THE COLONIST.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 294, 14 August 1860, Page 2

THE COLONIST.

NELSON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1860. We have received files of Marlborough papers to the 11th instant, by which we see that the Provincial Council is applying ♦ itself vigorously to the despatch of business.' At the meeting of Council on Saturday, July 28, an answer was read from the Trustees of the Nelson Trust Funds, in reference to a notice from the Superintendent of Marlborough sent to the said Trustees. It is as follows:-—• Resolved with reference to the Message received from William Adams, Esq., Superintendent of Marlborough; That the Trustees refer Mr. Adams to the various acts relating to the management and application of the Nelson Trust Funds, and to the published accounts of the expenditure oi those Funds. The Trustees decline to recognise any right on the part of an individual elector to demand any accounts other than those which are published in accordance with the Trust Funds Act.' A letter was also read in Council from the Colonial Secretary, in reply to a question whether a Resident Magistrate had power to call a public meeting:—'Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 30th June, IB6o.—Sir: With reference to your Honor's letter of the 12th instant respecting a public meeting having been called hy the Resident Magistrate at Blenheim, for the purpose of discussing the necessity of erecting public offices, I have the honor to inform you that a letter has been addressed to that officer, representing that the Government consider it improper for a judicial officer to take active steps in organising meetings for the discussion of political subjects. I have, &c, E. W. Stafford.' A letter from the General Government relative to the incompatibility of a Superintendent holding likewise the appointment of Crown Lands Commissioner, was laid on ! the table 7; in which letter the main question is officially shirked in the usual style; it is stated that the * Government do not contemplate making any change at present in the administration of the Land Department.' But the Superintendent is reminded that the Crown Land Commissioner of the Province of Marlborough must act under the Land Regulations of July 1856, and not under ! the Nelson Waste Lands Bill. We quote with pleasure the following from the proceedings in Council:— * Aid to Taranaki Refugees in Nelson.—Mr. Eyes moved, That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place upon the estimates the sum of £250, to be transmitted to the Treasurer of the Taranaki Aid Committee, Nelson^ and applied by him in such manner as he may think proper, in aid of such persons in Nelson belonging to Taranaki who may have suffered during the native war, and that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to write a letter of condolence to the Superintendent of Taranaki, expressive of the sympathies of tins Council with the unfortunate inhabitants of that province.' The above was passed in Committee on the Estimates. In addition to correspondence relative to the Trust Funds, the Superintendent of Nelson, in amwer to his Honor of Marlborough, sends him an extract from the Estimates containing the sums of money voted for the Wairau while it was part and parcel of this province, and says, 'that, as no turn* were voted by the Nelson Council

during its last session, just ended, for the Province of Marl borough, I have none at my disposal which I can pay over to the Treasurer of that province.* Our Inspector of Schools thus answe s a similar application concerning some arrears supposed to be due to the new province :— ♦ I am instructed to transmit to your Honor the subjoined resolution, passed thereon:— That this Board having read the letter of the Superintendent of Matlborough, direct the Secretary to point out to his Honour that the Board is a body acting under the Provincial Government of Nelson; and that the separation of the province put an end to the means of collecting the rate then uncollected, bat which, if collected, would be more than sufficient to discharge the liability which he assumes, being of the estimated amount of £80.*