PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, Oct. 16. The Speaker took the chair at three o’clock, and after the reading of the minutes of previous day, Mr. Foley asked if Government intended sending down a new Representation Bill, when Mr. Daldy replied that the Government had not considered the matter. Mr. Cadman then asked if the work of constructing a bridge and road at Kaukapakapa, for which £2OO was voted last session, had been performed. Mr. Daldy replied that the work had been put off until the season was more advanced. Mr. J. O’Neill moved that steps be taken to secure the Government reserve in Queen-street as a site for a Post-office, etc. It was suggested by Mr. Cadman that the site should be restricted to a Post-office, and the motion was amended to that effect, and carried. The adoption of the Audit Committee’s report was deferred until after the adjournment. A motion requesting the Water Supply Committee to continue their sitting during the adjournment was assented to. A motion requesting the return of monies expended by the Government on public works in each electoral district dining the last four years was amended by extending the time to eight years, and adopted. The report of the Land Regulations’ Select Committee was read and adopted. The report of theManukau Harbour Committee was brought up and read, and on the proposition of its adoption, considerable discussion ensued. It was ultimately decided to defer its adoption 'until after the adjournment. The Council went into Committee on the vote of £450 towards procuring a temporary supply of water, and, after some discussion, passed the amount. Tie third reading of the Sale of Bread Bill was then carried, and the Bill passed the Council. Tbe adjourned discussion on the adoption of the Immigration Committee’s report was next resumed. Various alterations and having been made, v , Mr. J. O’Neill expressed his surprise at the course adopted by the lion, the mover of the alterations (Mr. Wynn), as he had expressed his intention at the outset simply to augend the clauses relative to gentlemen paying the passage of their servants with the view of obtaining the land, the military settlers’ clauses, and the appointment of a board of comm : ssioners. These were the alterations proposed to he made, and at the eleventh hour the hon. member felt disposed to hurry through the committee various important changes, without giving members that time for their consideration which the importance of the points demanded. Mr. Daldy argued that the time had come when they should make a law to suspend the

Land Regulations rather than augment the means of disposing o: the lands of the Province. Mr. May contended that the Committee should not concert measures to dispose of the land too fast, as it had been for some time past disposed of 1 faster than it had been obtained, and he believed that next session measures would require to be taken to check this disposal of the remaining lands of the Province. After further discussion, the amendments were passed and ordered to be furnished to his Honor in an address. The steam subsidy between Auckland and Napier was next introduced. The message and Its enclosures were read, and the discussion reopened. Mr. Daldy pleaded the great benefit that must accrue to the Province from the step taken as a palliation; at the same time he was anxious that the responsibility should rest with the Council, and if they therefore thought that the Superintendent had acted unwisely and ought to bear the expense, he was willing to bear his share of the expense and transfer the responsibility to the Council. The discussion was protracted, and strong condemnation of the Government in this case was expressed by the majority of the members present, which resulted in a division being demanded when the vote was put to the Council. For the subsidy 5 Against it 12 Majority against 7 Ayes: Messrs. Daldy (teller), Ross, Ridings, Wynn, and May. Noes: Messrs. J. O'Neill (teller), Cadman, Wallace, Cheeseman, Foley, Ball, Skeen, Mackenzie, Rowe, Gallaugher, Harrop, and King, An additional sum of £2OO having been voted for improvements at Slippery Creek, On the motion of Mr. Daldy, the Council adjourned until Saturday, the 28th November. Council rose at 10.JO.