OPENING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 20, 10 June 1871, Page 7

OPENING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, JUNE 6. Th’b Council met at the Odd Fellows’ Hall this afternoon at two. Present —The Speaker, the Provincial Secretary (Mr Bunny), Provincial Treasurer (Mr Halcombe), Provincial Solicitor (Mr Borlase), Messrs G. Hunter, E. Pearce, J. Dransfield, Ludlam, Hon. J; Johnston, Masters, Crawford,' Brandon, and Anderson. His Honor the Superintendent having entered the Council Chamber, delivered the following SPEECH. Mb Speaker and Gentlemen oe the Peovinciaii Council. —In opening the present session of the Provincial Council it will be unnecessary for me to do more than barely advert to the special circumstances under which I meet you. These will, I believe, be held by you to be sufficient to entitle me to receive an attentive and benevolent regard for the proposals I may make, and an earnest cooperation towards carrying them out. For many reasons I would have desired that a longer time might have intervened between the date of my election and that of the opening of the Council; in order that I might have had the opportunity of making myself personally acquainted with the present circumstances, wishes, and conditions of different portions of the province; and also that I might have been able to give a more minute consideration to the proposals which I am about to submit for your approval. The noar approach, however, of the next session of the Parliament of the colony has precluded me from further entertaining such a wish; and I am the more reconciled to the disappointment when I reflect, on bhe one hand, that I have grown up with the the earliest growth of the province and shared in almost every one of its struggles and enterprises, and so acquired an intimate knowledge of and sympathy with the work of the people in almost every walk of life ; and on the other, that whilst I have no hesitation whatever as to the soundness of the general principles of the measures which I am about to introduce to your consideration, ! •an with the utmost confidence rely upon your supplying any omissions and amending any errors which a more careful review may suggest. Within a few weeks I have had to form an Executive Council, and with the assistance of its members to agree upon a policy to present for your consideration and approval. I deem myself fortunate in having been able, under the circumstances, to secure the services of gentlemen who were at once capable of giving me valuable advice, and likely from their united influence to secure your confidence. If I say that the present Provincial Government occupies no (special platform and adopts no particular party cries, it is not because I have any wish to speak disparagingly of the employment of these, sometimes necessary, political formula; but rather because the present Provincial Government considers that pressing practical considerations demand its attention; and that the mind of the province ought not o be distracted by the consideration of mere theories of government from a dispassionate plain business view of all the circumstances which surround it and the difficulties of the situation. In placing, therefore, before you the actual condition of the Province, whilst it will bo sufficiently apparent that its circumstances are temporarily embarrassed; yet, it will not consequently follow that the Provin* cial Government will invite you to lay the blame of the existing state of affairs altogether upon this or that person or party or system. It resolutely shuts its ears to recrimination ; not merely because it is an unprofitable indulgence in itself —the rosort of weak minds in distress —but also because it believes that the present state of things is not the consequence of any special fault or faults, but the natural result of development. That, in fact, if it would be ridiculous to denounce parents because their offspring were attacked with measles or hoop-ing-cough, and propose as a remedy to massacre the innocents, it would no less be unreasonable to impute particular blame because a young community had got into difficulties or despair of its being restored to healthy action. The wise course in both instances is to avoid lamentation and adopt prompt remedial measures. It is in this spirit that the present Provincial Government accepts the situation. The financial position of the province may be stated as follows, viz.:— Funded debt ... ... ... £259,000 ■ —The interest and sinking fund on this amount is guaranteed by the Colonial Government, provided for out of capitation allowances and charged on the consolidated revenue. Unseoured liabilities ... ••• £38,850 —These are all more or less urgent. Estimated expenditure necessary for carrying on the different provincial departments for the financial year ending 31st March, 1872 ... £33,588 Making a total of requirements for the current year amounting to £72,438 To meet these imperative demands for the current year, the ordinary income available within the year cannot prudently be estimated at more than £34,256, which leaves a deficiency of £38,182. Under such a state of circumstances as I ha?e just placed before you, the choice obviously lies between two courses of action. The one consists in frankly acknowledging our inability to meet our engagements, receding at once from our position with its privileges and its duties, and calling upon those endowed with' superior intelligence and resources to administer those affairs which we

declare ourselves unable to manage. There undoubtedly exist many who think that this course should be summarily adopted ; whose minds are oppressed with the incubus and expense of excessive government; who are puzzled with the intricacy of the governmental machinery, and yearn for simplicity, uniformity, and centralisation ; who regard with ill-disguised satisfaction the pressure of pecuniary embarrassment on the province, and calculate with perhaps too facile an arithmetic the period at which your provincial ’nstitutions must succumb to circumstances. Whilst it may at once be conceded that sueh opinions are conscientiously held by a great many, yet the present Provincial Government does not recommend the adoption of such a summary course. Quite apart from the great constitutional questions involved, it has been guided to this conclusion by the following, among other, reasons, viz.:—lt has no desire to see this province become the subject of experiment : it fails to procure any hope of relief, either in regard to present or future local burthens, from placing the provincial estate in liquidation ; ?n case the administration were otherwise vested, it is unable satisfactorily to answer the question asked ages ago, “ Who shall shepherd the shepherds themselves?” it is of opinion that the people of the province, through their elected officers, are better able to manage their own local business than others are for them ; it thinks that even if any fundamental change were decided on, it should be gradually introduced and carefu’ly adopted ; moreover, it believes that, notwithstanding temporary embarrassments, the financial position of the province rests on a sound basis, and that its ultimate prospects are good. If, however, the Provincial Government discards the idea of at once resigning your affairs into foreign hands, it is prepared to adopt the only other course which is open, viz, resolute’y to face the difficulties. I may at the same time assure you that the spirit in which this attempt has been resolved on does not consist in any aspiration after high governmental functions ; nor in a desire to bolster up any effete system, much less to obstruct the freedom of future action.

