The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1867. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 172, 25 July 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1867. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, July 24. The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock; all the members being present, except Messrs Parker, Baigent, Thompson, F. Kelling, and Wigley. Mr Donne, in moving that Standing Order No. 38 be suspended to enable him to move that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to take the necessary steps to get Charleston made a port of entry and warehousing port, said that he had already brought this motion before the House in a somewhat different form, and he at" tributed its rejection on thatoccasion to the fact that he had asked that a sum of money might be placed on the Estimates to provide wharfage accommodation for the ports of Brighton and Charleston. The hon. member quoted from the Charleston Argus to show the importance of that port and to prove that £15,000 per annum was lost to the revenue by not making Charleston a port of entry, a sum which he did not think that the House wished to throw away. Mr Dreyer seconded the motion, and stated that no less than 400 vessels (ranging from 10 to 35 tons burden) had entered Constant Bay. The Provincial Solicitor said that there were no less than four ports of entry on the West Coast, within a distance of about 80 miles, and it did not seem necessary to create another at present, especially as it would involve considerable expense. The Government were advised that suoh ameasure was not expedient at present, and it was very possible that the Geueral Go-

vernment might not approve of it. It would be better to wait and see what revenue was derived from Brighton since it had been declared a port of entry. The Government was as anxious as the mover to recommend Charleston to be constituted a port of entry if it were expedient, and would do so as soon as circumstances warranted such a step. Mr Wastuey was opposed to the principle of suspending the Standing Orders as productive of great inconvenience to the Council. Mr Pitt could see .no necessity for this measure, as there were ports of entry on either side and at a very short distance from Charleston. Mr Simnionds moved the previous question, which was seconded by Mr McMahon. Mr Doone replied that the Provincial Government was highly culpable iv not taking every means in their power to avail themselves of the revenue derivable from Charleston. He disclaimed all personal interest in the matter, and contended that there was more necessity for making Charleston a port of entry than Brighton. On the question whether the motion should be put, the House divided, aud the motion was lost by 13 to 5. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary, Mr Wastney's name was added to the Printing Committtee. Mr Gibbs' motion that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to have a bill prepared to amend the Cattle Trespass Act, 1866, in accordance with the resolutions contained in the report of the select committee appointed to consider the working of this Act, and as adopted by this Council on the 12th instant, was withdrawn, by the mover, in consequence of Mr Wastney stating his intention to move that the several bills the introduction of which the Superintendent has been requested to authorise, and the introduction of which, during the present session, may have been postponed by the adjournment or prorogation of the Council, shall be prepared as early as possible, and published for information before next session. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, the Westport and Charleston and Brighton Railway Bill was read a third time and passed. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, the House weut into committee to take into consideration Message, No. 7 of his Honor the Superintendent, and several techuical alterations in the Patent Slip Bill and in the Gold-fields -Licensing Bill were carried. Mr Donne asked the Provincial Secretary when it is the intention of the Government to give effect to a resolution of the Council of the 20th instant, regarding a revision of the Nelson Gold-fields Regulations ? The Provincial Secretary replied that it was the intention of the Government to give effect to the resolution as soon as possible after the session of the General Assembly. The Provincial Secretary then moved the second reading of the Appropriation Bill, and the House went into committee. On the various departments being put seriatim, Mr Redwood proposed that the salary of the Provincial Engineer be 6501, which was carried with only one dissentient voice. On the motion of Mr Donne the salary of the chief inspector under the Scab Act was increased from 300Z to 350/, whilst that of inspector for Foxhill was raised from 12OZ to 140/. On the motion of Mr Donne the item of "overseer of works 800Z," in the . South-west Goldiields department was altered to "engineer and overseer of works 750/." Mr Donne's motion that the salary of police inspector on the gold-fields be increased from 300Z t o 4QOZ, was lost on division by 12 to 3.

After a lengthy discussion the item 275/ for footbridges, Wai-iti, was altered thus, " cartbridge, Wai-iti 1000/," on the motion of Mr Bed wood, Ayes 11, Noes 6. Mr Donne's proposition to add 10,000/ to the item 28,377/ 15s 3d tor " roads and other public works on the West Coast," was at once negatived by the House, the Speaker having shown that the Council had already voted 56,636Z for special objects on the West Coast, though Mr Commissioner Kyuntrsley had estimated the revenue for the current year from the gold-fields at 60,000/, and that moreover the West Coast district participated largely in the expenditure voted for the Government departments and other items of a non-local character. The vote of 475/ for the Suburban North Eoad Board was inci-eated to 275/, on the motion of Mr Wastney: making the total amount voted 130,062/ 4s lOd. The remaining clauses were then passed, and the bill was read a second time. On the motion of the Provincial Secretary the Standing Ordeis having been suspended, the Appropriation Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr Pitt brought up the ameuded ad interim report of the select committee on the best meaus of insuring the speedy development of the Buller and other coalfields. Mr Kingdon brought up the report of the select committee on the petitions of William Fox, Timothy Linehau, and others, claiming a bonus for the discovery of a payable gold-field at the Pakihis, to the effect that it is inexpedient to grant any unpromised reward for gold discoveries, unless under very special circumstances, and that the cases of the petitioners are not of that description. Mr Wastney brought up the report of the select committee on the desirability of constructing an embankment across the harbor from the north-side of the Maitai River. The Council then adjourned at ten minutes to 10 oclock, until 2 o'clock this day.