PROROGATION OF THE WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4435, 7 June 1875, Page 2

PROROGATION OF THE WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

His Honor the Superintendent entered the Chamber, and delivered the following address : Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen op the Provincial Council, — I have already given assent to An Act to Appropriate the Revenue of the province of Wellington for a term commencing from the first day of April, 1875, and ending the thirty-first day of May, 1875. I now, on behalf of his Excellency the Governor, assent to the following Bills, viz. ; An Act to authorise the Superintendent of the province of Wellington to sell part of the Wellington Harbor Reserves to the Corporation of the city of Wellington. An Act to amend an Act of the Provincial Council of the province of Wellington intituled “ The Wanganui Reserves Management Act, 1874.” An Act to bring “ The Municipal Corporations Waterworks Act, 1872,” into Operation in and for the borough of Wellington in the province of Wellington. An Act to enable the Superintendent of the province of Wellington to sell Town Acre No. 671 in the city of Wellington to be used as a site for a church. An Act to authorise the Superintendent of the province of Wellington to Sell a certain block of Laud in the city of Wellington. An Act to regulate the System of Impounding in districts proclaimed under “ The Local Boards Act, 1873.” An Act to provide for the Qualification of Members of the Wellington Education Board. An Act to Appropriate the Revenue of the province of Wellington for the Period commencing the first day of April, 1875, and ending the 31st day of March, 1876. I have reserved for the consideration of his Excellency the Governor a bill intituled an Act to provide for the management of the Sandon Public Park Reserve. You have reduced the estimates to the extent of £SOO, by rejecting the proposed item of £SOO for the importation of coal. On the other hand, you have added items amounting in the aggregate to £1527. The result is that the total authorised expenditure for the year 1875-76, will be £269,659 Os. 2d., instead of £268,632 Os. 2d. as proposed. By not imposing further increases than you have done on the proposed annual expenditure, you have, I believe, acted prudently, for it will require great exertion to obtain the amount of income necessary for the performance of the public services authorised to be provided for in the Appropriation Act as passed. Indeed the spectacle presented to our view over New Zealand, at the present time, is that of the constituted local authorities struggling to obtain sufficient money for various important public objects, whilst extensive revenues are being easily collected and readily absorbed by the General Government. It is highly satisfactory to find that you have been able to dispose so readily of the business of the session. I have frequently expressed opinion that the average duration of the annual session of a Provincial Council need not be protracted. It is, I believe, important to aim at simplicity in form and promptness of action in the administration of your provincial institutions. I now declare this Council to be prorogued.