✨ Provincial Council Address
The total annual expenditure of public money on the above purposes for a population of 46,000 souls, amounts to £13,600.
A copy of an Act entitled "The Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Act, 1871," will be placed before you. The Act was suggested by resolutions passed by you on the subject. Should you be of opinion that its provisions can be advantageously brought into operation in this Province, it will be necessary that you should signify your desire by a resolution to that effect.
A Bill introduced into the General Assembly for the purpose of giving effect to your resolutions as to the repayment of sums due to the Province under "The Canterbury Rivers Act, 1868," was rejected by the House of Representatives.
In order to give effect to a resolution passed by you in your last Session, surveys have been made to ascertain whether it is practicable to irrigate portions of the plains from the rivers which flow through them. The report of the Surveyor, which will be laid before you, and the experience which has already been gained in one portion of the Province is favourable to such a result.
The least expensive and most feasible proposal is to bring portions of the River Hawkins over the plains between the Waimakariri and the Selwyn. Should the work be successful, a considerable tract of country will be rendered available for profitable settlement, which must otherwise remain only partially occupied. The importance of this question, in view of the proposals to largely increase the population and improve the means of communication throughout the Province, can scarcely be overrated.
Correspondence relative to the immediate payment to the Road Boards of the sums available to this Province out of the £100,000 of the Loan payable under "The Payments to Provinces Act, 1871," will be placed before you.
The opening of communication which will shortly be complete with the town and port of Akaroa, by road and telegraph, is a matter which will give great satisfaction to a district whose large resources have been hitherto little known. Though the present proposals for railway extension do not include a line to Akaroa, it cannot be doubted that this important harbour will at no distant period be brought into closer and better communication with the interior of this Island.
GENTLEMEN,—
The present position of the Province in consequence of the increased value of its exports is a subject for great congratulation.
You will join with me in the earnest hope that the new year will be one of increasing prosperity to the Province and Colony.
I now declare this Council open for the dispatch of business.
W. ROLLESTON,
Superintendent.
CHRISTCHURCH:
Printed under the authority of the Provincial Government of the Province of Canterbury, at the Lyttelton Times Office, Gloucester Street, by WILLIAM REEVES, Official Printer for the time being to the said Government.
Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1872, No 1
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Provincial Council Address
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🏘️ Provincial & Local GovernmentProvincial Council, Immigration, Railways, Education, Healthcare, Astronomy, Christchurch
- W. Rolleston, Superintendent