PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2063, 15 December 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

This Day. On the House meeting to-day, at the usual hour, the Speaker read a letter from the Provincial Auditor. The Speaker afterwards called attention to the fact that the Select Committees were not properly attended, aud that in one Committee, out of seven members, only three could be frequently got to form a quorum. After some remarks by Mr Ashcroft, the Secretary for Land and Works moved the suspension of the Standing Orders, in order to move the addition of two names to the Private Petitions Committee, which was agreed to. On bis motion, the names of Messrs Turnbull and Gillies were added to that committee. The question as to whether the House was to sit to-morrow having arisen in the course of the discussion on the previous question, the Secretary for Land and Works moved that the House on its rising adjourn until Friday, at two o’clock. Mr M'lndoe opposed the motion, on the ground that seeing that the was convened for special business, and that the sitting was costing so much, the business should be proceeded with independently of any religious body. There was LI a day honorarium The hon. member waa here interrupted by Mr Ashcroft, who created some amusement by informing the House that he had been told by a member of the Government that there wmuld be no honorarium this session. Mr M ‘lndoe continued that he was prepared to give up his honorarium towards the cost of reporting the debates, and he advised other hon. members of the House to do the same. He did not think that any dayof the week should be selected for religious purposes; Sunday was quite sufficient. The keeping of this Fast-day was an antiquated notion. Captain M'Kenzic opposed the motion. The Presbyterian body should have fixed its Fast-day so as not to interfere with the business of the country, and that it should not have been appointed uptil the House had adjourned. There was no absolute necessity tor the day, and the Presbyterian body had no right to dictate to the rest of the community. Mr M'Dermid pointed out that on the settlement of this place there was a contract entered into that one sect should observe the religious holidays of the other; and the Hquse should not infringe that contract, The good sense of the House prevailed, and on the motion being put, it was carried unanimously. A discussion then ensued as to the reporting of the debates, in which there was a good deal of very unnecessary talking. The debate on the Hundreds question was resumed by Mr Sibbald, who premised by saying that he had to administer some little admonition to those members who approved of the Bill; and he was followed by Mr Hutcheson, who opposed it. [Left sitting.]