196

in the event of extensive sales taking place under the " Land Sales and Leases Ordinance, 1856," or otherwise, the Government may be enabled to expend on the objects referred to the amounts proposed to be voted.

A report on public works with estimates, by the Chief Surveyor and Civil Engineer, showing the extent of main roads to be executed—the portions of them requiring to be metalled, according to the amount of traffic—the appliances that should be used for opening and keeping in repair the unmetalled main roads—and lastly, the order in which this work should be proceeded with, according to means, in each successive year.

The promise made at your last prorogation of a Bill for conservation of the Otago Education Scheme in all its original principles, and with amendments in matters of detail, which experience has proved to be desirable, has been so far attended to that a Bill to that effect was drafted, but, owing to the unsettlement of the Executive, as already referred to, there has not been time for its completion by the present Government so as to be laid on your table. The principles, however, of that Bill, and modification of details, will be submitted to you in the shape of Resolutions, setting forth those principles, and making the adoption of them in the Bill to be binding.

Amongst the more important Acts of the New Zealand Parliament, as affecting the Province, may be noticed the "Waste Lands Act, 1858," by which it is declared that the sale and administration of all Crown Lands are vested in the Governor; but presently delegated, as heretofore, to the Government of each Province; and it sets forth also the power of the Governor, with advice of his Executive Council, to change that delegation into the hands of any other party—so that each Province, as regards the sale and administration of Crown Lands, now stands upon its trial to be judged of by the Ministry of the day.

Another Act, the "New Provinces Act, 1858," gives power to the Ministry on certain conditions, but wholly irrespective of the general wishes of any Province, or of its representatives in the Council, at any time, to break up such Province into separate portions, independent of, and naturally antagonistic to each other, in respect of any uniform and comprehensive system for surveys, immigration, steam communication, and road-making, so as to open out, provide for, and connect the whole territory in each of its parts, so far as a judicious and economical application of the land fund can suffice. And in connection with this subject, I have further to call your attention to the enactment, evidently based upon the conviction that the land fund arising from sales at 10s. an acre is insufficient, and which therefore enables the Governor, by giving his assent to a Provincial Ordinance for raising the price, to make a change to that extent in the Land Regulations—any other change whatever in existing regulations by a Provincial Legislature being wholly precluded.

With reference to these acts, and the whole tone of recent legislation, showing a desire for centralisation, and the abolition of the Provinces as such, there is much to be maturely reflected on, by the Government and Provincial Council, as well as by the people of Otago at large, with a view to such action thereon as may be found expedient.

The following Bills and Resolutions will be introduced for your consideration:—

1. Leases of Trust Lands Bill.
2. Dunedin Cattle Trespass Bill.
3. Appropriation Bills.
4. Immigration Fund Bill.
5. Pastoral Districts Bill.

Resolutions in reference to—

1. Towns Endowments.
2. Public Works.
3. Education.

Gentlemen, I have now the pleasure to leave the business of the Session in your hands, in the full confidence and assurance that your deliberations will be influenced by a cordial desire to promote the progress and best interests of the Province.

Dunedin, 3rd November 1858.

REPLY.

To THE ADDRESS OF HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AT OPENING THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, 3rd November, 1858.

To His Honor the Superintendent.

IN thanking your Honor for the Address with which you have been pleased to open its present Session, the Provincial Council beg leave most respectfully to submit a few remarks upon the various topics to which you have called its attention. We desire to congratulate your Honor upon the improved and rapidly rising position of the Province, attributable, we believe, in a great measure, to the successful results of the system of Immigration which has been adopted to meet its requirements of capital and labour.

We cannot but regret the causes alluded to by your Honor, which have rendered it impossible to fully prepare the business of the present Session; and should the suggestion of your Honor to prorogue the Council for four or five months be found