PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 226, 9 March 1866, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

'-■ — ~* : ; ' "7f On yesterday at two o'clock, the fifth session o the second Provincial Council was commenced. The sitting was held in the Masonic HalL With few exceptions att the members were present. His Honor the Superintendent opened it in person, and notwithstanding his recent serious illness, looked remarkably weU. The -attendance of the public was very smaU, and but little interest appeared to be manifested in the proceedings: At about ten minutes past two, His Honor the Superintendent entered the Council Chamber, and after the necessary formalities had been gone through, the foUowing address was delivered :- — Me. Speaker and GentiiEMEn of the Pbovincial Council : — The last session of the Council was called for the purpose of passin an act bringing the liabilities of the province within the provisions of the Southland Debt Act, 1865. It has now become necessary to catt you together for transaction of the ordinary business of the Province. Owing to some oversight in the AttorneyGeneral's Office, several Ordinances which had been passed at a previous session of the Council lapsed before the Governor's assent was obtained. These it will be necessary to repass. I have abstained from occupying your time with the discussion of any projects of legislation that are not imparatively necessary ; but the fencing and cattle trespass Ordinances which will be sub-' mitted to you, are rendered so by the new Land Act, and are in accordance with the spirit of the resolutions on which that act was based. The Roads improvement Ordinance is also one which our present financial state renders desirable. Since the last session I have entered into a contract with Messrs. Smyth, Hoyt & Co., for the completion of the Bluff Harbor and InvercargiU Kailway, for 25,000 acres of land, the papers connected with which will be laid on the Council table. Tbe works are progressing satisfactorily and I trust that ere long this important undertaking wttl be completed. Is is anticipated that this line of railway wttl be opened for pubhc traffic in the month of June next. In that 1 case it will be necessary that I should be invested with powers for leasing the line; should you agree with the Government that that course would be the most desirable to adopt, a bitt for that purpose wttl, therefore, be laid before you. The estimates have been prepared with strict regard to economy combined with efficiency. The ordinary revenue is estimated to exceed the expenditure considerably. Such excess it is proposed to expend on the necessary repair of roads, &c. During the recess the Superintendent of Otago has forwarded to me copy of certain resolutions passed by the Council of that Province, proposing the re-annexation of Southland to Otago. These will be laid on the table of the House, and I - shaU be glad to be favored with your opinion on the subject. I have now to declare, this Council open for the transaction of business, His Honor the Superintendent having retired a committee was appointed, consisting of the following members, viz : — Messrs \ Cuthbertson, Woodf Menzies and Pearson, to draw up a reply to the address. Mr. PEAESON asked leave of the Council to suspend standing order No. 27, in order that th%i first reading of several ordinances might ba proceeded with without delay. The hon. gentleman explained that the ordinances named had been passed by the Provincial Council last session, but that owing to some mistake in the AttorneyGeneral's office, these ordinances were not submitted to the Assembly in time, and consequently they did not receive the sanction of His Excellency the Governor. Every member of the Council he believed were aware of the contents of them, and it was a mere formality which he now would wish to be gone through. A discussion ensued on the propriety of permitting the standing orders to be suspended at this early part of the session; but on a satisfactory explanation being made by the hon. gentfeman (Mr Pearson) leave was granted, and the following Bills were then read a first time and their second reading made an Order of the Day for the ne*t sitting (this evening) viz : — the Executive Council Ordinance ; the Dog Ordinance, and the Tolls Ordinance. Several Notices of Motion were then made and the House adjourned.