PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 293, 27 November 1862, Page 4

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20,

The twenty-sixth sessioti of the Provincial Council of Otago was opened at noou today, in the school attached to Dr. Burns'B Church, by his Honor the Superintendent, Major J. L. C. Richardson.

The members present were—A. RENNTE, Esq, speaker, in the chair; Messrs T. Dick (secretary and treasurer), John M'Glashan (solicitor), W. H. Reynolds, James Paterson, and James Kilgour, members of the Executive Council; Messrs W. 11. Cutten, T. Taylor, W. Martin, P. Walker, G. Hepburn, E. B. Cargill, J. Howorth, A. Todd, J. L. Gillies J. Hardy, D. P. Steel, and A. P. Oswin.

The CLERK (Mr Charles Smith) read the proclamations convening the Council and fixing the place of meeting.

The SPEAKER engaged in prayer.

His Honor the SUPERINTENDENT was then conducted to the platform, and he read the following

ADDRESS.

Mn. Speaker and Gentlemen—

The evidence of prosperity which exists on every side, and among every class, is a subject of cordial congratulation. The existence of a very extensive and highly remunerative Gold Field is now a thoroughly established fact; and each month affords additional reasons to induce a recognition of this fact in the appropriations of the public Revenue. It will be our duty, as well as our highest wisdom to use every effort to locate permanently amongst us, in the interior of the country, the mining classes which have thronged to our shores ; and, it is with pleasure I have observed a growing disposition amonj them to make this their home. Render the interior of the country accessible by the formation of a good road, directly connecting it with the capital, ; open out communications with the coast line both by river and land, and at the same time increase the facilities for settlement, and you secure a population which will not, as now, carry to other colonies for investment the rich produce of their labors gathered in our own fields.

The Annual Returns from the different departments which I will cause to be laid ou your table, at an early date, will give you every information as to the nature and extent of the various works which have been undertaken during tho past year.

Many Bills of an important character, and urgently demanded by the necessities of the times, will be introduced at the earliest period.

The Estimates, which will shortly be presented, will inform you of the probable amount of the Revenue for the currant six months, and of the proposed appropriation. You will perceive from the return of Assets and Liabilities, which accompanies the halfyearly financial statement, that the Province is in a position to command the highest credit in the money market, and that the Provincial debentures will meet with a ready sale at > fair premium. It is of vital importance to the Province that this character should be maintained, and that we*should avoid such guarantees as would have the effect of impairing that credit, and injuriously affecting our loan operations.

It has become absolutely necessary tointro duce a measure by which those who use the public roads shall also provide ior the main* tenance of them, otherwise, the extension and completion of roads to the outlying distri 8.9, whence the land revenue is at present principally derived, may be indefinitely postponed, to the serious injury of the inhabitants of those districts who bought laud on the faith of a considerable portion of the revenue bein» appropriated for opening out the country 3 Certain proposals will also be submitted to you ior regulating supplementary grants to District Road Boards; these proposals being based on the land revenue derived from each district, will, I hope, meet with your favorable consideration.

J?he continued increase of the cost of some Ot the Departmental Establishment^ disproportionate to the increase of the public revenue and expenditure, is a subject of the gravest importance. The whole machinery of Government should be reviewed, and the number of officers, and their salaries, adjusted on some well defined basis, excluding the operation of those-disturbing influences, which, by creating exceptions, give rise to a general dissatisfactioa. The reduction of an establishment win-.

variably destructive of efficiency, and therefore its undue extension should be guarded against.

A continuous stream of female immigration, under a system of assisted passages, gives every promise of reducing, to a considerable extent,' that disproportion between the numbers of the sexes which was assuming an undesirable character.

I will communicate to you by message during the Session the arrangements which have been entered into for the construction of an Electric Telegraph from the Waitaki to the Mataura, ia connection with a general telegraphic system for the Middle Island ; as als:> those arrangements which have been made for the establishment of Light-houses, both at the entrance of the Harbour, and in Foveaux's Straits.

-A West Coast Expedition, under the Chief Surveyor, Mr. Thomson, accompanied by the Provincial Geologist, Dr. Hector, merely awaits your sanction. Whether regarded.as necessary to complete the survey of the Province, the development of the Provincial resources, or as a tribute to science, it equally commends itself to your favorable consideration. • I have received a letter, which I will transmit to you in due course, from His Honor the Superintendent of Taranaki, asking whether certain facilities would be granted to those among the people of that Province who might desire to settle in Otago. Knowing your warmest sympathies are with thi3 gallant longenduring people, the victims of a cruel political complication, ready but prevented from righting themselves, I fully anticipate your reply.

While recording my admiration of *he character of the great mass of those, who, from the neighbouring colonus, have reached our shores, I cannot refrain from expressing my conviction that there is a considerable infusion of the crlnihi'd element ; men, whose presence here is extremely undesirable, and whose penal servitude for life being shortened, but who are prevented from revisiting Britain, are visiting this Province. It is owing to their presence that our revenues are grievously crippled, the various branches of Police and Gaols demanding, respectively, no less than £42,000 and £9,000 psr annum, exclusive of the largo outlay for buildings. It is only reasonable that a penal establishment, external to the Province, should" be created and maintained by the General Government out of the revenues of the colony. I have brought the whole subject in ;m emphatic manner before His Excellency's advisers. In the meantime, I'will submit for re-enactment, with certain alterations, the Criminals' Ordinance, 1862, of the session before last.

