The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1567. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 165, 17 July 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1567. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, July 17. . The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock; all the members being present except Messrs Parker, Baigent, aud Beitt. Mr Burn brought up the report of the Select Committee appointed to consider upon Message No. ■!<. and paragraph No. 3 of hisHouor the Superintendent's Address, which was read and laid on the table. Mr Redwood presented a petition from the inhabitants of Waimea West agaiust the new site chosen for the Waimea bridge, which was also read and laid on the table. • A considerable number of notices of motion were given, and on the motion of Mr Pitt, the House went into committee on the recommittal of the Goldfields Licensing Bill, Mr Simmonds in the chair, for the insertion in liue 26, clause 7, before the word " Provided" the words " Christ-mas-day or Good Friday." The amendment was lost after a long discussion by a majority of 11 to 9. The following members voted with the Ayes : — The Speaker, the Provincial Secretary, Messrs Redwood, Pitt, Sparrow, C. Kelling, Kingdon, F: lielling, aud Burn; and the following with the Noes: — The Provincial Solicitor, Messrs Gibbs, Dreyer, VVigley, Donne, Thompson, White, Bentley, Akersten, McMahon, and Wastney. The House having resumed, Mr C. Kelling asked and obtained leave to withdraw the motion standing iti his name for the adoption of the Scab Act. Mr Pitt asked the Provincial Secretary what amount of money has been advanced to the Commissioners of the Nelson SouthWest Gold-fields, by the Provincial Government, since 31st December, 1866, to 31st March, 1867, and what amount of such advances has been accounted for? The Provincial Secretary replied that the sum of £7300 had been advauced. Mr Pitt asked the Provincial Secretary whether the items £11,035 165,. of disbursements in the Abstract of Receipts and Expenditure of the Provincial Treasurer of Nelson, for the fiuaucial year ending 3 1st March, 1867, published in Provincial Gazette, No. 21, represents the total amount of expenditure in respect of the South- West Gold-fields to that date, exclusive of expenditure of roads. The Provincial Secretary, ui reply, stated that the sum of £3404 19s 3d had been expended during the , months of February and March, 1867. Mr Sparrow's motion that the report of the select committee on the working of the Cattle Slaughtering Aet, 18b3, be adopted, was carried, and the report was read and laid on the table. Mr. Akersten asked the Provincial Secretary whether it was the intention of the Government to appoint a Meat Inspector. The Provincial Secretary replied that the Government had no power to appoint such an officer, which could only be done bj f passiug an Act for that purpose. Mr Donne, in moving that, in the opinion of the Council it was desirable that some steps should be taken to obtain periodical sittings of the Westland District Court, on the Nelson^South-west Gold-fields, ad-

v yocated the choice of a more central position for the holding of the District Courts. The Provincial Secretary replied that Mr. Commissioner Ivynnersley had communicated with the Government, stating th.-it unless sittings of the District Court were held at Brighton great inconvenience would ensue. The Gdvernmenfhad then writteu to the Attorney-General,' and it had been arranged that sittings should be held at Brighton. Charleston, and Westport, under the Extended Jurisdiction. . The motion was carried, after a rather acrimonious discussion between the Provincial Secretary aud Mr. Dunuc, the latter hou. member being called to order by the Speaker. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary, the. House went into committee on the Estimates, commencing with the consideration of the department of Southwest Gold-fields. The salary of the Commissioner and Resident Magistrate 700/, with extra travelling expenses for lust year, 1001, was passed, Mr. Doune paying a high tribute to the energy and capacity of Mr. Commissioner Kynnersley. Two wardens and Resident Magistrates, at 500/ each, a warden, at 350/, clerk and accountant 350/, five clerks 1,500/, two bailiffs aud inspectors of licenses 500/, overseer of work? 300Z (proposed by Mr. Donne to be postponed), stationery, printing, advertising, and other contingencies 800/, were all passed. In the Gold-field Survey Department, three surveyors at 350/, 300/, aud 250/, and the item of 1000/ for labor, tents, aud sundries were both passed. In the Gaol Depart nient the following items — rations for 16 „ prisoners, at 4s per diem, 1168/, blankets, tools, and clothing 132/; maintenance of prisoners in Hokitika gaol 300/, conveyance of prisoners and lunatics 20OZ, aud witnesses ia criminal cases 200/, were likewise passed. Under the heading " Goldfield Police, the following items :—lnspector (also inspector of weigh is and measures, SOO/ (proposed by Mr Doune to be increased to 400/, which was lost on division by 12 to 7), 3 sergeants at 15s 6d per diem 848/ 12s 6d, five senior constables at 15s per diem 1368/ 15s, one senior constable at 14s 6d per diem 264/ 12s 6d, four mounted constables at 14s 1277/ 18s, eight constables at 13s 6d 1971/, eight constables at 13s 1898/, qne constable at 12s 6d 228/ 2s 6d, two constables at 11s 6d 419/ 15s; uniform, accoutrements, aud travelling expenses 858/, forage for horses 800/, saddlery and contingencies 200/, were all passed. Under, the heading of West Coast Harbors, the harbormaster at the Buller 300/, harbor- | master at Constant Bay and Nile 230/ (proposed by Mr Donne to be increased to 300/, and lost without division), harbormaster, Woodpecker Bay and Fox's 108/, signalman at the Grey (half) 96/, signalman at the Buller 192/, contingencies 150/, boat aud boat's crew at the Buller 200/, were all passed. The item 3000/ for charitable aid and hospitals at the Gold-fields, provoked some discussion as to the precise distribution of this sum, which, viewing the unsettled state of the mining population, was left undefined. The items 50/ for the warden of the Collingwood Goldfields, and 50/ for contingencies, were both passed. % The item 100/ for a "testimonial to John Poynter, Esq." was struck out on division. The following items were passed without discussion : — Fuel for Government Buildings 70/, printing and advertising 700/, expenses of returning officers 60Z, hire of rooms for magistrates 32/, charitable aid 800/, interest on debentures, 2356 12s lOd, interest on waterworks debentures 3203/, sinking fund on Provin-

• cial Loan (permanent charge) 860, repayment of portion of education loan. 300/. On the motion of Mr. Wastney, the item for education 5160/, was increased to 5660/. The votes for education, collection of rates 155?, for the Nelsoii Institute library 50/, and for the Nelson museum 50/, were each passed. On the motion of Mr. Wastney, the vote 200/ for public libraries in the country districts was increased to 300/. The vote for building public libraries and readibg-rooms (to meet equivalent, subscriptions) 100/ was also increased to 150Z; The vote of 100/ for the Provincial Agricultural Association was passed, and the vote of 200/ for the introduction of useful animals, &c. was increased (on the motion of Mr Wastney) to 300/. The insurance for Government Buildings 100/, and tho item 100/ for Court witnesses^ were passed without discussion. Mr McMahon proposed that the item 500/ for steam service, Blind Bay aud Golden Bay, be increased to £600, ou the understanding that -the. Government would take measures to secure- the permanent services of the Lady Barkly steamer. The item 350/, for Volunteers was passed without opposition. On the motion of Mr. Pitt, the consideration of the item 100/, for the Fire Brigade, was postponed. 1 The item "allowance to Thomas Berry" 30/, was passed, as was also the following "miscellaneous" 3500/, and the Houße then resumed.. Several notices of motion were passed,and the House then adjourned at a quarter , past 10, until 5 o'clock to-day.