PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1435, 14 June 1867, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, June 13 The Speaker took the chair at five o'clock. Present — All the members except Messrs Murray-Aynesly, D. Davis, Garrick, Gray, Maskell, and Rhodes. Prayen having been read by the Very Reverend the Chaplain, the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. SUBSIDIES TO EOAD BOAKD3. Mr J. H Moobe, although he had not given notice of the question, would like to aek the Government when it was probable that a return showing the amounts piiid to the various Koad Boards, out of the grant of last year, would be laid on the table. The Pbovincial Secretary said that they would be furnished as coon as possible. CHBIBTOHTJBCH BCILDIN& OBDINANCE. Mr W. Wilson asked the Provincial Secretary—" Whether it is the intention of the Government to endeavour to carry through the Council during the present session the remaining clauses of the Christchurch Building Ordinance." The measure had been partly considered during the last session of the Council, and a large number of clauses were then passed. The matter was one of very great public importance, and he hoped that the Bill would be passed during the present session. The Provincial Secbetaby hoped that if possible the Bill would be considered, but whether it would or not rested with the Council. It was necessary that the provincial business should be got through before the meeting of the General Assembly. If Mr Wilson would introduce the measure, the Government would offer no opposition to the consideration of the Bill Mr Wilson would most certainly do so. THE ASHLEY BBIDGE. Mr Moobb asked the Provincial Secretary —" What are the intentions of the Government in reference to the purchasing of the Ashley bridjje ? " The PBOViNCrAi Secretary replied that some provision would be made either to purchase the bridge or reduce the tolls. . Mr TB4VEBB asked the Provincial Secretary —"What is the present condition of the pile and faecine works on the bank of the River Hokitika between Sale and Brittan streets, and below the wharf, and of the breakwater, dam, and cutting above the town boundary on the same river, which are severally mentioned in Mr Rochfort's report of the 13th May last." The information i required was very necessary, and it should be ufforded the House before the consideration of the Westland estimates were brought on. The Pbovincial Secbetaby, in reply,' stated the works already carried out had been found to work well. It was cheap, and had answered all the purposes for which it was designed. He was informed by Mr Sale that it would be necessary to carry the fascines further up the river than was at present intended, so as to convert and keep the water in the new channel formed. CBOWN GBANTS. Mr Tbavebs, asked the Provincial Secretary —" If he could give any explanation why the arrears of Crown grants unprepared have incroased during the eleven months ended on the 31st May last from 1640 to 2205, as appears by return laid on the table of the Council." The extra arrears had amounted during the last eleven months to nearly 500. The Peotincial Secbetaey said it had been decided by the Council that a system of overtime was rather to be regretted, and did not work well, and had consequentlybeen stopped, and to that fact was to be attributed the increase in the arrears. But Government had determined, as would be seen by the estimates, to remedy the evil by increasing the present staff, and forming a sub-compart-ment to do the work, and he hoped soon that all the arrears would be pulled up. BOAD TO BOSS. Mr Baeff asked the Provincial Secretary —" Why the sum of £1000, granted by thie Council during the last session for the construction of a road to Ross had not been expended in the manner intended by this Council." The sum had been voted by the two preceding Councils, but as yet it had not been expended. A very serious loss of life had occurred upon this road, and he could call to mind eight or nine instances. The Ross d strict was a very important one, employing several thousand miners, and yielding a large revenue ; the only means at present ofgetting to it was by proceeding up the bed of the river, and when there waa a fresh this was of course impossible, and men were frequently detained days on the way between Hokitika and Ross. . Provisions also were at times much enhanced in price owing to the want of a decent road. The Pbovincial Secbktaet stated that instructions had been issued some time back to have the road made, and tenders were accepted for the work. He was advised that the road was never impassable for any length of time. Another reason why the work had been delayed was, that it was represented that a local company were about to construct a tramway, in which case the money would have been thrown away. The work would be at once gone on with. Mr Babff wished to know to whom the instructions had been iseued. The Pbovixcial Secbetaby—To the representative of the Provincial Government in Westland. WESTLAND PTTBLIC-HOUSB ORDINANCE. Mr Babff asked tho Provincial Solicitor —"Whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill during the present session to amend the Westland Public-House Ordinance." It whs very desirable that some alteration in the present Act should be made. Ir was found to work very indifferently in Westland. Tho Provincial Solicitob stated that it w>»3 not the intention of the Government to introduce any measure during the present session, but the members of the Gjvernnent j would be most happy to confer with the members for Westlund on the subject, so that a Bill might be drawn up, and, if time would admit, considered during the present session. ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY AND DOMAIN BOABD. Mr Hall, by permission of the Provincial Secretary, asked without notice —"What amount of the voto passed by the Council had been paid to the Acclimatization Society and to the Domain Board." The original votes passed were-to the Acclimatization Society,, £3uO ; and to the Domain Board, £150; but he uuderstood that only £150 had been paid to the society, whilst the Board had received j £300. II was anxious to know if the Govern- j ment Lad done anythiug to correct the error.

