✨ Provincial Council Address
159
The time has, I think, come when active steps should be taken to ascertain the cost of permanently lowering Lake Ellesmere, so that a large tract of land may be made available for cultivation, and with this object in view, I shall ask you to appropriate a sufficient sum to obtain an opinion from a competent engineer as to the best method to be adopted, and as to the expense which may be involved, together with an estimate of the amount of land which would be rendered available.
The system of education established in this province is producing most important results.
The number of children attending the public schools is steadily increasing.
The actual numbers in attendance for the quarter ending 31st December last, according to the published returns, being 8229, as against 6265 in the same quarter of the previous year.
New districts are being formed, and new school buildings are being erected.
In order to meet the increasing educational requirements of the Province, and to maintain the system in a state of efficiency, and also to prevent the necessity for increased taxation in the future, I am of opinion that further endowments in land are desirable. The question of the expediency of extending similar provision to hospitals and other institutions deserves your careful attention.
I shall recommend you to make further grants to public libraries, so as to extend the usefulness of these institutions.
I am of opinion that it would be advisable to permanently endow the municipalities of the Province with certain fees, and taxes, raised within their respective boundaries. I propose therefore to transmit to you a Bill to give effect to this proposition.
Bills will be submitted to you for amending "The Executive Council Ordinance," for amending "The Railway Tolls and Management Ordinance, 1872," for granting to the Municipal Corporations within the Province certain fees and taxes, as part of their ordinary revenue.
I now declare this Council open for the despatch of business.
WM. ROLLESTON,
Superintendent.
CHRISTCHURCH:
Printed under the authority of the Provincial Government of the Province of Canterbury at the office of the "Press" Company Limited, Cashel street, by W. H. SMITH, Official Printer for the time being to the said Government.
Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1874, No 26
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏘️
Address of His Honor the Superintendent on opening the forty-first session of the Provincial Council of Canterbury
(continued from previous page)
🏘️ Provincial & Local GovernmentCanterbury, Provincial Council, Superintendent, Lake Ellesmere, Education, Public Schools, Municipalities, Legislation
- Wm. Rolleston, Superintendent