THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Issue 1738, 9 May 1873, Page 3

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The following is His Honor the Superintendent's address on opening the Provincial Council on Tuesday last : — Me Speakfb and Gentlemen op the Pboyincial Council, In opening the 3lst Session of tho Provincial Council, it may be well briefly to epitomise the leading features which indicate the progress of the Province since I last addressed you. The declnred value of the imports during the past financial year haß been £1,884,998, while' 1 the import duty has amounted to £2fi2,C00, or equal to about one third of the customs revenue of the Cclony. Unfortunately, however, of this, sum none hos found its way into the Provincial treasury. * The gold exported during the year has been 169,212 as against 16fi,372 ounces during the previous year. The total value of Provincial produce exported, inclusive of gold, amounts to £2,279,663, as against. £1,190,000 for the year before. This is equal to £70 per head for each Btatute adult in the Province, an amount which I venture to 6ay is unequalled in Bny other part of the world. . The revenue received from gold duty, miners' rights, and business licenses on gold fields haß been £39,790 13s 2d, as against £41,816 in the previous year. Although this shows a Blight deer, ase of revenue for the year, it will be seen that the gold exported exhibits a small increase, the difference is to be attributed partly to the reduction of the gold duty by 6d per ounce. The total receipts from all sources into the Provincial treasury during the year has been £338,000 as against £289,000 during the previous year. Last year, as you are aware, we began with a bank over draft amounting to £40,497, this year we commence with a balance iv our favor of £16,698. The expenditure during the past year, including payment of the over-draft, has amounted to £279,522; of this sum, after providing for Education, Police, Gaols, Hospitals, Lunutio Asylum, Harbor, Interest on Loans, and other permanent departmental charges, there hiis been expended on roads, bridges, and other public works £82,874. The immigration from the United Kingdom for the year -amounted to 1525, while thero hare been born in the Province 3000 souls. The number of deaths for the year was 720 ; the number of marriages for the same period was { 492 Durins the year 12 additional schools have been established, making the total of public schools throughout the Province 127, with a teaching staff of 190. There have been sold 203,138 acres of rural land distributed among 401 different purchasers ; of town allotments there have been sold 7<>l acres, to 401 different purchasers ; of agricultural leaßcs on gold fields there have' been granted 136, covering an area of 10,389 acres. The foregoing statement, although somewhat dry, perhaps, will serve to indicate the extent of settlement and the general progress of the Province since we last met. I am happy to say generally that at no period since the commencement of the settlement has it been more prosperous than now. There is a life and a buoyincy throughout every department of industry which has never been exceeded, and at no time have commercial obligations been more regularly met. It is a striking feature in the history of the past year that tho business of the Bankruptcy Court haß been, comparatively speaking, nil. It is iv no spirit of self complacency that I call your attention to these facts. Under tho circumstances, however, it appears to me that, whatever b- our differences of opinion as to who are the best men to administer public affairs, we may fairly indulge in mutual congratulation and thankfulness. leferring to the Gold Fields, you will be glad to ltarn that your resolutions respecting the Race at Naseby are at length beinjjc complied with. An expenditure of Bume £40,000 is being incurred, •which it is believed will amply recoup itself, and afford profitable employment to a large number ol people who must otherwise have left the district. Geutiemen, — While on this subject, it affords, me pleasure to call your attention to the fact that Otngo has not experienced that diminution of iti gold production which has unfortunately befallen , the other gold producing Provinces of New Zea and. The increase for the year, Bmall though it may be, ia the more eatis'actory, Beeing that a large number of miners have been induced to engage themselves 'on other works, and seeing that water for sluicing purposes during the paßt Bix months huß been exceedingly scaice in many districts. We may fairly regard the increased yield of our gold workingß under the circumstanoeß as an evidence of the great vitality and permanence of this industry. An increased tendency is manifested among capitalists and others to look upon mining ventures as a legitimate means of investment, and several companies have been started under very favorable auspices. I cannot overrate the importance of facilitating as much as possible mutual co-operation of the investing and the mining interests, in order to the development of the many thousands of acreß of rich auriferous deposits which are known to exist throughout the Province, deposits the development of which is beyond the reach of ordinary mining partnerships, and can only be advantageously attained by companies with large capital. With a view to the more complete development of the gold fields, and the mitigation of grievances to which the mining community are at present subjected, a new Gold Fields Bill has been very carefully prepared, which, it [is hoped, will become law next fckasion of the General Assembly. I have to congratulate you on the completion of the Dunedin and Port Chalnffera Kailway, in a style, which, as regards workmanship, will

