PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2174, 26 April 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

. The twenty-seventh session of the Provincial Council of Otago, was opened to day by his Honor, the Superintendent, in person ” will be {the announcement made indifferent parts of the Province and the Colony. At the appointed hour of mi-eting (twelve o’clock) there was in the Council Chamber a tolerably large muster of members ; the ollicers were in their best trim and in their proper places ; in the Speaker’s gallery were some twelve or fourteen persons —not a solitary representative of the fair sex (there used to be a sprinkling of ladies in days gone by), and very few notables ; and in the strangers ga'lcry there was a pretty large number of persons, Mr J. G. S. Grant, as is his wont on these occasions, occupying a front seat, and leisurely surveying the scene. The weather outside did not appear to have had a very depressing effect, for members seemed to be in good spirits, but as much cannot be said of the curious public, some of whom had been waiting for fully'half an hour for business to begin. The latter did not interest themselves much in the arrival of members. The only gentleman whose appearance at all excited iutcre t was the Chairman of Committees (Mr C I'l. Haughton), who took his seat a little before the business begun. Mr T. L. Shepherd afterwards entered the ( lumber, but he was almost unnoticed, for at that moment, as the hands of the clock pointed to a quarter pa t twelve, the Sergemt-at A.rms, in a tone of voice le-s commanding than usual, announced Mr Speaker, who emerged from his room, accompanied by the Premier. The lion, gentleman was accommodated with a seat on the platform on which the Government seats are placi d, and remained there until his Honor withdrew. A glance round the House showed a few empty seats, those of Messrs Ashcroft, Bell, Driver, Fraser,

Hay, Hutcheson, Captain Mackenzie, and Seaton being untenanted. As soon as the Speaker had taken his seat, business was commenced by the clerk reading the proclamation, and this done, the Secretary lor Land and Works laid on the table the correspondence with the Home Agent from Sej)tember last to February. There was a pause for a few moments, and his Honor the Superintendent entered unannounced, and took his scat at the side of the Speaker, ihe reading of the Address, which occupied about a quarter of an hour, was listened to very pai.icnl.ly, the silence which prevailed throughout being only broken by an bon. member who comes from the Glutha district, who could not help an exclamation of surprise escaping linn when his Honor menturned the slight excess of immigration over emigration. Some significant glances were thrown from the Opposition benches when the Clutha Hail way matter was touched upon, and a little conversation in an undertone indulged in when mention was made of an intention to ask for large sums of money for certain purposes. The Speech finished, his Honor retired, and prayers were read. The Speaker then announced the receipt of the returns for the Waikouait' and East Taieri elections, and thereupon the Secretary for Land, and Works introduced Messrs Robert Mitchell and James Allan, both gentlemen taking seats on what is known as the Opposition side of the House (why so called we cannot understand). The last-named gentleman was hardly in his seat before he rose and gave notice of his intention to move on Thursday a reply to his Honor's speech (an announcement that was not unexpected). Several notices of motion were then given, and departmental reports (including education, hospital, roads and works, engineer’s) and the goldfields’ regulations, report of Island Block Commission, report on Waitaki Bridge, and regulations for the management of depasturing within Hundreds were laid on the table. The Provincial Solicitor then brought forth a number of “ little bills,” which, however, indicated a large amount of work. First came the Road Board Ordinance, which he said was very lengthy, comprising 55 pages, and the second reading of which was fixed for Friday, with the understanding that the consideration of it would be postponed until this day fortnight; then the Licensing Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 1870 ; the Tokomairiro School Residence and Glebe Land Sales Ordinance ; the Cemeteries Management Ordinance ; the District Roads Compulsory Land Talcing Ordinance. These last-mentioned Ordinances were read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Friday. At a few minutes before one, the Council, on the motion of the Secretary for Land and Works, adjourned until to-morrow afternoon, at two o’clock. The following is his Honor’s opening address : “Mu Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council : “ The subjects which you will be called upon to deal with during the present session—although not numerous —are in some respects perhaps as important as any which have occupied your attention for some time past. “ As this is probably your last Session before a general ehetiun, it is absolut ly necessary that provision should be made for a re-adjustment of the representation upon a fair and equitable basis, with which view an Ordinance will lie submitted to you. “ An Ordinance has been prepared having for its object the consolidation of existing Road Districts, and the conferring upon District Road Boards larger powers than they at present possess ; also, an Ordinance for amending the Licensing Ordinance in several points wherein its working his been found practically defective. Also an Ordinance providing for the vesting in the University of Otago, the land set apart in a former session as an endowment for this University. An Ordinance, bringing into operation within this Province the provisions of the “Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough Rivers Act, 1868,” under the provisions of which Act it is thought that necessary works required to he done for improving the navigation of the Clutha River may he effectually carried out, and the construction of woiks to lessen the damage occasioned from the overflow of the rivers in different parts of the Province may be provided for. “ You are, no doubt, aware that in compliance with your resolution last year a contract has been entered into for the construction of the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway. You will be asked by the promoters of this railway to concur with me in granting them the necessary power to acquire such land as may be requisite for the construction of the line. “ As regards the Southern Trunk Railway, while it is to be regretted that the action taken by the Government has not as yet resulted in any definite proposal for the construction of the line, which the Government with the powers already at its disposal could have assented to; yet enquiries have been made, and suggestions offered, upon which you will be asked to advise ; and should yon think proper to enlarge the powers of the Government in dealing with proposals, it is probable that some of the persons with whom the Government have been in communication may undertake the construction of the line on terms favorable to the Province.

