PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 112, 13 May 1868, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, May .12. The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock. Present, all the members except Messrs Baigent, H. Redwood, and Wigley. Several notices of motion having been given, The Provincial Secretary laid on the table correspondence between the Government and Mr Commissioner Kynnersley in reference to the Westport Wharf - a letter from Mr Thompson on the Waimea-road, and the report of the Provincial Engineer on the Karamea-road, and the expenditure thereon. A petition was presented by Mr Sparrow from inhabitants of the district of Takaka ; by Mr Dreyer, from 160 inhabitants of the Grey district, and by Mr Thompson, from Mr Thomas Andrews praying for an enquiry into the circumstances of his dismissal from the office of constable, which were read and received. Mr Gibbs brought up a report of the Select Committee appointed to consider what reduction, if any, can be made in the departmentalffexpenditure of the province, asking for an extension of the time fixed for the bringing up of the report, which was granted. The Provincial Secretary, in reply to a question from Mr Akersten whether the sum of £12,000, referred to in paragraph No. 1 4 of the Superintendent's Address, can be legally appropriated to the construction of a dry dock, repl?-."] that he had never before been asked for a legai - -pinion in that Council, but he might state that the Government were of opinion that such action might legally be taken, or the sum in question would not have been appropriated for the purpose. Mr. Beitt's motion to the effect that all magistrates of the province should be supplied with copies of the Nelson Provincial Gazette was carried, the Provincial Secretary' having stated that the Gazette was always supplied to all magistrates who applied for it. Mr Donne's motion for the reduction of the duty on gold was, with the permission of the Council, postponed until Friday next. Mr Pitt withdrew his motion for the placing of a sum on the Supplementary Estimates for the construction of a cart-bridge_ over the Maitai in Bridge- street. Mr Sparrow moved for the placing on the Supplementary Estimates of the sum of £300, for the erection of a horse-bridge over the river Takaka, above its junction with the Wai-ngaro. The Provincial Solicitor was of opinion that it would be best to wait and see what mone}" was available after the passing of the Estimates, and moved as an amendment that the Superintendentbe not requested to place any further sums on the Supplementary Estimates until the Estimates sent down to the Council had been passed, which, after some discussion, was lost on division by 13 to 9, the original motion being put and carried. Mr Bentley's motion relative to the appointment of a select committee to consider the occupation by the Government of the Buller Coal Reserve at Westport, was carried, an amendment by Mr Pitt having also been moved and carried, and the name of the Provincial Secretary being added to the Committee. Mr Wastney moved that the sum of £75, be placed on the Supplementary Estimates, for the purpose of widening the road in the Suburban North District, round the following very dangerous corners, viz :— Green Point, Bungate's, Frost's, and under the Hillside School, instancing several accidents which had occurred on the road in question, and the motion was carried. Mr Pitt's motion that the petition of Mr W. White be referred to a select committee was carried without discussion. The motion by Mr Simmonds for a select committee to consider the desirability of constructing an iron girder bridge, instead of one entirely of ■wood, over the Wai-iti, on the main trunk line of road to Foxhill, was carried. In reply to an enquiry from Mr Parker, upon -what grounds the information laid against Sir David Monro, for having driven sheep infected with scab through this province, was withdrawn, the Provincial Solicitor stated that an information had been laid against Sir D. Monro, similar to that laid against Mr E. Green, though he was confident that the latter could not be maintained. Tbe Scab Inspector, however, thought he knew better, and the decision arrived at by the Magistrates was ultimately reversed. Under these circumstances, ;the information against Sir D. Monro, being of precisely similar character, was withdrawn. Mr Beitt's motion for leave to bring in a Bill for the repeal ofthe Scab Act, 1865, after considerable discussion, was negatived, the Government having announced their intention to bring in an amended Act this Session. On the motion of Mr Simmonds, the third reading of the Cattle Trespass Bill, and of the Cattle Slaughtering Bill was adjourned until Tuesday next. On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor, the Public Wharves Bill was read a third time and passed. On the motion of Mr Wastney, the consideration in committee of the Country Roads Bill was adjourned until Tuesday next, and the Council adjourned at 8 o'clock until 5 o'clock this afternoon.