OPENING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1803, 2 May 1874, Page 3

OPENING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

[BY BLEOTHIC TELEGRAPH.] Auckland, Friday. The Provincial Council was opened at three o'clock to-day by massage from his Honor the Superintendent, containing a review of the past, &c. The Superintend dent desires, at the re-assembling of the Council after its adjournment, to present to the Council a brief statement of the proceedings of the Government during the past four months, together with a summary of tho principal matters which will be submitted in due course for consideration during the present session. But, first, the Superintendent would thank the Council for the liberal vote for supplies whereby he has been enabled to meet the requirements of the public service during the recess. Having in December last agreed to accept from the General Government the charge of receiving and locating immigrants sent out by the Agent-General for the province, the Superintendent considered it expedient lo i visit, as far as practicable, the various settlements of the province, accompanied by the Executive Council and officers of the Government, in order to ascertain by personal inquiry and observation the exact facilities afforded by each district in the possession of suitable blocks of land, and in the demand for labour and for the location of immigrants, as well as for the prospect of promoting special settlements, f he Superintendent also took the opportunity of inviting the,settlers to meet bimand give expression to their views upon the operation of the existing Highways Act and other kindred nutters, and alsj in regard to the more particular requirements of each district. By this, means the Government acquired much valuable information, whicli is mainly embodied in reports of the Commissioner of Crown Lands and th>) Provincial Engineer.. .Referring to lands for settlement, his Honor said that at the Bay of Islands and Mongonui there are large blocks of land, some of them already purchased from native owners, and others yet to bo acquired, eminently alapted for settlement. At Wangarei, unappropriated lands might with advantage be made available for seloction and occupation uuder the provisions of tho Homestead Act, 1870. AtTauranga there were large blocks of valuable laud which the General Government were disposed to hand over lo the province for special settlement. The Superintendent is glad to inform the Council that already one scheme of special special settlement was likely to be initiated under the leadership of a gentlemen from the north of Ireland wno has recently visited Auckland with a view to selecting a block of land for the location of a large body of immigrants, who upon his assurance of land being available for settlement nny after reasonable time be expectod to arrive in the province. At Poverty Bay, the most distant settlement on the east coast of the province, the Superintendent and Kxecutive were strongly impressed with the evident necessity for taking prompt and active measures to divert a track to Auckland, and generally to supply as far as possible the increasing demand of this already rich and rising district. At all the settlements visited byfche Superintendant it was ascertained that many important works were required for the immediate advancement of the districts, and for the promotion of settlement, and a general desire was expressed in favour of provision being made, in addition to any assistance which tho Government might be able to afford, to empower the local authorities to raise money for tho commencement and execution of such undertakings, otherwise than by means of immediate heavy rates. Having visited the settlements, and ascertained the requirements of the country, the Superintendent considered it advisable to proceed to Wellington to confer personally with the General Government on these and other matters affecting the welfare of the province, so a3 to be'in a position, on the re-assembling of the Council, to submit definite and matured proposals for consideration, which he would have been unable to do if the matter had been left to be dealt with in a prolonged correspondence with the authorities at Wellington. Immediately upon receipt of the delegation of the Governor's piwers for the administration of the goldlields, the Superintendent proceeded to tho Thames, and there conferred with the inhabitants on matters relative to the interests of that very important district of the province. It was found to be desirable .that a large extent.of. the foreshore should be utilised, so as to afford enlarged and safer accommodation for shipping, wharfage, railway, and other purposes, and: the Superintendent, having communicated with the General Government on this subjeofc, has received an assurance that a proposal for the transfer of this and tho foreshores of other harbours of the province will be recommended to tho Assembly as the necessity arise. The .Superintendent encloses here with the correspondence which took place with the Government on this subject!' The Superintendent found that the United Pumping Association had undertaken a most extensive and important work in draining a large portion of the goldfields adjacent to the company's works, but as it was found impossible to prosecute tho work advantageously without assistance from the Government, the Superintendent applied to the Government for an advance of funds, and the Government agreed, pending the sitting of tho Assembly to advance a sum of £6,000. towards tho work, subject to certain conditions. Correspondence on the subject is enclosed for the information of the Council The municipality which lias, at the request of. the inhabitants, been granted to the district of the Thames will lead to the great improvement and general advancement of tho district. The Superintendent has also visited Coromaudel and received various applications from the inhabitants there for increased road accommodation, which would greatly facilitate tho development of tho mineral

