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appointed two members for the mining district of Tuapeka, and one for the runholders in the North. If the tendency of this legislation is injurious in its character, or in its application, let us fairly meet the question; but let us avoid anything which may favor the idea that we are working underground.— I feel sure, Gentlemen, that these considerations will have due influence in your deliberations. Our population within the last few months you have doubled; and I am convinced you will not hastily adopt a proposition which may deprive those who have cast in their lot among us—whether as the holders of miners’ rights, or otherwise holding leases or freeholds—from the exercise of even a single right to which by law they are entitled.

There is also another subject which I think should be considered by you. I would willingly avoid any allusion to it if it were possible; the more especially from a recollection of the support so readily given me by the Colonial Secretary in the early period of the present year, and which makes me regret that his time had been so fully occupied with native affairs as to preclude him from continuing the immediate direction of the communications with the Provincial authorities. Every day convinces me of the absolute necessity for the establishment among us of an authority capable of finally acting, without recourse to the circuitous and dilatory system of reports. I will cause to be laid before you some correspondence with the General Government, and with other officers, which will require your attention. For myself I have no hesitation in saying that I regard the interference of the Postmaster-General, after I had permission to include the transmission of the English Mail in any arrangements I might make for communication between this Province and Melbourne, as aggressive and arbitrary.

The attempt to burthen this Province with the entire expense of the troops, despatched at my recommendation, while it is sharing in the expense incurred on account of the Military engaged in the North, cannot be viewed as other than ungenerous if not unjust. The papers connected with this subject were laid on your table during the last session.

The delay in granting commissions for the necessary increase of the Magistracy, and the absence of any orders for the Constitution of Wardens’ Courts, are subjects of the gravest importance.

The needless difficulties imposed by the General Government in making available the endowment for Harbour purposes; and thus interfering with the progress of this Province, at an important period, and with the measures which are necessary to preserve the health of its inhabitants, are also much to be regretted.

The irregular performance of the steam communication with Sydney and Auckland, under the General Government, is as regards Otago, a fruitful source of annoyance and delay. On the last occasion the Provincial Offices opened at 10 a.m., when the letters which were placed in the box of the department at the Post Office on the previous day were available for reply, and the mail left Dunedin at 2 p.m., thus almost neutralizing any good that might arise from such communication; a similar occurrence I complained of but a short time since; and the English mail which

was due on the 29th, arrived at Dunedin at 9 p.m. last night, and registered letters and newspapers must be posted by 4 p.m. to-day, and stamped letters to-morrow, at 9 a.m.

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

J. RICHARDSON,
Superintendent.

REPLY

OF PROVINCIAL COUNCIL TO OPENING ADDRESS
OF HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT.

(Carried 6th December, 1861.)

WE, the members of the Provincial Council, desire to express sympathy with your Honor in your present trying and difficult position in the conduct of the affairs of the Province; but, whilst we regret the necessity of our being called together at so early a period after the close of the late session, we shall at all times be happy to meet your Honor, and to afford you every support in the discharge of the functions of your high office which it is our duty to give.

The various matters to which your Honor has alluded shall forthwith receive our most serious deliberation, the result of which we shall communicate to your Honor with as little delay as possible.

Alex. Rennie,
Speaker.

ADDRESS

OF HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT WHEN CLOSING THE 14TH SESSION OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF THE PROVINCE OF OTAGO, 11TH DECEMBER, 1861.

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council,—

I WILL not review the proceedings of the last few days; you know how my successive efforts to form an Executive Council out of the party opposed to the late Government failed; and you are aware that a gentleman who was a member of the late Executive succeeded in the duty entrusted to him.

The machinery of Government being thus completed, I fully expected that your last act would be to redeem the promise conveyed in the amendment to the reply, that the various matters to which I had alluded should forthwith receive your most earnest attention; but you at once proceeded to a vote of want of confidence, and requested me to recommend his Excellency to dissolve the Council.

It is only seven months since, at a critical period in the history of the Province, I was earnestly solicited by a large body of my fellow colonists, to come forward as a Candidate for the vacant office of Superintendent—to redeem on the one hand the honor of the Province then tarnished, and exposed to imminent risk of further indignity; and, on the other, to protect the Constitutional rights of the freeholders. There was not a moment’s hesitation as to the nature of the reply I should give. The call of duty superseded all other considerations. The large majority which returned me testified that the constituency were in earnest. I have since unfalteringly and unflinchingly done my duty, without partiality or prejudice. The request con-