The Provincial Secretary said that the error had arisen. It was chiefly owing to the Domain Board having spent more money than H-.is due to it. The Provincial Auditor had considered the vote as a single one, and had consequently parsed the amount. On the estimates would be found a sum in aid of the funds of each institution, and, if passed by the House, the Government would refund to the Acclimatization Society out of the vote granted to the Domain Board. AGBICUI/rrKAT* STATISTICS. Mr Hall moved-" That it is desirable steps should be taken with as little delay as possible to ascertain the quantity of wheat, otite, aud b*rley which has been grown in tins province during the year ending 2Sth February last " He considered it very necessary that the statistics should be furnished to the House. Year after year it was stated that the province had been growing more corn that it could consume, and year after year several persons had made large amounts by importing grain. Last year large exports of wheat were made during the firet part of the eenson, and during the latter part flour had to be imported. In the neighbouring province of Otago the Government furnished similar statistics. He did not wish to dictate to the Government the means by which they could obtain the necessary information, but considered that the police could be made very serviceable, and tliataimall gratuity should be given them for their services. The statistics need not be very precise, but still euoh as could be relied upon. He had no doubt but that farmers would afford every information to the enumerators. Mr Hillyakd seconded the motion. Mr Wjtlde would support the motion. He considered it one of the greatest importance, and that if carried a great benefit would be given to the farmers. At present to a certain extent they were working in the dark. An association hud been formed, having for its object the exportation of grain, but they were met at the very outset with the queetion, " How do you " know how much you can export ?" He considered that there would not be great difficulty in collecting the information. He was sura that the Northern Agricultural Association, which consisted ehieflv of farmers, -would afford all the assistance "in its power, and he had no doubt but that the Southern societies would do the same. Mr Dixon would like to have seen another clause added, co that the returns might furnish other field produce than that mentioned. Mr Jollie would like to see the returns made periodically, say in December in each year, but he was afraid that the present year would be ended before anything like accurate returns could be obtained. Mr Habgbeaves considered that it was the duty of the General Government to furnish the returns, as it was for their benefit that they were required. He was surprised that Mr Hall should have moved such a queetion. Mr Lee had much pleasure in speaking in favour of the resolutions. The returns were much wanted. He was sure that the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association would he most willing to obtain and afford every information. He hoped that the returns of root crops, bacon, &c, would be included, so that as full information as possible would be given. The Pbovlncial Secbetaby said that the Government would have much pleasure in acceding to the request; in fact, they had already to a certaiu extent anticipated the views of the mover, as an application had been made to the Inspector of Police to know to what pxtent the force could be made available. A very small sum of money would be required, as no doubt the different Road Boards would be willing to furnish all the information in their power. Mr Whali. thought the return should include) the quantity of flour imported into Westland. Their requirements were xery large, and probably a very good market for cereals would often be found there. At present Westland was entirely dependent on other provinces for its supplies. The Photincial Solicitob considered that it was quite possible to obtain the returns wished for by Mr Whall, by placing a notice of motion to that effect upon the paper. In the statistics asked for by Mr Hall he should like to see the quantity of land under cultivation in the various districts included. Mr Tbatebs considered that the information should be obtained under the provisions of an Ordinance. If necessary, it should be made compulsory that the variousßoad Boards should obtain the information required. The census would be taken in December, and the collectors might combine the two offices. Mr Hall said that he was very glad that his motion hud met with such general support. The only objector had been the hon. member for Lyttelton, who in his voluminous speech had stated that the information was in the hands of, and wanted by, the General Government. If Mr Hargreaves had any such idea he should advise him to apply in the proper quarter for it. He had no objection to the proposal to have yearly returns, but thought that sufficient information to be of great assistance to farmers could be obtained during the present year. There was no time to pass an Ordinance during the present session, and he was afraid that by including other crops than those mentioned they would delay the publication of the returns until they would have become useless. The motion was carried. ELECTION OF CHAIBMAN OF COMMITTEES. The Pbovihcial Seceetaby moved —"That the Council do proceed to the election of the Chairman of Committees." The Government proposed to elect a gentleman whose abilities he thought none would be found to question. The gentleman had a thorough knowledge of the rules, and he had no doubt would make a good chairman. He alluded to Mr J. Wylde, the member for Eaiapoi. Mr Lee seconded the motion, which was carried. BEPLY TO HIS HOjrOTTB'S SPEECH. Mr Bbight moved —"That a respectful address be presented to his Honour the Superintendent in reply to his Honour's