0TAG0.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3394, 2 June 1868, Page 3

OTAGO.

In the Provincial Council on May 21, Mr. Reid moved, " That the financial proposals of the Government do not meet with the approval of this Council, and thereforeitcannot supportthe present Executive," to which Mr. McDermid moved, as an amendment, " That this Council approves generally of the financial proposals of the Government ; and as the session has been sufficiently prolonged, this Council is of opinion that Government business should take precedence for the remainder of the session." After a long discussion Mr. Mclndoe asked whether he'could propose another amendment, " That the general policy of the Government does not meet with the approval of the Council ; and, therefore, the Council cannot support the present Executive." The Speaker said that he could not receive the amendment. At a quarter to one, Mr. John Millar (who had been absent from his seat for several days, owing to an accident) entered the House, on crutches, and with his leg in a sling. He was applauded, as he came up the House, and was helped to a chair on the Opposition side. The Speaker put Mr. McDermid's amendment. Mr. Millar said : I wieb, Mr. Speaker, to have it recorded that John Millar, member for the City, was in his place on Friday morning, the 22nd of May, and not on Thursday, the 21st.— The Speaker : I cannot take any notice of the request.— Upon a division being taken, there voted— Ayes, 17; noes, 18. Mr. McDermid's amendment being thus negatived, Mr. Mclndoe moved, as an amendment, " lhat the general policy of the Government doeß not meet with the approval of this Coancil ; and, therefore, it ca,nnot support the present Executive." Mr. Reid repeated that he was quite willing to accept this amendment. A division was taken, and there voted — Ayes, 18 ; noes, 17. Mr. McTndoe's proposal, being thus affirmed, was put as a substantive motion, and was adopted, without a division. The DailyTimesot the 19fch states :— " Information has been received as to the state of the salmon ova at the Waiwera, up to the close of last week. The state of the ova was then very satisfactory, there being clear evidences of vitality in even a larger number of the ova than had at first appeared to be in good condition. It could not be said that the state of the boxes, as to their tightness, had perceptibly improved. Complaints were being made as to visitors to the Ponds bringing dogs with them, and thus greatly disturbing the stock on the run ; and it in most desirable that those persons who go to the Ponds should do so unaccompanied by dogs." A ball took place at the new Post Office Hall on the evening of the 19th, in honour of the representatives of Otago at thelate riflematches in Wellington, and was numerously attended. The ladies of Dunedin are about to give a purse to Sergeant Christie, in recognition of his excellent shooting at the late match. # The foundation stone of a new masonic hall has been laid at Dunedin. The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times writes :— " I mentioned in my last that Mr, Travers was engaged to conduct the defence of the Fenian prisoners at Hokitika, but you will have learned before this that Mr. Travers did not go thither, Mr. Ireland, from Victoria, having been subsequently engaged for that purpose. The story is that Mr. Travers was retained with the promise of a fee of £400 with his brief, but that a brief had also been offered to Mr. Ireland with a £1,000 fee. Mr. Ireland accepted it, and came down to Hokitika in sufficient time to enable the friends of the prisoners to telegraph to Mr. Travers that his services would not now be wanted, and requesting him to let them off with the payment of half the amount. Mr. Travers accordingly remained in Wellington."