PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 11, 16 March 1866, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tiiui-Sdat, March 15. The Speaker took the chair at live o'clock p.m. All the members were present except Mr. Redwood. I Tho minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Akersteu moved, " That the report of the select committee appointed to prepare a reply to the address of his Honor the Superintenuent be adopted." On the suggestion of Mr. i.\ Kelling the reply was read. Mr. M'Mahon seconded the motion. Mr. h\ Kelling said it was a new mode of adopting the address. Por merly it was the practice to consider the address in committee. The Speaker said it was open to any member to move an amendment. Mr. h\ Kelling moved " That the liouse go into commiitee to consider the reply to the address." Mr. C. Kelling seconded. Mr. Oliver said he was desirous of making some observations ou the Superintendent's address, and the question of adjournment. He was opposed to an adjournment on the ground of expense, and the inconvenience to which it would put the country members. As the business was merely formal, in the absence of the Estimates, he could not see why the Council should have been called together so soon. He was desirous of seeing a proper road opened to tho West Coast, through which cattle could pass. He made some remarks ou those parts of the address relating to the share ofthe Customs belonging to the province, and held lhat the Laud Fund should be spent in opening up the back districts. lie was glad to find the Superintendent so cn.rgoUc iu diminishing the pro-

vincial debt, his conduct presenting a pleasing contrast to former Governments. He thought the Superintendent had made un unfair inference in his remarks on the Land Board, whose policy had not shown any real difference. He thought great credit was due to the Nelson Examiner for the tone it had adopted on the land question. He hoped no time would be lost in carrying out the waterworks, as hinted in the address of tlie Superintendent. He felt disposed to oppose the grant to the Hospital, unless good ground could be shown that the expenditure would be well laid out. In reference to the proclamation permitting the importation of cattle, it was open to objection on the ground that thereby a risk was incurred of introducing diseased cattle, as had taken piace in Otago and the South. He thought the example of Canterbury might be followed, in making tiie importation of cattle direct to the West Coast. The Superintendent should have paused before taking so important a step. He thought he was upholding tlie dignity of the Council in canvassing the conduct ofthe Executive during the recess. He thought the Superintendent was not sufficiently responsible to the Council, and that the sooner an improvement was made in the present state of things the better. The Provincial Solicitor characterised the previous speech as a mountain in labor. Tt dealt in high sounding words, but pointed out few defects in the Superintendent's address. The Council had been called together in compliance with the expressed wish ofthe Council, aud tlie Executive did not wish to go on longer without giving the Council an opportunity of expressing an opinion of their acts. The Government had given their best attention to the roads of the province, and were exerting themselves to get a fair share ofthe Customs revenue, and hoped to succeed in their exertions. lie justified the conduct ofthe Government in reference to the waste lands of the province, and said the Government had not taken action in reference to the hospital, till after improvements had been repeatedly recommended bythe medical officers. The last speaker had shown himself desirous of finding fault with the constitution ofthe Provincial Government, without, however, furnishing any remedy for the evils he discovered. The great scarcity of meat in the province was the reason why the porsfc were opened for the importation of foreign cattle. If Canterbury chose to close her ports, it was no reason why Nelson should, as the present price of meat was quite high enough. Mr. Sparrow thought the risk of introducing disease was great by the opening of the port. If the disease now prevalent in Australia came here, the consequence would be disastrous in the extreme. He did not think the Rabbit Island was u place sufficiently isolated to afford that protection to the settlers wliich they were entitled to expect. It did not appear that the opening of the ports had lessened the price of meat, aud the removal of the restrictions ought to have been confined to the large population j of tiie West Coast. In this district the opening of the port had seriously injured trade. Mr. Dodson did not think the Nelson Examiner was to be praised for its tone on tlie land question. It had written up tlie cheap land regulations which had been tlie ruin of the province. He agreed that the Rabbit Island was not tiie proper place for quarantine ground for the diseased cattle. It was too near Blind Bay, ancl the Act was a most unfair and injudicious one. Tlie Act was to favor tlie butchers, but it had most seriously injured tlie graziers. As the cattle was intended lor tlie West Coast, the;/ oughtto have been taken tliere at once, and not brought so close