speech." It would not be necessary for him to detain the House for any length of time by making a long speech. The reply which he was about to submit to them had been printed, and in the hands of hon. members the greater portion of the day, and was not likely to cause a long debate. In assuming the office of mover of the reply, he wished to carefully guard himself against saying anything that would interfere with his free position in the Houee. Although moving the reply, he did not feel that he was thereby bound to support any or every motion put forward by the present or any other Government. In countries where party feeling was broadly marked, and where the opening of ParHacent was looked forward to with great interest, the reply to the speech was not unusually mttde a test of the strength of the different factions. Such was the case in England, and even in the Australian colonies, but to carry out such a rule here would be most absurd There was no party in the House. Ho considered that they were a number of persons sent by the country to do their best for the good of all parts of it, and lie would not therefore commit himself to anyparticular line of action. The reply waa as follows :— " The Council thank your Honour for the address with which you have opened the preI sent session of this Council. i "The Council cordially join with your Honour in congratulations to the province and the colony at large upon the successful e=tabI lishtiient of communication between the Port ! and the Plains by means of the tunnel through the hills. " The Council aro fully alive to the benefits to be conferred upon the province by the ! bridging of the River Eakaiu, and will atteni tively consider any plan laid before them for I that purpose. 1 " The Council are gratified by the information that a perfectly practicable line of railway can be carried to the West Coast. The Council, however, concur with your Honour that the undertaking is far beyond our means at present. ! "The Council will, on aa early day, cou-

sider and decide upon the provisional contract entered into by your Honour for the imrchofo of the Peacock wharf property. "The Council agree wiih your Houo.ir that tho Northern line" of railway should be proceeded wit i whenever t:-e funds at the disposal of the Government are sumcient to justify such an undertaking. " The Council concur with your Honour that the consolidation of all Provincial loans will havo a material and beneficial effect upon the sale of our unrealized securities, caro being had to guard the province from any concurrence in measures which limy prejudicially affect its interests. " The Council are gratified to find that the reports of the Wostland Commission and the Mining Conference will bo laid before them ; and that resolutions on the subject of the sale and occupation of land within the goldfields will be submitted for their aoceptance. "The Council reciprocate your Honour's hope that their endeayours may be productive of lasting good to the province." The Houee would see that by adopting the reply it pledged itself to no specific action, and under the circumstances he thought that in this laid the strength of the reply. It would be very inconvenient to raise a succession of debates on eacli paragraph : all of the matters would be brought before them at the proper time, and then they could be fully discussed. He must cay that he regretted that the Council had not been called together earlier, and would like to see the whole business concluded in one session, instead of, as contemplated, holding a series of short cessions. He would not go into details, but was sure that the House regretted as much as his Honour did the commercial depression at present existing, and that all would join cordially in forwarding any measure having for its object tho furtherance of relief. A large portion of his Honour's address was taken up with allusions to the necessity" of carrying out private works. He would not allude to them, as the different questions would be fully discussed. As a member of Westland, he must state that on first reading the spsech he had regretted the very meagre allusions made in it to Westland and its requirements, but on second thought he had considered that his Honour had acted wifely. They all knew that a commission had been specially constituted to consider those matters, and the report was now before them, and it was perhaps well that his Honour had not forestalled their labours. The House would have every opportunity of considering the report, and ho neither wished to defend or impugn it; the members of the Commits on were many of them members of the House, and no doubt when the report was brought on for discussion they would be able to explain their motives The result of the vote made during the last session for tho survey of a line of railway to Westland would be found very useful, it would form specific data on which future operations might be instituted. There was only one other part of the address to which he would allude, viz., his Honour's allusion to the proposed legislation of the General Assembly on the subject of municipal institutions. He believed the House would concur generally in the hope expressed by his Honour that the proposed legislation of the General Assembly for the purpose of establishing municipal institutions would not have the effect of suddenly superseding the present constitution of the provinces. lie hoped he was correct in placing such an interpretation on the tenor of his Honour's address as t* regard it not as an expression of the wish of the Superindent and the Government to subvert the present provincial system. His own (Mr Bright , s) views were that so long as the present Constitution of the colony prevailed, under which the whole colony was governed from a central government at Wellington, it was impossible for the several provincial interests, diversified as they were, and of such