✨ Provincial Council Address
341
subjection to law and order. And, although somewhat late in the day, the leading men in the colony are beginning to confess that the interference of southern statesmen in Native matters is, and has been, a most fruitful cause of embarrassment and expense to the North Island, while it has resulted in an enormous injury to the Southern Island. In the certainty that henceforward the people of the Middle Island will not make any further sacrifices of their means to sustain the expenses of meddling in matters naturally the business of the Northern Island; and further, taking into consideration the rapid increase of our population and commerce, we are quite warranted in looking for a speedy restoration to that healthful financial condition formerly enjoyed by the Province.
It is the intention of Government to ask you to sanction the continued immigration of single women only.
The anticipations of Engineers, who have at various times reported upon the River Waimakariri, have been verified during the recent freshets. I shall cause a report of the state of the river, and an estimate of the expense of protective works, to be laid before you shortly.
I shall have the gratification of forwarding for your information copious reports of the scientific labours of the Provincial Geologist (Dr. Haast); which reports are to be accompanied by elaborate maps and illustrations.
The tunnel of the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway is progressing favourably, only about 245 yards of the centre remaining to be executed. I am advised that the line from Lyttelton to the Selwyn will be ready for traffic within nine months from this date. As you are aware, the railway is now working regularly between Ferrymead and Rolleston, a distance of about nineteen miles. It will be necessary to take steps for providing wharfage to serve shipping in connection with the railway immediately.
You will be glad to learn that my Government is in the enjoyment of a most cordial understanding with the Governments of the adjoining Provinces of Nelson and Otago, a condition of things highly conducive to the advancement of the Colony, and which I shall take every care to preserve; henceforth, let us hope that unprofitable jealousies will be displaced by a mutual desire to co-operate in the real work of colonisation.
The public will join me in deeply regretting that our old and faithful friend Mr. Selfe, after a long course of gratuitous services to the Province, as its agent in London, has found it necessary to forward his resignation. The Province, I trust, notwithstanding that Mr. Selfe has, to a great extent, discontinued his official relations with us, will, at the same time, retain a most grateful recollection of Mr. Selfe’s labours, and enjoy the advantage of his continued friendship.
Gentlemen, I am confident that the very pleasant relations that have always subsisted between the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Canterbury will be continued in these times.
I trust that it may be my privilege to see our united labours attended by profitable results.
I now declare this Council open for the transaction of business.
W. S. MOORHOUSE,
Superintendent of Canterbury.
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Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1866, No 74
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Address of the Superintendent to the Provincial Council
(continued from previous page)
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration19 October 1866
Provincial Council, Address, Legislative Measures, Financial Resources, Goldfields, Public Works, Bridges, Municipal Council, Timaru, Westland, Coalfields, Telegraph
- Selfe (Mr), Resigned as agent in London
- W. S. Moorhouse, Superintendent of Canterbury