“ It is a question worthy of comment whether or not we shall make up our mind to abandon the idea of constructing the railway by means of a Company, and to take the matter into our own hand. I believe that the work can be accomplished by the Government quite as successfully as it can be by private parties. There can be no more objection to the Government taking upon themselves the construction of railways than of making roads. Should you participate in this view, it will be well to pass the necessary resolution to enable mo to apply for power to borrow the money. “Gentlemen, —I have again to call your special attention to the subject of Immigration. I am persuaded that this is the question, beyond all others, which ought to force itself upon our earnest consideration at the present time ; not as a subject for mere abstract discussion, but for prompt practical action. It cannot be disguised that, as a Legislature, we have sadly failed in what has been required of us in this matter, and that much of the depression which at present prevails is to V>© attributed to our ne<ilvct. “Tim one thing needful to secure the prosperity of every class, is a population in some measure adequate to the beneficial occupation of the country. At present the Province is comparatively a wilderness. During the year the balance of Immigration over Emigration has been 1531), a mere drop in the bucket. “ Instead of 63,000, the present popula-

tion of Otago and Southland, I believe that several millions of industrious people might find the means of comfort and independence within our borders. You will observe from the correspondence with the British agent that, anticipating y.ur concurrence, Mr Auld has been empowered to make arrangements for granting passages to two hundred adults per month at L 5 a head, the Government to pay the difference. This arrangement, if successful, will'involve a vote of 1.17,000 a year, an amount which I should be glad to see doubled. “It is not assisted immigration that should bo looked to exclusively to develop the resources of this Province. There can be no doubt there are in the overgrown countries of Europe thousands of industrious people possessed, more or less, of means of their own, whose condition would he greatly bettered by coming here. In order, however. to get at this class, it is essential that there should be an agent at work, personally acquainted with the Province and its capabilities ; a man who could both write and speak from his own personal knowledge, and one witha l who could associate with, and feel himself at homo in every sphere of society. I trust that before the session closes suitable provisions will be made for securing the services of such an agent. “ Gentlemen, —perhaps the most effective means which could be adopted of attracting fiopnlation to our shores would be the estabishment of direct steam communication with Europe. “ From enquiry upon this subject, I have reason to think that if, under the powers conferred by tho “ Immigration Act, 1868,” we were to set apart L 25,000 a-yeay for Immigration for three years, arrangements may bo made whereby a direct steam line can be secured, and our immigrants brought out in 50 days at the same rates as are now being paid to sailing vessels. With this object in view, proposals will be submitted to you for approval. “The advantage which would result to the Province and to the Colony from such a line must be so obvious that it is needless to enlarge upon it. I may observe that hut for the ''Graving Dock at Port Chalmers, now rapidly approaching completion, we never could have looked forward to a line of steamers such as is now in view at anything like the money. “ While upon this subject of Immigration, it may be well to call your attention to the fact that in all probability, an effort will be made to take the matter into the hands of the General Government. I feel persuaded that any action in this direct on practically means the settlement of the Northern Island at the expense of the land revenue of Canterbury and Otago,—each of which Provinces is far more competent to conduct its own Immigration than the General Government can poss.bly be. It is to he hoped that your action this .Session will be such as that, in as far as this Province is concerned, there will be no pretext for the General Government interfering in the matter of Immigration. In the event of our succeeding in establishing a direct steam line fn m London, I think it not unlikely that Canterbury may he induced to participate in the benefits and to share in the expenses. ‘ ‘ Last session \ou requested me to take steps to obtain from the Colonial Parliament power for the Province to guarantee interest upon a sum not exceeding LIOO,OOO, to be expended on water supply on the goldfields. While I shall spare no effort in endeavoring to obtain the sanction of the Assembly to this proposal, I would venture to suggest that the power s ught should be alternative, so as to enable us either to guarantee interest to private (nterprise, or, failing this, t) raise the money on loan ; and that, instead of LIOO,OOO, the power shall extend to L200,001>. Everyday is rendering it more apparent that a larger amount even than this might he advantageously expended in this direction, and, in fact, that with cheap and abundant water, there is no limit to the auriferous resources of the Province. There is good reason to believe that, with an adequate supply of water, our quartz reefs alone would afford profitable employment to thousands. lam in hope that the Assembly may be made to see that the Colony itself would be greatly benefitted by permitting the Otago goldfields to afford profitable occupation ro 50,000 taxpayers, instead of 5000. While on this subject, I may observe that in furtherance of your resolution last session, respecting the appointment of a competent mining surveyor, to report upon the resources of the goldfie'ds and to make suggestions as to their development, I have placed myself in communication with the Government of Victoria. The correspondence will be laid before you, and an amount placed upon the Estimates to provide for this service.