miignitude, to be properly attended to; but if separation took place, and a central government was established in the Middle Island, whose attention was not districted by such questions as now engaged the attention of the Government at Wellington, the present provincial legislatures might be superseded by the establishment of municipalities. Until euch a policy was likely to be carried out he thought it the duty of Provincial Governments to assert their functions, and maintain their rights to the fullest possible extent. Mr Bright concluded by moving the adoption of the reply. Mr Hillyabd briefly seconded the motion, and the House went into committee, when the clauses were considered seriatim, and the first fire passed as printed without discussion. On Clause 6, referring to tho Northern line of railway, being moved, Mr Belfield said he wished to move aa an amendment some additional words. He foundin the printed draft of the reply that no notice was taken of that part of hie Honour's address which referred to the Timaru roadstead He would therefore move that the following words be added—" The Council are glad to observe that a sum of money will be placed on the estimates for the purpose of carrying out the proposal of Mr Balfour for tho protection of the Timaru roadstead, and it trusts that the harbour works proposed at Tiraaru, being of so much importance to the residents south of the province, shall no longer be delayed." Mr cSheath seconded the amendment. He regretted that the money voted last session for the purpose had not been expended on the Timaru harbour works, but he hoped that the sum to be placed on the estimates this cession would be expended on the works without delay. Clause 6 waa passed, and Mr Belfield's amendment then stood as Clause 7. Mr Habgbaveb deprecited expending any part of the loan which was raised for constructing harbour works at Lyttelton for a breakwater at Timaru, which could never be made a good harbour. Mr Belfield pointed out that a sum of £2500 had been voted last session for works recommended by the highest engineering authority in New Zealand. Hon. members must also remember that the Customs revenue raised in Timaru was very considerable—about £ 15 000, not taking into account revenue on goods paid in Dunedin and other places. Altogether, he believed that nearly £30,000 of of Customs duties were derivable from Timaru, besides a very large portion of tho land fund. Mr Dixon pointed out that the wording of the motion was too binding, and aeserted a priority for the Timaru harbour works over the Northern line of railway. He would move ai an amendment that the latter part of the motion should stand thus —" and will not be delayed after funds are available for that purpose." j Mr TeaverS would support the original motion. He considered that scant justice had been done hitherto to the South, which had provided such an important part of the provincial revenues. If reasonable facilities were afforded at Timaru for the transoiis ion of goods, the Customs revenue would increase considerably The FKoviNCiAii Secbetaey would support the amendment of the hon. member for Mandeville (Mr Dixon), os the original motion would have tire effect of tying the hands of the Government. He did not mean to Buy that a breakwater was unnecessary at Timaru It would be proceeded with at once when the necessary funds were available, and when the accounts came before the House they would see that the Government had been justified in not expending the vote which was passed last session fur the purpose. After some remarks from Mr AJostGOMEItY, Mr Tbavebu said it was time to affirm the principle that when once a work had been recognized as one of necessity, and money voted for it, tho wishes of the Council should not bo disregarded. Ii the Government claimed the right of giving priority to onework over another, and spend the money voted by the Council accordingly, the funeione of the House, were at an end. The duty of the Council was to direct how the funds which were appropriated were to be expended. The clause as amended was, after eomo further discussion, passed. On Clause 8 being moved, Mr Hall said he wished to say a few worda on that paragraph in hie Honour , ! addxew

which referred to th.> proposed Wi-U,- , tho Geru-ml A,« M »b!y for \.«uUi»J nill , ° f Cipal instilutiona throughout tho n." -" "Un"r n" Itlmd been stated in T.rio,» ami in the public prints, and echood by ,1 sons who ought to know better, that it i »i intention of the General Government to m pose when the Assembly meets som seW of a very revolutionary character ; that: it I in fact their intention to almost annihilate t'S provinces. That had been aaiit so often that! wae believed. Uβ had heard it ropeatod in the province, and even that very day ] le W( T. told by an hon. member that the province, were to be abolished. Some hon bera were ot opinion that they vTj met there for the lest time, and tW the speech of hie Honour which they had recently heard, vr«i the last they shnnM listen to in that hall, lie was glad to have an opportunity of contradicting rumours whioh were co generally credited. Ho asked hon members to take the intentions of tho General Government from their words and acts and not from the worda of, in some cases, not'over scrupulous opponents. That was ' not the place or time to express what the intentions of the General Government weroin themattor but he thought, no time or place inappropriate to deny mischievous reports. What the Got. ernment said was, that they would brinjt forward a measuro for endeavouring to givo au efficient measure of ] ora l government to thoso districts to which provincial institutions no longer applied That was what the Government intended to do, and that was what he hoped they would bo able to succeed in doing. It might not bo dono in one or two sessions ; it was a question of time, hut he believed it wae what the people of New Zealand