SECOND SESSION OF THE AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 891, 28 October 1854, Page 3

SECOND SESSION OF THE AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

On Wednesday last, the Members of the Provincial Council assembled at two o’clock, in the chamber that had been occupied by the House of Representatives, the following members being present; Messrs. Bartley (Speaker), Boylan, O’Brien, O’Neill, Mitchell, Derrom, Bain, Whitaker, A. O'Neill, Donovan, Hill, Dignau, Dilworth, Taylor, Macky,Newman, Powditch, Brennan, Lewis, Williamson, Busby, and Clark. The Speaker, having taken the chair, proceeded to read the Proclamation for convening the Council; immediatdy after which his Honour the Superintendent entered the Council Chamber, and delivered the following address : Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincia Council — I have again called you together in the month of October for the Annual Session of the Provincial Council, believing this to be the season of the year at which it is most convenient to you to leave your private occupations in order to discharge your legislative duties. Since the prorogation of the Provincial Council in February last, the General Assembly of New Zealand has met, and its sittings which commenced in May, were only brought to a dose at the beginuiugof las’’ month. Although the powers and duties of the Provincial Councils have not been materially altered or affected, except in one important particular, by any enactment of the General Legislature of the Colony, yet it must not be overlooked that peculiar circumstances have imposed on the Legislature of this Province additional duties'and responsibilities, which I trust and have every reason to believe it will be found fully competent to undertake. The exception to which I allude is the power conferred on the Provincial Councils, by the “ Waste Lands Act,” to recommend to the Governor regulations for the sale, letting, disposal, and occupation of the Waste Lands of the Crown, and which, if he shall think tit, it is made lawful for him, with the advice of his Executive Council, to issue and put into force No new band Regulations, other than such ns shall be so recommended and made, can lor the future become Law, without the further exercise of the powers vested in the General Assembly.

’Under the provisions of the Waste Lands Act any member of the Provincial Council is authorised to propose for adoption any regulations he may think fit, so that they be fiist published in the Government Gazette of the Province, in the manner prescribed by the Act. One complete code of Regulations has been prepared by a member of the Council, who is also a member of the Provincial Government, and having been published in conformity with the Law, has, by my direction, been placed in your hands.

This subject is one second in importance to none other, and I have no doubt that it will receive from the Council all that careful con - sidoration which its importance deserves. A liberal, but at the same time, judicious system of dealing with the Waste Lands of the Crown, as well in reference to the administration as to the terms of disposal, appears to me to be the most effectual, if not the only means, on which we may place reliance to secure a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the country. The proposed Regulations to which I have directed your attention, are calculated to effect most extensive alterations, but as they are already before you, I do not feel it necessary at present to add more than an expression of my opinion—that important and beneficial results may reasonably be expected ns the consequence of an adoption of the principles upon which they are based.

The subject of Immigration, second only in importance to that of the V* astc Lands, and intimately connected with it, will not fail, I feel assured, also to engage your earnest attention. Under Sir Geo. Grey’s Land Regulations of the 4th March, 1853, and under instructions subsequently issued by his Excellency, a certain portion of the land receipts is set apart as a fund for promoting immigration by means of asssisted passages. A sum of £5,61)0 12s. had, up to the doth September, been paid into the Provincial Treasury on account of this fund; and it is calculated that, under the existing arrangement, this sum will be incicased to £ 10,000 at the close of the current year. Assisted passages for six hundred and thirty-three individuals have been applied for. The Band and Emigration Commissioners have been requested by the General Government, through the Secretary of State, to provide

passages for five hundred and thirty-five of that number, some of whom may be expected to arrive immediately, by the Gipscy, from London, considerable delay arises from entrusting business of this description to the Land and Emigration Commissioners, who despatch the emigrants only when a number can be collected sufficient to authorize them to charter a ship. With a view to prevent a recurrence of this delay, a sum of £80!) being half the amount required for the passages of eighty-one individuals—not included amongst those sent for thro gh the Commissioners—has been remitted by the Provincial Giver,iment to an Agent in London, with instructions to provide for the persons designated, passages to Auckland as early as possible, and on the most favourable terms that can be obtained. No payment on account of immigration having been made by the General Government, the amount of liabilities already incurred cannot be calculated with accuracy; but if, (which, however, is not probable,) all those who have been seat for should come out, the wh 1 * of the funds that will be available for this purpose up to the Ist of January next, will be absorbed.

