PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. YESTERDAY.

Evening Post, Issue 107, 18 June 1868, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. YESTERDAY.

The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock. PETITIONS. Mr. DIiANSFIELD brought up a petition from Major Turner, lite of the 05th Regiment, praying for a grant of land under ths Repealed "Laud -*e^aUltioU3 of ISSS. Mr. ANDREWS presented a patibion from sheep farmers of the Easn Coast and Wairarapa, praying for a reduction of the tax on sheep. Mr. RHODES opposed the recaption of the petition, on the ground that; the fees afc present barely paid the sub-inspector's sah\ry. RESERVE. In auswer to Mr. RHODE'S cmesbion as to the authority upon which persons had built upon the Market Reserve, Te Aro, The PROVINCIAL TUEASUiIER, replied that the reserve had been handed over to the Town Board. Mr. R KODES declared his intention to see further into fche mait=r, inasmuch as the rej serve in question had been grossly inis- | appropi'iated and illegally dealt with. BONUS TO MR. CARTER. Mr. BUNNY moved that the item of bonus £500 to Mr. Carter, be referred to a committee. Carried. \VAIRA.fiAPA. RAILWAY. Mr. BUNNY moved that an address be presented to the Superintendent requesting that £1500 be placed on the estimates for the purpose of causing surreys of the proposed railway Hue to the Wairarapa being made, tie was in favor of the scheme, and would surest that the expenditure be taken out of the proposed loan of £2000. Mr. RHODES supported the motion, and expressed his opinion that no encouragement had been given by the Government zo the scheme, as should have been done. Air. JOHNSTON said that the amount could not be taken out of the loan. The Government were prepEvred to give a pro rctta contribution to the expense of a preHminary survey should the land owners through which the hue would pass give then- portion of it. Mr. R. PHARAZ ViST thought that a rate should be levied upon those landowners to equalize expense according- to benefit. He alluded • o the ill-treatment Wairarapa had received at the hands of the Government. He moved as an amendment that the expenditure o£ the survey be at the joint disposal of the Government and the Railway Committee. Mr. DRANSFIELD remarked that the late Government had promised to supplement the settlers' contributions. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER would like a railway, but did not know where the money was to come from. Mr. BUNNY assented to the amendment. Amended motion carried. itECLAranxG the harbok. The PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR moved fur leave to bring in a bill to raise by mortgage upon the unreclaimed land in the harbor of Port Nicholson a sum of £25,000 to repay I to the General Government part of the cost of the wharf. Mr. BUNNY was afraid that the General i Government would not cissent to the bill. Carried. REPKESENTATIOX KE-AUJUiSTMEKT BILL. This bill was further considered in committee. Mr. BUNNY objected to the city being divide-l into wards, and moved that there be nine <listricts instead of fifteen. The PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR said the Hutt -would be divide! into tea districts. Mr. J3ORLASE remarked that the eiiect of dividing the city in So war Is, would be that of giving the rich man l^any votes in each ward over the poor man. A di visiou that it bt> nine was takeu } and residleclas follows :—: — Ayes, S. Noes, 9. Progress was then reported. DISSOLUTION. Mr. RENALL (by Mr. Bunny) moved that in the omuion of the Council it is desirable that it slioukl be dissolved at an early date, and a new election take place. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER opposed the motion. Mr. BORLASE supported it, on account of the patent slip question, which would thus be settled by an appeal to the country. The motion was negatived. PATKST SLIP DISPUTE. The correspondence on the subject -was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. REPEESEXTATIOX READJUST-UEST BILL. In committee, Mr. DRANSFIED moved that there be 10 districts. Mr. JOHNSTON supported the motion. Messrs. BORLASE aud MASTERS opposed it. The PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR thought that the hist two speakers used bunkum and snoboiatory in their objections. Mr. Borlase assumed the ail's of a democrat and a red republican. Mr. BORLASE denied deserving the last appellation, but owned to the former. A division took place on the amendment, | which was lost by one vote. After further discussion progress was reported. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. A long debate took place on the item of £100 to the Deputy Commissioner of Crown Lauds, which -was agreed to. The remainder of the items were passed with the exception of that of field allowance £100 for Inspector of Roads. The Council then adjourned.