AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 173, 6 May 1874, Page 2

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(abbidqed from: the “ bves'lno- stab.”) The re-assemblage of the Provincial Council after the adjournment took place on Friday, Ist May, at three o’clock p.ra. About 20 members were present when the Speaker, the Hon. G. M. O’Rorke, took his seat. MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERIN lENDENT. REVIEW OF THE PAST. The Superintendent desires at the reassembling of the Provincial Council to present a brief statement of the proceedings of the Government during the past four months, together with a summary of the principal matters which will be submitted in due course for consideration during the session. But first the Superintendent would thank the Council for its liberal vote of supplies, whereby ho has been enabled to meet the requirements of the public service during the recess. Having in December last agreed to accept from the General Government the charge of receiving and locating the immigrants sent out by the A gent- General for this province, the Superintendent considered it expedient to visit as far as practicable the various settlements of the province, accompanied by his Executive Council and officers of the Government, in order to ascertain by personal enquiry and observation the extent of the facilities atforded by each district—in the possession of suitable blocks of land, and in

dsemand for labor —for the location of immigrant as well as for the prospect of promoting specias ettlements. The Superintendent also took thel opportunity of inviting the settlers to meet him and give expression to their views upon the operation of the existing Highway Act and other kindred matters, and also in regard to the more particular requirements of each district. I3y this means the Government acquired much valuable information, which is mainly embodied in the reports of the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Provincial Engineer. XjANDS for settlement. At Tauranga there are large blocks of valuable land which the General Government is disposed to hand over to the province for special settlement. The Superintendent is glad to inform the Council that already one scheme of special ettlement is likely to be initiated under the seadership of a gentleman from the North of Ireland, who baa recently visited Auckland with the view of selecting a block of land for the lioeation of a large body of immigrants, which, upon his assurance of land being available for settlement, may after a reasonable time be expected to arrive in the province. WANTS OF THE EAST COAST. A pilot establishment is urgently required for the port of Poverty Bay, and the Council will be asked to make provision for this service, as also for a similar service proposed to be established at Tauranga. There is a pressing need of public buildinos fort ho Goverment service both at Tauranga and Poverty Bay. Those at Tauranga are already in course of erection by the General Government. ADVANCE OF £40,C00.

Finding that the ordinary Provincial revenue, although steadily on the increase, is not likely to improve to such an extent as to bo sufficient to meet the increasing demand upon it, the Superintendent has requested the General Government to sanction an advance of £40,000 upon the security of the land revenue, and he is happy to state that the Government has acceded to this request. steam: communication with OUT-DISTSXCT3. The Superintendent deems it to be of the highest importance that the whole of the settled districts along the East and West Coasts of the province should be connected by steam communication with the ports of Auckland and the Manukau. It is, therefore intended to ask the Council for the means requisite to enable the Government to encourage the owners of coasting vessels to maintain regular services whereby the inhabitants at present settled along the coasts, and those who are likely shortly to be located in new settlements, may enjoy the benefits of regular and ready communication with the capital and with each other, DANDS FROM THE GENERA!, GOVERNMENT. In addition to the lands within the province already purchased by the General Government the Superintendent has made arrangements whereby other lands suitable for settlement will be acquired from the native owners, who are now, as the Superintendent is glad bo observe, generally disposed in favour the selling of their lands to the Government for this purpose. While at Wellington the Superintendent also applied to the General Government for the remainder of the “ surplus ” lands of old land purchasers to be transferred to Provincial administration, and from the correspondence which has passed on this subject it will be seen that the Government is at length favourably disposed to their transf-r. The General Government has also communicated to the Superintendent a schema for the disposal the proceeds of the remnant of confiscated lands within the province. HIGHWAYS BOARDS DILI.. A Bill will ba submitted for the consolidation of the laws relative to the Highway Boards which will be found to be comprehensive in its character, and (it is trusted) an advance and improvement upon the existing measure. - SEW EDUCATION ACT. As to education, the income which has been derived, or indeed likely to be derived under the Act of 1873, has proved altogether inadequate to the requirements of the province, and the advance of £7,500 authorised by the Council has been wholly absorbed in meeting the expenditure of the Board up to this date. The Superintendent proposes to submit a bill which will provide a further and a better system of education for the youth of the province. After the transaction of some formal business, the Council adjourned till Tuesday (yesterday).