OPENING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 249, 26 October 1870, Page 2

OPENING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

HIS HONOR'S SPEECH.

The" Twenty-sixth Session of the Auckland Provincial Council commenced its sittings at two o'clock to-day. . . • •

The following members were present:—

The Provincial Secretary (Dr. Nicholson) ; the Provincial Solicitor (Mr. Brookfield); and Joseph May, Esq., members of the Executive Council; Messrs Beveridge, Buckland, Boylan, Creighton, Digntin, Dyer, Douglas, Ellis, G-ordon, Hamlin, May, Hurst, Lundon, Lusk, Maclenn, Macready, McJ^eod, Mitchell, Phillips, Reyburn, Sheehan, Stratford, Swanson, and Taylor. ■. ■■'-'~i'\ The Speaker (Mr. O'l£oi|te), took the chair at two o'clock. UfW MEMBEBS. Tlie following ne ft* menbbers were introduced to the Speaker: Mr. C. F. Mitchell, Thames, by Mr. Lundon; Mr. Creighton, Newton, by Mr. Maclean ; Mr. Beveridge, Thames, by Mr. Hurst; Dr. Ham, Thames, by Mr. Freer. His Honor then entered the Chamber and read the following speech :— Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen ojf the Provincial . Coujtcil,—l have called you together at the earliest possible period after the termination of the meeting of the General Assembly, consistent with the preparation of the necessary business to be laid before you. The past Session of the Assembly has been of the most serious import to the Provinces ; and it is well that you should realise it. Hitherto the General and Provincial Governments have been partners in the Revenue and in the Expenditure of the Colony. By the legislation of last session they cease to be partners in the Revenue, but tliey_reinain partners in the Expenditure. The Revenue hereafter to be received by the Province is fixed at £2 per head for the current year, gradually decreasing for five yaars-to thirty shil-; ; lings per head of' the European population ;; from' which have to be the Interest on Loans and the Provincial Charges. These charges are the General Government Expenditure within the several Provinces voted by the Assembly, and over which the Province has no control. ■ Looking to the existing absence of direct and efficient control over these charges by either the General or the Provincial Government, and to the fact that they are being increased year by year without apparent adequate cause, it may be predicted that, making every allowance for the increase of population these five years will not have expired ere the Provincial charges will more than equal the capitation allowance, and the Province will require to depend on its own internal resources for its Provincial existence. A further but yery inadequate sum of £3000 per annum acmes to the Province in respect of the native population, and a varying annual sum (amounting this year to £12,400), to be distributed amongst the Highways Boards of the Province, upon a scheme—to which I shall invite your consideration—to be submitted by me to the Governor. These statements/ of course, assume that the present system of finance will continue for the next five years.- If any change is made, I fear, from the state of the Colonial finances, that it will not be for the advantages of the Provinces.

The large scheme of public works, proposed by. the General Government, embraces the construction of the Auckland and Waikato railway, to which I called your attention last Session. Your vote, then given, has enabled me to place the surveys in such a position as to entitle it to be one of the first works to be undertaken by the General Government.

The Kiverhead and Helensville rail or tramway line has also been surveyed ; and by the aid of the General Government in placing upon permanent loan the sum charged against the Province under the Loan Allocation Repeal Act, 1867, nearly sufficient provision has been, made for the carrying out of that most important public work by the Province. I regret to.say that, notwithstanding the exertions made by the representatives of the Province, it was found impossible to get the Province relieved either from the Loan Allocation liability or from the liability under the Busby Award. The latter I have settled, and I shall transmit to you, by a separate Message, the whole documents and particulars in reference thereto.

The Bay of Islands Settlement and the Township of Gisborne (Poverty Bay) I. .have succeeded in getting handed over to-the Province, subject to some small charges ; but have been unsuccessful in my endeavours to obtain the administration by the Province of the remainder of the Confiscated Lands in the "VYaikato, Tauvsroga, ami the Bay of Plenty. Remaining, as these

