PROVINCIAL ORDINANCES

Emigration Ordinance

Nominals of character, shall receive assistance to an amount equal to half the passage-money, upon getting a promissory note for that amount, payable to the Treasurer of this Province of Southland, and who, if able-bodied men, shall moreover sign an agreement to work, if required in the employment of the Government of Southland for a period of four months after landing in the Province, at the current rate of wages for the time being. Such promissory note shall be payable on demand, but unless such passenger disobeys the debt, or attempts to leave the Province, or forsake the employment of the Government without its consent before the expiry of their term of agreement, payment will be required only by instalments, which in the case of able-bodied men from their wages; and on ceasing over the term of their engagement; and if any such assisted passenger shall enter into private service, his employer shall be required to endorse the promissory note of such passenger.

(2) Such assisted passengers will be afforded only to Mechanics, Labouring Men, and Female Domestic Servants. No person above fifty years of age, unless a member of a large family, nor any single man above forty years of age, shall be so assisted; nor shall any person receive such assistance unless approved of by the Emigration Agent.

(3) The rate of passage-money is fixed until further notice at £17 per statute adult, and all bills will be prepared in accordance with that rate.

(4) Any persons residing in the Province of Southland desirous of assisting their friends in the United Kingdom to immigrate to the Province, may obtain for them assisted passages either by drawing a bill for the full amount of the passage-money to the order of the Provincial Treasurer of Southland, accepted by a substantial householder, also resident in the Province; and approved of by the Superintendent as sufficient security for the same. The drawer of any such Bill will then receive an order to the Emigration Agent, authorising him to give a free passage to the Province of Southland to any person or persons named therein; and any residents in Southland will be able to assist their friends to immigrate to the Province by undertaking to repay the whole of the passage-money in the manner above provided.

H. The Surgeon of every ship bringing immigrants to the Province shall be appointed by the Agent exclusively; and he

III. No Agent shall have a beneficial interest in any contract that may be entered into for the conveyance of Immigrants to the Province of Southland.

Approved,
J. A. R. Menzies,
Superintendent.

15th August, 1861.

Adopted by the Provincial Council of Southland, the 16th day of August, 1861.

H. A. Giles,
Clerk to the Provincial Council. Robert Stuart,
Speaker.

CLOSING ADDRESS

Of His Honor the Superintendent of Southland to the Provincial Council, 16th December, 1861.

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council,

I have to thank you for the assiduity which you have displayed in disposing of the different matters which have been brought under your consideration, and for the supplies which you have voted for the public service.

The Bills which you have passed, namely,

“The Provincial Government Ordinance,”
“The Immigration and British Agent Ordinance,”
“The Southland Loan Ordinance,”
“The Diseased Cattle Ordinance,” and
“The Appropriation Ordinance,”

I shall forward without delay to His Excellency the Governor, when I trust they will receive his favourable consideration.

The Resolution which you have passed with reference to the Eastern Boundary of this Province shall receive my cordial support in the General Assembly, as I do not doubt it will that of the members of Assembly for the County of Wallace; and I trust we shall succeed in obtaining a boundary which shall be more natural and more convenient one.

The resolution which you have passed with regard to the reserve for a Public Park and Racecourse, I concur in with pleasure, and will take the requisite steps to carry it out.

I shall not fail to impress on the General Government the necessity for establishing Coastal Lights in or near Foveaux Straits, in conformity with your Resolution on the subject.

Whenever this Province shall obtain the services of a competent Chief