resources' of the back country of that district. Finding that the ordinary provincial revenue, although steadily on the increase, is not likely to improve to such an extent as to be sufficient to meet the increasing demand upon it, the Superintendent requested the General Government to sanction an advance of £40,000 upon security of tho land revenue, and ho is happy to state that the Government has acceded to this request. Papers on this subject are herewith enclosed. The crowded state of the present Lunatic Asylum is such as to render the immediate erection of a now wing indispensable, and .the Couucil will bo asked to sauction the necessary expenditure for this purpo ! o. It is contemplated also to provide an asylum for aged and infirm persons, the building now used as a refuge having proved wholly inadequate to tho dem inds which are being continually made upon it. In reference to those works tho Superintendent will invite the Council to concur with him in setting apart endowments for asylum purposes. Incrtased hospital accommodation is also urgently required, for which it is purposed to raise funds upon security of hospital endowments. Tho estimates of expenditure for the year are in course of careful preparation, on a basis which will be regarded by the Council as satisfactory. The subject of stoain communication with the out-districls tho Superintendent deems to be of the highest importance, so that the whole of tho settled districts along the Wast and West Coasts of the province should be connected by steam with the ports of Auckland and Manukau. He therefore intended to ask the Council for the means requisite to enable the Government to encourage owners of coasting steam vessels to maintain regular services, whereby tho inhabitants at present settled along the coast, and those who are lfkely shortly to . be located in tho new settlements, may enjoy the benefits of regular and ready com nuuication with the capital aid with each other. In addition to the lands within the province alrealy purchased by the General Government the Superintendent has made arrangements whereby other lands suitable for settlement will be acquired from thenative owners, who arenow, as the Superintendent is glad to observe, generally disposed to favour selling their lands to the Government fox this purpose. While at Wellington,' the Supetintendet also applied to the General Government for the remainder of tho surplus lands of the old land purchases to be transferred to the provincial administration, and from correspondence which ha 3 passed on this subject it will be seen that the Government is at length favourably disposed to their transfer. The General Government has also communicated to the .Superintendent a, scheme, for the disposal of the of tho re.mnant of the confiscated lands within the province, which is fully explained in orrespondence on this subject herewith enclosed for the information of the Council. A bill will be submitted for tlis consolidation of laws relating to highway boards, which will bs found to be comprehensive in its character and an advance and improvement upon the existing measure. The objects which it proposes to accomplish may bo shortly described as follows: (U It will consolidate two existing Provincial Acts into one, and make the various provisions conform to those of the Highway Boards Empowering Act of the General Assembly. (2.) Will introduce several amendments upon the existing law which have been suggested by experience of the operation of the presont system during the past three years. (3) Will enable the Superintendent to add to the powers and duties of boards in respect of several importaut matters, such as planting trees, conservation of forost lands belonging to the province, or any public trust; the administration of the law as regards fencing, and other subjects of a local nature. (1) Will provide that the general expenditure of the board on public works shall take place under competent engineering superintendence. (5.) Will empower the Superintendent to establish, central district boards, composed of members elected by .various local' boards, and : to entrust to such central boards the carrying out of such, the duties and powers to be created under the Act as may be dealt with by larger machinery than that which exists under the present system. Existing machinery will be maintained, and the power of raising rates will remain with the ratepayers, but power will be given to transfer to central boards those matters of larger concern which for various reasons, financial and otherwise, smaller boards are not sufficiently able to deal with. Precautions will be taken to enable the Superintendent to introduce the new systom gradually, and so as not violently to disturb the existing State of affairs. (6.) Powers will be given to highway boards to borrow money upon security of rates authorised to be levied under the Act. Those powers are judged to be necessary to be given to boards for two reasons. Ist. That the annualroad board grant is not likely to be continued after the next year; and secondly, that without the grant or other means of raising money, the amount which mry be raised by way of rates under the very low maximum allowed by the Highway Boards Empowering Act is far too small to enable boards to undertake public works of any magnitude. These empowering clauses will be surrounded with sufficient precautions against imprudent borrowing and extravagant expenditure, or against any loss accruing