PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 106, 7 May 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thurssday, May 6. The Speaker took the chair at five o'clock. Present: — All the Members but Messrs. Redwood, Thompson, and Home. CHARLESTON HARnOUR. Mr., Hennelly in moving,.That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £200 for providing Mooring Post** and F -ines for Charleston Harbor, stated that this expenditure was much required, as Charleston contained a large population, and a great many vessels, entered the harbour, where there was no means of securing them. ;On a division, the motion was agreed to. -Ayes -16. Noes 5. . .' " 3'i ■ MESSAGE. A message was received froni his Honor the. Superintendent, enclosing copies of correspondence ; between the -General and Provincial Governments, relative to the oyer payment of ' : £i«-000. ■'■ ■•••■•'•.;. ■ _ compensation. • Mr. JM'Dowjell moved; That a Select Com- *. . mittee be appointed to take into_cohsideration Mr.jLi£htband's claim for Compensation, as laid \before tne Council lasi Session; such 'Com mittee

to consist of Mr. Hennelly, Dr. Trvine, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Luekie, Mr. Burn, Mr. Beitt, and the ntfover. The Provincial Secretary seconded the motion, as he considered that the claimant was entitled to some compensation. Motion agreed to. WESTPORT WHARF. Mr. M'Dowelli moved, That the sum of •£5,000 be placed on the Supplementary Estimates, for the purpose of forming Protective Works and Wharf Accommodation at Westport. The harbour of Westport, the most important on the West Coast, was left entirely without protection, while at the same time the river was threatening to break through the lown. Embankments, such as those erected at Greymouth might be made fora much smaller sum than that of £15,000, as estimated bythe Superintendent. Unless something was done immediately, both port and town would be destroyed. Mr. Hennelly seconded the motion. Mr. F. Kelling moved as an amendment, " That this Council will not entertain any motion for placing sums on the Supplementary Estimates until the Estimates themselves were gone through. Mr. Edwards seconded the amendment. Mr M'Dowell must oppose the amendment, as he was much astonished that the sum asked for did not appear on the Estimates. Mr. Edwards would explain that in supporting the amendment he was not opposing the vote of money asked for, but merely postponing its consideration until the Estimates were passed. Mr. Reid thought the amendment meant simply shel ving the matter, and therefore he should support the original motion. It was the opinion of experienced surveyors and others that the necessary work might be done for the sum named. Mr. Luckie disclaimed all intention of shelving the mo'ion, and trusted that the amendment might be accepted by Mr. M'Dowell. On a division, the amendment was carried. Ayes, 15; Noes, 6. ' ' < "" " '"• floating dock. The Provincial Solicitor "moved the second reading of the Floating Dock Bill. • Mr Kelling seconded the motion. Mr Luckie said that the Provincial Solicitor had stated that the Government had been unable to find any persons willing to come forward and erect a Patent Slip. Would the Provincial Secretary state whether any efforts had been made to obtain its construction, and whether the requirements of the Port relative to the erection of a slip or dock had been enquired into. The Provincial Secretary said that the Government had taken no action under the present Bill. It was considered that a floating dock was more within rea'-h of our means. Bill read a second time, committed and reported without amendments. select committee. Mr Wastney moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to take iuto consideration the present Country Roads Acts, with a view to their consolidation and amendment; such Committee to consist of the Speaker, the Provincial Solicitor, Mr Parker, Mr. Baigent, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Redw x>d, Mr. C. Kelling, Mr. Sparrow, Mr. Wigley, and the mover. Motion agreed to. PETITION OF JAMES GROVE. 7. Mr. Baigent moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to take into consideration, and report upon, the Petition of James Grove ; such Committee to consist of the Provincial Secretary, Mr. F. Kelling, Mr. Macmahon, Dr. Irvine, Mr. Simmonds, Mr. Wastney, Mr. Wigley, Mr. Speaker, and the mover. • The I'rovincial Secretary protested against the wording of the petition and thought that the Council should mark its disapproval ofthe language used in it, which was insulting to the Superintendent and the Council. He did not so much find fault with the petitioner who was smarting under the loss of office, but he did blame the member who presented it. and would move that the petition be read again, in order that members might have an opportunity of judging for themselves. Petition agreed to. Mr. Edwards agreed with with what fell from the Provincial Secretary, and considered that the petition was couched in language contrary to the Standing Orders Several other members having expressed a like opinion. Mr. Baigent said that having read tlie petition in a hasty manner, he had not observed any objectionable language, but now fully admitted it and asked leave to withdraw the petition. The Speaker also wished to state his opinion that- the language made use of was gross and highly objectionable. Leave granted, and petition withdrawn. PETITION OP W. JESSOP. Mr. F. Kelling moved, That a : Select Committee he appointed to consider and report on Mr W. Jessop's Petition ; such Committee to consist of the Speaker, Mr. Macmahon, Mr. Sparrow, Mr. Edwards, and the mover. Motion agreed to. CHARLESTON AS A PORT OF ENTRY. Mr. Donne asked the Provincial Secretary, Whether his Honor the Superintendent has complied with a resolution of the Council arrived at last Session regarding the making Charleston a Port of Entry" and Warehousing Port. The Provincial Secretary stated that on the 10th June last the Superintendent transr mitted the resolution to the Colonial Secretary, : who replied that the Government did not consider themselves justified in making Charleston a Port of Entry and Warehousing P«t. NELSON -WATERWORKS. • ' Mr. Luckie, in fhe absence of Dr. Irvine, moved, That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish the Couneil with a Return of the amount received as Water-rate in the City of Nelson dnring the year ending March 31, 1869, and the total extent ofthe property assessed, showing how much of that property is now, as- • sessed at the four per cent. Tate. Also the cost

of maintaining the plant, and the expense of collection. Motion agreed to. standing orders. Mr. Donne moved, That the Council resolve itself into Committee, for the purpose of considering the Standing Orders recommended by a Select Committee of last Session. Mr Edwards moved as ari amendment that the Council resolve itself iuto Committee for the purpose of considering the Standing Orders that day six months. Amendment agreed to. WEST COAST PETITION. Mr. Parker moved, That his Honor the Superintendent he requested to furnish this Council with a Copy of a Petition from the Electors and Inhabitants of the Nelson Southwest Gold Fields, praying "for the General Assembly to pass an Act to abolish the Provincial Government, so far as regards the present Nelson S6uth-west Gold Fields, and constituting the said Nelson South-west Gold Fields into a County." Motion agreed to. Friday, May 7. The Speaker took the chair at 11 o'clock. education act. Mr. Luckie moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the " Education Act, .1863/', . '_>?:?._>*- Leave granted, and Bill read a first time. SELECT COMMITTEE. Mr. Donne moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider and report upon the petitiou of John William Lvnch; such Committee to consist of the Speaker, Mr. Reid, Mr. Luckie, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Home, the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Beitt, and the mover. Motion agreed to. Lunatic — At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, George Jarrome, on the certificates of Drs. Irvine and Sealy, was committed to the Lunatic Asylum. We learn that Mr. J. Davis has resigned his charge ofthe Baptist Church, meeting in Bridgestreet, having labored in this city for more than fiur years, and that he leaves for Auckland this evening We are glad to find that a number of his friends have given him a substantial proof of their attachment to him as a friend and minister. We heartily wish him every success in his new sphere of labor iu the Northern province.