The Provincial Government aims at establishing throughout every part of the province a self-supporting system of management, resting on the simple but sure ground of local self-reliance, de-centralization (which is a long word for local power) and the recognition of its equivalent “ local responsibility” —the end and object being local progress. The steps by which the Provincial Government will endeavor to meet the existing difficulties ere these —It will propose to make additional demands on the local sources of revenue for the maintenance of your main and district lines of road, and for the education of your children. It will make efforts to realise certain portions of the public estate which have been lately unproductive; and it will further propose to borrow money, upon specific security, in order to provide for the following services, viz : Uncovered liabilities ... ... £38,850 Arrears of survey ... ... ... £27,000 Roads, bridges, and sundry undertakings ■ ... ... ••• £30,000

Making a total amounting to 1.. £95,850 I may here anticipate some queries, to which replies may reasonably be demanded. With ,an estimated ordinary expenditure not exceeding the estimated ordinaiy income, would not the most prudent course be to continue for a time to conduct the affairs of the province modestly and sparingly, and without borrowing more money? My explanation and reply is to this effect : I have specified three objects on which it is proposed to expend the borrowed money, viz. Ist, To provide means to discharge actual liabi'ities. I assume that this debt must be paid; I show that the annual revenue is wholly insufficient for the purpose ; and I therefore conclude that the only alternative is to borrow the necessary amount. 2nd. For arrears of survey, is of the same character as the last ; for it can only be regarded as a debt, although there are no ostensible creditors, and it may not be a debt of that description pei’haps which can be sued for in a court of law. But it is nevertheless a service for which it is absolutely necessary to provide, in order that contracts with purchasers of land, who paid their money long years ago, may be completed. At the same time, I am bound in justice to the province to state, that this service is for arrears of work, which have their roots stretcffing out into a period antecedent to the introduction of the Constitution, dating back to the time when the Imperial Government and the New Zealand Company disputed each other’s surveys, and when extensive grants of land were given in compensation, leaving legacies of large arrears of complicated surveys; the expense for which the co’ony, I admit, ought to pay, but not a particular province, which had not even an existence at that date and which never afterwards derived any special benefit from the lands in question. 3rd. Roads, bridges, and other Provincial public works, constitute objects, the necessity of which some, I admit, may be disposed to call in question, if money has to be borrowed for the purpose. Yet there are many who, whilst entertaining this objection, would not hesitate to advocate railway extension in the colony under colonial auspices. But the con-, struction of railways cannot be otherwise than unprofitable, if the lines are not fed by roads. In seeking, therefore, to obtain the means wherewith to incur expenditure of this character, the province is really aiding the policy of the colony at large. I also observe that owing to the present bare condition of the main lines of yoad and the destruction of some important bridges and the injury done to others, if funds beyond those which can possibly accrue from ordinary rev« nue be not supplied for these services, serious damage to the trade of the province will be sustained and a proportionate loss to the revenue both of the

colony and the province. Moreover, just when considerable additional demands are being made on the present, in the shape of local taxation, it would be most discouraging and inopportune to relieve the future from its fair proportion of burthens. On the above grounds, therefore, I am prepared to justify the proposals. It may, however, be asked whether the circumstances of the province really warrant or” contracting a further debt ? In considering this question we must take into account the extent and value of the Provincial estate. The following figures will help to a conclusion, viz : Acres. Area of Province 7,200,000 Native Lands 4,840,000 Purchased from Natives ... 2,360,000 7,200,000 Sales of land effected prior to this date 1,178,611 Eestate of Province remaining for sale 1,181,389 2,360,000 Yaluation of Estate of Province available for sale — 1,180,000 acres at 14s £826,000 Reclaimed Land.. ... ... 30,000 Wharf ... 30,000 Wanganui Bridge ... ... 30,000 Total £916,000 If, therefore, the province borrowed an additional £IOO,OOO, its whole indebtedness would amount to £359,000, while its estimated assets would amount to nearly three times the amount of its debt thus increased.

It may be objected that this valution is excessive on the ground that the remainder of the Provincial landed estate for sale only consists of lands which have been culled. But upon this point I call attention to the fact that the large expenditure which has been made and is proposed to be made provincially in the shape of public works, and the large undertaking which the colony is proposing both in public works and immigration are daily adding increased value to this residue of the estate.

