imperfect state of communication between the Port and the inland country ;
and I rest on the conviction that the time will arrive when the Province generally will admit the soundness of the views which were embodied in that measure.

In submission to your wishes I will cause a survey to be made of the country between Lyttelton and the Plains, ... in order to ascertain whether any road can be found as a temporary track, pending the completion of the Sumner Road.

But considering that the Sumner Road could have been opened for light traffic, in half the time, and for half the cost of any such track, I am sorry the public mind should have been diverted from a work comparatively almost complete, and of which the estimates are thoroughly reliable, to engage in a new work the difficulty, cost, labour, and time, involved in which are wholly unknown.

I am in consultation with the mercantile portion of the community, to ascertain in what mode the vote for the establishment of steamers can best be devoted to the proposed object. If it can be avoided, the duty of purchasing Steamers is one which ought not to be imposed on the Government ; but after the resolution at which the Council has arrived, I shall be prepared to take any step which I may be advised will have the effect of placing Steamers on the coast with the least delay.

I fully concur in the resolutions at which you have arrived on the subject of the Steam communication with Australia ; and I will lose no time in laying your views before his Excellency the Governor.

I now declare this Council prorogued to Thursday the fifth day of March next, and this Council is prorogued accordingly.

JAMES EDWARD FITZ GERALD,
Superintendent.

26th November, 1856.

PRINTED BY J. WILLIS,
Provincial Secretary’s Office,
November 26, 1856.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,
November 26, 1856.

HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT directs the publication of the following appointment for general information :

JOSEPH BRITTAN, Esq.

to be Keeper of the Public Records,
vice Henry John Tancred, Esq., resigned.

JOSEPH BRITTAN,
Provincial Secretary.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,
Christchurch November, 27, 1856.

HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT directs the publication of the following appointments for general information :

JOHN HALL, Esq.,

provisionally, until Her Majesty’s pleasure be known, to be Resident Magistrate for Lyttelton.

JOHN HALL, Esq.,

provisionally, subject to Her Majesty’s confirmation, to be Sheriff for the Province of Canterbury, vice Henry John Tancred, Esq., resigned.

JOHN HALL, Esq.

to be Commissioner of Police, vice Henry John Tancred, Esq., resigned.

These appointments to bear date from this day.

By order of His Honor,

JOSEPH BRITTAN,
Provincial Secretary.

Resident Magistrate’s Court,
Christchurch, November 25, 1856.

I HEREBY CERTIFY, that MR. JOSEPH ASHE DAY,
at present of Kaiapoi, has, in accordance with Ordinance, Session 1, 1849, of New Munster, this day submitted to me his Diploma from the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, constituting him a Member of the said Faculty, and is thereby legally qualified to be a Medical Practitioner in this Province.

W. G. BRITTAN,
Resident Magistrate.

AT THE “STANDARD” OFFICE,
CHRISTCHURCH.

PRINTED BY J. WILLIS, AT THE “STANDARD” OFFICE, CHRISTCHURCH.