compare favorably with any other railway work in the Colony. As you are aware, tho General Assembly last year authorised the purchase of the railway frona tho promoters, which purchase has recently been concluded, the line being now in tho hands of the Province. It is estimated that the traffic receipts will amply recouo tho Province, and that they are likely to increase yearly in amount as the lines into tho interior aie extended, and the requiremontß of the traffio nreprovMed for by additional pier accommodation on') warehouses, I am happy to say that the oflvivd bonus for the establishment of a paper factory has at length so far had thn desired effect, ar.d that a boud has been entered into, which, in: due time, willivsulfr/ in a paper mill on the banks of the Mataura, where it is understood that a suitable Bite has been secured. Some years ago. a bonuß was offered for the encouragement of sperm whaling, -to which, however, there was no response. There is reaßon to believe that if the offor bo renewed, there are parties in the Province now who are prepared to entertain the proposal. £500, or even double the sum, would be well spent if it 6honld have the effect of turning to account by ourselves of the rich mine which surrounds our shores, and which is being so profitably worked by strangers. There are several subjects of importance to which it is proposed to solicit your attention during the present Session. . First, perhaps, is the absolute necessity of providing adequate 'school accommodation throughout the province. In "many of the existing echool ouildujgs the children are so crowded thaiC there is a, choice of two evih, — either to withdraw them from the school, or to educate their minds at the expense of their bodifls. In some of tb* school- houses ths accommodation is so limite I that it is physically impossible to cr«wd the children into them». From a statement furnished by the Inspector of Schools, which will be submitted to you, it will be seen that at least £27,0.0 is required to proude adequate school accommodation, an amount which, in addition to the annual requirements in respect of teachers' salaries, repairing buildings, etc., involves a much larger drain upon the ordinary revenue of the Province than is either called for or warranted. It is proposed that say £1500 a year, out of the £11,000 which are now derived from rentals of property at the disposal of the Education Board, should be set asi;le for 30 years for the purpose of providing school accommodation, in which the. future is as much interested as the preßent. SliouJd you concur in-this proposal, thera will be no difficulty, I apprehend, in getting the necessary Act passed by the Colonial Legislature, and a sum of £30 000 will be available for the object s in view. Upon the subject of Education generally, I have much pleasure in soliciting ,y.our attention to the very valuable and exhaustive report of Mr Hislop, the Inspector of Schools ; a report which embodieß many moßt important practical suggestions, — suggestions which are being given effect to by the Education Board, in,, co far as it is empoweied to do so." Perhaps, however, the most valuable suggestions of all are those which cannot be carried out without your concurrence. I allude to the appointment of an additional Inspector of Schools, and the establishment of a Normal or Training School in which to educate competent teachers. To my mind, it is manifest that, if we are to have value for the money which wo are expending ii» Education, it is absolutely necessary that there should be complete and thorough inBpection of schools, and the means of turning out a sufficient number of teachers specially trained for the all-important work of Education. I hope that you will concur with me in making adequate provision for both these objects. I regret to find that there seems to exist a good deal of dissatisfaction with regard to the Dunedin Boys' High School. A movement is being made to transfer tho control of the school from the Education Board to the University Council. I • fail to see, however, 'that such a change, will at all tend to mend matters, inasmuch as it 'is believed that the quality of the teaching is quite as good now a3 it is likely to be then. What is required is an adequate number of scholars to attend the school, and I do not thiuk that any change of management will effect this. The truth is, that the circuu' stances of the Province have entirely altered since the school was founded; and the , establishment ef the Otago University, together with that of the various Grammar Schools, which afford a comparatively high class education throughout the Province, have so far removed the necessity which existed for the High School at the time of its erection. Under all the circumstances of the case, it is evident that something mußt