sufficient light affixed over the front or ; principal door of the house and shall keen ; the earns burning from sunset till ton o'clock and every holder of a hotel license shall keep the same burning till sun-riao such person to or refusing to comply with the x ,. above provisions shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty shillings for every such * offence provided always ' that in case eucli light be extinguished by any accident beyond the control of the holder of euch license fio penalty sball be inflicted. 3. "If any person shall be convicted of drunkonnese before any Justice of tho Peace and creating a disturbance in any licensed houso under the Ordinance or in the public streets or roads or in any place of public reeort he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty ahillings and in default thereof shall be imprisoned for any period not exceeding forty-eight hours and if any person shall have been so convicted twioo in the space of throe months he shall be liable to twice the aforesaid penalty or shall bo iin« prisoned for any period not exceeding forty-eight hours and if any person ebaU have been co convicted three times , within the space of six months he ehall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds or in default thereof to bo imprisoned for any period not exceeding one month or to bo imprisoned with hard labor for any period not exceeding fourteen days. 4. " All penalties incurred undoi this Ordin* anoe shall be recoverable in a summary way. 5. " This Ordinance ehall be entituled end may be cited aa " Public House Ordinance 1866 Amendment Ordinance 1867." The Houso then resumed, and tho Bill as amended was reported. WESTLAND BUBLIO-HOUSE BILL. > The Pbovinoiaii Solicitob obtained leave . to defer the second reading of this Bill. CHAPLAIN TO LYTTBLTON GAOiy, Mr Rhodes moved —" That a respectful address bo presented to hia Honor the Super' . intendent, requesting him to place a sum not exceeding £50 upon tho estimates as a provision for tho salary of the chaplain to tho Lyttelton Gaol." Mr Davis seconded the motion. . In reply to a question from Mr Bbight,, The Speakeb said that as far as the Council was concerned the motion was in order, but it would be inconvenient to pass it as it would be against tho standing orders in committee to ask tho sum to be placed on the estimates. The motion was then put, and negatiyed on the voices. THIBD HEADINGS. The following Bills were read a third timo and passed:—Stanmore Bridge Bill, C&ea Pension Bill, and Fire Ordinance Amend" ment Bill. •'■'-" : WEST COAST ESTIMATES. On the motion of the Pbovincial Secbj»« taby, tho House went into Committee of Supply on the estimates of the West Coasfc goldfields. The following sums were voted :—■ Harbor department, £3595 10s; telegraph £3250 ; public buildinge, £15,276 10s. Public worka, £50,805. . On this vote the sum set down for protect-" ing the Grey Eiver bank below the presoafc wharf was increased from £2000 to £3000, and that for & road to Boss from £700 to £1000. The whole vote passed aa above. Miscellaneous, £5563. A very long discussion took place upon tho item of £1000 for the Westland Commission, respecting which several members wanted more information than had been given by tho Gov-eniment. Mr Jollie moved as an amend, ment that the item should be omitted, which was negatived on a division by a majority of 11, the numbers being 21 to 10. Progress was then reported and the Houso resumed. SUSPENSION OV STANDING OBDEEfI. The Pbovincial Secbetaby moved &° suspension for the rest of the session of Kos. j: 21 and 22 of the Standing Orders, in order to extend the sittings of the Council to Satur- ■ days and Mondays. The motion was carried. : , The Secbetaby fob Public Works moved the adjournment of tho House till Friday & fc - five o'clock. Mr Sheath moved aa an amendment tli«& the Council should adjourn till two o'clock. The Secbetaby sob Public Wokes t&j plained that the morning sittings, if contiiw** every day, would seriously impede the puw« basineßS, , by leavirig the Government no feme to attend to the daily duties of their offices.

The amendment was negatived and the original motion was put,and carried. Notices of motion were given, and the Council adjourned till this evening at five o'clcllc.