“ lii compliance with your resolution of last session, blocks of pastoral land have been reserved as endowments for education, hospitals, Benevolent Asylum, and Clutha h'iver Trust Plans and descriptions of these lands will be submitted for your approval, with the view to the necessary steps being taken to obtain Crown grants. “Another very important subject which will have to be considered by you when tiro estimates are under consideration, is the appointment of a duly qualified Inspector of Schools. “ Our public educational system has now assumed a degree of magnitude whjth renders it absolutely necessary that it should be placed under thorough supervision. The officer who has hitherto occupied the position of Inspector has so many other duties devolving upon him, that it is impossible for him to overtake the duties of inspectorship. I trust, therefore, that provision will be made for the payment of an inspector whose whole time shall be devoted to the business of the office. “ In compliance with the recommendation of the High School Commission, arrangements are now being made for the establishment of a High School for girls, and also for the erection of a suitable, building for boy boarders in connection with tho High School. “ There is a grave question now staring us in the face, witli respect to which I should be glad to have your opinion and advice. I allude to the very sen-ms results which sooner or later must aocrue from the gradual elevation of the beds of the Tab ri and (Jlutha rivers, consequent upon mining operations. It is difficult to realise the enormous magnitude of the interests involved in this question, and I am utterly at a loss as to the most practical means of dealing with it. A very able and valuable report with respect to the Taieri river has been carefully prepared by Mr Thomson, Chief Surveyor of the Province, widen I commend to your earnest perusal. “ Vou are, no doubt, aware that in consequence of the undue length of the voyage of

the Mindors, our second shipment of salmon ova out a total failure. Now that we have steam navigation with San Francisco, I am inclined to think that, with absolute certainty of success, we might procure ova from British Columbia. It is probable that the Acclimatisation Societies of Canterbury and Southland might unite with us, in which case our share of the cost of a shipment would be comparatively trifling. I trust you will consent to a small vote with this view. “ Among the votes in this year’s estimates in which 1 would specially invite your concurrence will be a proposal to subsidise the establishment of monthly steam communication along the Western Coast of the Province. There is a very larco area of country available for settlement at the various ports of Gatlin’s River, Tutuku, Waikava, Toi Tois, Stewait’s Island, Preservation Inlet, and Martin’s Bay,—country which from inaccessibility, except by sea, is comparatively unkown. I have reason to think that the County of Westland would unite with us in subsidising this steam line, provided it were extended to Hokitika. With regard to Martin’s Bay, a survey party is at present located there, and from all appearance what is wanted to create a thriving settlement is the means of reaching it by sea. A track is now being formed overlaud from Lake Wakatipu. In accordance -with your request, I introduced a Bill into the General Assembly at its last session, to enable the Province to borrow L 50,000 for certain important public works. Although this Bill received the assent of the House of Representatives, it was thrown out in the Legislative Council. I trust that in the ensuing session a similar Bill will meet with a better fate, and that we shall be enabled to proceed with the Camara Dock, the Waitaki Bridge, and the other works to which it was intended to devote this loan, “ Although the progress of agricultural settlement has not been so marked during the past year as it was daring the two previous years, at the same time ic has by no means been standing still. Two hundred and forty new agricultural holdings, or homesteads, have been occupied daring the year. Gold escort returns shew an increase of nearly 10,000 ozs as compared with the previous year; while the Customs revenue shew an excess of about LG,OOO. The number of public schools has been increased from 74 to 85. The money expended by local Road Boards amounts during the past year to the large sum of over L 30,000. “ 1 allude to these things, not in any spirit of self-complacency, but simply as indicating \ hat notwithstanding the drawbacks with which our settlers have had to contend, there is throughout the Province an onward tendency, an elasticity which cannot he repressed, and that what we really require is immigration of capital and labor upon a large scale, and united action among ourselves, iti order to attain a degree of prosperity beyond our most sanguine ex« pectations. “I imw declare the Council open for the despatch of business.