But it may further be asked can the pro-, vince bear the additional annual burthen on its revenue to pay for interest and > sinking fund: in other wo"ds has the Provincial revenue any such elasticity ? The additional charge may be stated 1 at say £6,000. In answering this enquiry it will be fair here to take into account the increased power of payment which works or improvement such as those proposed would confer on the province. But apart from this consideration, 1 express a belief that a sounder system with regard to the financial relations between the General and Provincial Governments must be introduced and that the effect will be, considerably to improve the position of the latter. I hold that the existing system of Provincial charges is unsound and that if the General Government assumes the administration of any colonial department it should defray the charges of that department out of the colonial revenue. That if it thinks fit, for instance, to maintain at a considerable cost, a body of militia and volunteers in any province; it should defray the cost out of colonial revenue, and not charge the maintenance of a colonial service against the particular province in which the office of the department may happen to be situated. Similar observations apply to the Customhouse departmental charges and those of other services. This is not the time or place to enter at large upon the consideration of this important question, and I content myself at present with observing that the former charges should have been tran ferred to the General Estimates contemporaneously with the introduction of the capitation allowance system. Not only will a more wholesome state of finance be established if the provincial charge system be abolished; but I believe that an appreciable relief will be afforded. Under the present system calculations are rendered uncertain, and control impracticable for one power imposes charges on the other without recourse. This is the place to refer to another source of relief to the finances of the province; which, I may observe, it has been fashionable to squeeze on both sides—a process which cannot fail to impair the elasticity of any body, if applied for a sufficient length of time. The cost of the Wellington gaol amounts to about £2140 per annum. It would be nearly a self-supporting institution were it not that whilst the entire province pays the cost, a particular portion of the province only reaps the benefit of the labor of the prisoners. I have had this labor carefully assessed, and its value to the City of Wellington amounts to £1283. Again, the maintenance of the Wellington Hospital costs the Provincial Government about £I9OO per annum. Formerly the General Government bore a proportion of this charge in consideration of the relief given by the institution to natives. The province has been squeezed on this side by the withdrawal of that aid. In all countries with which I am acquainted, hospitals are a strictly local charge. The City of Wellington has become possessed of its municipal rights; the time, therefore, has arrived for it to bear its equivalent burthens. Further, the care of the destitute and the burial of paupers is a strictly local charge, and I know of no exceptional reason why the cost of the relief of the poor of the city of Wellington should be borne by the inhabitants of the rest of the province in addition to that of their own poor, who at present are relieved by charitable individuals in the respective neighborhoods. Up to the present time the cost for charitable- aid has been a considerable charge on the whole province. As Superintendent of the province I have to hold the scales equally; and whether the overweight presses from the side of the General Government or town municipalities, it becomes my duty to point out whenever

and wherever the public burthens press unequally. I do not propose to pursue this question further now ; I believe, however, that I have indicated sufficient to show that in a great many directions the provincial revenue has an elastic capacity. I pass on to notice briefly the principal measures, which have been carefully prepared with the advice of the Executive Council, and already been placed in the printers’ hands, and will be shortly laid before you, by means of which it is proposed to give legislative effect to the policy of the present Government. They may be shortly styled : Sale of reclaimed land, education, educational reserves, district highways, toll bars, tramways, railway .reserves, land on deferred payments, and for .special settlements. The first bill proposes to confer authority to enable the estate in question to be- made productive. The two next deal with the all-important question of education. It is proposed to establish an educational board, and the bill is in many respects similar to an act which is said to have worked well in the province of Nelson. It is proposed to utilize to some extent the educational reserves by creating a fund for the purpose of rewarding those scholars who have distinguished themselves in the provincial schools, and' assisting them to obtain a high class of education. The District Highways Bill recognizes the liability of the whole landed European property of the province to contribute towards the maintenance of the district highways. Hitherto the district boards have been struggling and weak bodies, unable to contend successfully against recusant ratepayers. They have hitherto done good service in the work of colonization; for they have made and maintained by their own self-imposed rates, assisted by grants in aid, upwards of 200 miles of road within the province. And if they now surrender the acreage rate for a valuation rate on lands and landed property, they will receive in lieu thereof the great boon of a general contribution from all; for it is proposed that the anomalous exemption from land tax of owners of land abutting on the main trunk lines shall cease. I express a hope that the time is not far distant when a wiser policy may prevail, and native landed property be compelled to bear its burthen equally with European — share and share alike in proportion. The policy of maintaining the main trunk lines out of general provincial revenue which prevailed since the first year of provincial administration, ic is proposed to continue ; and it is proposed to further aid the revenue in that behalf by the imposition of tolls at convenient sites—particularly at certain bridges—and I may here express my opinion that large contracts for bridging rivers will be undertaken upon security of tolls. The time, I hope, is not far distant when the management and maintenance of these trunk lines will be handed over to the. respective road boards through which they pass. We may reasonably suppose that such a transfer will not be postponed for any great length of time after a trunk railway shall have been constructed through the province. I may observe that it is encouraging to find that the Kaiwarra toll-bar has just been let at a good advance on the rate of last year. It is, indeed, the feature in this kind of direct taxation that it is self-adjusting, i.e., the more the use of the road, the iarger the funds available for keeping it in repair. The Tramways Bill authorises the construction of lines of this description on the basis of certain concessions. I have reason to believe that advantage of this measure, if passed, will be taken. If so, it will be a great advantage to the general advancement of settlement; and also I believe it will be without burthen, if not with direct aid, to the provincial revenue. The Railway Reserves Bill is a very important measure, and in addition to the necessity of making reserves, the question demands your considreation, in order that you may not have to repurchase lands which you alienated the day before, at double or treble the price to-morrow.

