RUSSELL. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) January 2.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2020, 6 January 1864, Page 3

RUSSELL. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ) January 2.

T fbak this will be a bad season for people here whose business is in any way connected with the whaling fleet. We have had strange, boisterous, unseasonable weather here lately. The thunder storm you had in Auckland visited us the next day. The rams have hern very heavy about Waitnate and the neighbourhood, and a great deal of hay has been spoiled in consequence. The Maoris here are all quiet, the only thing they complain of is not being able to get grog, though they manage somehow or other to get too much sometimes, notwithstanding the stringent laws passed to prevent them.

Provincial Council. — The Council met yesterday at the usual Lour. Petitions for the repair of Stokes's Point Wharf weie presented *nd received. A repoifc was brought up fioin the Rail nay Committee in favour of the Railway Appropriation Bill. Several questions on different subjects were answered by the Provincial Secretary. On a motion of Dr. Pollen relative to the Grammar School Txust, some discussion arose, seveial members expiessing themselves in favour of some use being made of the money at once. A discussion also aiose ou a motion of the same lion, member, condemning the republication of the Provincial Gazette by the Government, and resulted in its being negatived almost unanimously. A motion of Mr. A. O'Neill, requesting the Superintendent to place on the Estimates £100 for the Okura road between Auckland and the Wade, was passed. A lengthened debate ensued on the question of adopting the Select Committee Eepoit in favour of the City Boaid Loan Act 1863 Amendment Bill. Ultimately, the report wag negatived on a division by 10 to 7, the chief grounds assigned being the absence of plans for the expenditure of the Loan, want of confidence in the Board and an idea that they wohld have sufficient money without this Loan. At :i quaiter to eight o'clock the house adjourned to Thursday, to-day being Old Christmwi Day m well m mail day.