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the New Zealand Provinces would have to find
their way. As a matter of course, the line
would be subsidized by all these Governments,
although in so far as we are concerned, I
believe you will be satisfied by the data which
will be laid before you, that it will pay us
without any subsidy. It will be manifest,
I trust, that we should throw the
price of a sheep run into the sea, an assumption,
for Hobart Town, and the New Zealand Provinces,
the benefits incidental to such connections
would far more than counterbalance the loss
of the price of a dozen sheep runs.

Gentlemen—It will rest with you to decide
upon this matter; if you say the word, I am
prepared to undertake that the vessels shall be
built and on the berth within nine months
from this date.

I have abstained from attempting to draw
the picture, which might legitimately be
drawn, of the glorious results to Otago which
this scheme presents, as there are others who
are more competent to do so, and I desire to
confine myself to the facts and figures which I
shall direct to be laid before you. I sincerely
trust that the matter will be taken up by you
in a liberal and comprehensive spirit, and that
you will keep in view that, whatever Province
of New Zealand may ultimately become the
port of call of the great highway of the Pa-
cific, such Province will secure to itself an ex-
penditure of at least a quarter of a million per
annum, which it will not otherwise have.

I can easily conceive that one very serious
objection which may be urged against my pro-
position is, that such an undertaking is more
the work of a private company than of the
Government. This I admit, and, in ordinary
circumstances, would readily concede. Taking
things as they are, however, it is manifest that,
if Otago is to even if it were—the culminating
point, as it were—the thing must of ne-
cessity be started by the Government, inas-
much as no private company can possibly be
found to take the matter up. If, afterwards,
it should be deemed advisable for the Govern-
ment to relinquish the practical conduct of the
undertaking, there will be no lack of private
companies ready and willing to take it off our
hands at a premium. Of one thing we may
rest assured, that the Panama line has become
an absolute necessity, and that it will very
speedily be established by some one. We
may, I think, take it for granted, further, that
whoever may be the promoters of this line,
they will never dream of the existence of such
a place as Otago, unless the promoters and
owners are ourselves. I believe that in most
respects this is the nearest headquarters for
such a line, and that, if we decide at once to
carry it out, we shall be the first in the field,
and, consequently, for some time at least, shall
have it all to ourselves.

The most obtuse must see that it would re-
pay the Province a thousandfold, and that
there is no effort nor expenditure which we
are not amply warranted in devoting towards
the attainment of this end.

To give an idea of some of the merely con-
tingent benefits which would result to this
Province from the scheme now proposed:—
Suppose, for example, that we arranged with
the Coleman Company to continue the line to
the other colonies, their head quarters would
require to be in this port, involving an ex-
penditure of at least £60,000 a-year among
us.

I will not detain you by alluding to several
other public works of a minor nature, to which
your sanction will be required, as these will be
fully explained by the Executive members of
the Council.

The legislative business of the Session, in
so far as such will be introduced by the Go-
vernment, will comprise an Education Ordi-
nance, which I believe is generally approved
of by the country, and which it is to be hoped
will set the questio vexata at rest.

A Roads Ordinance, embodying a gear
many practical improvements in the existing
law, and making the administration of the law
much more simple and efficient than it has
hitherto been.

A Licensing Ordinance for the more effec-
tive repression of sly grog-selling, and the re-
gulation of the sale of ardent spirits.

An Ordinance to prevent the demolition of
Trigonometrical Stations and other land-
marks connected with the survey of the coun-
try.

Also, an Ordinance to provide for the dis-
posal of Unbranded Cattle.

An Ordinance for Enlargement of the Pro-
vincial Council, and for the subdivision of the
Province into a greater number of Electoral
Districts, prepared in accordance with the re-
solution of your last session.

A Debentures Ordinance, to enable us to
borrow money, for the improvement of Dun-
edin harbour and for Immigration.

It will be recollected that, at your last Ses-
sion, I placed a sum on the estimates towards
an exploratory survey of the West Coast of the Pro-
vince, which you declined to vote, unless the
party could be accompanied by a competent
geologist, and because the sum named was in-
adequate. With a view, therefore, of ascer-
taining the probable cost of a geological sur-
vey, I some time ago communicated with Mel-
bourne, but have had no reply. I also made
application to Sir Roderick Murchison upon
this subject, but have had no answer as yet.

There are several very important matters
bearing upon the interests of the Province,
which will come before you in the discussion
of the estimates, and which I commend to your
earnest consideration.

I allude, especially, to the introduction of
Salmon into our rivers. I believe there are
no rivers in these Colonies so well adapted as
ours for the propagation of this most valuable
fish.

I desire, also, to call your attention to the
great source of wealth which abounds in the
numerous bays and inlets all around our
coast—a source from which we ought to de-
rive, not only a large export, but a consi-
derable portion of the food of our population.
Fisheries is a branch of industry which has
hitherto been entirely neglected among us,
chiefly, in consequence of the class
of men who are competent to engage in it
being destitute of any other capital than their
individual labour. I trust you will agree with
me that to foster and encourage the establish-
ment of fisheries is as much the duty of the
Government as to subsidise the working of
coal, steam, or the discovery of gold-fields.
With this view I purpose placing a small sum
on the Estimates.

Gentlemen—It now only remains for me to
say a single word personal to myself, which is,
that circumstances will, I fear, render it ex-
pedient for me to devote my attention to pri-