With regard to the sale of land on deferred payments, and for special settlement, I believe that the time has arrived when you are botind to stimulate settlements if you wish to keep pace with the times. I believe further, that a Homestead Bill will at no distant date be recognised as an important feature in the land regulations, and an important colonising attraction of the colony of New Zealand at large. There are some special subjects to which I desire to refer, before procceeding to iriVite your attention to the Estimates for the year.

I first notice the conclusion of a contract for the erection of a patent slip, under a provincial guarantee. It is still necessary that some action should be taken by tbe Council in reference to the foreshore, in which I am sure you will readily concur, and I think the Province may be congratulated on the prospects of a speedy consummation of is wishes in reoard to {this important undertaking. I am happy to be able to inform you that the bridge over the Wanganui river is all but completed. Here we have another instance of the province achieving a great colonial work—for of such a character is this undertaking; and whilst I may justly congratulate you thereon, it, is at the same time not to be forgotton that the credit of this great undertaking is due like the one I have just referred to, to the former provincial administration. I wish I could inform you that every difference had been adjusted with regard to the much vexed M anawalu land purchase question. The late superintendent claimed on behalf of the province the sum of £15,000 for fifteen thousand acres of provincial estate taken by the General Government and given to certain natives as addititional reserves. My opinion coincides with that of my predecessor as to the validity of the provincial claim. You will probably however, concur with me in the opinion that the course* iw h it will be best, in the general

interests of the province for the Provincial Government to pursue in regard to this claim requires a very careful consideration. X candidly inform you that for the present I await upon circumstances. The Provincial Government has been now for a long time in lodgings, and the Provincial Council has had to make shift for rn assembly room only has much personal inconvenience h*en submitted „to in consequence of this want of proper ac( ommodation, but the efficiency of the public service has been impaired, without securing any corresponding amount of economy A moderate rate will therefore be proposed, in order to provide for the erection of suitable provincial buildings on the site of the Government reserve on the reclaimed land. A survey of the Hutt river, above and below the site of the broken bridge, has been made, and Mr Blackett, by permission of the General Government, has examined the banks of the river and suggested different sites. His report will be laid before you. I now refer to the estimates of revenue and expenditure for the year ending 31st March, 1872. I may say that they have been prepared with the greatest care, and w’'l be submitted to you in detail without delay ; I do not propose to do more than refer to their amount and general scope. 1 have already informed you of the amount of the total estimated income : the items are as follows, viz.:— Balance in bank ... ... £2,856 10 3 Licenses,publicans & auctioneers 3,800 0 0 Pilotage 1,500 0 0 Sheep assessment ... ... 1,350 0 0 Incidental receipts .. ... 1,700 0 0 Toll-bars ... ... ... 3,000 0 0 Queen’s warehouse wharf ... 2,400 0 0 Reclaimed land... ... ... 3,000 0 0 Land revenue ... ... ... 13,030 0 0 Mortgages ... ... ... 1,650 0 0 Total... ••• ~.£34,256 10 3 I pass on to a review of the estimated amounts under the several classes of expenditure for the same period, framed upon the basis of, and in accordance with the proposed policy of the Government. In doing so I will contrast the several amounts with those proposed for the financial year ending March, 1869 (the latest year which admits of a fair comparison). The figures stand thus, viz.j Year endinct Year ending Mch 31,1869 Mch31,1872 £ s. d. £ s. d. 1 Executive ... 2895 0 0 2012 0 0 2 Legislative ... 1485 0 0 695 0 0 3 Judicial & Police 7552 4 6 7382 15 6 4 Charitable ... 4087 0 0 3997 5 0 5 Education ... 2500 0 0 3577 0 0 6 Harbors ... 2617 0 0 2772 0 0 7 Special ... ... 2108 5 0 1669 10 0 8 Miscellaneous ... 1946 0 0 1872 5 0 9 Public Works and Undertakings— Land Departments 1560 0 0 1210 0 0 Survey ... ... 6180 5 0 10,000 0 0 Engineers ... 2423 15 0 700 0 0 Sundry Undertakings... ... 3614 10 0 5440 0 0 Roads, £17,755 ;

less Grants in Aid to Dist. Boards, £II,OOO ... 6755 0 0 9700 0 0 Bridges* 5000 0 0 12,560 0 0 Contingencies ... 3000 0 0 1000 0 0 10 Amounts pro-