to creditors of districts. The Superintendent is aware that the bill does not extend in any respect as far as might be desired, but such is the state of the law of the General Assembly on the question that no other or fuller powors could be given by the Provincial Legislature without considerable risk of. the whole measure being invalidated on the ground of its provisions being ultra vires. Still lie hoped that the passing of the bill will have the effect of improving the present highway system, and preparing the country in some degree for that more extended form of local self-govern-ment which must be accorded to it soon. As to education, the income which has been derived, • or indeed is likely to be derived' under the Act of 1872 has proved altogether inadequate to the re quirements of tho province; The advance of £7,500 authorised by the Council has been wholly absorbed in meeting tho expenditure of the Board up to ( this date. I'he Superintendent proposed to submit a bill which will provide a farther and better systom of education for the youth of this province. Several alterations will be proposed with a view of rendering tho measure, the Superintendent trusts, more workable and generally acceptable to the people of the province without in any appreciable degree curtailing the opportunities for education afforded by tho present Aot. Proper steps mast be taken to utilise and add to the many valuable endowments throughout the province, in' order to provide a portion of the funds required to carry on education. The Superintendent proposes, in admimstra-, tioa of any lands that may lwreafteij bo

submitted to his control, to select, and invite the Council to assist him to reserve, a largo portion of tho best lands for school endowments. . A proposal will be submitted for dealing with the old Supreme Court site in such a manner that the revenue derivad therefrom shall be applied exclusively to educational purposes. The terms on which the Superintendent has accepted the supervision of the General Government Immigration matters within the province will be ascertained from enclosed correspondence with Mr Vogel. In addition to the machinery provided by the General Government for tho administration of the immigration scheme, it is very desirable that the Provincial Government should possess certain auxiliary power, and the means for the appointment of local agents in various parts of the United Kingdom. Modification of the present land laws will also bo necessary to provide such measures as will facilitate the settlement of immigrants upon lands already acquired, or such as may be handed over, and render those lands more easily accessible. The construction of the Auckland and Mercer railway has rapidly advanced during the past four months, but iu view of arrangements whereby contractors are entitled to uso the lino for the CDnveyanoe of rails and materials for construction, there appears to be objections to hand over to the province charge any portion of the rail-' way, at any rate : while this arrangement with the contractors exists. An extension of the line to Ngaruawahia has been commenced ' siace the Council adjourned, and is now being proceeded with. This will be an immonse advantage to 'the province as well as to the colony as a whole, and immediate benefit to the settlers on the Waikato delta. A proposal has been received from Mr Engall, agent of the Knglish company, for the construction of a branch railway to connect Mercer with the Thanes. A copy of the proposal_ will be placed before the Council. With regard to the proposed extensiou of tho Kaipara railway to Itiverhead and Auckland, the Superintendent has learned with regret that it is not the intention of the General Government to carry out this work. The papers on the subject will be submitted to the Council with a sep irate message, and the Council will be asked to consider the advisability, under the circumstances, of the work being undertaken by the Provincial Government. The Superintendent has ascertained that a claim exists against the General Government on account of Provincial Government expenditure on tho Auckland and Drury Railway before the line was taken over for completion by the General Government. The Superintendent at Wellington submitted this olaim to the Government, but it was alleged that there had been an arrangement with the Superintendent's predecjssor by which the claim had been liquidated. The Superintendent nevertheless declines to ab indon the claim, and the matter is still open for consideration. The Provincial Governmenthas had under consideration during the recess the question of dealing with the timbered lands of the province, and their preservation from destruction by illegal and unauthorised cutting, and a proposal on the subject will be submitted during the session. There are other important measures on which the Council will be invited to bestow consideration. Among them may be mentioned a bill to enable a water supply to be obtained for the city of Auckland, under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Waterworks Act. A new Sheep Act will be .framed to meet the requirements of the East Coast (Poverty Bay) ■ district. The Superintendent was glad to state that he has received the most cordial support from the General Government in all matters relating to tho welfare of the province, and earnestly relies on meeting a similar spirit of co-operation on tho part of the Provincial Council in the consideration of the various to be submitted during the session. J. Williamson, Superintendent. On the motion of Mr G. M. Uekd, the Education Bill was read a drst time, and ordered to be read a second tim 9 on Friday. After the transaction of some othor formal business, the. Couucil adjourned till Tuesday next.