The Aleson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1868. PROVICIAL COUNCIL. FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1868. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. IAI

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 137, 12 June 1868, Page 2

The Aleson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1868. PROVICIAL COUNCIL. FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1868. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. lAI

Thursday,; June 11. ' v The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock. All the members were present except Messrs Baigent and Kingdon. Mr Wastney brought up the report of the select committee appointed to consider Mr Wrigg's report on the best line for a Railway from Nelson to Cobden and Westport, which recommended for the adoption of the Council the following resolution : — That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to secure the services t>f Mr Wrigg for the purpose of bringing the West Coast Railway before English capitalists, and that he should be sent on his journey with as little delay as possible. The report was read and laid on the table. On the resumption of the adjourned debate on Mr Donne's motion, after several amendments had been proposed, the following resolution was ultimately carried ; — That it is the opinion of this Council that the public roads and other works on the West Coast should be under the immediate control and direction of. a resident engineer. On the motion of Mr Barn, the address proposed by tbe select committee appointed to prepare an address of welcome to Sir G. F. Bowen, was adopted. Mr Akersten's motion that the sum of £4500 be placed on the Supplementary Estimates, to carry out the suggestions contained in the report of the Nelson Harbor Committee for the improvement of the Harbor, was postponed until Tuesday next. The Provincial Secretary then moved that the House proceed to the further consideration in Committee of the Estimates, which stood last on the orders of the day, and the motion was seconded by Mr Barn. Mr Parker then moved as an amendment, that the Orders of the Day should be taken as they stood ou the notice paper and as he hadj not had an opportunity, when occupying the chair, of speaking and objecting to the Estimates, he begged to make some observations on that subject. On looking over the Estimates, as first brought down, and the Supplementary Estimates, he found that the amount allotted to public works in the city of Nelson was upwards of £26,000. This was independent of works for the Hospital, Lunatic Asylum, and buildings for the poor, &c, because he regarded these as provincial charges. He objected to see so large a sum as £26,000, out of a total of about £70,000 for Public Works being •expended in the city in addition to the benefit which it derived from prison labor. If he had had tha opportunity, he would have voted against such a monopoly, regardless of what the Press might say, although he might, with other members, be charged, as had already been charged, by a portion of the Nelson press, with

having voted from interested and selfish motives. He would also remind the Council that some two years ago the head of the present Government was very much opposed to Provincialism, and he believed that he could take no more effectual steps to destroy provincial institutions than the course now adopted of spending so large a portion of the revenue in the city. Mr Parker then moved the order of the day, and thus put an end to the discussion of this subject, and the House then went into Committee, for tho further consideration of the Scab Bill, commencing with clause 9, Mr Burn in the chair. The Bill was read a second time, a considerable number of amendments being made, Clause 17, which enacts that the Inspector shall require a declaration of cleanness, being postponed, and Clause 26, authorising the Superintendent and Council to make by-laws, being struck out. The Council then resumed. Mr Pitt brought up the report of the select committee on Mr Karsten's petition, to the effect that the petitioner had no claim whatever tb compensation from the Council. Several notices of motion having been given, the Council adjourned at half past 9 until 11 o'clock this morning.