OTAGO

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

GAZETTE.

Published by Authority.

Vol. XIV. DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1870. No. 699.

ADDRESS OF HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT,

ON OPENING THE XXVIIIth SESSION OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF THE PROVINCE OF OTAGO, TUESDAY, 15TH NOVEMBER, 1870.

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council,

Since last I had the pleasure of addressing you, the late Province of Southland has been re-united to Otago by an Act of the Colonial Legislature. I am sure you will concur with me in expressing an earnest hope that this re-union may prove to be as beneficial as its strongest advocates have anticipated. I feel persuaded that, under wise and judicious management, the re-union is calculated greatly to promote the interests of the Province as a whole.

I need scarcely say that the chief, indeed the only reason for calling you together at the present time, is to make the necessary provision for the future representation in the Provincial Council, of the late Province of Southland, as well as to provide for the public service in that portion of the Province during the residue of the current financial year. It is supposed, therefore, that a very few days may suffice to get over the business for which the Session has been convened.

Important returns will be laid before you, setting forth the nature and extent of the public estate situated in the late Province of Southland. From these it will be seen that there is an amount of valuable land immediately available for settlement, far larger in proportion than exists in any other equal area of the Province of Otago. It is a question worthy of consideration how far it may be deemed advisable to assimilate the land regulations of Southland to those of Otago, to the extent of providing that land within Hundreds, which has been open for sale for seven years, and remains unsold should be exposed to public auction at an upset price of ten shillings an acre. I allude to the matter now, chiefly with a view to the question being ventilated and dealt with by the next Provincial Council.

I am inclined to think that the adoption of the course now indicated will place a large amount of money in the treasury, and that it is the most likely means whereby we can be placed in funds wherewith to construct main roads, and to subsidise local Road Boards in the district of Southland.

A Bill will be submitted to you, having for its object the assimilation of the law throughout the Province as now constituted, in so far as, after consultation with the representatives from Southland, such assimilation may be deemed expedient. I imagine that as regards Education, District Road Boards, and various other subjects there is no reason why the same Ordinances should not apply to the whole Province. I think it would be well to extend the provisions of The Otago Settlements Act 1869 to Stewart’s Island, and to that portion of the Province extending from Waikawa to Catlin’s River.

Gentlemen,—In compliance with your request on previous Sessions, a measure was introduced by me into the General Assembly to amend ‘The Hundreds Regulations Act 1869,’ which amendment, with one or two alterations, insisted upon by the General Assembly, has now become law. Applications have been made to the Governor to proclaim ten new Hundreds, comprising an area of 176,000 acres, all of which it is hoped will be in the market presently; and as upwards of 80,000 acres are already surveyed within the proposed Hundreds, in the event of the Commissioner’s Report being favorable, and their award considered reasonable, there need be no delay in placing purchasers in occupation. I regret to say that the Bill to validate the District Road Boards Ordinance, passed by you last Session, was thrown out in the Legislative Council.

The Marlborough and Hawkes Bay Rivers Act