yided for by Special ActeJ ...23,151 0 0 1900 0 0 * Wanganui Bridge. % Interest at present charged on Consolidated Revenue. You will perceive that a reduction (in some instances considerable) is proposed for nearly all the services of the present year, as compared with the year in contrast; with the exception of the following classes, viz., education, surveys, roads, and bridges. That is to say, whilst the departmental charges have been decreased, the estimated expenditure for the important public works and undertakings just enumerated has been largely increased. Whilst on the subject of the estimates, I may state (anc 1 . it is with satisfaction) that the General Government, upon my representation of the efforts in various directions of local rating which the Provincial Council were about to be invited to make, have removed the embargo placed on our land revenue from the Ist March last. I have thus been enabled to defray the departmental charges sanctioned by you up to 31st March, and a balance remains in the bank at the credit of the year’s revenue which will, I anticipate, be nearly sufficient to pay similar charges for the last two months, so Boon as your sanction shall have been given. I have not referred specially to the subjects of immigration, progress of railway surveys, and road-making carried on in different parts of the province under the General Government auspices, because you will gather from the immigration proposals and other reports which are appended to and will be printed with the address a better conception of what has been done and is doing in these respects, than could be furnished in any other form by me, considering that the administration is-not provincial. If an additional argument were required in favor of stimulating immigration in this part of the colony, it is furnished by the smallness of the increase of the population of the province as shown by the last census returns. I have endeavored faithfully and earnestly to place before you the state of the province, and the remedial measures which the Government proposes. It is a policy of self-help, direct taxation, and progress, in which the present Government entirely believes. lam sensible that a very large demand is about to be-made on the energies of the people of the province, through you as their representatives —you ore, in fact, asked plainly to help yourselves as the sole condition of your progress. William Fitzherbert, Superintendent,

Superintendent’s Office, Wellington, May 25, 1871. Sib, —In compliance with the provisions of the 39th clause of the Public Works and Immigration Act, 1871, I have the honor to request that arrangements may be made for the introduction into this province, during the next twelvemonths’ of the immigrants enr ne* rated in the memorandum enclosed herewith. I have the honor, &c., WILTTAM I/TZjTj^FbxtT, Superintendent. The Hon. the Minister of Public Works, Wellington.

Memobandum of the requirements of the province of with regard to Immigration dining the year 1871-2. 1. 500 laborers, with their wives ancl families.—To be all able-bodied men, agricultural laborers or navvies, with a few mechanics, men who can be drafted off and settled in new country in the neighborhood of public works, on which many of them would find employment. These people should be imported not later than Ist March, 1872. They should be called upon to pay £5 per statute adult for their passage, or to give a promissory note for £7, payable in twelve months after arrival in colony. 2. Unmarried females. —As many up to five hundred as can be induced to immigrate. Free passages should be given as an inducement, and all married couples applying for passages should have notice of the desire of the Government to bring out unmarried females under their protection. 3. Assisted Immigrants, sag 400. —Filends or relations df colonists, work people sent for by employers of labor, nominated by persons residing in Hew Zealand. The number of these would depend on the demand, and they will be introduced on a prepayment of £5 per statute adult at the time of application being made for their passage. 4. 100 Families Scandinavians. —To be all married couples, with as many single women as will come out under their protection. They should be all farm laborers and lumberers, as they would be introduced mainly with the view of locating them as pioneers in a bush country. To be introduced on the‘same terms as class one (1). Manufacturecs. —In order to encourage the introduction of skilled labor in connection with capital for the establishment of woollen, linen, paper, or other manufactures, offers should be made to introduce, free of charge for themselves or their families, skilled laborers under at least one year’s engagement to any bona fide intending manufacturers bringing out the necessary plant for the establishment of a factory within the province. It is contmplated by these proposals to introduce from two thousand to three thousand persons, within the period of the next twelve months.

Memobandum in reference to the public works in progress within the province of

Wellington. The General Government, by means of the sums voted during the last two sessions of the Assembly for the formation of roads in the North Island, have engaged in extensive operations within the province. On the West Coast numerous working parties have been engaged in forming the worst parts of the line, with the intention of gradually uniting them and forming a continuous line to-Tara- • naki. That part of the road between Waitotara and Wanganui which was laid off some years ago by Mr Hogg, and formed by the province, has been adopted as the main line and will be completed, with bridge over the Kai Iwi and Oketu, in the early part of next summer. Between the town, however, and the commencement of the work undertaken by the General Government, is an unformed portion of the road, which is at present almost impassable. It will be necessary that this work (about .8 miles of formation and expensive metal) should be undertaken, if possible, by the Provincial Government, otherwise the settlement of the valuable districts lying beyond will be greatly impeded, and the growth of grain or any other produce-seeking outlet at Wanganui will be prevented. One other great work is the formation of an entirely new road from Foxton at the mouth of the, Manawatu to the B-uataniwha plains, a distance of V 0 or 80 miles, and running through Palmerston and the Gorge into that block of country just now acquired from the natives by his Honor Mr Ormond. It is impossible to over-rate the importance to the future prospects of this province of this great work. The road opens up a magnificent country hitherto entirely unknown, or not favorably known in consequence of the want of means of communication. Palmerston, 25 miles from the Manawatu port, and 15 miles from the Gorge, is a fine open flat of about 1000 acres, surrounded by timber. A tramway will be laid to the township of Foxton as soon as the summer sets in, and high piles of sleepers of .'the finest totara now laid by the side of the roadway for some miles testify to the fact that abundonce of material for the projected work will be ready when the ground is sufficiently dry for its being used. I attach very great importance to this tramway. There cannot fail to be an immense export of timber from Foxton immediately after its completion, and I have very good reason for believing that Manawatu will be called upon to find the chief part of the totara timber required for the public works in the other island as well as in the North. Palmerston is the centre of the bush country, and as the whole of the soil is of the richest possiblo description, I am confident that the crop of timber if judiciously, husbanded will serve to find thousands ofjindustrious men the means of making themselves comfortable and prosperous homes. Even now Palmerston, despite bad roads, displays quite a lively appearance. Houses are going up in every direction; and what is a most favorable sign, all [those who have become acquainted