to the little fnrnis of Nelson, and spread, the disease amongst them. Mr. Simmonds said the consequence of introducing diseased cattle would be fatal to the small farmers of tlio province. It was easy to bring it here, but difficult to get rid of. if meat was dear now, it would be much more dear if the cattle were destroyed, and the Council ought to protest against the introduction of foreign cattle, unless better protection were given than the Rabbit Island afforded, lt was a most unwise tiling for the Executive to bring diseased cattle so near the port of Nelson, unless tliat they had established a system of eflicient protection to the country districts. The Provincial Secretary said, diseased cattle were not allowed tc. land on tlie quarantine ground. A rigorous inspection was established, and if disease was found among the cattle they would be immediately destroyed. Mr. Curtis alluded to that part of the address which spoke favorably of the testing of the Grey and Buller coal, which was found to be ten per cent, better thau the best coal produced in Australia. This fact would enable Nelson to compete successfully with the other colonies. The matter was so important that tlie Council ought ty take notice of it, and let its opinions appear in the reports of their proceedings. The ilouse then went into committee to consider the reply to the Superintendent's address ; Mr. Kingdon acting as chairman of Committee. Mr. F. Kelling argued in favor of protecting this part of the province at the same time that cattle were allowed to be sent to the West Coast. He concurred^ in the desirableness of promoting th_ development of the coal-fieids of the province. He moved an amendment to that part of the address referring to the coal as follows : — %v We also concur with your Honor in the desirability of not having commenced the new bore-hole on the west side of Mount Kochfort." Mr. Parker thought the Council needed further information before it committed itself to the conclusion of the presence of coal on the west side of Mount Rochfort. The reply to tlie address did not commit the Council, but this amendment did. Mr. Dodson concurred in the importance of acq&ir- ! ing the fullest information on this subjeot. Mr. C. Kelling supported the amendment.. Mr. Simmonds thought the amendment was out of place. Let a select committee bc appointed to inquire into the matter.

Mr. F. Kelling replied, and justified the amendment. Mr. Parker reiterated his objections to the amendment. The Chairman put the amendment, and declared it lost by the voices. Mr. Oliver proposed an amendment to that part of -the address relating to the importation of cattle, as follows : — " The Council wishes to express its regret at the issue of the proclamation of the 3rd October last, which subjects tbis province to the danger arising from the introduction of cattle affected by the pleuro-pneumonia, and recommends that the Portof Nelson be closed against the importation of cattle from the Australian colonies and other infected places" Mr. Sparrow seconded. Mr. Baigent opposed the amendment, and defended the Superintendent from the imputation of ungenerous conduct in opening tlie ports for foreign cattle Mr. Simmonds said, whilst not wishing to deprive the West Coast diggers of meat, the settlers of Nelson had a perfect right to protect themselves. The question would be better met, by bringing the matter before the Council bj' notice of motion. Mr. Barnicoat thought the proclamation was a judicious act, as meat Avas scarce at the time, but there was no longer a necessity to keep open the port of Nelson. The mining population would not be injured by the closing of the port of Nelson, and the settlers here would be greatly benefitted. Mr. M'Mahon thought it would be better to allow the address to pass, and introduce the question in the ordinary business of the Council. Mr. Oliver's amendment Avas put and lost by a large majority. Mr. Oiiver said he would bring the subject on as a separate notice of motion. The chairman put the original motion Avhich was carried. The chairman reported progress and the Speaker resumed the chair. The Provincial Solicitor moved for leare to bring in a bill to amend tlie Fencing Act, 1862. Mr. Parker seconded. Motion carried. The bill was read a first time. Mr. Parker wished to know of the Government if -the Council could proceed Avith the business, lie could not see what there was to meet about till the Estimates Avere prepared. He thought tlie Council ehould adjourn till the Estimates Avere ready. The Provincial Secretary said the Estimates could not be prepared till about the 1 th April. It was necessary to know what would be the receipts from the Grey before tke Estimates could be prepared. Mr. Parker moved the Council do adjourn to the 17th of April. Mr. Oliver thought it better to transact what business there Avas before the Council adjourned. Perhaps the country members would not thiuk it Avorth while to attend again. Mr. Gibbs said the country members Avould be ■glad to come to get what little was in store for them -(a laugh). They had been put to great ineonveni- j ence in being called together to be dismissed so summarily. The question of adjournment to Tuesday the 17th of April Avas put and carried, and the Council broke up at 7 o'clock.