The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1869.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 109, 11 May 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1869.

The Provincial Council sat last night for about an hour and a half, and on the previous sitting day, Friday, they were engaged in the service of their country for nearly five and twenty minutes, so that there appears to be a determination on the part of members not to overwork themselves. In order to expedite the business of the session the Council/ on Wednesday last, agreed to increase the number of sitting days from four to five per week,, but, we confess that we have not up to the present time been able to discover any benefit that can possibly accrue from such an arrangement, unless it be the placing in the pockets of members an extra day's pay. We were much surprised to find that such an eminent economist as Mr." Luckie, should have thought fit to move the adjournment of the debate, or in ojljer words to propose that some three or four hours ' of public time should be wasted; possibly we shall be met with the reply that it was; absolutely; necessary, and would eventually tend to the more speedy transaction of business, that members should meet and decide upon the course they intended to pursue before discussing -the estimates in Committee. Ifthisis the only reason that can be urged for adjourning after an hour and a -half's sitting, we must pronounce it a most paltry and unsatisfactory one. For twelve-days the estimates have been before the Council, and for five days they have known that -it was - proposed to consider them last night ; if this is not sufficient notice, it would be jwell if members would at once determine upon the praise number of days that is requisite to enable them to make up their minds on the question of how the revenues are to be appropriated, so that the Government and the public may be able to form some idea as to how much ofthe time for which the' latter pay so dearly, is likely to be frittered away in another session bef ore tbe Council think fit to enter upon the only real business with which they have to deal.