PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2065, 17 December 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

This Afternoon. On meeting this afternoon the Provincial Treasurer laid on the table correspondence respecting the formation of the Southern Trunk Hail way ; and also read a letter from David Proudfoot, offering an immediate deposit of LSOO, a further deposit of LSOOO, andsuch further security as may be required that the work shall be completed. The Secretary for Land and Works next read and laid on the table the correspondence that took place between Mr A. J. Bums and the Government respecting his appointment as immigration agent in Great Britain. The difference between the hou. gentleman and the Government was one of money ; he placing nearly four times the value on his services that, judging by their offer, the Government thought they were likely to be worth. The difference may have arisen either through a cheeseparing policy on the part of the Executive or a fair estimate of the return the Province was likely to get in the shape of efficient service. The Government threw no light on that subject. The proposed alterations in the Hundreds Regulation Act are the repeal of the third section of the Act; the amendment of the fourth, so that in the declaration (of Hundreds attention shall be paid to the contour of the country, and that instead of 15,000 acres, runs may include 20,000 acres ; that the maximum of compensation to he fixed shall not exceed 2s Cd an acre, and that the only improvements to be assessed shall he fencing under the provisions of the Fencing Ordinance, 1867 ; that instead of a pre-emptive right to 80 acres it shall he extended to 640 acres, and if on a gold field, a runholder may lease 640 acres under the leasing clauses of the Gold Fields Act with the power of purchase should the land be proved non-auriferous.