THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1868.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 834, 18 July 1868, Page 3

THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1868.

The Speaker took tho chair at 2 o'clock. Present : The Provincial Secretary, Mossra. Gledbiil, Tattpn, Lawrence, Elliot, Upjohu, Kyngdon, Voale. — Absent : Messrs. Mace, Faull, Brown, Free, and Suoll. The minutes of last meeting read and confirmed. THE CONFISCATED LANDS. The Provincial Secretary in moved "that this Council is of opinion that it is desirable that the administration of the confiscated lands should be in the hands of the Provincial Governmont, and that a respectful address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent requesting him to negotiate with the General Government for tho purpose of obtaining tho said laud, subject to the following conditions : — (1.) That whenever the unalienated waste lands of tho Crown in the Province containing town, suburb, and rural land shall bo formally transferred to tho Provincial Government for administration ; the Provincial Governmont shall formally forego all claim on its share of tho balance of the sum of £36,000 set apart by the ' Pnblio Detits Apportionment Aot, 1858,' for extinguishing native title in the Province. (2.) That the Colonial Government shall from time to time when it is considered expedient to do so give the Provincial Govornmdnt possession of blocks of tho said laud to bo by it surveyed and deolared open for. sale, and on 40,000 acres of fern land having ad passed into the possession of the said Provincial Government, tho annual payment of £2,200 made by the Colonial Treasurer, in tho terms of the said ' Public Debt Apportionment Act, 1858' shall cease. (3.) That in order to provide funds to secure the beneficial administration of tho said lands the Colonial Treasurer shall authorise the sale of the unissued debentures of the *• Taranaki Loan Ordiuanoe, 1863' when requested" so to do by the Superintendent, in the terms of the ' Public Debts Act, 1867. (4.) That tho extent of the claims on the said land made by the aboriginal natives, and admitted by the Colonial Government, and also the admitted claims of the holders of unexercised land orders of the New Plymouth and New Zealand Company's shall be scheduled, and in the event of the said land beiug transferred to the Provincial Government it shall be liable only for such claims as are contained and described in such schedule. (5.) That the Provincial Government shall agree to be bound to expend a fair share of the proceeds of the sale of such land on useful public works in the districts .in which the said land is situate. (6.) That the land shall be disposed of in the terms of the New Land Regulations proposed by the Provincial Government or such modification thereof as shall be made by the Colonial Government and assented to by the said Provincial Council." The Provincial Secretary spoke at some length on the Bubject, and concluded by moving that the Council do go into committee on the resolution, which was agreed to. The Chairman then left the chair, aud the Council went into committee on the resolution. After much disonssion it was agreed that the words " peaceable possession can be secured of" be inserted in the first condition before the word " nnalienated," in the first line, and that also all the worda after ' ' administration" be struck out. The other conditions, were then agreed to, reported to the Council and passed. SUSPENSION OF THE STANDING ORDERS. The Provincial Secretary moved that tho standing orders be suspended. Agreed to. EXTENSION OF THE TURURUTANGI DISTRICT. The Provincial Secretary moved that tho boundary of the Turnrutangi block be extended, taking in about 4,080 acres. Agreod to. DISTRICT RATE. The Provincial Secretary moved that the minimum rate to be levied by the District Road Boards be 3d. per acre. Agreed to. APPROPRIATION BILL. The report of tho Committee of Supply waa -then gone into, and after some slight alteration

(the item overseer of prisoners £50, mado £63, and the pouudkeepor £40 struck out), waa agreed to.

The Appropriation Bill was then read a third timo and passod. Tho Council then adjourned until summoned by the Speaker.