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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The twenty-eighth session of the Provincial Council of Utago was opened to-day, with the usual formalities. A good many strangers were attracted to witness the proceedings, which, however, were unusually tame. The Speaker took his seat at a quarter past twelve o’clock, and was received by the following numbers : —Messrs Reid, Haggitt, Duncan, Mouat, Gillies, Seaton, M‘Demid, Tayler, Turnbull, Shaud, G., Millar, Hughes. Mollison, Main, M‘ludoe, Murray, Clark, Brown, Sibbdd, Allen, Barr, Henderson, Mosely. Thomson, and Green. The proclamation of the Superintendent convening the meeting was read, and immediately afterw-ards the Superintendent was announced. His Honor read the following addre-s : “ Mk Speaker and Gi-.ntu-.mkn or tick Provincial Corn-oil : “Since last I had the pleasure of addressing you, the late Province of Southland has been re-united to Otago by an act of the Colonial Legislature. I am sure you will concur with me in expressing ac earnest hope that this re-union may prove to be as bene-

ficial as its strongest advocates have anticipated. I feel persuaded that, under wise and judicious management, the re-union is calculated greatly to promote the interests of of the Province as a whole. “ I need scarcely say rhat the chief, indeed the only reason for calling you together at the present time, is to make the necessary provision for the future representation in the Provincial Council, of the late Provi ce of Southland, as wcdl as to provide for the public service pn that portion of the Province during the residue of the current financial year. It is supposed, therefore, that a very few days may suffii-e to get over the business for which the Session has been convened.

“ Important returns will bo laid before yon, setting forth the nature and extent of the public estate situated in the the late Province of Southland From those it will he seen that there is an amount of valuable land immediately available for settlement, far larger in proportion than exists in any other equal area of the Province of Otago, “ It is a question worthy of consideration how far it may he deemed advisable to assimilate the land regulations of Southland to those of Otago, to the extent of providing that land within Hundreds, which has been open for sale for seven years, and remains unsold should be exposed to public auction at an ups't price of ten shillings an acre. I allude to the matt -mow, eh-etly with a view to the question being ventilated and -malt with by*thc next Provincial < 'onncil. lam inclined to think thao the adoption of the course now indicated will place a largo amount of money in the treasury, and that it is the most likely means whereby wo can he placed in funds wherewith to construct main roads, and to subsidise local Road Boards in the district of Southland. “A Bill will he submitted to you, having for its object the assimilation of the law throughout the Province as now constituted, in so far as, after consultation with the representatives from Southland such assimilation may he deemed expedient. I imagine that as regards Education, District Road Boards, and various other subjects there is no reason why the same Ordinance should not apply to the whole Province. I think it would l)e well to extend the provisions of The Gta-jo Settlement Act, 18(39, to Stewart’s Island, and to that portion of the Province extending from Waikava to Gatlin’s River.

“ Gentlemen,— In compliance with your request on previous sessions, a measure was introduced by me into the General Assembly to amend the Hundreds Regulations Act, 1860, which amendment, with one or two alterations insisted upon by the General Assembly, has now become law. Applications have been made to the Governor to proclaim ten new Hundreds, comprising an area of 176,000 acres, all of which it is hoped will be in the market presently ; and as upwards of 80,000 acres are already surveyed within the proposed Hundreds, in the event of the Commissioners’ report being favorable, and their award considered reasonable, there need be no delay in placing purchasers in occupation. I regret to say that the Bill to validate the District Road Boards Ordinance, passed by you last session, was thrown out in the Legislative Council. “ The Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay Rivers Act Amendment Act, as recommended by you, has passed, and may now be taken advantage of by those who are desirous of ■ protecting their property against floods. “ You will, no doubt concur with me in regretting that your resolution to raise a loan, L 650,000, for certain public purposes, did not receive the sanction of the Colonial Legislature. Of this loan it will be recollected it was proposed to spend L 400,000 on the Southern Trunk Railway ; LIOO,OOO on water supply on goldfields ; 50,000 on immigration ; and LIO,OOO on Waitaki Bridge, ihe Colonial Cover ment has obtained power to provide for all those objects out of the General Colonial Loan. “ I consider it a matter of regret, however, that these works were not left under the control of the Provincial Council, persuaded as I am that they could have been carried out more satisfactorily to the districts within which they are to be executed, and with greater economy of administration, than can possibly be done under the Colonial Executive. I regret to add that the other important works which were to he effected out of the loan—viz., Embankment of rivers... ... £50,000 Oamaru Dock ... .. ... 20,000 Kakanui Harbor ... ... 6,000 Waikouaiti Biidge ... ... 8,000 Shag River Bridge 4,000 Lower Mataura Bridge 2,000 have been entirely ignored. “ As regards the Southern Trunk Railway, several overtures have been made for its construction. None of these, however, come strictly within the conditions upon which the Province is empowered to guarantee. The offer which appears to bo otherwise the most eligible, requires that the Provincial guarantee shall be for thirty, instead of fifteen years, which would involve an amended Ordinance ; this it is stated by the Attorney-General would be ultra vires, and would therefore, in all probability, be disallowed. It is hoped that a suitable offer will yet bo received. I confess that I should greatly prefer to sec this work carried through by the Province. “ I may state that the General Government has taken steps for the erection of a bridge across the Waitaki, also for surveying a line of railway between this bridge and Moeraki, and between Invercargill and Mataura, with a view of obtaining the sanction of the General Assembly at its next session for their construction.

“It is to he hoped that we shall bo able to continue our present system of Immigration, and to extend its advantages to the united Province. I look upon ,it that the united Province presents a very largo for settlement, and that we shall grievously fail in our duty if the most vigorous steps are not taken towards the beneficial occupation of the territory by men and women. Indeed, it may be said that this is the most important function which, as a Province, is now left to us.

“In conformity with your resolution of last session, Reserves were made of 3,000,000 acres of land as Endowments f<r Education, Glutha River Trust, Hospitals, and Lunatic Asylum. I regret to say, however, that in making apjilication for Grown Grants in respect of these reserves, it is found by the law adviser of the Crown that, under our land regulations, the Governor has no power to issue the grants, excepting those forE.lucational purposes. It will be for you to consider whether or not wc should endeavor to get the law altered in this respect. “Gentlemen, —1 now declare this Council open for tho despatch of business. “James Maoandeew, “ Superintendent.’’

On his Honor’s withdrawal, the Speaker notified the receipt of a communication from the Sivnerintendmt’a Office and the Colonial Secretary, announcing the return of the writs issued for recent elections The new members were introduced as follows : —Mr Fish, member for Dunedin by the Provincial Solicitor ; Mr Mills, member for Waikouaiti by Mr Tayler ; and Messrs Wood, Basstian, Johnston, Kinross, and M'Gillivray, members for Southland by Mr J. L. Gillies. The Secretary tor Land and Works laid on the table the report of the Southland Commissioner of Crown lands, and correspondence with the Home Agent. Mr Turnbull presented a petition by Mr R, Gillies, chairman of the Dunedin Water Works Company ; and Mr Thomson' a petition from settlers in the Glenoamaru district.

House and Printing Committees were appointed, and a number of notices of motion given—among them being one b’ Mr Wood that on the next sitting day he would move the Address in reply. The Provincial Solicitor gave notice of his intention to introduce a Bill to incorporate the Dunedin Atheureum. The Council adjourned until two o’clock to-morrow.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18701115.2.10

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2378, 15 November 1870, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,460

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2378, 15 November 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2378, 15 November 1870, Page 2

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