PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Lake County Press, Volume IV, Issue 206, 15 May 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

[We take the following interesting items from the Dunedin papers.] REDUCTION OF THE GOLD DUTY. In reply to a question by Mr J. C Brown, Mr M'Kellar laid on the table all correspondence with the General Government, relative to the reduction of the gold duty. Mr J. C. Brown further asked. th» Government what steps they intend, lo take to carry into effect the resolution of this Council at its last Session, recommending the reduction of the gold duty. The resolution passed by the Council during last session by a large majority, did not include a siugle member of the Govern.nent. Mr MacKellar replied that as soon as possible after the passing of the Ordinance (not the resolution), the Govern-, ment took the steps usually taken with regard to every Ordinance passed by the Council, in order to carry it into effect. A letter, dated 15th July, from the Colonial Secretary to the Superintendent, fully explained the reasons that led the General Government to disallow the Otago Gold Duty Repayment Ordinance. It was there very clearly pointed' oat that the- Ordinance •might' be regarded as interfering with the taxation of the colony in an unconstitutional way. Since the receipt of that letter had been under the consideration of the Provincial Government several times. No pressure, as the honorable member for Tunpeka insinuated, had .been brought to bear on the Government, although the immediate occasion of th'eP tetter which had been sent to the -Colonial Government was a,letter received by His Honor the "Superintendent from the chairman of the Otago Mining Association.

RESERVES FOE ARROW MITNICIPAI.ITT. •.u.'-.-' . . . itasr - -i I Mr Reid moved that His Honor be recommended to set apart, as aU endowment for the municipality of Arrowtown, several sections in the town, comprising in all 14 pprtos, 1 rood. Agreed to.