From the statements in the Colonial journals, as well as from the reports of individuals who have recently returned from Australia, there is reason to conclude that great num bers of those whom the prospects of the gold fields attracted to Sydney and Melbourne, would now gladly avail themselves of the opportunity to remove to this Province, if the facility of free or assisted passages were afforded them; and it seems probable that, by the exercise of great care in the selection, a snpp’y of valuable labour .might thus, at a small expense, be obtained. No steps in this direction could, however, be taken with propriety without the concurrence of the Government of Sydney and Victoria. Population, to developeits great natural resources, is all that the Province of Auckland requires to tender it a most prosperous and important settlement; and, as you must be aware how much the energies and exertion of those who are engaged in the m ist productive industrial occupations are cramped and depressed by the want of labour, yon will not, I trust, allow the Session to close without adopting some well-considered scheme for its introduction.

The extinguishment of the native title over a sufficient quantity of land, in order at all limes to ensure an abundant supply, has a most important bearing on the subjects to which I have already adverted. This, however is a matter in which the Provincial Govern’meat has no authority to act, but I may here express a hope that the re urn to Auckland of the Principal Commissioner for effecting Land purch ses, and the provision that has been made for the efficiency of his department, will have the effect of securing the attainment of so important an object as an ample supply of land, for all the purposes for which it m y be required. The establishment of a system of education for the people, a matter of the first irapor.ance, is one to which the attention of the G- neral Assembly has been directed, and over which that body may finally determine to exercise a controlling power. At the instance of the Legislative Council, information on all points connected with this question, is I believe, being collected with a view to future legislation. Pending the consideration of the question by tie Assembly, it does not appear necessary that the Provincial Council snould deal actively with if, but I think that an expression of deliberate opinion by the Co ndi, on the subject would have its proper weight in finally determining the cotnse to he pursued.

The increasing commerce of the Province, the necessity of providing for its per.shable articles of export, a more speedy and certain mod • of transport to the Colonial M ukets, as well as of securing frequent and regnl r postal communication with Australia, indica'ed the importance of the establishment of Steam Communication with Sydney The opportunity to accomplish this object presented itself. and it will long be remembered as an instance of the public spirit of this communi y, a"d also I hope as air example of what unity of purpose and of action may accomplish for the general good that in a very few hours, a sum of F 12,000 was subscribed to purcha e a moiety of the William Denny, Steam Ship, and thus aid in securing the services of that vessel for the Province. It was felt that it was the duty of the Go.’eminent to promote in every p issihle nay, the end in view, and guided by the advice of my Executive Court 41, and sustained by the approval of a large number of the representatives of the Province, I entered into a contract to pay to the Commander of the Steamer, William Denny fur the Momhly conveyance o f the Mails to and from Sydney for one year, the sum of £',004 A copy of that document will be i immediately laid before you. The good efiecls of the public enterprise are already manifest, and there is, I believe, reasonable ground to hope that commercially it will prove so successful as to render future aid from the public funds unnecessary.

The pub! c accounts which will hi immediately laid on your table will display the satisfactory condition of the Provincial finances. The actu .1 receipts for the year 1854 it is calculated will exceed cons derably the estimated revenue. The increased price of all articles of consumption and of the wages of labour has necessitated :<n expenditure in some departments in excess ol the sums appropriated to their maintenance ; a supplementary estimate has been prepared and votes will be asked for the additional supplies, as well as for the prosecu ion of several public works of pressing importance, in order that such labour as cm be procured previously to the approaching harvest may be made available.