with the locality appear anxious to acquire a homestead. I estimate that within two years, or even less, Cobb’s coaches should meet at the Gorge from Wellington and Napier; and I may even add from Wanganui and the Wairarapa, if, as I believe is in contemplation, the road from Masterton to the Gorge and from Palmerston to the open corntiy of the Manawatu-Rangi-tikei block be commenced during the current year. In fact, as the reso't of the expenditure of the Wellington prooortion of the road making loan, we may fairly expect to see at least 150 miles of mam road or tramway traversing a count;/ on which, until the last few months, hardly a dozen settlers were located, and opening up for profitable occupation at least one milhon and a-half of the most magnificent country in the world. There is a small piece of bush road between Palmerston and the Manuwatu-Rangitikei which urgently needs to be opened. It is at present absolutely impassable, even to horsemen, and the consequence of this barrier is that hundreds of persons residing in or visiting Rangitikei remain, against their will, unacquainted with the Manawatu.

In order to occupy the country profitably, the province also must everywhere force roads, or, still better, cheap tramways into their country. That the land will be taken up as fast as it is made accessible there can be no manner of doubt, but the flat, moist, alluvial soil is absolutely prohibitory of locomotion without the roads, and as saw-mills are brought into that part of the country, the timber on the road lines may be made to bear a large proportion, if not the whole, cost of their formation.

I cannot speak too strongly on the subject of tramways as the pioneer roads of such a country as this. Whether cheapness of construction, ease of carriage, or rapidity of execution be taken into consideration, in all these respects the comparison is infinitely in favor of the Wooden way. The Ngawhakavau road, now formed more than fov years, and doomed still to remain a slough despond till the tramway enables it to be 'metalled, is an instance in point, and I have no hesitation in affirming that had the tramway preceded the formation of the other road, the settlers in that district would have numbered by thousands where now there are only hundreds. The location of the Scandinavian immigrants at Palmerston has been most successful. They are hardy and industrious and render themselves acceptable to all the real settlers of the district, who are urgent for the introduction of still more of the same class of people. And with the prospect of work which saw mills will afford, and of the operations of the General Government in the formation of roads and railways it would be necessary and highly expedient to bring out.numerous immigrants from Great B -itain or from Europe. The moral effect of the progress of these public works upon the native mind, and upon the Europeans in their estimate of danger from an outbreak, cannot be exaggerated ; all idea of the possibility of insurrection appears to have vanished, and the natives themselves are large contractors, working willingly and well. An important work of exploration is being performed by Mr Booth, R.M., in the Wan-ganui-Wangahu country. He is seeking to ascertain the best end most direct route from the settled country to J;he open country surrounding Ruapehu. He has been apparently successful in finding a good line, and more than one passable track, and if, as is in contemplation I believe, access should be given to that country, a very large and fine field for immigration would be opened. The country of the interior is generally spoken of as poor. This is a great mistake as far as that part of it lying to the Southward of the mountain is concerned. The open country is nearly all good, and large and frequent clearings occur both on the Turakina end Wangahu rivers. The survey of the main railway line through the Province is progressing favorably, and there is every reason to suppose that the plans, with all necessary information, will be I’eady for the Assembly on its next meeting.

Paymastei’’s Office, Wellington,'June 3, 1871. SlB, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of certain papers relating to Railway surveys in this part of the Colony, and in compliance with your request beg to furnish the following brief abstract. I have the honor, &c., Jos. G. Holdswobth, Paymaster and Inspector.

The papers above referred to include the Manawatu to Napier line by way of the Manawatu Gorge. The estimated length of the gorge is six miles, and from 36 yards to 60 yards in width ; the sides, in most parts, perpendicular, and in some places overhanging, rising to the height of from 2CO to 6CO feet above water level.

The proposed site for the railway bridge over the Manawatu river being about 200 feet wide.

The engineer in charge of this work on the Wellington side is Mr Stewart, and on the Napier side Mr Weber. Explorations were undei’taken by these officers extending over a considei’able period ; the voluminous correspondence gives evidence of the great care exei’cised by them to secure the best line, which was not determined until they had compared notes and consulted with each other ; a mode of proceeduro most likely to Becuve the best results, and the adoption of which, whenever practicable, should be adhered to.

