of intoxicating drinks on a better footing than at present. Not only are
there great anomalies in the present law which for the convenience of the
Licensees it is desirable should be amended; but it is also highly expedient
that some restraint should be placed on the facilities at present existing for the
indulgence of habits of drunkenness.
To repress the progress of this vice is
now the aim of almost every legislature in every country, and the Superintendent calculates with confidence on the
co-operation of the Provincial Council
with his Government in the endeavour to
accomplish the same laudable object in
this Province; and he trusts they will
concur with him in thinking that the
Bill which has been prepared will tend
to that end, whilst at the same time it
will not interfere with the operations
of commerce or the course of trade, nor
impose any unjust or vexatious restraint on the rational freedom of the
individual.

It has become necessary to provide
an English Agent’s Bill, in order that
an Agent may be appointed in the
place of Mr. Godley, who has been
compelled to resign that appointment
in consequence of his having accepted
an office under the Crown, the duties
of which render the discharge of those
attendant on the Agency for the Province inconvenient to him. The Superintendent feels that in now terminating the political connection which
has so long existed between that gentleman and this Province he should fall
short of the expectations of the
Council if he did not give expression to the deep sense of obligation
felt by himself and them for Mr.
Godley’s long continued and valuable
services, and the regret they feel at the
separation which is about to take place.
That regret is however greatly mitigated by the opportunity which is
afforded the Council of appointing as
his successor, Mr. Selfe, a gentleman
in every way qualified, and who from
the earliest history of this Settlement
has manifested the warmest sympathy
and interest in its success, and has
at various times contributed substantial aid towards its attainment.

The Superintendent anticipates that
the financial statement of the Govern-
ment will be made at an early period
of the session. The points in reference to this branch of the public
service, to which it may be necessary
for him to allude are few and may be
briefly stated. The strictest economy
consistent with the efficient working
of the several departments, has been
observed. Nevertheless, the ordinary
revenue can only be regarded as about
equal to the ordinary expenditure of
the Government; leaving the Land
Fund as the only source of supply
wherewith to promote immigration—
support the present arrangements for
education—and carry on the Public
Works of the Province. That supply is obviously uncertain. During
the past eight months, the Provincial portion of that revenue amounts
to £3,124. But the Waste Lands’
Regulations having received the sanction of his Excellency the Governor,
and coming into operation on the 1st
of April next, a new order of things
will arise, from which it is impossible
to calculate with precision on the
amount of funds which may be derived. Under these circumstances it
will be for the Council to determine
what measures they will adopt for obtaining the necessary means for carrying
on the public works, in case the supply
from the sales of land should not equal
the votes passed by them for different
purposes.

Whilst referring to the financial
affairs of the Province, the Superintendent desires briefly to direct the
attention of the Council to the present
state of the Canterbury Association’s
Debentures’ Account. The Superintendent has directed a Balance sheet
to be prepared and laid before the
Council. He is happy in being able
to state that considerable sales of the
property acquired by the Province,
have already taken place, and thus far
have more than realized the expectations formed by the Government at the
time the debt was undertaken. Those
sales are not more satisfactory, as showing the correct estimate formed of the
value of that property and its sufficiency to provide for the liabilities
incurred, than as showing the great increase in the value of land which has
taken place in the Province.