48

ducted sums appropriated by the
last Provincial Council for Pub-
lic Works now in progress, and
of which full particulars will be
laid before you .................... £21,000 0 0

Leaving an available balance for
appropriation now of ................ 64,606 9 10
Which sum it is proposed to ex-
pend as follows:—
Permanent Department of Go-
vernment for the ensuing
six months .................... £16,000
Public Works .................... 44,000
Coastal and Internal
Steam Communica-
tion .................... 4000

Of these items you will have full particu-
lars and details when the Estimates are
placed in your hands.

As you are aware, the two great Depart-
ments of Surveys and Public Works have
hitherto been conducted under one head.
It is manifest, however, that both the one
and the other of these departments has
assumed a magnitude and importance
which render it impossible for any one
individual to conduct them both efficiently.
I therefore propose to separate the two,
and to place a sum on the Estimates suffi-
cient to enable me to procure the services
of a competent Civil Engineer to take the
head of the Department of Public Works—
the gentleman who has hitherto performed
the duties of both departments preferring
to take the charge of the Surveys.

When it is considered that the perma-
nent Survey staff of the Government at pre-
sent comprises fourteen individuals, and
that it is not yet complete, the necessity
of the proposed arrangement will, I am
sure, be obvious to you. The same re-
mark, I feel assured, will apply to the
department of Public Works, under which,
if the Province continues to progress, a
large amount of public money must be
expended: upon the professional know-
ledge and experience of the head of this
department depends the economical dis-
posal of the public money, or the reverse,
in an inconceivable extent. Another great
reason which influences me in making this
proposition is the necessity which exists
for at once laying off and reserving land
both for common roads and railroads
throughout the Province. Unless this is
done, we shall have to pay no end of
money as compensation to private indi-
viduals, as soon as we are in a position to
indulge in railroads, which I trust will be
at no far distant date. I had intended
now to have broached the subject of a
tram-road or railway in the Taieri and
Tokomairo Plains, with a view to elicit-
ing public opinion on the matter; however,
I deem it premature to propose anything
definite at present.

While alluding to Public Works, I may
state that, for the future, it is the intention

of the Government to confine itself to the
system of contract,—the labour market
having now reached that point when it is
believed this can be done with advantage.

As respects Immigration, you will be
furnished with a copy of the correspon-
dence between myself and the British
Agents, from which it will be perceived
that the most active measures are now in
progress towards procuring a regular sup-
ply of Immigrants from the mother coun-
try direct. With a view to providing a
permanent Immigration Fund, irrespective
of any contingency which may appertain
to the land revenue, I propose to issue
debentures to the extent of £50,000, bear-
ing interest at the rate of 8 per cent., pay-
able in 1870, the sum to be specially set
apart for and employed towards Immigra-
tion. For this purpose an Ordinance will
be submitted to you, which, if passed, it is
hoped will receive His Excellency\'s assent
in time to enable me to make the necessary
arrangements and submit the plan of oper-
ation to your next session. While on this
subject, I may state that it will conduce
greatly towards the efficient working of
the contemplated Immigration, if its man-
agement is entrusted to a distinct depart-
ment of Government, with a properly
qualified head. If the Fund is to be self-
renewing, I feel that this will be absolutely
necessary.

COASTAL STEAM.—In conformity with
the resolution of last Council, I propose
to make the best terms I can for the per-
formance of this service, and have placed a
sum on the Estimates for the purpose. It
is evident, however, that the benefits to be
derived by the Province from steam com-
munication will be comparatively little,
unless we take advantage of the means of
transit about our inland rivers and
lakes, which are too shallow to be navi-
gated by sea-going steamers. I have rea-
son to believe that a bonus of £500 a-year
for two years would secure a paddle boat
to ply on the Clutha river forty to fifty
miles from its source; and that a similar
sum would provide the same means of
transit for the Taieri River, the Waipori
and Waihola Lakes. It is unnecessary to
dilate upon the vast importance to the
whole Province of such undertakings as
these. I shall transmit to you a special
message upon the subject, under the con-
f-
fident assurance that you will place me in
a position to carry my views upon this
matter into effect.

A sum will be placed upon the Estimates
for the construction of an Electric Tele-
graph between Dunedin and Port Chal-
mers. This is an improvement which can
be effected at such a trifling outlay that it
will amply repay itself, and I trust will meet
with your approval. An Ordinance will
be submitted to you, which, if passed, will
suffice not only for the proposed Telegraph