215

NEW ZEALAND.

OTAGO

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

Published by Authority.

Vol. XII. DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1868. No. 552.

[WITH SUPPLEMENT.]

ADDRESS OF HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT,

ON PROROGUING THE TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF THE PROVINCE OF OTAGO, THURSDAY, 11TH JUNE, 1868.

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council—

I have now to congratulate you on the conclusion of an unusually long Session.

I have assented, on behalf of the Governor, to the Imprest Supply Ordinance 1868, and to the Appropriation Ordinance 1868-9, the former on the 29th day of May last, and the latter on the 10th day of June current.

I now assent, on behalf of the Governor, to the following Bills, also passed by you :—

Gunpowder Ordinance 1868.

Fencing Ordinance 1868.

Inflammable Oils Ordinance 1868.

Education Reserves Abandonment Ordinance 1868.

Sheep Ordinance 1867 Amendment Ordinance 1868.

Cattle Trespass Ordinance 1858 Amendment Ordinance 1868.

Goat Nuisance Ordinance 1868.

Appropriation Ordinance No. 2 1868-9.

And the following Bills, which you have also passed, I now reserve for the signification of the Governor’s pleasure thereon :—

The Roads Diversion Ordinance 1865, and Roads Diversion Ordinance (No. 2) 1865, Amendment Ordinance 1868.

The Papakaio Accommodation House Site Sale Ordinance 1868.

Havelock Cemetery Reserves Ordinance 1868.

Port Chalmers Reserves Management Ordinance 1868.

Queenstown Reserve Management Ordinance 1868.

Warepa Schoolmaster’s Residence and Glebe Lands Leasing Ordinance 1868.

With reference to the various Addresses which have been transmitted to me, I have to assure you that the respective subjects thereof will receive the best attention of the Government during the recess.

I may observe, with reference to the expenditure for the current financial year, that, unless the revenue comes fully up to the amount estimated, it will be impossible to give effect to the whole of the votes which, on your recommendation, have been placed on the Estimates. It will be my endeavour, however, to apportion the expenditure, whatever that may amount to, equitably throughout the Province.

The only question to which I need specially allude is that of the proclamation of additional Hundreds, with respect to which I may observe that the necessary steps are being taken to give effect to your resolutions.

Upon this subject, I have to assure you that it is my desire fully to keep pace with the requirements of agricultural settlement; and I shall be glad if, during the recess, arrangements can be made (by means of the money vote which you have placed at my disposal) for extinguishing pastoral tenures, and acquiring additional land for settlement.

I am led to make these remarks in consequence of the unfounded and reckless assertions with which it has been sought to prejudice the public mind, to the effect that I am adverse to the settlement of the country by men and women. I can safely aver that, if there be one thing more than another which I have aimed at during the past twenty years, it has been the colonising of this Province; and I deem it due to myself most emphatically to disclaim the charge of seeking to favor one particular class at the expense of another—a charge which will not bear the shadow of truthful investiga-