PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Issue 1336, 18 November 1870, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The Provincial Council met on Tuesday for the first time after the.

re-union of Otago and Southland. The Speaker and the following members were present— Messrs Allan, Barr, Basstian (Southland), Brown, Calder (Southland), Clark, Duncan, Eish, Gillies, Green, Haggitt, Henderson, Hughes, Johnston (Southland), Kinross (Southland), Main, M'Dermid, M'Gillivray (Sonthland), M'lndoe, Millar, Mills, Mollison, Mosley, Mowat, Murray, Reid, Seaton, Shand, G-. Sibbald, Taylor, Thomson, Turnbull, and Wood (Southland). The public galleries were pretty well filled. The Clerk having read His Honor's proclamation convening the Council, Mr Reid laid on the table some correspondence between the Government and the Home Agent. The Superintendent then entered the Council Chamber (at a quarter past 12 o'clock), and read the following ADDBESS. Mb Speakeb akd Gejttlemect of the Pbovetcial Council : Since last I had the pleasure of addressing you, the late Province of Southland has been re-united to Otago by an Act of the Colonial Legislature. I am sure you will concur with me in expressing an earnest hope that this re-union may prove to be as beneficial as its strongest advocates have anticipated. I feel persuaded that, under wise and judicious management, the reunion is calculated greatly to promote the interests of the province as a whole. I needly scarcely say that the chief, indeed the only reason for calling you together at the present time, is to make the necessary provision for the future representation in the Provincial Council of the late Province of Southland, as well as to provide for the~ public service in that portion of the province during the residue of the current financial year. It is supposed, therefore, that a very few dayg may suffice to get over the business for which the session has been convened. Important returns will belaid before you, setting forth the nature and extent of the public estate situated in the late Province of Southland. From these it will be seen that there is an amount of valuable land immediately available for settlement, far larger in proportion than any other equal area of the Province x>f Otago. It is a question worthy of consideration how far it may be deemed advisable to assimilate the land regulations of Southland to those of Otago, to the extent of providing that land within Hundreds, which has been open for sale for seven years, and remains unsold, sh mid be exposed to public auction at an upset price of ten shillings an acre. I allude to the matter now, chiefly with a view to the question being ventilated and dealt with by the next Provincial Council. lam inclined io think that the adoption of the course now indicated will place a large amount of money in the treasury, and that it is the most likely means whereby we can be placed in funds wherewith to construct main roads, and to subsidise local Road Boards in the district of Southland. A Bill will be submitted to you, having for its object the assimilation of the law throughout the province as now constituted, in so far as, after consultation with the representatives from Southland, such assimilation may be deemed expedient. I imagine that as regards Education, District Road Boards, and various other subjects, there is no reason why the same Ordinance should not apply to the whole province. I think it would be well to extend the provisions of " The Otago Settlements Act, 1869," to Stewart's Island, and to that portion of the province extending from Waikavato Catlin's Hivcr. Gentlemen — In compliance with your request on previous sessions, a measure was introduced by me into the General Assembly to amend " The Hundreds Be. gulations Act, 1869," which amendment, with one or two alterations, insisted upon by the General Assembly, has now become law. Applications have been made to the Governor to proclaim ten new Hundreds, comprising an area of 176,000 acres, all of which it is hoped will be in the market presently ; and as upwards of 80,000 acres are already surveyed within the proposed Hundreds, in the event of the Com. missioners' report being favorable and their award considered reasonable, there need be no delay in placing purchasers in occupation. I regret to say that the Bill to validate the District Boad Boards Ordinance, passed by you last session, was thrown out in the Legislative Council. The Marlborough and Hawke's Bay Bivers Act Amendment Act, as recommended by you, has passed, and may now be taken advantage of by those who are desirous of protecting their property Against floods. Ton will no doubt concur with me in regretting that your resolution to raise a loan, £650,000, for certain public purposes, did not receive the sanction of the Colonial Legislature. Of this loan it will be recollected it was proposed to spend £100,000oii the Southern Trunk Railway ; £100,000 on water supply on goldfields ; £50,000 on immigration ; and £10,000 on Waitaki Bridge. The Colonial Government has obtained power to provide for ; «11 those objects out of the General Colonial Loan. I consider it a matter of regret, however, that these works were not left under the control of the Provincial Council, persuaded as I am that they could have been carried out more satisfactorily to the districts within which they are to be executed, and with greater eee&OHiy of administration; than can pos-

sibly be done under the Colonial Executive. I regret to add that the other important works which were to be effected out of the loan — viz., Embankment of Bivers £50,000 Oamaru Dock 20,000 Kakanui Harbor 6,000 Waikouaiti Wharf.. 8,000 Shag River Bridge 4,000 Lower Mataura Bridge 2,000 have been ignored. As regards the Southern Trunk Bailway, several overtures have been made for its construction. None of these however, come strictly within the conditions upon which the province is empowered to guarantee. The offer which appears to be otherwise the mosb eligible, requires that the Provincial guarantee shall be for 30, instead of 15 years, which would involve an amended "Ordinance ; this, it is stated by the Attorney- General, would be ultra vires, and would, therefore, in all probability be disallowed. It is hoped that a suitable offer will yet be received. I confess that I should greatly prefer to see this work carried through by the province. I may state that the General Government has taken steps for the erection of a bridge across the "Waitaki, also for surveying a line of railway between this bridge and Moeraki, and between Invercargill and Mataura, with a view of obtaining the sanction of the General Assembly at its next session for their construction. It is to be hoped that we shall be able to continue our present system of immigration, and to extend its advantages to the united province. I look upon it that the united province presents a very large field for settlement, and that we shall grievously fail in our duty if the most vigorous steps are not taken towards the beneficial occupation of the territory by men and women. Indeed, it may be said that this is the most important function which, as a province, is now left to us. In conformity with your resolution of last session, reserves were made of 3,000,000 acres of land as Endowments for Education, Clutha River Trust, Hospitals, and Lunatic Asylum. I regret to say, however, that in making application for Crown grants in respect of these reserves, it is found by the law adviser of the Crown that, under our land regulations, the Governor has no power to issue the grants, excepting those for educational purposes. It will be for you to consider whether or not we should to endeavor to get the law altered in this respect. Gentlemen, — I now declare this Council open for the despatch of business. His Honor having retired, the Speaker announced that he had received a copy of the Address, which was ordered to be held as read.