✨ Provincial Council Address
170
On the whole an additional area of not less than 90,000 acres has been brought under cultivation and crop during the past year. The result is gratifying as indicating a steady increase of industry and settlement simultaneously with the increase of population and alienation of the public estate.
Various causes have contributed to diminish the sales of waste lands during the past few months. One principal cause is no doubt the higher price of money which has recently obtained.
The estimated receipts for the nine months ending March 31st have not been realised by a sum of about £40,000.
Considerable progress has been made in the construction of harbour works in Lyttelton. The wharf at the tunnel mouth is completed, and the steam dredge authorised by you has been contracted for and is now ready for despatch from Glasgow.
A careful survey of the harbour at Timaru was made by Mr. Whately Eliot, the engineer sent for the purpose from England. I hope very shortly to receive Sir John Coode’s opinion and proposals, which he was expected to forward after Mr. Eliot’s return to England.
A survey of the Port of Lyttelton by Mr. Eliot with borings, and all necessary information, will also be submitted to him for his opinion as to the best design for a graving dock and patent slip.
Papers containing full information on these subjects will be laid before you; also, a report by Mr. Eliot on the Sumner navigation, and a report by Mr. Bray on the drainage of Lake Ellesmere.
A return has been prepared showing the general results of the working of the railways during the past year, and will be laid upon the table.
About fifty-three additional miles of railway have been opened for traffic during the nine months, viz., from—
Rakaia to Ashburton, about ... 17 Miles
Rolleston to Malvern about ... 24 „
Rangiora to Oxford, about ... 11½ „
The length of line open on the 1st July, 1874, was about sixty miles; at the present time there are nearly 118 miles, so that it will be seen that the length of line open for traffic has been nearly doubled during the nine months.
Within the course of a few months it will be still further increased by the opening of the following lines:—
South Line, extension to Rangitata ... 19 Miles
Southbridge Line, about ... 24 „
Oxford Line, extension ... 10 „
North Line, extension to Amberley ... 13½ „
Whitecliffs Branch Line ... 11½ „
Kaiapoi and Eyreton ... 15½ „
Or a total of nearly ninety-six miles, which, added to the length now open, will make a total of nearly 209 miles, more than three times the mileage open in last July.
I am glad to be able to announce that arrangements are being made by means of a temporary bridge over the Rangitata for the carrying of traffic to the south side of that river within four months from this time.
I have undertaken to recommend you to make a moderate contribution towards the extra expense involved in this proposal, believing that the early opening of the line to this point will be a great boon to the public.
Immigration to this province has been actively promoted during the past year, and
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Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1875, No 16
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏘️ Address by His Honor the Superintendent at the Opening of the Forty-Second Session of the Provincial Council of Canterbury
🏘️ Provincial & Local Government2 April 1875
Provincial Council, Canterbury, Address, Agriculture, Wool, Population, Communication
- His Honor the Superintendent