fine districts do, under the management of the Native Department, their progress and settlement must necessarily be slow. . , The Albert Barracks and Fort Britomart, though handed over to the Colony, have not yet been transferred to the Province, notwithstanding my urgent representations on the subject. I shall invite you to take this matter into your consideration. In pursuance of your request that I should take steps for increasing the efficiency of the Police Force, I have had them embodied as part of the general constabulary Force of the Colony; which, without increasing the cost or lessening the Provincial control, has, 1 think, very materiallyincreased their efficiency. Your liberality in the last Session enabled me to supplement the sums raised in the various Highway Districts in aid of local works, and the prompt distribution of that vote has met with grateful recognition from the ratepayers. ' . Amongst the practically useful Acts passed during the last Session of the Assembly, I would directjyour attention to the Ballot, the Land Registry (or Torrens Aet^, the Non-payment of Kates, and the limited Liability Companies Acts. In pursuance of your Address No. 26 of last Session, I endeavoured to pass an Act through the Assembly to constitute a Harbour Trust Board for the Harbour of Auckland. Owing to the violent opposition of the Government/1 was unsuccessful in doing < so, but succeeded in obtaining such powers as will enable you to effect the same object, and a Bill for that purpose will be laid before you. Convinced of the desirability of providing Dock accommodation for the_Port of Auckland, I took an early opportunity, after the close of yourJast Session, to ascertain the capabilities of the Harbour, and the probable cost of constructing the necessary Dock. The estimated cost was such as, in my opinion, to place it beyond the means of the Province to accomplish. While in Wellington, I took occasion to inspect and ascertain the probable cost of erecting a large Slip in this port, which, I was assured by those conversant with the working thereof, would be sufficient for present requirements, and the cost would be within the powers of the Province to provide. Your attention will be invited to this question. Impressed with 'the importance of encouraging the bond fide settlement of the Province, I prepared an amended Waste Land Act, based on the principle of granting land freely to those' who will occupy it and bring it under cultivation. It has been passed with some slight alterations, and it will now be for you, should you approve of the principle, to enable me to carry it into effect by providing the necessary means for trigonometrically surveying the lands to be placed under its operation. The Thames Goldfields have occupied a large share of the time and attention of myself and my Executive during the recess. Notwithstanding the great depression which has occurred, and still exists there in common with the re.->t of the Province, the yield of gold does not diminish; and, as systematic mining progresses, there is reason to believe that it will increase and a permanent industry be fairly established. The existing agreements with* the Native owners are obstacles in the way of fully and. rapidly deyoloping the resources of the field, and some modification of these would seem to be desirable. The opening of Ohinemuri still seems distant, notwithstanding the exertions and hopes of the Native department. The question of providing a sufficient Water Supply for the City of Auckland" and the Townships of Grahamstown and Shortland, will, I trust, receive your best consideration.

Papers will be laid before you in reference to'the Award by the Commissioners, appointed in conformity with a resolution of the Council at its last Session, to determine the claims of applicants for the Reward of £5,000 offered for the discovery of a payable goldfield within the Province. There will be submitted to you various Road Bills, and Bills in reference to Highways, Education, Management of Educational Reserves, Licensing, and other subjects, to which I invite your attention. The financial position of the province1, as you-will perceive from the accounts which will be laid before you, is sound. The usual Estimates will.be submitted, to you, and by economicnl votes on your part :and' careful administration on the part of myself and my Executive, I trust that the sound financial position of the Province, which is the basis of its prosperity, will te maintained. •

I congratulate you on the continuance of peaceful relations with the Natives, so essential to the progress and prosperity of the Province, and which I venture to say will not be disturbed if they are treated openly, honestly,- fairly, and fearlessly. I trust your deliberations will be guided by the spirit of wisdom, and be characterised by a sinking of all private and personal considerations in a united endeavour to promote the progress of the Province. Thomas B. Gillies, Superintendent.

Auckland, 26th October, 1870. After concluding his speech, his Honor retired from the chamber, and on the motion of Dr. Nicholson, the speech was ordered to be printed.—A petition was received from residents in the Northern Division, praying for a survey for a railway between Mahurangi, and Port Albert. Papers were laid on the table by the .Provincial Secretary, committees were appointed fox House Library, private bills, &c, and notices of motion given respecting a grant 6f'£2ooQ for making'a track to Coromandcl, the repeal of the City Loan Act, returns as to moneys expended at the Thained ; for a bridge at South Newton ; for sending the Tro-ginc;al£ Engineer: to visit Mahurangi district;fforr r subsidising steamers to Maliurangiji for establishing a market in Auckland ;i for licensing hawkers, &c.; for returns relative to moneys passed between the City Board and the • Provincial Councial; and expenditure on-tramways, &c.