The estimated cost of forming these si x miles of road through the gorge is £IO,OOO ; the gradients will be good, mostly level, and in all respects suitable for a railway line. The Manawatu line will meet the line from Napier to Wairarapa and Wellington at the eastern entrance to the gorge.

The works north of Wanganui are in charge of Mr. Carrington, but beyond this fact the papers contain no information. The survey of the Wellington to Masterton line has been undertaken by Mr Rochfort on his own terms; this line is considerably longer than the present coach road, but the gradients secured are much easier. Previous to this survey being undertakenan exploration was made through Captain Smith’s line, which crosses the Rimutaka at a lower level than the present road, but for a railway line was found to be unsuitable. Two other lines have been examined, viz., Sinclar’s line by way of the Wainuiomata, and Allen’s line which crosses the Hutt river near its mouth and follows up White’s line to the JEfutt gorge, but neither of these have the required recommendations. Mr Rochfort has also reported on the tunnelling of the Rimutaka (of which line he does not report favorably), and the forty or seventy mile bush track ; and for the survey of a railway line through the latter a tender has been made, the acceptance of which is still in abeyance. Among the papers is a telegram from the General Government Agent, Mr. Ormond, relating to the purchase of the seventy mile hush block, within the boundaries of which block a considerable portion is in the Wellington Province. The puichase of this extensive tract of country will prove of great importance in the settlement and profitable occupation of this part of the North Island, opening up as it will valuable agricultural land, and so soon as it becomes connected with Wellington by rail, secure to the settler an outlet for stock, grain, &c. The Council having been declared opened, the speech, on the motion of The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY, was ordered to be printed. PETITION. Mr BORLASE presented a petition from F. H. Irwine, for compensation for land Wrongly described, and for a return of the deposit paid on it. Received and ordered to be printed. NOTICE OF MOTION. Sever; '' notices of motion were tabled. HUTT BBIDGE. Report and plans in connection with the erection of the proposed Hutt Bridge, prepared by Mr Blackett, were laid upon the table. MESSAGE NO. 1. A message was received from bis Honor, respecting a recommendation being made to bis Excellency to grant to the Patent Slip Company (limited) sundry necessary grants of and titles to water frontage. Ordered to be printed. The Council then adjourned till to-morrow (Wednesday), at 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7. The Speaker took the chair at 7 o’clock. Present: —The Provincial Secretary (Mr Bunny), the Provincial Treasurer (Mr Halcombe), the Provincial Solicitor (Mr Borlase), Messrs Huntex-, Pearce, Masters, Ludlam, Brandon, Dransfield, G. Ci’awford, W. Milne, H. Anderson. NOTICE OF MOTION. The PROVINGLAL SECRETARY gave notice of motion to move that the address in reply to his Honor’s speech be printed in the Order Paper with his Honor’s speech; also, that the motions on the Order Paper for next Thursday be postponed till next Wednesday, in order to accommodate the country members who were not yet in attendance. QUESTION. Mr PEARCE asked the Provincial Secretary —Whether the Government intends to take measures to obtain a right of road from Masterton across the Te Ori Ori plains to connect the main trunk line with the road to Taueru and Alfi’edtown ? The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY promised that the Government would take measures as soon as possible. PATENT SLIP G-BANT. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY moved that Message No. 1, as follows, be agreed to: — Superintendent’s Office, Wellington, 6th June, 1871. “ The Superintendent requests the Couueil to join with him in recommending to His Excellency the Governor of this colony, to grant to the Patent Slip Company, Limited, all necessary grants of, and titles to, the water frontage to twenty acres of that piece or parcel of land mentioned and described in the schedule to the Wellington Patent Slip Act, 1871, of the province of Wellington, which the Superintendent has contracted to convey to the said Company ; and wherever the Ways of the said Slip are or intended to be laid down, to one thousand feet more or less out to and below high water mark; and by such a breadth as may be required by the said company for the slip, and all necessary licenses to go upon the said water frontage; and one thousand feet, of ground, or the right and liberty .to lay down, below high water mark, the ways of the said slip, in terms of an agreement made and entered into the eleventh day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, and made between Isaac Earl Featherston, Agent-General for the Government of New Zealand, on behalf of the Superintendent of the province of Wellington and the said province of? the first part, the Superintendent of the province of Wellington of the second part, and the Wellington Patent Slip Company, limited, of the third part. William Fitzhebbebt, Superintendent. Mr LUDLAM wished to know whether the grant was to be handed over before the patent slip was an accomplished fact. The question had come before the Council on previous occasions, and it had always been recognised as a proper precaution that the Government should provide against any such contingency as the company failing to carry out the work to completion.

