NEW ZEALAND

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

PROVINCE OF CANTERBURY.

Published by Authority.

All Public Notifications which appear in this Gazette, with any Official Signature, are to be considered as Official Communications made to those persons to whom they may relate, and are to be obeyed accordingly.

By His Honor’s Command,

THOMAS WILLIAM MAUDE,
Provincial Secretary.

VOL. X.] SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1863. **[No. XI.]

ADDRESS OF HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT

On Opening the Provincial Council, on Wednesday, 15th July, 1863.

“Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council:

“The change in the termination of the financial year necessitates your assembling together at an earlier period than usual. Independently, however, of the great general advantage to the public works for the forthcoming year which will result from their being undertaken in the earlier part of the summer season, there are other important matters which I shall presently allude to, which demand your attention.

“Our large and increasing revenues are such as have amply justified past predictions, and are rapidly attracting attention from without, confirming by the best evidence the fact of the stability of the province.

“The reply to the invitations for tenders for the first issue of debentures under the Canterbury Loan Ordinance, 1862, has been highly satisfactory. It has proved beyond a doubt that the public credit of the province stands high amongst those who are best acquainted with its condition. The result of the course adopted by my Government has been to stamp our securities with a value which must prepare for a success more than usual in first placing a colonial loan upon the London market.

“I shall ask your concurrence in a short amendment of the ordinance in order to facilitate the signing and issuing of the debentures.

“The immigration operations have been pressed on with all the despatch which the existing machinery would allow of, and advices have arrived to the effect that her Majesty’s Commissioners of Immigration have arranged to expend at once the sum of twenty thousand pounds, which has been placed at their disposal in accordance with your vote. As their first ship despatched by those gentlemen is expected to arrive shortly, an opportunity will be presented of testing the comparative advantages of each system.

“It is probable that a combination of the two will prove the most serviceable to the interests of the province—the Commissioners undertaking the shipping arrangements, while the provincial agent is left free to select the emigrants.

“Notwithstanding the large appropriations made last year for surveys, the Chief Surveyor still reports that a much larger amount will be required to keep pace with the land sales, and to maintain faith with those who have invested their money in the purchase of waste lands.

“I would more especially draw your attention to the necessity which arises to provide for and continue a thorough survey of our harbors, roadsteads, and navigable rivers, in order to meet the demands of our largely increasing foreign and local commerce.

“In connection with this subject, papers will be laid before you relating to the expedition which has been despatched to the West Coast of this province to form the depot for a survey establishment, and also for the protection and relief of such casual travellers as may be in need of assistance.

“It is my painful duty to notice the death of Mr. Whitcombe, the late Surveyor, who has unfortunately been drowned at the mouth of the Teramakau on his return from having explored a pass to the West Coast from the head waters of the Rakaia. This is the first instance of an officer in the employment of the Provincial Government meeting his death in the discharge of his duty, and I shall recommend you to make such provision for the benefit of his family as will recognise the obligation which rests upon the state of caring for the widows and children of those who lose their lives in the public service.

“The conduct of Louper, his attendant, deserves to be marked by the Council as worthy of reward, exhibiting, as it did, a rare and persevering fidelity.

“A pleasing proof of the elasticity of the resources of the province is afforded by the fact that not only the ordinary works have been carried out on an increased scale, but that up to the end of the late financial period, the payments for the railway works, including the Ferrymead branch and the main line, have been made accordingly.