PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. EPITOME OF PROCEEDINGS. {From the "Daily Times.")

North Otago Times, Volume V, Issue 99, 11 January 1866, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. EPITOME OF PROCEEDINGS. {From the "Daily Times.")

Wednesday, 3rd January, 1866. In reply to Mr Vogel, the Treasurer explained tho XjircumstanCps tinder which he accepted office, but declined to make A ministerial statement. tMr Vogel, for the sake of discussing the question, tnoved the adjournment of the House, which being seconded, several members spoke, and the motion was "withdrawn. Mr Vogel presented 4 petition from the creditors of James Bruce, and gave notice of motion to refer the matter to arbitration. Mr Vogel moved that hn address be presented to the Superintendent, uskmg him to repi esent to the General Government the Claims of Otago to be made a calling place for the Panama Steamers oh the Home route. The motion waa supported by Messis Burns and Haughton, and opponed by Mr Reynolds and Mr Reid, "who, as an amendment, proposed referring the question to a Select Committee. The amendment was negativpd and the motion carried. Resolutions, recommending the re-nnion of Otago and Southland, were proposed by Mr Vogei, hnd carried. At the evening sitting, the consideration of the Otago Municipal Corporation Ordinance Amendnrent Bill was resumed. Clause 2 was amended, and Clause 3 struck out. Clause 9 was then considered, providing that when four municipalities had been incorporated under the provisions of the Act, all debts and interest due by tire Corporations of Dunedin and Port Chalmers to the Provincial Government, should be cancelled. An Amendment, proposed by Mr Reid, was negatived ; -and an amendment by MrBrodie, making the number of municipalities eight instead of four, was canied. The clause as amended passed. Clause 4, providing that a subsidy of not less than L300 nor more than L50 ', should be granted to a municipality on it* incorporation, was carried. The remaining clauses, with amendments was carried, »nd the Bill was reported to the House. The third reading waa made an order of the day for the next sitting. Mr Haughton, after some discussion, moved that no Appropriation Bill should pass until the Ministry had teen reconstructed. Mr Mouat seconded the motion. Mr Reynolds called attention to a standing order, No. 8, and moved that the question be at once put. This was seconded by Mr Dyer, and carried. The question was accordingly put, and a division called for, but the minority on the lust division having left the House, no division could be recorded.

Thursday, 4tH January, 18(56. A Message from the Superintendent, with supplementary Estimates, was read. Mr Vogel > motion to proceed to the third rending of the Country Municipalities Bill was negatived. On the motion of Mr Haughton, the Hill to alter the tlosigDfition of certain provincial districts, passed iti second and third readings. On the Treasurer moving the second rending of the Appropriation Bill, an amendment by Mr Grant to postpone it to Monday was lost. Several other amendments were proposed, which were withdrawn, when it was stated that the third reading would not be pressed. Tho Bill was then read a second time. On the motion of Mr Vogel, the Municipal foTporations Ordinance wax read a third time and passed, with an additional clnusp moved by Mr Heynnlds. The motion by Mr Dyer, that Mills, Dick and Co.'s petition be considered, was negatived. Mr Mouat's motion for an enquiry into the ciicumstances of the refusal by Mr Adam to pay the Educational Tax on land at Tokomairiro was discussed, and after much discussion negatived. Tho Acting Speaker left the chair At twenty-five minutes past 11 o'clock.

Fbidat, 5th January, 1866. In answer to Mr Haughton, the Treasurer said the Government would lose do lime in obtaining the assistance of the old Civil Service Commission, with, probably, the addition -of one or two gentlemen. Air Gram's motion, Asking the Government to explain their ideas and intentions in reference to th« Chmoso immigration, was negatived. Mr Haughton's motion for a dissolution of the Council tit the close of the present session, was carried by 12 'to 7, after an animated discussion. Mr Royiiolds withdiew hit motiou with respect to the payment of country members. A motion by Mr Haaghtou that the Council should be 'informed of the facts with regard to the grant of a. Special ■Bight to prospect for Cinnabar, was withdrawn. Mr Walkers motion to authorise the Superintendent to expend the sum of L1G0 for the purpose of providing a Queen's Plate was negatived. A. discussion onsued in the evening on a question by Mr Haughton as to the course the Governmeut proposed taking with regard to the vote recommending the dissolution of the House. No result was arrived at. A message from the Superintendent was read, explaining why he could not support the resolutions for ft dissolution of the House. Mr Vogel's motion, proposing to refer James Brace's petition to the Executive Government was carried. Mr VbgelVi "motion, proposing a reply to tire Superintendent's Message, was negatived. The Appropriation Bill wu Tead a tliird time, and Mr Brodie moved the adjournment of the House to Monday, and a discussion ensued, in the midst of which the Superintendent entered, and, after rending the speech, he prorogued the House to Thursday, the 13 th •of September next.