Mr W. MILKE had no doubt at all about the erection of the slip. Mr PEARCE explained that the Company would not, according to terms of contract, be granted A fee simple until the completion of the slip. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY said that one of the conditions of the contract was that this action should be taken in this session of the Council. The only object in bringing the matter forward at so early a stage of the session was that it might be brought before the General Government. The resolution was agreed to. HTJTT BRIDGE. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY moved ]am, Mr Renall, Mr Dransfield, Mr W. Milne, Mr Pharazyn, and the Provincial Treasurer, be appointed to consider plans and papers laid on the table relative to the Hutt Bridge, with power to call for persons and papers; three to be a quorum; report to be brought up on the 14th instant." Mr LUDLAM seconded. The earliest possible moment at which the Council considered this matter would place them in a better position, no matter what site they decided upon. No time could be more suitable than the present, as a few weeks in winter in a matter of this kind would enable more to be done than as many months during the summer would. Motion agreed to. PETITIONS COMMITTEE. The PROVINCIAL-SECRETARY moved, “ That a Committee be appointed, to whom shall be referred all Petitions which may be presented to the Council during the present session j the committee to consist of—Messrs Pearce, Pharazyn, W. Milne, Andrew, Hutchison, Borlase, and the Mover; three to be a quorum.” Mr W. MILNE made objection to his name being selected, as he was already on three committees. He thought the labor should be more equally divided. Mr LUDLAM thought the objections of the hon. member should receive the attention of the Council. Mr Milne’s name was accordingly struck out, and the name of Mv G. Crawford substituted in lieu thereof. THE QUEEN’S WHARF. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY moved “ That a committee be appointed for the purpose of considering the terms and conditions upon which the wharf should be let at the expiration of Mr Tonks’ tenancy ; also, to revise the scale of charges; to report upon further accommodation that may be required for the protection of goods and merchandise ; to report as to the works necessary to be done to enable the steamers belonging to the San Erancisco line to come alongside the wharf; and also to report upon an application by certain parties to be allowed to construct a floating dock, to be moored permanently alongside the wharf. Such committee to consist of —Messrs Dransfield, Hunter, Milne, Watt, Ludlam, Renall and with power to call for persons and papers; three to be a quorum ; to report in a fortnight. Mr LUDLAM thought it would be much more conducive to the proper ventilation of’ the question if the name of some city member were substituted. He did nob pretend to be so conversant with the question as a merchant of the town. The hon. member drew attention to the great losses which the woolgrowers of the province were put to sometimes by their wool becoming damaged by getting web before shipment while lying on the wharf. He thought the same causes might be adduced to accpunt for the enormous quantity of flax sold in the London market as “ sea damaged.” It was well known that a great quantity of wool, packed originally in good condition, reached home considerably damaged by undergoing steaming in the hold from being put on board in a wet state. With regard to the accommodation for the San Francisco steamers, he doubted whether they would come alongside even if accommodation was provided for them. He was the more doubtful of this after their experience with the Panama steamers.

The PROVINCIAL TREASURER : They will come alongside. Mr DRANSFIELD approved of the motion, though for his part he did not think it went far enough. He had been informed that our wharf charges were higher than in almost any other port, and therefore anything they did to lessen those expenses would be most advisable. Mr PEARCE thought the hon. member (Mr Ludlam) had shown by his intimate acquaintance with the subject that no better person could be on the committee. He wished, however, to correct the hon. member in one little inaccuracy. It was not the woolgrower who suffered loss after the shipment of the wool; it was really the underwriter. Mr LUDLAM: The hon. momber is quite correct. I had forgotten that at the moment. Mr HUNTER spoke in favor of the motion, and pointed out various advantages which would accrue both to the place and to the steamers by affording them such accommcdation.

Mr W. MILNE contended that although the underwriters apparently were the losers by wool damaged in transmission, practically it was the stock-owners who were, after all, the real sufferer’s. They should, therefore, do what they could to lessen the present risk. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY said that with regard to the San Francisco steamers, the Government had had a report from the Harbor Master, which would bo laid before the committee. He thought that both the town and country were very faix’ly represented in the committee. If the hon. member had any suggestion to make with the view of adding any words to the resolution whereby the question of the scale of charges might be more fully gone into he would be most happy to see bim do so. The motion was agreed to.

Message No 2. A message was read from His Honor the Superintendent asking that the Council appropriate the sum of £3957 Is 9d, as an ad interim appropriation. Read a first time, and the second reading made an Order of the Day for next sitting day. BKCIAIMID LAND. The bill to enable the Superintendent to deal with the Reclaimed Land was read a first time, end the second reading fixed for next Wednesday. DISTRICT HIGHWAYS. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY asked leave to introduce a bill to amend and consolidate the law relating to district highways. Mr LUDLAM thought the Government, before going into this matter —a measure directly opposed to, and changing the whole system of previous legislation—should defer it some time longer, iu order that it should receive the most maturo consideration, and should at the same time supply all the information in their power. The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY had no objection to refer the bill to a Select Committee after its second reading, and after the Council had affirmed the principle of the bill. They would, however, supply ell the information in their power. The bill was read a first time, and the second reading made an Order of the Day for next Thursday week. EDUCATION. The PROVINCIAL TREASURER obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend and consolidate the education acts of the province. Read a first time, ordered to be printed, and made an Order of the Day for Friday week. NOTICES OP MOTION. Several Notices of motion were given, amongst which was one by the Provincial Secretary that the committees should be enabled to sib during the adjournment, which was agreed to. The Council then adjourned till Tuesday next, at 3 o’clock.