SOUTHLAND.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 407, 17 September 1861, Page 4

SOUTHLAND.

[From the Southern News). THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The Provincial Council re-assembled on Tuesday, August 14, when Dr. Menzies delivered his inaugural address as y=jf.;ST;..s-,ondent. The address was charac- ■-■■';;;-'.'.■ " y a business-like earnestness to •ted from the speaker; and his quarks on the grave responsibility "..■•; : ig upon the Council and upon the Government, at the outset of our existence' as a province, came with peculiar propriety from one who has taken so active a part in bringing that event to pass. Only absolutely necessary measures would be brought iorward in this short first session, and these would provide for the formation of a Provincial Government; the promotion of immigration and the appointment of an agent for the province in Great Britain (Mr. John Morrison, of London, the Colonial agent); the raising of ten thousand pounds on debentures, to enable Government to encourage immigration and carry on requisite public 5 works: to prevent the importation of cattle from localities where pleuro-pneu-monia prevails, and to check its extension should that disease appear in this province; and a bill for appropriating the revenue. The importance of immigration to the permanent prosperity of the province was urged, and the necessity of some changes in our existing land-laws alluded to; the Superintendent, however, frankly admitted that his Executive were not prepared to support his propositions lately published, and that therefore—though still convinced than the changes therein contemplated would have been beneficial, he had relinquished his intention of bringing them fortvsrd in a more explicit form (as a bill) which w*vild have explained many points t.ac iidd been deemed obscure or injudicious. Tiie other points specially referred to were the adjustment of the financial differences between this province and Otago; the revision of the present Eastern boundary of the province; the private guarantee under which public works had been continued during the interregnum ; the Estimates; a preliminary survey as to our natural facilities for the construction of railways; steam communication, colonial and coastal; the bonus of £1000 for the discovery of a remunerative goldfield in this province. The Council have wasted no time in useless talk, but by means of morning and evening sittings have got through and passed the bills sent down, the Estimates, and the other matters brought before them; and there appears exery probability that by Tuesday or Wednesday next the Superintendent will be able to prorogue—and that in our next issue we may review the labors of the 'short session of 1861.'