THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1859.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 155, 15 April 1859, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1859.

We regret that space will not allow of our dilating in this issue upon the various points of : interest presented by his Honor's address at the : opening of the Provincial Council; there are. many things that we would wish to fully discuss, but for the present must be content with but a cursory glance at a few of them. His Honor refers with pleasure to the light labors of the last half yearly sittings of. the Supreme.; Court, and we are heartily glad that the opportunity has been afforded him of recording it, though when we reflect upon the sittings that have occurred under Mr. Judge Gresson, and bis remarks upon our calendar, it tends to make us believe that as we advance in population, the usual attendant evils being absent occasionally, is a matter of good fortune rather than a sign of the continuance of that high moral position for which the province was once remarkable, although we shall be jealous of admitting any diminution of our fair fame, except in such case as we have already referred to, through the inoreasing prosperity and settlement of the place, bringing with it the.social,.evils for,which all communities of large extent are ordinarily, chargeable. In connection with this; part of our: reflection, we may look hopefully to the present system of education; for, if we progress as we. desire, the schoolmaster will necessarily have enough to do, and although this system is pregnant with many points that have lately been prominently brought forward and petitioned .against, we think, when such' amendments as the general voice shall require are made, that it will work beneficially to arrive at the high ends for which it was intended. The Revenue Estimate for the last year, although carefully handled by the Superintendent in his previous address, has exceeded his anticipations to the extent of nearly £8000, including the refund (nearly £3000), and the total increase on last year being upwards of £11,000, shews an increasing prosperity only equalled by the ' fact that our exports last year are with reason estimated at £123,000, or nearly half, as ;much again as the exports of Wellington during 1857. Another subject in which the Superintendent .averred his conviction of the prosperity of the province being involved, was the necessity for making easy communication and inducement for

settling by good roads. On this he i 3 clear, explicit, and unmistakably earnest, shewing that . the amount placed at his disposal by the Council had been far exceeded in the formation of roads in the gold districts, which object will be further advanced. , . • Reference was also made to the subject of leasing auriferous lands in the Aorere, clearly shewing that up to the present time they who have so vociferously advocated the leasing of these lands, are in perfect ignorance of the\ existing law, which prevents.such leases, and: will continue to do so, until the measures adopted / by the Council and passed by the General Assembly become legal by the signification of; het Majesty's pleasure. So much for the spurious . metal clamour that is mistaken for gold, until. it is subject to the touchstone process of Truth. We cordially recommend the whole of his Honor's speech to the perusal of our readers.