THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 351, 7 November 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

On Tuesday last nothing of the slightest importance to Westland, or of any particular importance to anybody, took place — with one notable exception. We extract the following from the " Press " of Wednesday : — KESEBVES IN HOKITIKA. Mr fi. Barff asked—" If the Government intend to cany into effect the promise made by the lato Secretary for Public Works with regard to compensation to the holders of sections situate on certain reserves in Hokitika, or holders of sections situate upon Hamiltonstreet, Hokitika." He begged to state for the information of the House that, previous to cerfain reserves being made in Hokitika, portions of those reserves had been held under business licenses by various people. The reserves were at last made, and a promise was distinctly given by the late Secretary for Public works on behalf of the Government, that compensation in certain cases would be granted to the holders of sections situated on those reserves. Up to the present time no action had been taken to remove the occupiei'3 from their sections, but as the question would naturally be raised shortly, it was the wish of those persons to have it gone into as soon as possible, in order to ascertain under what tenure they held their land. With regard to the latter part of the question, he begged to state that when the first survey of Hokitika was made there was no such street as Hamiltonstreet. Property there had consequently deteriorated fifty per cent, and lie thought it was a very fair subject for compensation being granted. The Provincial Solicitor replied that whatever promise had been made by the late Secretary for Public Works would be carried out in its integrity. With regard to the latter part of the question, there had been some difficulty in entering into the matter, by reason of the continuation of the line of street, but his reply to the former part of the question would apply also to this. Mr Bright withdrew three notices of motion that stood in his name on the paper: — first,' to introduce a Fire Brigade Ordinance Amendment Bill, because the Provincial Solicitor had undertaken to take the me isures in charge, secondly, to introduce a Municipal Council Ordinance Amendment Bill, because the draft had not reached him from Hokitika ; and thirdly, to lay certain petitions to the General Assembly on the table, because he found that as much of their contents as were pertinent to the question coming, before the Council ■were set forth in other documents that had already been tabled. On Wednesday, Mr Wilson asked for and obtained copies of correspondence between the Government and the Kanieri Tramway Company. In explanation of his object, he stated that the Kanieri Company having received certain powers from the Government to form a goods terminus on Gibson's Quay, they had erected an unsightly shed upon it, which had comptetely blocked out certain property in its vicinity. The Provincial Secretary having moved the adjournment of the House nntil the following Tuesday, the orders of motion on the paper for Thursday were made orders for that day, and as several new notices were given, the list to be taken in hand on Tuesday will be a pretty heavy one. .-They include the following affecting the West Coast : — Mr Barff to move the second reading of the Ferries Ordinance Bill. Mr Barff to ask leave to introduce a bill to amend the Education Ordinance. Mr Bright to ask if Government intend to introduce a bill to amend the Gibson's Quay Ordinance. Mr Bright to ask if it is the intention of the Government to encourage the'eonstruction of tramways, <kc, on the West Coast, bj r guaranteeing interest on capital invested. Mr Bright to move for an approximate return of the population of Westlan'l, on or near some day in October, showing the number, distribution, and occupations of the people. Mr Bright to move for a select committee to report generally on Reserves and Re-surveys in Hokitika, and recommend measures fdr the equitable adjustment of claims, &c.