The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1868. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 96, 24 April 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1868. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, April 23. The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock. Present : All the members except Messrs H. Redwood, Wigley, and Thompson. Mr Home was introduced to the Speaker by Mr Pitt, and took his seat for the Grey District. Mr Kingdon presented a petition from Mr J. R. Fraser, of Westport, praying for a reconsideration of his case, which was read. The Speaker read the report of the Provincial Auditor, which was laid on the table. Mr Bentley gave notice of his intention to move to-day that the Council at its next rising do adjourn until Tuesday the sth May. Mr Wastney's motion for a select Committee to enquire into the existing state of the surveys of the province, and to report what improvements, (if any) can be effected to render them more satisfactory, was carried. Mr Donne moved for a select committee to consider and report upon the advisability of amending the Standing Orders of the Council, instancing several amendments which he considered might be made with advantage. Mr Dreyer seconded the motion, suggesting that the Council should sit five, instead of four days a week during the session, and the motion was carried. The Provincial Secretary, after insisting on the necessity of providing some institution for the reception of the destitute children of the province, moved for a select committee to take into consideration paragraph No. 14 of the Superintendent's, address, having reference to this subject. The motion was carried.

On Mr. Burn moving the adoption of the Reply to the Address, Mr. Donne moved an amendment on the paragraph referring to the Groldfields Regulations, which was seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried. The original motion was carried, another amendment by Mr. Simmonds, for the omission of the paragraph having reference to the propopect Dry Dock, not having been seconded, fell to the ground.

On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, the Bill to repeal the Cattle Slaughtering Act, 1863, was read a second time.

On the Provincial Solicitor moving the second reading of the Bill to repeal the Cattle Trespass Act, 1866, Mr. Parker opposed the motion, on the plea that the present Bill had been found to act satisfactorily, and a discussion ensued, in which Messrs. Macmahon and Dreyer spoke in opposition, and Messrs. Gribbs, Simmonds, Sparrow, Donne, F. Kelling, White, and C. Kelling in favor of the motion, which was ultimately carried, on division, by 17 to 4, Messrs. Dreyer, Beitt, Parker, and Macmahon being dissentient. On the motion of the Provincial Soli citor, the House went into committee, Mr Kingdon in the chair, for the consideration of the Cattle Trespass and Cattle Slaughtering Bills, which, after several amendments had been made, were each read a second time. On the House going

into committee on the Inspection of Meat, Fish, Fruit, and Vegetables Bill, after a long and animated discussion, the first clause was thrown out on division, and ou the motion of Mr. Parker it was carried on division by 14 to 6, that the House resume, and resume the consideration of that Bill on that day fortnight.

Mr Burn's motion that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish the Council with the number of Educational Districts, and the amount of rate collected in each district, was carried, and the returns required were at once laid on the table by the Provincial Secretary. Mr Burn's motion, that iu the opinion of the Council, it is not desirable that the Speaker should appoint au Assistant Clerk to the Council, was lost, Mr Donne having moved, as an amendment, that the Speaker be empowered to appoint a Deputy Clerk if such be needed, or to appoint additional clerical assistance if requisite, which was carried on the voices. Several notices of motion were given, and the House adjourned at 25 minutes past 9 o'clock, until 11 o'clock this rooming. Friday, April 24. The'Speaker took the chair at 11 o'clock. Present : all the members except Messrs H. Redwood and Wigley. Mr Pitt asked the Provincial Secretary whether the Goverment intended to bring iu a bill during the present session to regulate the erection of buildings in this city, in accordance with the request expressed by the Council last session ? The Provincial Secretary, after reminding the Council that the Government had merely beeu requested to consider the advisability Lof introducing such a bill, said that the Government had accordingly done so, and were of opinion that in a small city like this a special Building Act wa3 not required, but would suggest that in any amendment of the Nelson Improvement Act a clause might be introduced, prohibiting the use of shingles for roofing, within certain limits of the city.

Mr F. Selling's motion for a select committee to take into consideration all petitions that may be presented to the Council during the session, was carried, on division, by 12 to 10.

The next motion, by the Provincial Secretary, with reference to an address to the Superintendent, requesting him to recommend a grant of money to meet the unauthorised expenditure during the year ending March, 186S, was postponed until the next sitting of the Council. The Provincial Secretary's motion to authorise the Superintendent to expend a sum not exceeding £6000, for salaries and contingencies for the present month, was carried on the voices. Mr Akersten's motion for a select committee to take into consideration Mr Balfour's report on Nelson Harbor, was carried, two additions being made to the Committee. On Mr Bentley's motion that the Council at its rising adjourn until Tuesday the sth May, which was seconded by Mr F. Kelling, Mr Simmonds moved as an amendment that the, Council meet again on Tuesday next. The Provincial Secretory explained that when the proclamation calling the Council together was issued, the Government did not know when the races would take place. Mr C. Kelling and Mr Wastney supported the amendment, which was opposed by Messrs Baigent, Pitt, and White, and was ultimately lost by 13 to 9. Mr Dreyer's motion was carried, that the Superintendent be requested to ascertain, for the information of theTJouncil, what steps the Waste Lands Board has taken, or intends to take, concerning the leasing of the Grey coalmine. The Provincial Solicitor moved for leave to bring in a bill to provide for

the leasing of public wharves in this province, promising that the bill "was not intended to apply to the Nelson Government Wharf. The action which was opposed by Messrs Parker, Simmonds and Dreyer, was carried, and the bill was read a first time. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, a bill was introduced to regulate the sale of spirituous liquors, &c, on the goldfields of the province, and was read a first; lime. Several uotices of motion were given, and the Council then adjourned at noon until 5 o'clock on Tuesday the oth May next.