AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. THURSDAY, MARCH 5. The Speaker took the chair at three o'olock. MESSAGE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3319, 6 March 1868, Page 3

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. THURSDAY, MARCH 5. The Speaker took the chair at three o'olock. MESSAGE.

Message 54 informed the Council that the Superintendent had assfented, on behalf of the Gorernor, to the Education Act Repeal Act, 1868, and the Education Act, 1868, made and passed during the present session. Message 55 : The Superintendent transmits for the information of the Provincial Council extracts from a private letter, addressed by a resident settler at Hamilton, Canada West, to Mr. John Wilson, recently of this oity, I and placed by that gentleman at the Superintendent's disposal. v The letter has referenos to the i many inquiries for information respecting New Zea- , land which are constantly bung made by persons in the United States and in the British North Amerioan dominions, and especially with respect to the inducements to immigration afforded by this province. Mr. Wilson being about to proceed to his former place of residence on British North America, and intending (on his journey thither) to visit San Franoisco, Hamilton, and Toronto (C.W.), and Annapolis, Nova Scotia ; %nd being moreover eminently fitted, by his experience and acquaintance with the resources of New Zealand, to afford reliable information, and generally to fulfil the duties of emigration agent to this province, under the provisions of the Auckland Waste Lands Act, 1867, the Superintendent has accordingly authorised him to act in that capaoity at each of those several places, during bis stay thereiD, and the superintendent desires to acquaint the Provincial Council with the particulars of Mr. Wilson's appointment as set forth ia the enclosed letter and instructions. The enclosed- 1 letter referred to was read. It is a rather interesting production, and o»uaed a good good deal of merriment.

OUT BOARt) ACT AMBNDMERT BILL. This bill was considered in committee— Mr. Gilfillan ia the oaair. The bill was reported with an amendment, and the third reading fixed for next litting-day.

HOSPITiI ENDOWMENT BMPOWBBINd BIU&. ' The bill was read a third time and passed. AUCKLAND AND DRTOY RAILWAY BILL, 1868. Mr. Wynn moved the second reading of this bill. Captain Coopjsr said the Council had expressed the opinion that the railway should be carried on by a company, and he believed that was the object of the bill, so that any general remarks on the bill would be unnecessary. The bill was read a second time, and considered m committee— Mr. Gilfillan in the chair. The bill was reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed. ' , , Id Message No/ 56, the Superintendent announced that he had'j-eoeived from the firm of Messrs. Ridgway and Sods, London, Emigration and General 1 Agents for this provinoe, intelligence of the death of Mr. Alexander F. Ridgway, den., principal of that firm, whose' connection with this province has extended qver a period of fourteen years. Message 57 : The Superintendent transmits for the information of the Provincial Council the accompanying copy of a letter received from the Rev. David Bruce with reference to the Presbyterian burial-ground in Symonds-street. The Superintendent desires to recommeod the Provincial Council to express an opinion which msy empower the Superintendent, iftmer the provisions of the Auckland Waste Lands Act, 1867, to set apart the lands agreed to as a public reserve for the purpose of a burial-ground: — " Auckland, March 4, 1868. " Sir,— Referring to a letter forwarded lately by me to youroffice respecting the Presbyterian buryingground in Symonds-street, I beg leave to suggest that action might be taken by the Provincial Counoil, under the Waste Lands Act, to hay* the said buiying-ground declared a reserve, with a view to its being conveyed at your Honor's instance to trustees to be appointed by the Presbyterian Church. As we are anxious to have the ground cleared and laid out in proper order, it is very desirable that there should be no further delay in the placing of it under definite and authoritative control.— I have, fio ., "*>• Bbttcb. "His Honor the Superintendent." Mr. Davy moved that a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, request* ing him to let apart the land referred to in Message 67 as. a publio reierre for the purpose of a burialground. Mr. Swanson would not oppose the motion, but objected to the burial-grounds being so near the -city. ■ *•* '*- — -» Mr. Dhjwan said, if that burial-ground were closed, alt the burial places in the neighbourhood should also be closed. M r# Wtnh had no objection to the motion, on the understanding that next session some steps should be taken to h**e burial-grounds at a greater distance from the town. Mr. Crbighton would not object to the motion, in the hope that the burial-grounds in tbat neighbourhood should be closed at the earliest possible period. They could be laid out as ornamental grounds. Mr. Clakk expressed a similar opinion. The resolution was agreed to. The next message contsined a request from F. H. Hull, Esq., M.H.R., that £30 should be placed on the estimates for the repairs of certain bridges in the Mangawai district.

Si.LT- WATER BITH COMPANY LEISI BILL. On the motion for the third reading of thin bill, I Mr. Wtnn, in aniwer to Mr. Swanson, said that Dot » oiDgleinchof ground more than mis now occupied by the company would ba leased to them under the lease. The bill was read a third time and passed.

PROROGATION. Mr. Wykn intimated th»t the Government would nbfc require the farther attendance of bon. members, as it wai the intention to prorogue the Council next day by proclamation. The Council adjourned at a quarter-past four o'clock.