Dunedin, Saturday, December 16,1854.

Otago Witness, Issue 176, 16 December 1854, Page 3

Dunedin, Saturday, December 16, 1854.

We have been under the necessity of cutting down our reports of the proceedings of the j Provincial Council, but yet cannot keep up with them. We therefore give the following outline of the business. On Tuesday his Honor attended the Council in person and delivered a rather long address, in which, after referring to the state of parties in the Council, he expressed his opinion that the Superintendent was not bound to act in accordance with the views of the majority of the Council, and expressed his determination to retain his present Executive. He then intimated that despatches had been received, from which it appeared that the General Government proposed to retain one-half of the general proceeds of the customs revenue, instead of one-third, as heretofore ; and one-half of the gross proceeds of the land funds, leaving the Province the other half, but subject to payment of the expenses of the department. His Honor then staled the policy proposed to be pursued in regard to land regulations as follows : — The price to be fixed at 10s. per acre, subject to Auction Sales within the neighbourhood of Towns and Villages, with conditions compelling an annual outlay for four years at the rate of 20s. per acre ; the grants to be withheld until the conditions are complied with. The expenditure of £4 per acre at any time short of the 4 years to entitle the person to an immediate grant. Purchasers to be free of the cost of surveys. Roads and Immigration to be provided for by Ordinance [i.e., taxation.] The Land Department (Sales and Depastmage Licenses) to be administered by a Board of not less than three commissioners. Land to be given free to immigrants to the extent of passage money. No lands to be sold until proclaimed as open for sale. We cannot for want of space express any lengthened opinion on this question. We consider the principle sound, but the details imperfect ; and the price appears to us to be rather too high, and the conditions too hard. The Council were subsequently engaged chiefly on the Estimates, which were nearly completed; i and a vote of want of confidence in the Executive was passed. A petition from the members of the Church of England was considered ; and it was resolved that it was not advisable to grant sites to any denomination of Christians whatever; but seeing that the Council were to a certain extent pledged to give the petitioners a site on objecting to the grant in Moray Place, the members of Council undertook to procure the site required by voluntary contribution. Ox Tuesday last Mr. John Cargill met his constituents in the School-house Dunedin. The meeting was well attended. The length of Mr. CargilPs remarks preclude our attempting to report them. The meeting expressed no opinion upon the political conduct of the member, but a simple vote of thanks having been voted to Mr. John Cargill, and to the chairman, the meeting separated. The " Pudsey Dawson," direct from London, arrived in port last Tuesday. She brings intelligence from Europe to a few days later than our advices by the " Ashmore." The " Pudsey Dawson" having come south about, has, contrary to her original intention, made this her first port. She has not much cargo for this place, and but nine or ten passengers, principally friends of settlers here. The war was progressing but slowly. The Turks were generally successful, and had heaten the Russians on several occasions. Little was expected to be done during the season, and preparations were being made to go into winter quarters. The want of space preclude us from giving

any extracts, and necessitates our leaving over till next week a part of the Council proceedings, now in type, and some interesting colonial matter, brought by the " Ashmore." To the Editor oftlie Otago Witness. North-East Valley, 9th December 1854. Sir,— At a full meeting of the North-East Valley settlers, held in the School-house on the evening of Thursday last, the 7th inst., it was unanimously agreed to form a society " for the purpose of watching over the interests of the settlement, especially of this locality." The following resolution was also carried unanimously : " That as the Provincial Council, as at present constituted, have lost the 'confidence of the public, they should be called upon 'to resign." It was farther moved that the above be communicated to the Editor of the Otago Witness for publication. In accordance therefore with the wishes of the meeting, I now beg to hand you the above, and trust you will find space for it at an early date. — I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, Robert Short, Chairman of the Meeting. Otago, New Zealand, 20th Nov. 1854. To Captain James Titrnbull, Barque Dolphin. Dear Sir, — We, the passengers of the barque Dolphin from London to Otago, beg to express our sense of the very able and satisfactory manner in which you have discharged your duties as commander, and your kind attention and consideration of our comforts during the voyage. Our united and sincere desire is that every good fortune and happiness may attend you in all your undertakings, and wishing you a safe and speedy passage to England, We remain, Dear Sir, Your faithful and obliged friends, Thomas Nimmo. Robert Latter. Charles Smith. John Campbell Aikman. Mrs. Charles Smith. Henry N. Harrison. Robina Rattray. Awdry Badcock. Mary Emma Sumpter. Robert Christie. Mary Stuart Maitland. Jessie Christie. Mary Milne. Christopher M'Crae. J. Barnes Borton. Margaret M'Crae. To the Passengers per Dolphin from London. Ladies and Gentlemen, — I feel grateful for the expressions of respect conveyed to me in your letter, and trust I shall continue to deserve them. In return I can only wish you every happiness in this your adopted home, and should any of your friends come out from England under my care, I shall add the warmth of kindly and respectful remembrance to the regular discharge of my duties to them as a shipmaster. A hearty farewell from your humble servant, James Turnbvli,. Dunedin, 30th Nov. 1854.