OPENING OF THE AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 117, 31 December 1873, Page 3

OPENING OF THE AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(From the Weekly Newt). Pursuant to proclamation the new Provincial Council was opened on Tuesday, the 16th December, at 2 o’clock. Mr. O’Robke was re-elected Speaker. His Honor the Superintendent then entered the Council, and read the following opening speech:— “ Mb. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council, — “Although so short a time has elapsed since the termination of the general elections, I have considered it my duty to call you together, in order that the provisions of the Constitution Act, requiring a session of the Council to be held once in each year, may be complied with. “ Since my election to the office, although not unacquainted with the duties which devolve upon the Superintendent of the province, I have not had the necessary time and opportunity to ascertain the position of the affairs of tlie province, and to consider and prepare the various measures which it is my intention to submit to you. “ I am anxious to co-operate to the fullest extent with the Colonial Government in giving effect to their policy of Immigration and Public Works within this province. To ensure the introduction of a proper class of immigrants, the acquisition of lands fit for settlement, and the opening up of communication by land and Sea between the various centres of population throughout the province, it wifi be necessary for myself and the Provincial Council to consider and adopt large and well-digested measures bearing upon the whole of these important subjects. “ I propose to ask you, in the first instance, to make temporary provision for the ordinary provincial services for a period three months, and then to adjourn to some convenient day in the month of March next. I will thus be enabled to meet the expenditure necessary for the various departments the adjournment, while myself and my Executive Council will have ample time during the recess to prepare the several measures which we intend to lay before you. Upon your reassembling I will ask you to concur with me in altering the financial term of the province. By doing so you will be in a position to make the usual appropriations for public works in time to take advantage of the summer seasons, and to hold your future sittings a short time before, instead of after, the sessions of the General Assembly. . . “ Upon resuming business you will be invited to consider the questions of education and immigration, and to adopt some comprehensive plan of opening up and settling the waste lands of the province. I intend further to request you to join with me in bringing about certain important reforms and modifications of the present Highway Board system. The financial position of the province will also demand tne most serious consideration at the hands of myself and my Executive during the recess, with a view to devising means whereby, subject to your approval, the Government of the province may be in a position to enter upon the task of opening up and settling our unoccupied lands with some chance of success. “ In order to ascertain the extent of the present Provincial landed estate I have instructed the Waste Lands Commissioner to prepare a list of lands now in the possession of the province, and I have also, directed that officer to ascertain the position and extent of all lands which were applied for bv private persons in exercise of land orders under “The Waste Lands Act, 1858, but for which lands no Crown grants have ever been taken out. A large quantity of land has been tied up in this way for years, and it will be desirable to take action for the purpose of rendering such land available for safe or occupation. In addition, I have taken steps to ascertain what lands have been acquired for the province, under the Immigration and Public Works Loans, and also out of the sum of £250,000, which, by an Act of die last session of the Assembly, was set apart for the purchase of Waste Lands in tne province of Auckland. I feel strongly that the Superintendent should be placed in a position to secure the acquisition of lands really fitted for cultivation and settlement, and therefore that some discretion should be allowed to him in directing the efforts now being made for the purchase of Native Lands. I will ask you to join with me in bringing this matter under the notice of the General Government. Some such action wiß be necessary if the province is to maintain its position in the colony, as one of the leading provinces. This can only ** „ dram by the province taking up and dealing resolutely with the great question Of immigration—and to make immigration a success, !tis absolutely essential that we should speedily obtain as much land as possible really adapted for agricultural and pastoral purposes. ;

“I have been in communication with the General Government in reference to the Waikato and Kaipara Railway lines. Their attention has been called to tne great delay which has taken place in carrying. ° n t these > works, and they nave had urged upon them the importance and necessity of pushing on both railways to completion as speedily as possible. lam well, pleased to be able to inform you that arrangements are in progress for throwing open the Onchunga line for passenger traffic on Monday next. “Various Acts relating to the affairs of the province, passed during the last Session of the Assembly, will be brought under your notice. The usual returns and copies of papers and correspondence relating to the more important matters which have been dealt with since the last sitting of the Provincial Council will also be laid before you. “ The following Bills will be submitted for your consideration at this present sitting : — The Mangapiko Road Bill, and the Wharehine Road Bill —two measures for effecting certain unimportant alterations in roads within the districts named; a Bill to cure a technical defect in the Hauraki District Fire Rate Act, 1872 ; a Bill to enable the Trustees of the Temperance Hall Site to take advantage of an Act of the General Assembly entitled the Auckland Temperance Hall Site Sale Act, 1872; and a Bill to make temporary provision for the various services of the province during the adjournment. “The important interests of the Thames goldfields will receive the fullest consideration at my hands during the recess, with a view to laying before you such proposals. as will tend to revive and increase the mining industries of the Hauraki peninsula. The greater portion of the land extending north from the Hikutaia to Cape Colville has now been acquired from the natives as public estate. It will be your duty to provide me with sufficient means to open tracks and roads through this new country. .The opening of the Ohinemuri blocks is still further deferred. I have every confidence, that the miners will show the same patience and obedience to the law which has hitherto characterised them. The Provincial Government will leave nothing undone which will be likely to lead to these lands being opened up to mining enterprise. “ I have applied to the Colonial Government to place at my disposal, upon the same conditions as were laid down in regard to the previous grant, a further sum of £lO,OOO out of the amount originally set apart under loan for roads and works in the. North, and I believe that my application will be acceded

to. “It is matter for congratulation that so much interest has been evinced in the general elections, showing, as it does, that the. settlers are alive to the dangers which await those communities which are disposed to be apathetic in public affairs. “In taking upon myself once more the duties of the position in which I have had the honour to be placed, I recognise the necessity of harmonious action between the Provincial Council and the Superintendent, and on my part nothing shall be wanting which will help to attain that object. “ I have the fullest confidence that in discharging the duties entrusted to me I shall receive from you such co-operation and assistance as will enable ilie, under the blessing of Divine Providence, to promote the important interests committed to our care.” HIGHWAYS ACT. Mr. Cableton asked the Provincial Secretary, whether it be the intention of the Government to amend Section 42 (?) of the “Highways Act, 1871, Amendment Act, 1871?” Mr. Sheehan said he would take a note of the alteration suggested by the hon. member. SALE FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RATES ACT. Mr. Johnson asked the Provincial Secretary, without notice, whether it was the intention of the Government to bring the above Act into force? The matter was of great importance to his constituents. Mr. Sheehan said that the Act was of too cumbrous and unworkable nature to be put in force with any beneficial result. There were also financial difficulties in the way. The Government proposed to bring the Act,, into operation two years ago, and placed £3OO on the Estimates for the purpose, but it was found to be ridiculously insufficient. It would be impossible for the province to bring the Act into force under present circumstances. It would be necessary, in order to give effect to it, for the General Government to furnish the money, and recoup itself by the sale of land. STEAMER BETWEEN POVERTY BAY AND AUCKLAND.

Mr. Johnson asked the Provincial Secretary what steps have been taken for establishing steam communication between Poverty Bay and Auckland ? Mr. Sheehan said that an offer had recently been made to run a fortnightly service between Poverty Bay and Napief, at the rate of £l,OOO per annum. The General Government had submitted that offer to the Superintendent, who had approved of it, and he believed that in a short time a service of two trips a month would be established between Auckland, Poverty Bay, and Napier, by first-class steamers, well adapted for the trade.