Resolution in reference to Waste Lands.
Adopted 11th April.

That in the opinion of this Council, in case the administration of the Waste Lands be handed over to the Provincial Governments, in any new regulations regard ought to be had to the rights of those who hold rights of pasturage.

That this amendment be transmitted to His Honor the Superintendent.

Resolution in reference to inter-colonial steam communication. Adopted 12th April.

That the Council having read the communication from the Provincial Governments of Nelson and Wellington on the subject of the “Nelson” steamer. Resolve:

That this Council will guarantee the expenditure of a sum not exceeding two thousand pounds to enable His Honor the Superintendent to enter into such terms with the other Provincial Governments as may be found advantageous in order to secure the benefit of steam navigation between the several Provinces.

Vote in aid of roads in Lyttelton.
Adopted 12th April.

That one hundred pounds be allowed for the expenses of the highways in Lyttelton, on a like sum being raised by the inhabitants.

Speech of His Honor the Superintendent,
on the Prorogation of the Provincial Council.
Dated 12th April.

GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL,—I cannot dismiss you from your labours without thanking you for the candid and careful consideration which you have bestowed on the bills which have been laid before you by the Government, and expressing my confident expectation, that your legislation will prove of benefit to the community. I anticipate that the measure you have passed, defining and condensing the law of trespass, will put an end to those evils and that discontent, of which the old law was a fruitful source.

You have passed measures and have appropriated money to Immigration, to Public works, and to Education, and you have confided large powers to the Executive in these matters. I have lost no time in taking active steps to carry your wishes into operation.

I have already organised a plan for restoring a regular line of emigration from England, and I have appointed Mr. Harman to be the emigration Agent in London, in order that a class of emigrants likely to be the most useful, may be selected by a gentleman intimately acquainted with the settlement and with its inhabitants.

It appeared also probable that the despatch of a special agent upon whose statements implicit reliance might be placed, would put an end to those injurious reports which have been fabricated in England in reference to this settlement. Mr. Harman will sail for England by the first opportunity, and I am happy to inform you, that considerable numbers are likely to take advantage of the opportunities thus afforded them, of assisting their friends in England to join them in this colony.

The vote for education will, I am persuaded, be attended with the greatest benefit to the people. I regret I have been unable to lay before you a bill for establishing a regular educational system in the province. But it seemed far better that schools should be established under a provisional arrangement, than that the matter should stand over until another session. Besides, it is not impossible that the experience of the working of a temporary system under the present ordinance, will better enable us at a future time to organize a uniform system suited to the wants of the Province. The Executive Council have therefore passed a minute for the appropriation of the grant in accordance with the existing Education Ordinance. I have arranged with Mr. Sewell for transferring the schools established by the Canterbury Association to the Government, and for placing them on a better footing as regards inspection; seven additional schools are in the course of establishment, and will, I hope, shortly be in operation.

The money voted for Public works shall be expended with economy and care, but the scarcity and dearness of labour renders great caution necessary on the part of the Government, lest too much labour be withdrawn from the more important operation of tilling the soil: until, therefore, a supply of labour shall arrive from England, I rely on much forbearance on the part of the people should the Government be unable to accomplish all that you have contemplated.

I cannot lose this opportunity of expressing my sense of the energy and activity with which the Commissioners on the Lyttelton and Christchurch road, have brought their labours to so speedy a termination, and on the value of the report they have presented: but I think you will agree with me that the plans suggested are of so important a character, involving so large an expenditure of public money, and so nearly affecting private as well as public interests, that it is right to postpone any final decision on the question, until the public shall have had ample opportunity of discussing the several plans proposed and of expressing an opinion thereon. The want of labour, moreover, adequate to the construction of works of so great magnitude, renders it unnecessary that any hurried conclusion should be arrived at. I have therefore determined to take no further steps in the matter until after the session of the General Assembly when I shall again ask your attendance for a short time to deal with this question.

The flourishing condition of the finances is a matter for congratulation, but so far as it has arisen from extensive sales of land at a price below their value, I cannot regard it with unmingled satisfaction. I earnestly hope that at the approaching session of the General Assembly, the waste lands will be placed under such administration as to secure all the benefits of a present revenue without sacrificing wholesale that which constitutes the great source of wealth of this Province, and upon which its future progress so entirely depends, its available waste lands.

In other respects, the financial condition of the Province is highly satisfactory.