224

some very stringent precautions are adopted,
we shall be exposed to the infliction of that
fearful disease, termed pleura-pneumonia,
which is at the present moment devastating
whole herds of cattle in the colony of Victoria.
I have used every exertion to prevent so terri-
ble a calamity befalling us, both by applica-
tion to the General Government to prohibit
the importation, and by the exercise of every
legal power with which I am invested. Should
I not hear from the General Government by
the coming mail I will consult you as to the
precautions which should be adopted.

At the earliest opportunity I will submit
for your consideration a Correspondence be-
tween the Home Agents and Sir Roderick
Murchison, on the subject of a Geological
Survey of this Province; and I am truly
rejoiced to think that it is in our power to
secure the services of so eminent a naturalist
as Dr. Hector, and one so highly recommended
by so capable a judge. The expense of such
a survey, spread over a period of four years,
is absolutely nothing compared with the prac-
tical results of such an investigation, develop-
ing the mineral resources of the Province, and
adding to its agricultural and pastoral attrac-
tions those equally valuable inducements which
start into existence when a country is ascer-
tained to be rich in the materials of commerce
and manufactures. I ask you to enable my
close with this offer—alike endorsed by self-
interest and by the obligations of science.

Provision has been made in the Estimates
for publishing the past acts and proceedings
of this Council—a duty too long neglected;
and also for the formation of a Provincial
Council Library, in which we have not tardily
followed the steps of the other Provinces.
Both these objects will at once commend them-
selves to your notice.

I fear, gentlemen, I have detained you too
long from the urgent business of the session,
but I may offer as my apology, that on this
first occasion of our meeting I could not ab-
stain from a full and free expression of my
opinions on the important subjects which will
have to come before you. I fear that I may
be considered open to the suspicion of advo-
cating a timid policy; but such imputation
would be unjust. Rapidity of growth in po-
litical life as in the various forms of nature is
generally accompanied by weakness; the pro-
gress of Britain in constitutional liberty and
material prosperity has been slow but certain;
other nations, whose rapid advancement caused
amazement in the observers, have been shaken
to the very foundations. Our vessel of state
has been severely tried in the gale which we
have so lately encountered, and though she
has gallantly ridden it out, she has received
many a rude shock and requires to be tho-
roughly examined and thoroughly repaired.
When you return her to me in a sea-worthy
condition, we will spread every yard of canvas
to the breeze; or should tempestuous seas en-
compass and hurricanes envelop us, we will
scud, still true as possible to our course, with
close reefed topsails and every man at his post.

It now only remains for me to express an
earnest prayer in the language which has for
years preceded your deliberations, "that all
things may so be ordered and settled by your
endeavours upon the best and surest founda-
tion, that peace and happiness, truth and
justice, religion and piety, may be established
among us throughout all generations."

I now declare this Council open for the
despatch of business.

J. RICHARDSON,
Superintendent.

THE REPLY
OF
THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL
TO THE OPENING ADDRESS OF HIS HONOR THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF OTAGO.
SESSION XII.

SIR—We have to thank your Honor for having
called the Council together at so early a date
after your election in order to avoid the expendi-
ture of public money without appropriation.
Under the peculiar circumstances in which the
Province has been placed, we feel that a devia-
tion from the correct principle has been unavoid-
able, but sincerely concur with your Honor in
the view that such a course should be avoided as
far as possible.

We in common with your Honor regret the
dismemberment of the Province, but at the
sametime cordially echo the sentiment of good-
will to the sister Province of Southland, enunci-
ated by your Honor.

The existence of a paying gold field within
the Province will materially change the aspect of
our future, and will, trust, contribute to the
wellbeing and advancement of the Province. We
thank your Honor for the prompt measures
which you have taken to avoid many of the evils
consequent upon the influx of an unfixed popu-
lation, and trust those measures will be condu-
cive to the peace and order of the community.

The various measures to be submitted to us
will receive our earliest attention; and we have
to thank your Honor for the expression of your
approval of the principle of Responsible Govern-
ment, and for your ready acquiescence in the
formation of such checks upon the issue of pub-
lic monies as will we trust effectually prevent
the recurrence of such misfortunes as have lately
befallen the Province.

We have to express our approval of your
Honor's views as to reclaiming of the Harbour,
and of the necessity of maintaining the Survey
Department on an efficient footing, so as to obvi-
ate the inconveniences which have arisen in con-
sequence of the defective method of laying off road
lines.

We congratulate your Honor upon your elec-
tion to the highest office in the power of the
community to bestow, and express our sincere
desire to co-operate with you for the good of the
public service, and the advancement of the reli-
gious and moral, as well as the material, progress
of the country throughout all generations.

THOMAS B. GILLIES,
Speaker.