wanted. If that fortunate result should be arrived at, when local eolf. government would be more localised than nfc present, then provincial institutions would have accomplished their mission, and would not need to be abolished, but would dio out. That was not an opinion he had expreseed for the first time, but ono which ho always stated when called upon to express his view* on tlio point. There might be reasons to precipitate the other course, but be hoped they would not occur. He only hoped that what he had said would dispel the anticipations which had been industriously circulated with a view to delude the public of New Zealund. He did not forn moment mean to put his Honour the Superintendent among those persons to whom he alluded ; on the contrary, he rather thanked him for affording him (Mr Hall) an oppor« tunity for making those statements. The clause was then passed as printed. On Clause 9 being moved, Mr Hall said he wished to say a few words with regard to the financial year. He gathered from his Honour's address that it wag tho intention of the Government in future to make the 31st March the end of the financial year. He (Mr Hall) ventured to suggest to the Government whether it would not bo moro convenient to make the year terminate in the month of December, in which case tho estimates might be taken for only six months now. It was a settled rule now that tho i+eneral Assembly met in the beginning of July, and if the Council met in November or December, they would be aware whatresouroce were at their disposal. If the meeting, of the Council was deferred till March, it was the; most inconvenient period of the year for most hon. members. The PEOViNOiAr- Secbetabt said the. Government considered that the ond of March would be the most convenient time for hon. members to give their attendance. If the House met in December it would havo but partial knowledge of tho doings of tho Assembly, in consequence of the records not being printed so early. The matter, however, rested with the Council, and if the House wished , the Government would be happj to change the estimates and take supplies for six months only. The clause was then passed, as also the remaining clause, and the House resumed, when the reply, aa amended, was reported. SOUTHEHN BAII/WAT. Mr Waxkbb moved—"For a return of all lands which have been given to or bought by Meesrs Holmes and Co. in satisfaction of their claims under the provisions of tho contract for the Southern Bailway." Mr Dixon seconded the motion, which waa carried. Mr Walkeb then moved—" That copies of allcorrespondence between the General Government and the Provincial Government, on the subject of payment for the Southern Kailwey in land, be laid on the table." The motion was carried, and the correspondence was laid on the tablo. PBOVINCIAL GEOLOGIST. Mr Tbavbeß moved—" That a plan showing the area of the roome occupied by the Provincial Geologist in the Government buildings be laid upon the table of the Council." He moved for the plan, as he took the trouble to ascertain the exact area of the room occupied by the Colonial Geologist in Wellington, and ho had reason to believe that the area of the rooms occupied by the Geological Department of Canterbury was in excess of that of the same department in yet in the latter place the public were admitted. He thought that that being tho caeo, the Provincial Geologist of Canterbury would have no difficulty in admitting the publio to examine his collections. Mr Dixon seconded the motion. Mr Hall hoped that the Government would not lose sight of making improvements for the purpose of giving tho publio access to the provincial collections. He regretted that such a fine collection—admitted by the Colonial Geologist to be superior to the colonial collection —should be chut to the pub'io. The Pbovincial Sbcbbtab'? said that the room taken up by the Geological Department was much wanted for the Survey Office. The museum would have been commenoed if _it were not for the financial position in which the province was, but he trusted to ccc it commenced before long. MrTBAVEBB wished to explain that the sole; object he had in moving the resolution was to ccc if access could be obtained for tho public to such an interesting collection. The motion was carried, and the plan laid on the table. CHUBCH rBOPBBTY TBTJST ACT. Mr Tbavbbs moved — "That a select committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs George Leslie Lee, E. Jollie, W. Wilson, the Provincial Solicitor, and the mover, to consider ond report upon the petition of the Bishop of Christchurch and others for leave to bring in a Bill entituled the Church Property Trust Amendment Bill, 1867, with power to call for papers and persons." The motion was carried. SHSBP-BATING AMEITDSIBNT BILL. This Bill wae read a second time, committed, and reported to the House. PENCING OKDINAWCB AMBNDMB3T BJIi. The Pbovincial Solicitor moved th>» committal of this Bill. Mr Lee suggested that the Bill should i» withdrawn, and a committee appointed totaso evidence on , the subject for the purpoao ot introducing a more effective measure. Mr Ormsbt concurred with the previous speaker, and suggested that the Cattle Trespass Bill should also be dealt with in the same The PfiOVDJciAL Solicitob explained tb»* the ODicct for bringing in the preeent BiU was to meet the objections of tiie General Government. He regarded the suggestions o the hon. member for Oxford (Mr Lee} a meet desirable, as something must be done. The state of the law with regard to, fencing and trespass waa most no thought the Acts applying to these rtWUM «» remodelled and consolidated m one. A seiec* committee might be appointed thiß. w»»""» and a consolidated Ordinance introduced ne« motion was carried, the Bill w» committed, and reported to the House. HEATHCOTB 3UIDQB BILL, Thia Bill wae read a third time and passed, FINANCIAL STATBMBJm In reply to a quwtioa from Mr Tl**.

