should arise, which involve a large outlay in different departments—especially Police and Public Works—which, under less exceptional circumstances, would not be so immediately required. At the same time, the expenditure of a considerable amount of the sums placed on the Estimates for those purposes will depend upon the realisation of the expectations I have mentioned.

The sum of £1000 has been placed upon the Estimates to reward the discoverer of a paying gold-field within the Province, in conformity with a promise to that effect given by the Government some time since.

As the population of this town increases, the question of its sanitary condition acquires increased importance. It appears to be absolutely indispensable that steps should be taken in the course of this Summer to provide for the removal of all surface and stagnant waters in the inhabited parts of the town, and to initiate a system of thorough drainage, if we seek to repel the demon of disease, which will assuredly appear, and cut down dwellers in different localities, if preventive measures are not adopted without delay. The responsibility of attending to such matters rests with the Local Board, and it is the duty of the Government to strengthen its hands in such a cause. It is proposed to grant a loan to the Town Board for the especial purposes of forming leading drains and opening out the streets in the wood; and seeing that properly to execute those works will be an onerous task, the Government further proposes to maintain, for this year, some of the leading thoroughfares in the town. This is to be regarded as a temporary measure, with the view of aiding the Town Board by permitting it to direct its attention and the funds at its disposal to the carrying out of other works which are of vital importance to the health of the people. The necessity for such aid will I trust be only temporary, for a measure will be laid before you which, if passed into law, will give to the Town Board a control over the Municipal Reserves here, and the revenues and other funds accruing from the possession of so valuable an estate should shortly place the Board in a position such as to enable it to dispense with assistance from an external source.

A short supplementary Education Bill will be brought under your consideration, the objects of which are, to limit the amount and provide for the recovery of rates; to define more clearly the course of action—in cases where sufficient provision for education has not been made in a district, in altering the boundaries of districts, and in establishing schools for young females by the Education Committee.

In the end of the past winter, the first vessel conveying immigrants to this Province arrived at the Bluff, and it was highly encouraging to find that all the immigrants obtained employment within a few days after their arrival. That ship will soon be followed by other two vessels, whose arrival may be expected in December or January. From the correspondence on the subject which is laid upon the table, you will see that Mr Morrison, the agent for this Province, has made excellent arrangements for conducting the immigration hither, and has taken a great deal of trouble in order to carry them out effectively.

I will not now detain you by entering into any detail of the various other measures which will come under your notice in the course of this Session. To one other matter alone I will refer. In the course of the past winter, an enquiry was addressed to the Government of Southland by the Superintendent of Taranaki with regard to the inducements which will be held out to settlers in that Province who might be willing to come here. The nature of our Land Regulations does not permit of any inducement being offered in the way of giving free grants of land, and I know of no way in which aid can be given in this case otherwise than under the Immigration Regulations, and by a direct resolution and vote of this Council. I trust that you will give this subject your serious consideration, and determine whether you will approve of assisted passages being given to settlers of Taranaki, in case of their agreeing to come hither under the conditions of the Immigration Regulations. I do not doubt that all of you deeply sympathise with those sufferers, whose homes have been desolated, and whose fair and once flourishing Province has been changed into a wilderness—occupied now chiefly as a military cantonment; and whilst the courage and endurance they have displayed under their misfortunes must command admiration, they afford ample evidence that those are settlers of the right kind, who will be valuable acquisitions in any Province to which they may finally remove.

I have now to declare that this Council is open for the transaction of business.

REPLY OF THE COUNCIL.

Sir,—The continued financial prosperity of this Province is to us an unmixed source of pleasure. We rejoice still further, that though the past year was one of unparalleled success, that even a larger Territorial and Customs Revenue may be safely relied on for the ensuing year.

This Council reciprocates the hope that your future efforts to obtain an extension of our provincial boundaries to their just and natural position, may be crowned with success.

We trust that the various measures referred to which have passed the General Assembly will by their operation be equal to the best wishes of their promoters.

As the erection of Lighthouses and Telegraphs, together with the construction of Railways, are the greatest contributions of the human mind to diminish suffering and loss of life and property, and at the same time adding to the happiness and conveniences of life, and developing the resources and increasing the prosperity of States, we shall be happy to co-operate with your Honor in seriously considering any plan which you may be pleased to place before us for the accomplishment of objects so desirable.

The various Bills submitted to us shall receive our most diligent attention.

We shall rejoice if in any way we can aid you in any wise and benevolent efforts to relieve the miseries of our fellow-countrymen in the North.