Thursday, June 8.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 175, 15 June 1871, Page 5

Thursday, June 8.

Petitions were received from inhabitants at Naseby, St. Bathans, Serpentine, Waikouaiti, Hyde, and Kyeburn, praying for the repeal of the Hundred Regulations Acts ; from 200 settlers at Green Island, praying to be formed into an electoral district, separate from Taieri ; from Donald M'Kinnon, praying for an inquiry into the circumstances of the alleged wrongful deprivation of his agricultural lease.

Mr.. Mervyn's motion, affirming the desirability of the principle of subsiding road bo-irds being extended to the goldfields, was negatived by 20 to 16. The select committee on private petitions reported that in their opinion John Swain had no claim upon the Government; that the petition of Robert Miller and Jesse Cooper raised a most important point as affecting the goldfields, namely, whether the compensation payable by the Government in the cancellation of an agricultural lease for mining purposes is payable out of the revenue of the Province, or by miners applying for such ; cancellation. The Provincial' Solicitor advised that the compensation, under the circumstances set out in the petition, was payable -by the petitioners ; and* influenced by that opinion, the committee determined that -as the petitioners refused to meet the Warden to fix the compensation, they cannot recommend that the prayer of their petition be granted. The committee are, 'however; -of opinion that the Subject is not clear and welldefined, and that it deserves the consideration of the Legislature. , The debate on Mr. Outten's land resolutions was resumed. t After a lengthened debate, in which a number of members took part, the first; resolution was carried by 30 to 7. It is as follows :— Thai the Hundreds Regulation Act,, 1869, and the Hundreds Regulation Act Amendment Act, 1870, are injurious to the interests of the people of Otago, by impeding settlement, creating delay in opening land for purchase, and diminishing the land revenue of the province, and therefor* the said-Acts should be repealed."

Friday, 9th Jvkb, Was principally occupied in a di£co#» sion on Mr. Cutteu's land resolution*..