I shall fcei peculiarly gratified should you concur with me in considering that the time had arrived when a Provincial recognition should be accorded to the devotion and untiring exertions of the former leader of this colony, the late Captain Cargill.

The disposal of the Crown Lands of the Province, so as to encourage the settlement of population, the investment of capital in the immediate tillage of the soil, aud the creation of towns, as also to produce a revenue for public purposes, so vitally essential to the progress of the Province, lias hecn a cause of much anxious enquiry.

it is abundantly evident that our Land Regulations do not invite a hona fide settlement of population, neither is the marketable value of. the land realized by the State, while the best portions of the country, those particularly adapted for agricultural settlement, are being alienated without being populated. I again most earnestly press the consideration of this most important subject during the present Session. I. will take an early opportunity of communicating to you certain proposals, which appear adopted to meet some of the evils complained of, and which will also enable you to anticipate by loan those resources which will be available when, by the expiry of the existing Pastoral Licenses and the consequent resumption of the land, the Government will be in a position to realize by way of lease a sum scarcely less than that derived from the sale of land at the present time. A measure so necessary to the full development of the country, now partially paralysed, and the preservation from forced sides ot the land, now sacrificed, will doubtless commend itself to the judgment of His Excellency's advisers, and receive their cordial support. So soon as the duties of the Session are over, I shall be hippy to concur with you in a request to His Excellency the Governor that he may be pleased to din Mice the Council.

I will not detain you any longer from the important subjects which will shortly absorb your attention, but content myself with the expression of an earnest hope that your counsels may be so directed from on High that the principles of constitutional government, the •blessings of civil and religious liberty, the demands of an even-handed justice, and the preservation of peace and order, may thereby be fostered, advanced, and attained. I now declare this Council open for the despatch of business. J. L. C. RICHARDSON, Superintendent. His Honor having retired, The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY said it was usual to have the Address read by the Speaker; but he considered that this was unnecessary, and he would therefore move, " That the reading of the Address be dispensed with, ar.d that it be printed." Mr REYNOLDS seconded the motion, which v.as agreed to. THE ADDRESS OF CONDOLENCE WITH THE QUEEN. '•;•< SPEAKER read a letter from the Colo)\U\ '/• c:etary's office, Auckland, dated 21st ()(:•..•;<::•, inclosing copy of a despatch to his K.\v". !•..• .'.;. the Governor, from the Duke of ]\\ we:!.-■!k1, '' in reply to an address of condo-Icv.-j.l wiiii her Majesty on the death of his Roui' nUiluv.'ss the Prince Consort," from the LV.ivir.cii-1 Council. In the despatch (ditc-.i Sf'th Au»ust), his Grace the Secretary for t!.c Colonies said:- "I request that you will inform the Speaker and other members of the Council that their Address has been laid before the Queen, and that her Majesty has derived much satisfaction in her affliction from the expressions of sympathy contained in this and ether addresses of a like nature, which have been received from all parts of the empire." ' The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY laid on the-table reports from some of the heads of departments. BILLS INTRODUCED. The PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR introduced the following Bills, which were read a first time and ordered to be printed:— The Sunday Observance Ordinance. Miners' Provincial Representation Ordinance. Sl/eep Importation Ordinance. Cattle Branding Ordinance. Impounding of Cattle Ordinance. Destitute Persons' Relief Ordinance. Hospitals Ordinance, Cemeteries Ordinance, Licensed Auctioneers' Ordinance. Licensed Carriages Ordinance. Licensed Hawkers' Ordinance, Licp?.3°/l Pawnbrokers' Ordinance. P;'as J ißsgulation Ordinance. Qgsg&gn lodging Hougea Ordinance*

Dunedin Building Ordinance. Electric Telegraphs Ordinance. Otago Harbor Improvement Ordinance, Port oi Otago Marine Board Ordinance. Improvement Ordinance Amendment Act. Town and Country Police Ordinance. Municipal Estate Ordinance. Unimproved L'mds Ordinance. Thistle Prevention Ordinance. A Bill to prevent the Influx of Criminals to Otago. NOTICES OF MOTION. The PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR to move on ihursday (to-day), the second reading of the following Bills:—Police Regulation Bill 5 Dunedin Building Ordinance, and to refer the rune to a select committee, if the second reading be agreed to; Improvement Ordinance Amendment Act;. Sheep Importation Ordinance ; Town and Country Police Ordinance ; and Municipal Estate Act.

ThePROVINCIALSECRETARYto move on Thursday (to-day), the second reading of the Bill to Prevent bet Influx of Criminals.

The PROVINCIAL SOLICITOR to move on Monday, the second reading of the Otago Harbor Improvement Bill, and the Thistle Prevention Ordinance.

Mr WALKER gave notice that he would on Thursday move the consideration of the Superintendent's Address, and a reply thereto.

The PROVINCIAL SECRETARY moved "That the Council do now adjourn until four o'clock to-morrow." He said that it had been hoped that by the postponement of-the meeting of the Council, time would have been allowed for the completion of the business of the Supreme Court, so that the Council might meet in its accustomed place; but the session of the Court had proved very long, and for some days at least the Council must meet where they were then assembled. As the room was occupied during the forenoon and afternoon, they could not meet there before four o'clock ; but the Government proposed, within a day or two to appoint several committees, which would fully employ gentlemen who had leisure during the day—and employ them, as he trusted, beneficially for the interests of the Province.

The Council then adjourned until four o'clock to-day (Thursday).