17

(unless we except the miserable attempts
at road-making from Picton and a small
portion at the Kaituna and Taylor’s passes)
not a single yard of dry-road was ever at-
tempted to be formed at the Government
expense in this province, and none properly
made. The communications of our province
were nearly all impassable. What
has been already done is but small; still,
every exertion has been used to do the works
efficiently, and no part of the province has
been neglected. The roads and works have
been attended to in every district, as far as
time and funds would allow.

We have now a good dry-road from the
Wairau to Picton, and a tolerable one from
the Wairau River to the Wairau Valley
and the Awatere, but much yet requires to
be done to make these two trunk lines good
and efficient.

The road along the East Coast will, in
two months, be completed, and with a horse
ferry over the Waipara river, there will be
a good bridle track through the length of
our province, and the only obstacle to a
bridle track throughout to Canterbury will
be in the Nelson province, from the Con-
way to Mr. Lees’ station; the road there
is very hilly and bad.

The following bridges have been erected,
viz:—

A cart bridge over the Tuamarina,
opening from Picton and the north
side of the Wairau to the other parts
of the province.

Two cart bridges over Spring Creek,
giving free communication to that
fine agricultural district.

A cart bridge over the creek near
Blenheim on the Awatere road.

A cart bridge over the Sandhill Creek
opening the communication from
thence to Blenheim.

And other smaller bridges on the different roads.

Tenders have been accepted for erecting
bridges over the Pelorus, Tinline, and Omaka
rivers, and they will be erected with all dis-
patch.

The road between the Wairau and Picton
has for some time been in a good travelling
state, and is improving every day; and
with the dray-punt, which has been placed
over the Wairau river (which answers admi-
rably), the road from Picton, both by the
way of Blenheim and the Wairau Plain,
may now be fairly stated to be in good
travelling order, in proof of which the
traffic with drays is very fast increasing.

I hope, by the end of another year, with
your assistance, to have most of the main
lines of road formed, and as far as the state
will allow, metalled.

The school-house at Blenheim has been
altered and fitted up to accommodate girls
as well as boys, with rooms to enable the
master to take boarders. New schools have
been opened at Picton and Renwick, and a
Government subsidy of £50 per annum has
been granted to each; these schools are
being well conducted.

I shall lay before you a statement of the
disbursements, and I hope you will approve
of the manner in which the money you have
voted has been expended. I shall also
have prepared, and lay before you, the esti-
mates for the following year.

The important subject of steam communi-
cation with this province will also be sub-
mited to your consideration.

The principal bills I have prepared for
your consideration are three, that were
passed by you last session, viz:—

“The Cattle Branding Act,” which
was returned by His Excellency,
with a message to insert a clause,
limiting the penalties under £100.

“The Dog Nuisance Abatement Act,”
which was not allowed because
native dogs were made amenable.
This has been corrected by striking
out all the parts of the bill relating
to Maories.

“The Alteration of Roads Act,” which
I have been requested by the
Honourable the Colonial Secretary
to have amended in a few clauses,
and have done so accordingly, and
now lay it before you in its amended
shape.

The new bills I shall lay before you,
are—

“A Bill for Improving the Town of
Picton” and if you authorise me to
proceed with a Railway, a bill
to enable me to borrow the required
capital.

Any other measures that you may re-
quire, or that I may deem advisable, I shall
be happy to have prepared and brought
before you as early as possible.

On the 18th April, 1861, the following
reply to the address of His Honour the Super-
intendent, was unanimously adopted by
the Council:—

To His Honour William Adams, Es-
quire, Superintendent of the Pro-
vince of Marlborough—

We, the members of the Provincial
Council of Marlborough, in Council assembled, beg to tender our thanks to you
for the clear and able statement you have
given us as regards the conduct of public
affairs in this province since we last met
in Council, and we heartily coincide with
you in your expression of pleasure at
meeting in this our new and commodious
Council Chamber, and we agree with you
that the Public Offices and Gaol have been
constructed with the greatest care and