The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, MONDAY, NOV. 27, 1865.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 799, 27 November 1865, Page 2

The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, MONDAY, NOV. 27, 1865.

In the Provincial Council this afternoon.

The Speaker took the chair at 2 o’clock. The Provincial Secretary laid on the table copies of correspondence with the Canterbury Government on the opening up of a road to the West Coast.

A Message was received from his Honor the Superintendent, accompanying a copy of the Estimates and Expenditure for the ensuing halfyear. The Provincial Treasures gave notice of Ms intention to move that the House go into Committee of Supply this evening, when he would make a financial statement.

The Town and County Police Ordinance Extension Ordinance was read a first time, the second reading appointed for to-morrow. Mr Brown asked the Government if they were in possession of any information from the Canterbury Government in reference to opening up a road to the West Coast through the Province of Otago ? The Provincial Secretary replied that copies of that correspondence had just been laid upon the table. The Otago Government had written to the Government of Canterbury on the subject of a road to the West Coast, and the Superintendent of that Province had promised to bring the matter before the Canterbury Provincial Council. Mr Miller asked if the Government were aware that portions of the road through the .Lindis Pass have been almost impassible during the winter months for want of Attention to sur.face drainage.” The Provincial Secretary replied that the state of the road in question had been made known to the Government. Instructions had been at once issued to the Surveyor to ascertain the necessary cost of repairs, and as soon as his statement had been received, a .sum sufficient would be placed on the Estimates for the purpose. Mr Grant asked the Government what ramount of debentures have been sbld in the colonies since the last meeting of Council, and the prices realised, and the expenses connected with these negociations. The Provincial Treasurer replied that the whole amount disposed of since last session was £6550, which had principally been placed in Dunedin. The cost of negotiation was only the usual commission, 1 per cent.

Mr Grant asked the Provincial Treasurer— * g Whether the item of £1712, to wit, the Gala passage money, and whether the item of £IOOO for Clutha .coal-field plant have been paid, the former to Messrs John Gladstone and Co., and the latter through the home agents to the furnishers of the plant, and whether the whole affair has been satisfactorily arranged so that -.this House and Province shall suffer no detriment to its public credit and integrity in the eye •of the commercial public.” The Provincial Treasurer replied that the •only information the Government could give was .contained in the official documents on the subject. The Gala passage money and the item for the Clutha coal-field plant had been paid by the Provincial Government to the agent of the parties mentioned.

Mr Grant asked if the money had been received by the parties in question, Mr Moss replied that that was a matter entirely between them and their agent. The Provincial Government had nothing to do with it. As to the last clause of the question, it was one he could not answer, it being entirely a matter of opinion. As the money had been paid by the Government he could not see how its reputation could be affected.

Mr Burns asked —“Whether the Rattrayatreet Wharf is now open for the use of shipping, and if so, why not used ?” The Secretary for Public Works explained the circumstances which had rendered the wharf as at present inoperative, but a sum had been placed on the Estimates for the purpose of dredging the harbor by prison labor, and thus deepening the water at both jetties. Mr Burks asked the Provincial Secretary—“lf the Government intend taking any steps towards, erecting a Market Hou.se on. the Market Reserve, South Dunedin, ox to permit any other so to do ?”

Mr Rey:n olds replied that the Market Reserve would be handed over to the City Council in trust, for the specified purposes of the grant, and no doubt that body would take the necessary steps to provide the proper accommodation. If not, the Provincial Council could deal with the matter itself.