NEW ZEALAND
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE
(PROVINCE OF NELSON).

Published by Authority.

All Public Notifications which appear in this Gazette, with any Official Signature thereunto annexed, are to be considered as Official Communications made to those Persons to whom they may relate, and are to be obeyed accordingly.

By His Honour's command,
ALFRED DOMETT, Provincial Secretary.

VOL. VIII. NELSON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1860. No. 5.

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1860.

The seventh session of the Provincial Council was opened this day, at one o'clock, upon which occasion the following address of the Superintendent was read by the Clerk, his Honour's attendance being prevented by indisposition.

MR. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL—

The first subject to which it appears to me desirable to call your attention in opening the session, is that of the financial position of the Province. In so doing, it affords me satisfaction to be able to inform you that my estimate of the probable revenue for the current year has been considerably exceeded by that actually raised. This is chiefly owing to the Sales of Land, which produced upwards of £48,000 during the three quarters ended 31st December last, being an excess over the estimated amount of about £15,000. The total revenue during the last three quarters amounted to £72,012 8s. 10d., including the balance from the previous year, to which should be added the estimated revenue for the present quarter, making a gross probable total of £74,500. So far the financial position of the Province cannot be viewed in any other light than as extremely satisfactory.

2. It would afford me much pleasure could I feel myself justified in assuring you that this satisfactory financial position is likely to continue. Two circumstances, however, appear to me calculated to prevent it. Heretofore it has been found that a balance in favour of the Province has accrued from the five-eighths of the Customs revenue apportioned to the General Government. A despatch lately received by me from the Colonial Secretary, a copy of which will be laid before you, will acquaint you with the fact that that apportionment has, during the last year, been found insufficient for the requirements of the General Government, and that the sum of one thou-

sand one hundred and eighteen pounds and three pence has been claimed by them and paid by me in consequence. As our Province is the only one, excepting New Plymouth, which had not a surplus to receive, the cause of this deficit in our case demands some inquiry. It is owing apparently to the large expense, as compared with that of the other Provinces, of our Customs and Post Office departments. An examination of the official Returns will show that the cost of collecting the Customs revenue in this Province, in proportion to the amount collected, is nearly double the proportionate cost in Wellington and Canterbury, much greater than in Auckland, and one-third greater than the cost of collecting in Otago, where the amount of revenue last year was about the same as in Nelson. This seems to show that the Customs Establishment in this Province is unnecessarily large, a fact which will doubtless engage the attention of the General Assembly at its approaching session. Another cause of the deficit is the expenditure in the Post Office, which has been swelled by the addition of the bonus to the Nelson Steam Association to the expenses of that department.

3. The other circumstance which I consider calculated to affect injuriously to affect our future revenue, is the division of the province under the "New Provinces Act." Of the merits or demerits of that Act, it appears to me the time has arrived when an expression of your opinion thereon may be properly and beneficially made. My own opinion is entirely unfavourable to that measure. Could I believe it calculated to extend the blessings of local self-government, no person would be found to rejoice more in its full development than I should. The only valid objection I have ever heard urged against Provincial Institutions, as established under the Constitution Act, has been their expensiveness. I cannot, however, see that that expense can be diminished by the increase of provinces; for every new province, if it is to be governed on true representative principles, will necessarily require a complete staff of officers and suitable offices, which will be so much additional expense in