OTAGO
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
GAZETTE.

Published by Authority.

VOL. XI
DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1867.
No. 479.
[WITH SUPPLEMENT.]

ADDRESS OF HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT,
ON OPENING THE XXIII SESSION OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF OTAGO, MAY 1, 1867.

MR. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL,--

I have called you together at the earliest possible moment, chiefly for the purpose of procuring the necessary supplies for the Public Service of the Province. With this view, the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure will be submitted to you as early as possible; and I trust that provision will be made so as to enable the Public Service to be carried on without interruption, under the authority of law.

It cannot but be a matter of congratulation to us all that, in entering upon our respective duties, the financial position of the Province is satisfactory, notwithstanding the adverse circumstances against which it has had to contend, and the vast drain upon its resources which is constantly going on, to satisfy the requirements of the General Government.

The Estimates will be framed with a special regard to economising the Departmental Expenditure, by reducing, where practicable, the number of officers. Some proposed Departmental changes will be submitted to you, which I trust will receive your earnest attention.

With reference to Railways, you are no doubt aware that the Government, in accordance with what I believe to be the almost unanimous desire throughout the Province, has despatched Mr. W. C. Young as Special Commissioner to England, for the purpose of negotiating for the construction of the Southern Trunk Railway.

The disallowance, by the General Government, of the Guarantee Interest Ordinance of last session, has, to some extent, lessened the chance of Mr. Young’s immediate success. With a view of assisting Mr. Young, you will be asked to re-enact the Ordinance of last session, altered to meet, if possible, the objections of the General Government; failing which, I trust we may succeed in getting an Act passed through the General Assembly, which may enable us to offer such terms as shall ensure the success of Mr. Young’s mission. It cannot be supposed that what has been conceded to almost every other Province in New Zealand will be denied to us when the question comes to be submitted to the General Assembly. The correspondence upon this subject which has passed between the General Government and myself will be laid before you.

It is proposed, in the next Session of the General Assembly, to get the Railway Act, 1866, amended, so as to provide for certain tunneling, deviations, and improvements, should the constructors of the Railway deem such to be advantageous. In case of need, the provisions of the disallowed Provincial Ordinance can be inserted in the Amended Colonial Act.

It is a question whether it may not be advisable to take power to extend the guarantee from £400,000 to £500,000. As to this, I shall have to be guided by your opinion.

As regards the question of Railways generally, I regret to find that a feeling of jealousy exists in some portions of the Province with respect to the Southern Trunk Line, which is looked upon as conferring an advantage upon the Central Portion of the Province at the expense of the extremities. You will disclaim any such idea. If Railways could be constructed simultaneously all over the Province, it would be highly desirable: as it is, the line in question must be regarded simply as a commencement; and so soon as it is begun, it will be our duty to take steps to extend it in other directions. Should Mr. Young succeed in his present mission, we need not anticipate difficulty in the matter of extension.

There are various subjects of public importance, in which the initiative has been taken, and with respect to which I am confident of concurrent action on your part. I may allude specially, to the erection of a bridge across the Waitaki. I have been in communication with the Superintendent of Canterbury touching this matter, and the correspondence will be laid before you.

You will also be furnished with a copy of Correspondence with the General Government, respecting the application of the Land Registry Act, 1862, to the whole Province. I feel persuaded that, if the practical initiation of this Act were intrusted to the Provincial Government, as suggested in my letter to the Colonial Secretary, it would not remain longer as a dead letter in the Statute Book of the Colony; but that its provisions would be extensively taken advantage of.

I have also been in communication with the General Government respecting the erection of lights at Cape Saunders and the Nuggets; and have offered, subject to your approval, to construct both and hand them over to the General Government complete, the Province to find the lighting apparatus, and the General Government to provide the cost of the buildings. Should you concur in these proposals, it would be well to pass special resolutions expressive thereof, for transmission to the General Government.

I have also written to His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, with a view to introducing the salmon into our rivers from that colony. Before the session is over, I hope to submit some practical proposition for your approval, in order to this end.

It will be recollected that, some years ago, the Government offered a bonus of £500 as an inducement to the Manufacture of Paper from the Native Flax. There is reason to believe that, had the amount been larger, a Paper Manufactory would