THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1874

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1735, 25 February 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1874

The speech of His Honor the Superintendent, in opening the Provincial Council yesterday, appears from the telegraphic summary to have been pretty much as we suggested it would be a few days ago. His Honor alluded to the importance of the change in the form of Government, and pointed out the necessity of keeping the Legislative and Executive functions distinct. He approved of that clause in the Province of Westland Act which enabled the Superintendent to sit in the Council. The financial accounts of the past half year showed a surplus of receipts over expenditure from the ordinary revenue of £1410, including the amount due by Nelson for the maintenance of prisoners in the Hokitika Gaol. He informed the Council that the Province had not yet received any portion of the fifty thousand pounds authorised by Parliament last session, but arrangements had been made by the late Chairman of the County Council to pay off certain liabilities by an advance from tho Bank. He felt justified in saying that the Province, sofar as ordinary accounts were concerned, would commence its career free from debt. His Honor expressed the opinion that the administration of justice on the Goldfields by the Wardens only had proved to be a satisfactory arrangement, and the maintenance of the Christchurch road by the General Government was equally so. Arrangements had been concluded for the purchase of the Arahura Bridge, and it would be satisfactory if all the bridges now in private hands were under the control of the Province. His Honor in referring to the claims of the Province upon the consideration of the General Government said, that it.was idle to attempt to conceal the fact that Westland was not sharing in the general prosperity, and had not received the measure of consideration, to which it was fairly entitled. The construction of a line of railway from the East to the West Coast would secure the permanent prosperity of the Province ; and it was also necessary to construct a line between Hokitika and Greymouth. He considered special settlements in the southern part of the Province to be desirable, as also the completion as rapidly as possible of the Waimea Water-race by the General Government, and of the Kanieri Race by private enterprise. All these works would largely contribute to the advancement of settlement and to the future prosperity of the Province. His Honor also considered it desirable that the Mikonui-race should be made. In reference to the prospects of the Province, his Honor informed the Council that the state of the finances only admitted of the payment of current expenses, and a loan was therefore necessary of such a sum as could be profitably expended ; he did not doubt that the consent of the Assembly could be obtained for such a loan. The present session, he proposed, should be a short one, and the Council might meet again before the session of the General Assembly, meantime it would be necessary to vote supplies at once, and to pass an Ordinance for the administration of the Government.