NEW ZEALAND

OTAGO

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

Published by Authority.

Vol. X. DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1866. No. 448

[WITH SUPPLEMENT.]

ADDRESS OF HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT,

ON OPENING THE TWENTY-SECOND SESSION OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF THE PROVINCE OF OTAGO, TUESDAY, 6TH NOVEMBER, 1866.

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council—

In meeting you on the present occasion, I have to congratulate you on the possession, for the first time, of a suitable place for your deliberations. You have refrained from expending any money for this purpose hitherto, feeling that, however important it was for the Provincial Council of Otago to have a fixed place of meeting, there were other undertakings which should first call for your attention; and it is worthy of note that upwards of a million of money had been expended upon public works before the building in which we now assemble was commenced.

Notwithstanding the drain upon our resources, caused by the increased expenditure of the General Government, the Finances of the Province, so far as they are within our own control, are now in a satisfactory condition, and I am happy to inform you that by a vigilant but judicious economy, this has been accomplished without impairing the efficiency of the public service or depriving the various institutions of the aid which has always been extended to them.

The Territorial Revenue for the past year has been considerably in excess of the sum anticipated, and has enabled me to undertake nearly all the Public Works authorised at your last Session. Among the works entered upon may be mentioned a considerable extension of the various Trunk Roads, the Jetty at Oamaru, the Government Buildings, the Bridging of the Clutha, Mataura, and Shotover Rivers, and the erection of several School Buildings—all works of a permanent character and of great public utility.

The only great river now remaining to be bridged is our northern boundary—the Waitaki; and I am happy to inform you that, in that desirable undertaking, I hope to obtain the co-operation of the Government of Canterbury. This co-operation will, I sincerely hope, tend to the completion of a work, not only of great advantage to the northern part of this Province, but also connecting more closely two Provinces whose interests are identical, and who should be moved only by a generous emulation as to which, by most rapidly and fully developing its resources, can best aid in the common advancement of the Colony.

The Waste Lands Act, passed at the recent session of the Assembly, is now in operation. It will, I trust, not only be found advantageous as a means of increasing the Revenue, but especially of facilitating the permanent and satisfactory settlement of population in the Province.

A new Goldfields Act has also been passed, consolidating previous Acts, and containing provisions which, it is hoped, will have a tendency to develop our resources and encourage industry.

I regret that, owing to the difficulty found by our Home Agents in obtaining female immigrants, all the vote for this object has not been expended. I invite your serious attention to the whole question of Immigration.

I also commend to your consideration the propriety of appointing an agent in London, for the purpose of diffusing information regarding the Province, and co-operating with the existing agency in obtaining immigrants.

The Southern Trunk Railway Bill has passed the Assembly. In accordance with your resolution, I endeavoured to obtain power to negotiate a loan for its construction. The General Government, however, declined to support such a proposition at present. I am hopeful that, under any circumstances, the Loan would have been unnecessary, as we may reasonably expect in the improved condition of the London money market, that a company will be formed in terms of the Southern Trunk Railway Guaranteed Interest Ordinance, 1865. It will be needful, however, that an Ordinance should be passed in your present Session, giving longer time for the formation of a Company.

A proposition was introduced into the Assembly to reduce the export duty on gold, but was finally withdrawn. As it is a question which more concerns the Provinces