be done to place the school on a more satisfactory footing. With this view v Commission has been appointed to enquire into the Bubject. Pending the report of tho Commission, it may be well to defer taking any action in the matter. Qentlemen, — Another very important subject to which I deßire to Bolicit your 'favorable attention is the completion of the Southern Trunk Railway. You are aware that contracts Ere now under way for the construction of the lino ;,from Dunediu to Clutha" and from Invercargill to' Mataura. Unlesß, however, and until the line is constructed between Clutha and Mataura, the railway will be comparatively useless as a main trunk line ; and 1 feel assured that if the matter iB left to the Colonial Government, it will be years before the mißsing link in the chain is provided. It is therefore proposed that the Province should at once proceed with the construction of that portion of the railway, together with a branchlet of some eight or ten mileß to Tapanui. There iB nothing to prevent the work being finished in a couple of years, so as •to enable an unbroken line right through to Invercargill to be opened for traffic. The estimated cost of the work, independent of trie branch to Tapanui and exclusive of rolling stock, is £150,000, an amount which can be produced from sales of tho land through which the line would be constructed. There are between Clutha and Mataura some 300,0(jO acres of Crown land, much of which is admirably adapted for settlement, and which only requires a railway to render it available. Proposals have been submitted for the construction of this line within two years of date of contract, payment to be made at the rate of ±30,000 a year for the first two years, and the balance within one year, of the completion of the line. Should you concur in this mode of payment, there will be no difficulty in procuring the necessary funds by disposing of not more than a sufficient quantity of land in the district to meet the first, two payments as they become due, and reserving the remainder from sale until the live is completed. Run Ko 111 alone, through which the railway passes, will if reserved until the contract is completed, and then Bold in ordinary sized farms, go far to meet the last payment. I should be glad if we could Bee our way to the adoption of a similar process as respects the line from Dunedin to Mperaki. It is of the utmost importance if the railway system is to be an immediate buccobb — that the main trunk line should be at once completed from the one end of the Province to the other. Should you be of thiß opinion, and agree to the hypothecating of land by way of security, there will (in the event of the Colonial Government not doing so) be little difficulty in proceeding with the Jdoeraki line without delay. We should thus socure an unbroken line of "rail from Waitaki to the Bluff and Lake Wakatipu, thereby enabling the j growers of agricultural produce to compete in ! the market b of the world by means of speedy | and oheap transit to4he port ot shipment, and saving a large proportion of the annual expen- . diture which must otherwise be involved in the ! formation and maintenance |of metalled roads — expenditure which may be directed towards works in the interior of the Prorince instead. It iB intended this year very considerably to increase the appropriation towards the main roaa to the Lakes, both- by way of Naseby and Roxburgh — thut portion of the road extending from Clyde to Queenstown especially requires to be rendered safe for carriage traffic. I believe we have no conception of the number of

I travellers from Australia or the extent of traffic which will crosß the inland so Boon n* & practicable roa-i is discovered from Lake Wakntipu to Milfo^d Bour>d. The estimated revenue for the cnrrenfc year trill enable a larger amount ■of public \vork3 to be undertaken throughout the interior of the Province than ha* been th> case for several ypars pnpt. The estitnat 6 have been carefully prepared, with a vi.«w to making the most of and equ tably distributing the nienns at our disprgal. As you are aware, Local Rwl Boards during the past year hive been subsidised to the extent of £2 to £1. Should the General Assembly continue its road board subsidy, the same rate will, it is anticipated, be maintained during the current year : also. In any case it is proposed to subsidise out of Provincial revenue to the extent of pound for pound. It is to be regretted that the Road Hoard system has not been taken advantage of within the goMficlds. -It is proposed, however, to subsidise local contributions "on goldfields to | the snme extent as District Road Board rates from Provinr-iiil revenue. The Colonial Legislature, at its last session, | authorised a unecial loan of £70,000 for certain , specified public woiks in the northern district of the Province. Of this sum £24,003 is being expended on the Breakwater at Oumaru — a work which is now progre-sing, favorably, and which promises to be a great success. A further sum of £25.000 is to be expended on a tramway from the main line up the valley of the Waifaki, which haß been surveyed to Awamoko. Plans and specifications are now ready, and tenders are being called for. The sum of £13,000 is available for roads and bridges, upon which it ib being expended. A tender