PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 104, 21 October 1863, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

MONDAY, 19th OCTOBER. Morning Sitting. Tlie Speaker took the Chair at 1 1 o'clock, and the Clerk read the minutes of Saturday's sittings, which were approved. LETTER FROM THE PROVINCIAL AUDITOR. The Clerk read a letter from Mr M'Culloch, the Provincial Auditor, upon the finances of the Province. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER stated that he was requested by his Honor ;the Superintendent, to explain that in the address the Revenue Estimated at L 104,000, hl l been understated. NOTICE OF MOTION. By Mr Tarlton . To move afc to-morrow evening's sittings, "That the Provinciil Council should be consulted by the Executive previous to declaring any portion of the Province into hundreds." PETITION. Mr Sthaut presented a peti.ion from the inhabitants of Spaid Bush, for the consiruction of a road, and the petition was read. MOTION'S, Mr M'KAY" moved " That this Council is of opinion that main lines of railroads should be surveyed, connecting the main towns of C.impbelltown, ' Invercargill, Wallacetown, ancl Riverton by the shortest practicable route and that any lines to be constructed be part of this system : and that a respectful address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he give effect to this resolution." In moving this resolution, he may have been to a certain extent forestalled by the hon. member for liivcrcargiil. Yet, ho thought the House would adopt it. He had proposed this six years ago to tlie Surveyors of Southland (a voice — that reso'ution?), and he did not think it would clash with the Railway Bill to which tiu House had given its assent. He wanted the main towns to be connected No member seconding, the motion lapsed. Mr M'KAY then begged to withdraw the following motion of Avhich he had given notice : " That a respectful address be presented to His Honor the Supeiintondent, requesting that a return be laid on the table showing the amount of land sold in, and the amount-of money expended on roads, in the various districts of the Province." .Leave was granted. MUNICIPALITY EXTENSION. Mr BEA VAN moved at some length the extension of municipalities. The members must bo aware that tliere was a very laige outside population of the Town of Invercargill, who ought to he brought within the boundsof municipal legislation. The general welfare of the subuibs was a good deal dependent trion a mensure of this kincl. The SPEAKER said he .could nol entertain the motion, as it was informal. It stood in the notices of motion thus :— "Mr Beaven to move for extension of Municipality "—as j the hon. member now worded his motion, it ' was quite different. Mr TAR ETON contended that it was quite competent to alter the words so long as the sense was preserved. The clerk even was at liberty to alter the words for the sake of brevity. The SPEAKER said that if the House j were satisfied he should not oppose. Mr TARLTON seconded the motion, at the same time eulogising its spirit. Mr WILSON thought suburban inhabitants ought to be consulted before carrying a measure of this kind. Mr TARLTON was inclined to agree with him. The PRO VINCIAL TREASURER thought the schedule should be withdrawn. Mr BEAVEN was willing to do so. The motion was then put, and carried. Orders cf the Day. The Appropriation Bill, No 2, 1863, clause 2— adjourned Committee on the second reading, passed through Committee, and was reported by the Chairman. The Debentures Bill, 18G3, was read a third time, and passed. THE ESTIMATES. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER saidhe must, in bringing forward the Estimates, go a little into the past. It was the first time, since ever he had been in his present office, thafc he had to bring before the House a deficitAmongst other causes the Surveyors had lost time in surveying blocks badly surveyed by the Otago Government. The honorable member then Avent into various items of excess, and concluded by moving the adjournment of the Hodse till 7 o'clock in the evening, when he would go more into detail, before the House went into Committee on the Estimates. The House adjourned at 1.30 p.m.