Among the votes in this year’s estimates in which I would specially invite your concurrence will be a proposal to subsidise the establishment of monthly steam communication, along the Western Coast of the Province.

There is a very large area of country available for settlement at the various ports of Catlin’s River, Tautuku, Waikawa, Toi-toes, Stewart’s Island, Preservation Inlet, and Martin’s Bay,—country which, from inaccessibility,—except by sea—is comparatively unknown. I have reason to think that the County of Westland would unite with us in subsidising this steam line, provided it were extended to Hokitika.

With regard to Martin’s Bay, a survey party is at present located there, and from all appearance what is wanted to create a thriving settlement is the means of reaching it by sea. A track is now being formed overland from Lake Wakatipu.

In accordance with your request, I introduced a Bill into the General Assembly at its last Session, to enable the Province to borrow £50,000 for certain important public works. Although this Bill received the assent of the House of Representatives, it was thrown out in the Legislative Council. I trust that in the ensuing Session a similar Bill will meet with a better fate, and that we shall be enabled to proceed with the Oamaru Dock, the Waitaki Bridge, and the other works to which it was intended to devote this loan.

Although the progress of agricultural settlement has not been so marked during the past year as it was during the two previous years, at the same time it has by no means been standing still. Two hundred and forty new agricultural holdings, or homesteads, have been occupied during the year. Gold Escort returns shew an increase of nearly 10,000 ozs. as compared with the previous year; while the Customs’ revenue shews an excess of about £6,000. The number of public schools has been increased from 74 to 85. The money expended by local Road Boards amounted during the past year to the large sum of over £30,000.

I allude to these things, not in any spirit of self-complacency, but simply as indicating that notwithstanding the drawbacks with which our settlers have had to contend, there is throughout the Province an onward tendency, an elasticity which cannot be repressed, and that what we really require is immigration of capital and labor upon a large scale, and united action among ourselves, in order to attain a degree of prosperity beyond our most sanguine expectations.

I now declare the Council open for the despatch of business.

JAMES MACANDREW,
Superintendent.

NOTICE.

Of certain Land in the Province of Otago having been reserved as a Municipal estate for the Town of Lawrence and its inhabitants.

By His Honor JAMES MACANDREW, Superintendent, of the Province of Otago.

WHEREAS the Provincial Council of Otago have under and by virtue of Section 62 of the “Otago Waste Lands Act 1866” recommended that the lands hereinafter described should be reserved as a Municipal Estate for the town of Lawrence and its inhabitants; and it is expedient that the said lands should be so reserved for that purpose: Now therefore I, James Macandrew, Superintendent of the Province of Otago, in pursuance and exercise of the power and authority vested in me in this behalf, do hereby publish and declare that I have made and dedicated the lands hereafter described a Reserve for the purpose of a Municipal Estate for the town of Lawrence and its inhabitants, that is to say—

All that parcel of land being sections 10, block I; 9, block II; 12, block III; 12, block V; 2, block VI; 12, block VII; 2 and 12, block VIII; 14, block IX; 7 and 15, block X; 4 and 14, block XI; 4 and 14, block XII; 4 and 14, block XIII; 4, block XX; 18, block XXII; 8, block XXIII; 2 and 12, block XXIV; 8 and 17, block XXV; 7, block XXVI; 6 and 16, block XXVII; 6 and 16, block XXVIII; 6 and 16, block XXX; 12, block XXXI; 11, block XXXIV; 3 and 13, block XXXVI; 6 and 16, block XXXVII; 3 and 13, block XXXVIII; all in the town of Lawrence; and 10a. 3r. 0p. at the intersection of Solway and Colonsay streets, being block XLVI in the town of Lawrence, as delineated on the Record map of the said town, and deposited in the office of the Chief Surveyor, Dunedin.

Dated at Dunedin this twentieth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and seventy.

J. MACANDREW,
Superintendent.

NOTICE.

“Otago Waste Lands Act 1866 Amendment Act 1869.”

HIS Honor the Superintendent directs it to be notified that he has, under the powers conferred on him by the 13th section of the above-mentioned Act, authorized

MR. JOHN INNES

the Ranger for the Hundreds of Dunedin, Waikouaiti, Hawksbury, Moeraki, Otepopo, Kakanui, Oamaru, Awamoko, and Maruvena, to impound any cattle found unlawfully trespassing upon any lands or public roads within the limits of the said Hundreds, or any or either of them.

JOHN LOGAN,
Secretary to the Superintendent,
Superintendent’s Office,
Dunedin, Otago, 26th April, 1870.

NOTICE.

“Otago Waste Lands Act 1866 Amendment Act 1869.”

HIS Honor the Superintendent directs it to be notified that he has, under the powers conferred on him by the 13th section of the above-mentioned Act, authorized

MR. THOMAS HUGHAN

the Ranger for the Hundreds of East Clutha, West Clutha, Catlin’s, Pumahaka, Popotunoa, Tuturau, Mokoreti, Toetoes, and Waikawa, to impound any cattle found unlawfully trespassing upon any lands or public roads within the limits of the said Hundreds, or any or either of them.

JOHN LOGAN,
Secretary to the Superintendent,
Superintendent’s Office,
Dunedin, Otago, 26th April, 1870.

NOTICE.

“Otago Waste Lands Act 1866 Amendment Act 1869.”

HIS Honor the Superintendent directs it to be notified that he has, under the powers conferred on him by the 13th section of the above-mentioned Act, authorized

MR. JOHN IRVINE

the Ranger for the Hundreds of East Taieri, West Taieri, North Tokomairiro, South Tokomairiro, Waihola, Waitahuna, Traquair, and Mount Stewart, to impound any cattle found unlawfully trespassing upon any lands or public roads within the limits of the said Hundreds, or any or either of them.

JOHN LOGAN,
Secretary to the Superintendent,
Superintendent’s Office,
Dunedin, Otago, 26th April, 1870.