has just been accepted for the erection of stone bridges across the Otepopo River and the Island Stream. The remainder of the loan is to be devoted to harbor works at Kakanui and Mberaky with regard to which I hope to submit to you definite proposals before the session closes. : With a view of enabling you to proceed without delay to the practical business of the country, the [Estimates will be submitted at once, as well as all Resolutions and Bills proposed to be initiated by the Government. Paperß will be laid before you relative to the defence of the Port of Otago againßt external aggression. There can be no doubt if the Port could be effectually defended against such at an outlay of £10,000 to £15,000. the expenditure would be amply justified. This is a question which very closely affects every interest throughput the Province, when we reflect that there is frequently afloat at Port Chalmers property to the extent of half a million of money, which, in case of war, is absolutely at the mercy of any enemy that may chooße to pounce upon it. An application has been made on behalf of the associated Friendly Societies, requesting that a suitable piece of ground may be granted to them .for their annual anij other .gathering. Considering the benevolent character of these societies, arid the amount of distress relieved by "fuem, which otherwJße would have to be pro— $ded for ', by the State, 1 trust you will concur , ,with me in giving effect to the application when it is formally Bubmitied for your approval. It will be seen from the correspondence with tha Home Agency that a contract has been entered into on behalf of the Province for the resumption of Messrs P. Henderson and Co.'s line of emigrant ships from Glasgow to Otago direct, also that Mr Auld has been urged as to the expediency of conducting emigration by steamers direct to this Port. As the General Government has warmly approved of this suggestion, and has directed the Agent-General accordingly, I am not without hope tliat the proposal will be carried into fleet. Although it is purposed to continue the immigration vote upon the current year's Estimates, in case of contingencies, I do not anticipate that it will require to be operated upon, inasmuch as the Ageut-General has been instructed to defray the cost of emigration to this Province out of the Immigration Loan. You will, I am sure, be glad to hear that the Colonial and Provincial Agencies are now working harmoniously. Another important proposal with which I venture to hope for your concurrence, is the removal from the preßent Lunatic Asylum of all able-bodied patientß who are pronounced incurable, of which now there are upwards of 40 in the institution, to a suitable farm in the country, where their labor might be made available not only for their own sustenance, but towards the support of the Asylum in Dunedin, and with advantage to their individual comfort. The nearest available land in possession of the Government b the police paddock at Tokomairiro, containing 86 acreß, through which the Southern Trunk Railway will pass, thus bringing the proposed site within two hours of Dunedin. Unless some such euggeetion as this is adopted, it will be necessary still further to enlarge the Asylum buildings. A proposal will be submitted to you to throw open the Dunedin Hospital to the whole of the legally qualified medical practitioners in the city. Should the University Council establish a School of Medicine and Surgery, on the strength of 1 r which being done I agreed to the further endowment of 3=00,000 acres of land, it might be well flo arrange that the Hospital should be connected with said school umier the direction of the "medical and surgical profeßSOrß. lam also disposed to think that the Lunatic Asylum should be under the direction ol the Profeßßorof Mental Science in the University. These are important changes which commend themselves to the Executive Government, but with respect to which it iB felt expedient that no action should be taken until you shall have had an opportunity of expressing an opinion. A proposal hus been submitted to the Government by responsible persons who are prepared to reclaim the whole of the mud flat at the head of Dunedin Bay, covering an area at low water of some 250 acres, the contracting party undertaking to finish the work within i\ stipulated time at their own cost, the act proceeds of reclamation when gold to be divided equally with the Government. There can be no doubt but the suggested reclamation would aft'ord what is, much needed iv Dunedin, viz., suitable sites for manufacturing and businesß purposes, making room for a large consuming population, which would be beneficial to the producing interest throughout the Pro~ vinee. As, however, the reclamation now indicated, if carried out to the extent proposed, might by diminishing the tidal scour be prejudicial to the harbor — a hypothesis, by the way, upon which there are differences •( opinion — I should be disposed to err upon the safe Bide, and be contented with reclaiming to half • way between high water mark, taking the material for reclamation from above low water mark. In this case the tidal volume would not be diminished, while, on janitary grounds, the perpetual submersion of the mud flat in ealt water would be of incalculable benefit