Dunstan, the money to be raised upon specific security in the shape of a block of land contiguous to the line; this Bill, however, was thrown out in the Legislative Council. I shall be glad to know your opinion relative to the proposed extension, with a view to further action in the matter. My own opinion is that in many respects the line in question should be regarded as a main trunk line, opening up, as it will, the whole interior of the Province.

The very large increase of traffic on the Southland line renders it absolutely necessary that a considerable expenditure should be at once incurred on additional plant, on storage, and on extension of the wharf at Campbelltown. It will also be requisite to reduce the gauge from Campbelltown to Winton to 3ft. 6in., and to assimilate the rolling-stock thereto, for which expenditure you will be asked to provide.

The additional pier accommodation now in progress at Port Chalmers will, it is believed, when completed, largely increase the traffic on the Dunedin and Port Chalmers line. As it is, the returns during its first year, which were estimated at £22,000 have amounted to £21,553, while the expenditure has exceeded the estimate by £4,166; of this amount a considerable proportion ought, strictly speaking, to be charged against the capital account, being for outlay incidental to the making of a new line, until it has become consolidated and got into working order.

There are various other matters bearing upon the public interest in different parts of the Province to which I might be expected to allude, and to which I should be glad to refer; but, as in common with the questions to which I have directed your attention, these must be submitted to your consideration specifically during the session, I shall refrain from doing so, and for the same reason I would suggest that the usual Reply to my Address may be dispensed with.

Gentlemen, I now declare this Council open for the despatch of business.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION

In conformity to the 29th section of the “Gold Fields Act, 1866,” and to the Regulations made under that Act, and the Gold Fields Acts Amendment Acts of 1867, 1868, and 1869, for the granting of leases for gold mining purposes within the Province of Otago, it is hereby notified that it is intended to grant a lease for gold mining purposes of Crown Lands to the applicant specified in the annexed Schedule, unless there shall be valid objections against granting such lease.

Objections to the granting of such lease, stating the grounds of objection, must be made in writing and lodged with the Warden at Switzers, on or before the 20th day of May, 1874.

Copy of the application made, and plans annexed, may be seen at the Warden’s office at Switzers.

Given under my hand, at Dunedin, this fifth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.

J. MACANDREW,
Superintendent.

SCHEDULE

William Guffle and John Latham, on behalf of the Live and Let-Live Company, for one acre of land, more or less, as the same may be found after survey to be, within the pegs and trenches of the applicants, situated at and adjoining Gozarby’s lease area and Guffle and Latham’s Iron fluming, Clark’s Diggings.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION

In conformity to the 29th section of the “Gold Fields Act, 1866,” and to the Regulations made under that Act, and the Gold Fields Acts Amendment Acts of 1867, 1868, and 1869, for the granting of leases for gold mining purposes within the Province of Otago, it is hereby notified that it is intended to grant a lease for gold mining purposes of Crown Lands to the applicant specified in the annexed Schedule, unless there shall be valid objections against granting such lease.

Objections to the granting of such lease, stating the grounds of objection, must be made in writing and lodged with the Warden at Naseby, on or before the 18th day of May, 1874.

Copy of the application made, and plans annexed, may be seen at the Warden’s office at Naseby.

Given under my hand, at Dunedin, this fifth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.

J. MACANDREW,
Superintendent.

SCHEDULE

Ah Pee, on behalf of the Hop Shung Tong Company, Nokomai, for 10 acres of land, more or less, as the same may be found after survey to be, within the pegs and trenches of the applicants, situated at the neighbourhood of junction of Bullock Head Gully and Nokomai Creek.

NOTICE

In the matter of the “Highway Boards Empowering Act, 1871,” and of an Order made by the Aparima Road Board for diverting a Road.

Under and by virtue of the provisions of section thirty-three of the “Highway Boards Empowering Act, 1871,” James Macandrew, Superintendent of the Province of Otago, do hereby appoint and fix Tuesday, the 12th day of May proximo, at the hour of 11 o’clock in the forenoon, at the Superintendent’s office, in the Provincial Government Buildings, at Dunedin, as and to be the time and place for taking into consideration an Order made by the Aparima Road Board on the fourteenth day of February, 1874, and published in the Otago Provincial Government Gazette, No. 895, on the 25th day of February, 1874, for diverting a Road through section seven (7), and sections thirty-nine (39), eighteen (18), nineteen (19), seventeen (17), sixteen (16), fifteen (15), and twenty (20), Oreti Hundred.

Dated at Dunedin, this 18th day of April, 1874.

J. MACANDREW,
Superintendent.

TIME EXTENDED

His Honor the Superintendent directs it to be notified that the Commissioners appointed...