The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 348, 1 March 1856, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday, March 1. The Provincial Council met on Thursday, according to proclamation. But a g-ioom was thrown over the proceedings by the severe illness of His Honor the Superintendent. The address which was read by the Speaker will be found in another column. It commenced by stating that the Council had been called earlier than had been intended in order to permit members who had seats in the General Assembly to proceed to Auckland in the next steamer, withuut neglecting their duties in the Provincial Council. The same reason induced the Government to bring forward during the ensuing session only two or three measures of immediate importance. The address gives notice of four Government Bills. The first to provide for the construction and repair of roads a.id drains, the second for the prevention of offences on roads, the third to alter the present system of licensing public houses, and the fourth to appoint a new airent in the place of Mr. Godley. With regard to the first three bills, we will reserve our observations until they are brought before the Council: as to the last, we can o ,ly say that we perfeclly coincide in all "hat is said of Mr. Godley, and his proposed successor, Mr. Selfe, " We have before drawn the attention of the Province to the f;x-t that but f-r the substantial assistance n: off red by these two gentlemen in Lorn ion. ..ur immigration scheme would have b-eu seriously retarded at the outset. It is c-r HJn!y very satisfactory ihat when we are d'-privt-d of the scrv'n-es of Mr. Godley we are abc to fall hack upon those of Mr. Selfe.

\Yi;h respect to ihe Finances. The Superintendent estimates the probable ordinary n-venue to be about equal to the ordinary expenditure during tin: ensuing year, and states that the Land Fund is" all we .ba-ve to, look to for Public Works, linmi-

gration, and Education. During the past eight months, that is, since the embargo was taken off the Provincial moiety of the Land Fund by the General Government, the Provincial share of that revenue has amounted to €3,424. This, however, is no guide for the future. The allowance of our Land Regulations may cause the land sales to increase or to decrease considerably. From all we can hear, we are satisfied that they will increase ; in case, however, of their not realizing expectations, His Honor calls upon the Council to determine what course they will adopt for carrying on works for which they may have voted supplies.