to the community. Instead of conceding " this operation to private parties, it appears to me that it should be undertaken by the Government. A report by the Provincial Engineer will be submitted to you, from which it' will be seen that the probable profit by the transaction would amount to at least £20,000, aa amount a portion or the whole of which might go towarda the endowment of the Harbor Trust, and enable the Pilot and Harbor Dues to be done aw»y with. Referring to the question of a Harbor Trust, I may say that application has been made to the Government to the effect that such trust might at once be constituted by Ordinance, and the Harbor Department transferred thereto. I presume that a Harbor Trußt, in order to be effective, must be paid, and must either be endowed or possess powers of raising revenue. So long as the Harbor Department has to be provided out of the ordinary revenue, I fail to see any advantage that would accrue from the Provincial Council divesting itself of the administration. If an amouut such as haß been indicated can be procured lrom harbor reclamation — and there iB no reason why it should not be so — then it appears to me that the constitution of a Harbor Truet, in which might be invested the amount in question, would be a step in the right direction, otherwise such a trust would only involve additional expense without any adequate advantage. I may I

say that the work of deepening the approaches to Dunedin wharf is being vigorously prosecuted, end that in the course of a month vessels drawing twelve feet can be berthed and swung at Rattray s p -t t pier. Correspondence will be submitted to you upon the vexed question of diversion of natural watercourses for gold-mining purposes. This is a subject upon which th« Government will be clad to receive the benefit ol your deliberations — involving, as it does, grave questions of compensation and the rights of property. Y> ur resolutions last session embodying new regulations for the disposal of the Waste Lands of the Crown have, with sundry modifications by the Colonial Legislature, become law. One of the most important of these modifications haß been the practical removal of the administration of the Act from the control of the Executive Government, and the vesting thereof in an irresponsible Board. I regard this as the weak point in the Act, one which is very likely seriously to prejudice the public interest. Although it might, no doubt, be amended in as far as the representative branch of the Legislature is concerned, there iB little or no hope of such amendment being at present agreed to by the Legislative Council. Your approval will be solicited in order to the declaration of the following blocks of land, as open for selection on de'erred payments : — 2500 acres near Tapanui ; 2500 do on the Waikaka ; 2500 do near Switzers ; 2500 do near Longford ; 2500 do near Ettrick ; 2500 do near Roxburgh ; 2500 do near Hawia ; 2500 do on Spott's Creek ; 2500 4^ at Tda Valley; 2500 do t M'Craes ; 5000 do Tuapeka ; being in all 30 000 acres', the maximum area allowed by law to be dealt with in this shape during the present year. I regret that this limitation precludes the petting aside of areas on similar terms in other districts, those now indicated being the best land and the most urgently required. Next year, however, it is hoped that the localities which we are now compelled to exclude will participate in the advantage of the deferred payment system. I regret to say that the extensive, depasturing district of Wakatipu has not been so satisfactorily administered as could be desired ; the revenue derived from it compares somewhat unfavorably with that of the Tuapeka depasturing district. With a view to promoting the interest of all concerned, a local Commission was lately appointed to enquire and report on the whole Bubject. Th«» report of the Commission will be laid before you, and the Executive, prior to taking further action in the matter, will be glad to have your views thereupon. It will be a question of consideration in the case of land of superior quality — the value of which will be greatly enhanced as the country becomes opened up by the extension of railways — how far it may not be expedient to increase the price, as provided by the Waste Lands Act. As you are aware, in the neighboring Province of Canterbury, in which agricultural settlement is being greatly extended, the price has never been under £2 an acre. s. I have only to observe, in conclusion, that since we last met, circumstances with which you are already acquainted, and to whicn it is not necessary further to allu ie, have led to a change of my Responsible Adxisers. The gentlemen who now occupy that position were induced to accept office very reluctantly, in the exercise of a public duty, and at my urgent solicitation. I feel assured that they possess the confidence of the oouutry, and I trust also of this Council. Be this as it maj, I will venture to say that, apart from all consideration of party, and without disparagement to previous Administrations, never, since the establishment of the present system of responsible Government, have tha affairs of the Province been more prosperous or more efficiently conducted than at present." Gentlemen, — 1 now declare this Council open for the despatch of business.