The portions of (lie revenue for the year 1855 arising fiom the Customs and from Lard 8 lies winch wi 1 be payable to tiie Provincial Treasury have been esiim led by the General Government at £40,(1 0. It la this sum be added the sums of £2,650 for incidental receipts and £2,573 Ids. lid., the estimated balance from the year 1854, the probable amount available for the expenditure of the year 1853, will be £15,225 16s. 1 Id

From the estimates, which will shortly be laid before yon, it will be seen that as the proposed cost of est iblishments for the coming \ car is about £16,000, a sum of £2.0,225 His. lid. may he appropriated to Public Works and Immigration. Application has been made to the General Government for a detailed slateme.it of the financial position of the Province, which when received will belaid before the Council. The reduced price at which land is now being sold, whilst by encouraging occupation it renders the want of roads and bridges more urgent, provides no fund adequate to the cost of their construction. During the past

year it has been the object of the Provincial Govern merit to expend economically and in such manner as to afford the greatest immediate advantage, the sums placed at its disposal for the purpose of making roads, bat the insufficiency of means to afford the amount of accommodation requited has become mani.'e t. 1 shall therefore sub nit this matter for consideration and discussion by the Council, with the suggestion that certain roads should he fixed upon as being main or trunk roads, to be made and maintained at the expanse of the Province, and that powers should be granted to provide funds by means of local assessments for making and maintaining the district or branch roads The whole system in reference to Public Houses is one which appears to me to require revision. It may be worthy of consideration how >ar it is practicable, or expedient, to hold out encouragement for the establishment of Licensed Houses confined to their original and legitimate objects, namely the accommodation of travellers and strangers a> d at the same time to discourage mere taps, and tippling houses. Much iraprev - merit may also I think be effected in the mode in which licenses a r e now applied for and granted- The efficiency of any Law or this subject will perhaps depend more upon its administration ihaa up ml its particu uprovisions, and it may be expedient therefore to constitute a new tribunal, not only empowered to grant licenses but also to cancel them in cases of misconduct, which tribunal might be intrusted especially with the inspection and supervision of licensed houses. The constitution of sucti a tribunal would be an important matter for consideration, it should at least possess the confidence of the public, and as much as possible be amenable to public opnion. The complicated nature however of the interest involved in this question, render it desirable before legislation be attempted that a full enquiry should be ins'ituted by means of a committee of the Council.

As the periol at which the Census under the provis ons of the Ordin nice. No. 11, of Se s;on, No. 8, should hj >ve bee:i tak n in this Province, was suffered 10 pass by, a special enactment to enable the Government to tdke a census of the Province in the early part of next year is necessary, and for this purpose a bill will be submitted to you, and a sum will also be placed on the estimates to cover tbe necessity expenses,—-no effort will be spared to ren 'er the stati tical information thus to be obtained as full and as co nplete as prssible. The Harbour Committee and City Council, bodies which were called int> existence by Acts of this Cou icil during its first Session, have now oeen for a considerable period in operation ; and I am happy to be able to testify to the activity and energy which have distinguished their exertions to fulfil the duties impos d upm them, and to promote the public convenience. I feel assured that the matters to which I have already adverted bein r as they unquestionably are of \ilal importance to our interests, will receive at your hands careful and earnest consideration, and that the measures upon which you may determine will tend to secure the welia e and to maintain the progress of the Province of Auckland. ° R. H. Wynyard, Supeiialendent

His Honour having withdrawn, it was moved by Mr. Whitaker, seconded by Mr. Baio, and carried that the Address be printed. Mr. Whitaker then gave notice that he w ui d move on Thursday. Thu a Committee, to consist of Mr. Clarke, Mr. James O’Neill, Mr. Dilworth, Mr. Lewis, and the Mover, be appointed to prepare an answer to the Superintendent’s opening Address. Also to move that a Standing Orders Committee, to consist of -he Speaker, Mr. Busby, Mr, Bain, Mr- Boylaa, Mr, Newmat, Mr. Powditch, ami the Mover, be appointed to revise Hie Standing Orders, and to report to the Council from time t > time during the session what additions to and alterations in the Standing orders may appear to them desirable. Mr. Busby oave notice that he would move o > Thursday— That this Council shall open its daily proceedings with p-ayer i and that the Speaker in taking the Chair shall read the prayer which was agreed upon and by the House of Representatives. Also to move that the Library Committe of last session be reconstituted, viz., the Speaker, Messrs. Gilfiitan, Connell, Boy lan, Allan O’Neill, Williamson, and the Mover. Mr. Whitaker then moved that the Council do adjourn until next day, at 3, p.m.