The Pbovincial Secbetaby eaid that ■ ; rg to the late hour at which the estimates wore laid on the table, he would defer making hie financial statement nntil Tuesday. Notices of motion were then given, and the House adjourned until the following day, at twelve o'clock. NOTICES OF MOTION. Friday, June 14. Mr WlMoy, to esk the Provincial Secretary __«Whether the Government intend to bring mto the Council during the present session an Ordinance empowering the Government to •ell to adjoining land purchasers the road reserves, where not required, along the margin of unnavigable rivers in this province, nLw it a condition of the purchase that gnch buyers shall keep the river opposite their respective properties free from obitruction by water-cress or other objectionable weeds.' Hγ Whau., to ask the Provincial Secretary _"Why the promise given to the Provincial Council during the last session to fence the cemeteries in Westland has not been fulfilled." Mr MontgombbY, to nek the Secretary for public Works—" When he expects the screwBile jetty at Lyttelton will be completed." jfr E. BabOT, to move—" That in the ooinion of this Council it ie highly desirable that a system of telegraphic money-orders ihould be established ac soon as possible on the line! of telegraph under the control of the Provincial Government." Contingent on the above resolution being carried, to move— "Thet an eddrew containing a copy of the resolution be presented to his Honour the Superintendent, praying him to take the Btctsitry »t*P e to carry the resolution into effect Bβ soon as possible." Mr Baht?, to move—"That it ie the opinion of this Council that all public works jn Weetland ehould be thrown open for public competition by duly authorized tenders." Mr Bkuibid. to move—" For copies of all correspondence that has passed between the ! Port Officer of the province, the Manager of the Timaru Landing Service, and the Government, with reference to the protection works now being carried on for the protection of the Government landing shed." Mr Wish Williams, to move—"That copies of correspondence between the General Government and Provincial Government with regard to the Hokitika Municipal Council Ordinance be laid on the table." Mr Whau, to move —" For a return ehowing the dietance of track cut by the Surveyor and staff from Rutherglem, and the time the work has been on hand." Mr Whau, to move—"For returne of B&mes and number of labourers employed under each surveyor in the service of the Provincial Government in Weetland, with the vouchers for the payment of the salaries to the same since the 30th day of June, 1866." Mr Stbwabt to move—" That his Honour the Superintendent be respectfully requested to make the reserve of land contained in the following description:—Eeserve for gravel for ballasting purpoies, four acres two roods and sixteen perches more or less, situite in the Lincoln district, commencing at seventeen miles thirty-three chains on the Southern Bailway, thence north-easterly, following the north-western boundary of the said railway a distance of twenty-three chains, and extending back north-westerly a dietance of two chains in a rectangular block, being bounded on the southwest by a road." Mr. Geo. Leslie Lee, to move—" That a Select Committee be appointed to take into consideration the several Fencing and Cattle Trespass Ordinances at present in force, with a view to their repeal and the enactment of a consolidated Cattle Trespass and Fencing Ordinance." Mr Haix, to move—" That the correspondence between the Provincial Government and Mr Doyne, on the subject of the construction of the Great Southern Railway, laid on the table during the last session of the Council, be ordered to be printed " Mr Stkwabt, to mote—" The confirmation of the reserves, temporarily made by his Honour the Superintendent since last session."