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of certain very cogent and fitting statutory restraints upon the Superintendents render the continuance of responsible ministers in the provinces altogether unnecessary. The people elect as Superintendent a person, in their opinion, fit to preside over the administration, and also to suggest legislation, and to this hour the mass of the Public believe in his primary responsibility; a circumstance which has no existence even in theory.

Would it not be well that the Council should give plain instructions and authorizations to the Superintendent, leaving upon him in the Executive superintendence of a permanent staff of officers, direct unsheltered responsibility to the Council, and so to the public and the law.

The Council will condole with me on the loss of our common friend and distinguished public servant, Mr. Crosbie Ward, late agent in London for the province, who died in the midst of duty on the 10th of November last. The loss of Mr. Ward will be felt severely, not only by this province, but by the colony at large.

On many grounds, the separation from this province of the county of Westland is naturally to be regretted, but material reasons exist for congratulating ourselves and the county on its having attained a distinctive existence. On behalf of this Province, I have to thank the Chairman of the County for the cordial way in which he testifies to the desire of the Canterbury Government to facilitate the transfer of the administration. I am assured that you join me in a wish that the Government of Westland may rapidly succeed in subduing every difficulty attending its initiation, and that it may grow in wealth and importance, and usefulness to the Colony.

The southern portion of the Province, by the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works Bill, is invested with independent powers to receive and disburse a fixed 25 per cent. of the proceeds of land sales within its limits. Notwithstanding this exceptional appropriation, I am advised that the Board will apply for additional subsidies from time to time in aid of its public works. I shall cordially concur in any appropriation beyond the said fixed proportion of land revenue, which may appear to you to be conducive to the general welfare, and at the same time within the means of the Province.

The Province is to be congratulated on the successful accomplishment of railway communication between the Port and the Plains, by means of the tunnel. I have entered into an arrangement with Messrs. George Holmes and Co., for the conduct of the business of the railways from Lyttelton to the Selwyn until the 31st March next. The particulars of this arrangement will be laid before you.

Returns of the receipts and expenditure upon the working of the railways since the 1st September, on which date the arrangement above referred to came into force, are being prepared, and will be laid before you on an early day. The information to be derived from these will assist you in your decision as to the course to be followed by the Government in the management of the lines after the termination of the agreement with Messrs. George Holmes and Co.

In view of the depressed state of the finances of the Province, I propose that immigration should, for the present, cease. A small sum only will be placed on the estimates, in order to liquidate liabilities already entered into.

I recently received an intimation from his Excellency the Governor that His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh would honour the Province with his presence during his visit to New Zealand. It is not necessary for me to observe that His Royal Highness will be received with the greatest enthusiasm by a loyal population.