WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1745, 9 March 1874, Page 2

WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Thursday, March 5. province administrative bill. His Honor understood that several members desired to bring forward amendments to some of the clauses of the Bill. It would be probably, therefore, better to adjourn the consideration of the Bill until the amendments ould be printed and placed before members. He, therefore, by leave, moved that the Province Administrative Bill be made an Order of the Day for Monday. The motion was carried. HOKITIKA COAL PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION. Mr Honlahan resumed the adjourned debate on Mr Seddon's motion — " That this Council requests his Honor to place on the Estimates the sum of L2OO as a grant to the Hokitika Coal Prospecting Association to be spent under the supervision of his Honor the Superintendent and the District Surveyor." He heartily supported the motion, but not having yet read the documents on the subject, he would move the adjournment of the debate until Monday. Mr Robinson seconded the motion. Mr M'Gaffin protested against a further adjournment. The motion was lost on the voices. Mr Todd moved as an amendment that the sum of LI 00 be placed on the Estimates. Mr M'Gaffin seconded the amendment. A long discussion ensued, during which his Honor and the Hon. H. Lahman pointed out that owing to the state of the Provincial finances it was very improbable that this and similar votes could be paid. A division took place and the amendment was carried by 12 votes to 3, the Hon. H. Lahman, Messrs Curaing. and Wickes voting in the negative. Mr Guinness moved, as a further amendment, that the following words be added :—" Provided that such association expends a further sum of L2OO in prospecting." Mr Dun" an seconded 'he amendment, which was carried. The motion as amended was then agreed to. LITEIURY SOCIETIES. The adjourned debate on Mr Woolcock's motion — " That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the Estimates for the ensuing year the sum of LSO as a subsidy for the Greymouth Literary Society." — Was resumed by Mr Guinness, who opposed the motion. The mover had pictured the Greymouth Literary Society as most prosperous. He would prefer giving grants to Literary Societies in new townships, where such institutions were being started. There was a deficiency in the Estimates already. The Hon. Mr Lahman said as it seemed the order of the day for members to gain a liitle cheap popularity by asking for sums, which, when voted, even by the Council, could never be paid, he would support the motion. He was sorry to see the amount was not larger. His Honor said it must he apparent to members that if this sum were voted for one institution, similar amounts must he voted for other institutions of a similar nature in the Province. Unless the mover withdrew his motion, he would he compelled — considering the hard circumstances of the Province — to vote against it. Mr Woolcook aaid the Greymouth Literary Society had been only in exist-

ence six months, and strenuous efforts had been niaile to render it successful. It was deserving of the support and sympathy of the Council, and he hoped a point would be stretched in favor of his motion. He would also like to see similar vote 3 made in favor of other Literary Societies. Tlip motion was lost on a division by 10 to 5. SUPPLY. Tho Council agreed to the sum of LGOO for his Honor the Superintendent, as voted in Committee of Supply. The Speaker then left the chair, and the Council went into Committee on the Estimates. Administrative department : Item 2, secretary, L 350; 3, tieasurer's department, L 450 ; and 4, solicitor, L2OO ; were postponed. Legislative : Item 1, Speaker, Ll5O This item provoked much discussion, in which nearly all the members joined. Ultimately, on a division, the amount was reduced to LIOO ; the following members voted in the minority :— Messrs Canavan, Seddon, Cuming, Mitchell, and Honlahan. Item 2, expenses of members, L 750, was after some discussion agreed to. Item 3, expenses of elections, L 10 0; and 4, clerical assistance, LIOO, were also agreed to. Administration of Justice : 1 warden, LSOO. This item was agreed to, after much discussion, many of the members considering the amount excessive for the work performed. One warden, Okarito, L 350. This item was agreed to, after much debate. Mr Guinness intimated his intention of moving that an extra sum of Ll5O should be placed on the Supplementary Estimates for this item. Three warden's clerks, L 750. This item was carried without discussion. Progress was reported with leave to sit again, and the Council resumed. RESERVOIRS. Mr Dungan moved — " That the Public Works Committee be requested to report on the advisability of requesting, his Honor the Superintendent to instruct the Provincial Engineer to inquire into and report upon th«- practicability of constructing reservoirs, and noon the most suitable positions for such works, the waters of which to command the auriferous terraces of Maori Gull.", German Gully, and Ei^ht-mile, in the Paroa district, and that cop es of such reports be laid before the Council at its next sitting." Mr Wickes seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent. Friday, March 6. election of clerk. His Honor, by leave, stated that the amouut of work which had been performed by Mr Tennant in his double capacity as Secretary and Clerk had been very heavy j of late, and he wished to be relieved of his duties a3 Clerk. He would suggest that the Council should proceed to the election of a Clerk. After some discussion, the question was put and carrieo 1 — " That Mr Tennani's resignation be accepted." Mr Tabart moved, and Mr Bobinson sect ded — " That Mr Eyton be appointed Clerk to the Council. " Mr Dungan pointed out that when the set viceß of certain officers were dispensed with, they should have the preference in the event of any vacancy occurring. He thought that old servants had the superior right, and would propose — " That Mr Kitson be appointed Clerk of the Council." Mr Canavan seconded the amendment. On the vote being taken on the amendment, a division was demanded. The following was the result : — Ayes : Tabart, Bonar, Woolcock, Sbddon, Robinson, Lahman. Noes : Houl»han, Cuming, Mitchell, M'Gaffin, Canavan, Guinness, Wickes, and Dungan. The amendment was accordingly carried. SUBSIDY TO FIRE BRIGADES. Mr M'Gaftin moved a resolution which asked for a subsidy of L 25 cacti for the Hokitika, Grey mouth, and Ross Fiie Brigades. Mr Guinness seconded the motion, which was carried. TITERARY SOCIETIES. Mr Houlahan moved — "That his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of L 25 each for the IS^afford and Goldsborough Literary Societies, and Lid each for Callagan and Big Dam Literary Societies." Mr Seddon seconded the motion. His Honor pointed out that the Council had already ar>ded the amount of L 1066 to the Estimates, and numerous other sums were asked for. Under such circumstances he would ask the Council if it was reasonable to go on further in that direction. The motion was negatived by 11 to 2. NEW RIVER PETITION. Mr Lahman moved— "That the report of the Petitions Committe re the inhabitants of the New River district be adopted." The report recommended that the track asked for by the petitioners should be constructed. Mr Dungan seconded the motion, which was carried. WARDEN AT OKARITO. Mr Guinness moved — "That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place upon the Supplementary Estimates the sum of Ll5O to increase the Warden's salary at Okarito." He saw no reason why any large distinction should be made in the salaries of the Wardens. Mr Seddon seconded the motion. Mr M'Gaffin supported the motion. His Honor expressed his regret at not being able to vote for the increase of Mr Price's salary. The motion was negatived on division. POLICE, GAOL, AND LUNATIC ASYLUM OFFICEBS. On the motion of Mr Lahman, the report of the Petitions Committee upon the petition of members of the police force, the warders at the gaol, and the attendants at the lunatic asylum, was, after some objection from his Honor and Messrs Tabart and Robinson, carried. The report recommended that thd men in the several departments should 'have then salaries increased by sixpence per day. The Council went into Committee foi the further consideration of the estimated expenditure for the ensuing twelve months. All the items in the Police and Gao departments were passed without amend ment, and the Council adjourned unii Monday.