150

With respect to Harbour Accommodation, I shall cause to be laid before you Estimates of Expenditure which is considered necessary for the proper and commodious berthing of shipping.

I have entered into a provisional contract for the purchase of the property known as the Peacock Wharf property, the particulars of which will be laid before you, and upon which I request your early and favourable decision.

A sum of money will be placed upon the Estimates for the purpose of proceeding with the Northern Line of Railway.

I consider that the settlers to the north have a fair and just claim to the execution of this project, which should be carried out immediately upon the negotiation of our debentures.

I have caused an amount of money to be placed upon the Estimates for the purpose of carrying out the proposal made by Mr. Balfour for the protection of the Timaru Roadstead, and I trust that the financial position of the Province will no longer delay the prosecution of this work.

Considerable expenditure will be necessary during the ensuing few months upon permanent buildings and other improvements upon the Lyttelton and Christchurch and Southern Lines of Railway, in order to the proper and efficient management and working thereof.

Correspondence with the General Government, in reference to the consolidation of Provincial Loans, will be laid before you. I consider that the consolidation of all Provincial Loans into New Zealand Stock will have a very material and beneficial effect upon the sale of our securities yet unrealised. It will be necessary, however, to guard ourselves zealously and carefully from concurrence in any measures which may endanger the interests of the Province.

It is not considered necessary to introduce male immigrants at present, and with that view the amount placed upon the Estimates for immigration purposes I propose to devote to the introduction of female immigrants only. The want of this class of population is very perceptible.

Few Bills of any great importance will be laid before you. The probable result of the legislation of the ensuing Session of the General Assembly will prevent the proposal of certain Ordinances concerning Municipal Institutions. I may express a hope that any measure enacted by the General Assembly, having for its object the extension of these institutions, may not have the effect of suddenly revolutionising the present constitution of the Provinces.

Reports by the Westland Commission, and the Mining Conference, and Resolutions recommending legislation in the General Assembly on the subject of the sale and occupation of lands within the Goldfields, will be submitted for your acceptance.

The foregoing matters will necessarily claim your prompt attention. It is also very desirable that many other subjects should be dealt with at an early date. Shortly after the Session of the General Assembly I will call you together, if I am advised that such a course would be profitable.

Estimates of Expenditure for only nine months are prepared, it being my intention to alter the end of the financial year from the 30th June to the 31st March. The Estimates have been compiled with the strongest desire to effect a fair and provident distribution of the revenues over all parts of the Province.

Gentlemen, I trust that your labours may be attended by those great benefits which have hitherto followed your efforts.

I have now to declare the Council to be duly opened for the transaction of business.

W. S. MOORHOUSE,
Superintendent.

CHRISTCHURCH:

Printed, under the authority of the Provincial Government of the Province of Canterbury, at the ‘Press’ Office, Cashel-street, by JAMES EDWARD FITZGERALD, Official Printer for the time being to the said Government.