NEW ZEALAND.

OTAGO

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

Published by Authority

Vol. XI. DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1867. No. 486.
[WITH SUPPLEMENT.]

ADDRESS

OF

HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT

ON PROROGUING THE TWENTY-THIRD SESSION OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF THE PROVINCE OF OTAGO, WEDNESDAY, 5TH JUNE, 1867.

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council,

I have now to thank you for the earnest attention which you have devoted to the public interests throughout this the first session of the present Council; and especially for the all but unanimous determination which has been evinced by you to maintain in their integrity the rights and privileges of the Province, as against the usurpation of the General Government.

The large and liberal policy which you have manifested your desire to carry out, particularly as respects Immigration, Railways, and other important public works, afford a gratifying indication of that which may be expected at your hands as soon as the Province acquires the disposal and control of its own revenues — so soon as it resumes those powers of local self-government which the Constitution Act assigns to it, and which it formerly exercised without vexatious intermeddling on the part of the General Government.

Gentlemen, — It will be my duty and that of my Executive Council to devote our earnest attention to the economical and efficient expenditure of the large sums which you have placed at our disposal; and to take care that the confidence which you have reposed in us by granting such comparatively liberal supplies for public works throughout the Province, shall not have been misplaced. The various Addresses which you have sent to me shall have my attention in due course.

I have already, by Message, given my assent to the —

• Goldfields Provincial Management Ordinance, 1867;
• Administration of Justice Ordinance, 1867;
• Southern Trunk Railway Guaranteed Interest Ordinance, 1867;

Feuing Ordinance, 1867;

And on the 31st May, I assented to the Appropriation Ordinance, 1867-8.

I now intimate my assent, on behalf of the Governor, to the —

• Turnpikes Ordinance, 1836, Amendment Ordinance, 1867;
• Neglected and Criminal Children Ordinance, 1867;
• Provincial Wardens’ Courts Jurisdiction Extension Ordinance, 1867;
• Immigration and British Agent Ordinance, 1854, Amendment Ordinance, 1867;
• Sheep Ordinance, 1867.

The following Bills I have reserved for the assent of his Excellency the Governor:—

• Oamaru Town Board Ordinance, 1862, Repeal Bill, 1867;
• Port Chalmers Town Board Ordinance Repeal Bill, 1876;
• Dunedin Reserves Management Bill, 1867;
• Otago Loan Bill, 1867;
• Southern Trunk Railway Guaranteed Interest Bill, No. 2, 1867.

With regard to the Administration of Justice Ordinance, 1867, and Provincial Wardens’ Courts Extension of Jurisdiction Ordinance, 1867, to which I have assented, I observed with pleasure that, on passing these Ordinances, you did so under the conviction that they were rendered necessary to meet a pressing emergency. I concur with you in thinking that it is inexpedient for the Provincial Council to interfere with the established administration of justice, excepting in peculiarly critical circumstances. It is not, therefore, my intention to put either of those two Ordinances in force unless the public interests should render it absolutely necessary to do so—a course which I feel assured will meet with your approval.

Gentlemen, — Although I trust it may not be necessary to call you together again until the termination of the current financial year, yet should we fail in getting the evils which have been inflicted upon the Province