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which are commonly known as "the Duke of Newcastle’s Acts." The Legislative Council, however, did not agree in my view, and the Bill was rejected.

Another Bill, which proposed to extend the boundaries of this Province, and which was passed by the Legislative Council, was unfortunately lost in the House of Representatives, and we can only hope that in a future session of Assembly the representatives of this Province may be more successful in obtaining for it those natural boundaries which the progress of material interests is clearly defining.

Many useful measures which will affect this Province have been enacted by the Assembly in the past session.

The Gold-fields Acts were the subject of careful consideration. Those in operation at the time were recast, and amended by various additional provisions; suggested by the legislation of other colonies and otherwise; and a Gold-fields Act, which is a manifest improvement on the former Acts, which it supersedes, has now become law.

Another Act, to extend the Jurisdiction of Resident Magistrates’ Courts, will add to the efficiency of that Court, the limited power of which has, in this Province, hitherto been a source of serious inconvenience.

The Marine Boards Act provides for the institution of competent Courts to conduct the administration of all matters relating to harbours and other navigable waters, and generally of all matters connected with navigation in the Colony. I propose to lay before you a Bill which provides for the establishment of a Local Marine Board in this Province, having the powers specified in the above mentioned Act.

In connection with this subject I have to inform you that the Provincial Governments of Otago and Southland have agreed to construct a Light-house on Dog Island, to facilitate the safe navigation of a dangerous part of Foveaux Straits, upon the distinct understanding that the expense shall be subsequently repaid by the General Government. A proposal has been made by the General Government to the Provincial Government of Southland, to erect a line of Electric Telegraph from the Bluff, by Invercargill, to the Mataura. A copy of the memorandum of the Postmaster-General on the subject will be laid on the table. The Governments of Otago and Canterbury, as I am informed, have already agreed, upon similar terms, to carry it forward to the boundary of Nelson. The half of the cost is to be repaid by the General Government. It is an undertaking of which I very highly approve; but in the view of the approaching Session of this Council, I have abstained from assenting to the arrangement proposed until your views were ascertained. That it will receive your support, I can entertain little doubt, seeing that when once in operation, its beneficial effect on the progress of this Province will be incalculable. The Bluff will then become an important place of call for every passing Australian steamer—the first port of call—the last of departure.

The construction of a line of Railway will, I believe, shortly become a necessity in this Province, if we may augur its further progress from the experience of the past twelve months. The increase of the Customs revenue clearly indicates an advancing tide of prosperity. The rapid additions to the permanent industrial population of the Province necessarily involves a corresponding increase of production and wealth. The Government should in every way endeavour to encourage their development: the question of forming a line of railway has received, and now engages, its serious attention, and, so far the hope is entertained that such a work may in no long time be initiated with a confidence of success.

A large extent of road work has been done during the past summer, and the increasing traffic inland renders a large expenditure on this department of public works essential to facilitate communications with the interior, and to improve and maintain existing ways.

A Bill to provide for the construction and maintenance of Roads will be laid before you in this Session. It proposes to divide the Province into Road districts, within each of which the care of the construction and maintenance of the Roads will, subject to the supervision of the Provincial Engineer, be entrusted to Trustees elected by the rate-payers. The Government will, for a time, construct, maintain, and retain the control of the Trunk roads. The roads under the direction of the Trustees to be maintained partly by assessment on the land in the district, according to its valued rental, and partly out of sums voted for that purpose by the Provincial Council, so long as waste lands of the Crown, other than reserves, remain unsold in the district.

The Survey staff requires to be increased in order to keep the work of the department in advance of the demand for land. A separation from that department of the engineering duties is absolutely necessary inasmuch as the public works in progress and in prospect, are of so great importance, and are in process of construction at so many different distant points, that they require the undivided attention of a Provincial Engineer. The Survey staff is obviously unable satisfactorily to meet the work of the two branches, as the continued demand for land gives ample occupation to the officers in that special department, from continued application to which their attention is frequently diverted to the engineering branch, in a manner and to an extent which, if permitted to continue, would militate against the efficiency of that branch of the public service.

The reports of the Chief Surveyor on roads, surveys, and other subjects, will be laid upon the table.

In the last few weeks the discovery of gold-fields on the borders of this Province has created considerable excitement. The confirmation of an expectation confidently entertained, that, in the district between the Molyneux and Mataura rivers, a profitable field is opening, will bring upon us a full tide of commercial activity, and of prosperity, for, if a large population is profitably occupied in that country, this place, as the natural outlet, must gain the chief benefit. As yet, circumstances have not been such as to lead the Government to proclaim a gold-field within this Province: how soon it may become advisable to do so, none can foresee. In the meantime, preparations are necessary to meet this probable contingency, if it