REPLY OF COUNCIL

This Council congratulates your Honor upon the great and continued prosperity of this Province, as shewn by the large increase in its commerce, and the further development of its resources. The various important subjects to which your Honor has called our attention will receive our most careful consideration, and we trust that the results of our deliberations, supported by the energetic action of your Government, will further the advancement of this Province.

CLOSING ADDRESS

OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PROVINCING

TO THE COUNCIL, OCTOBER 23, 1863:

Gentlemen of the Provincial Council,--

I have to thank you for the zeal and assiduity which you have displayed in carrying through the business of this Session.

The Bills which you have passed—viz.,

• "The Constabulary Ordinance,"
• "Electric Telegraph Ordinance,"
• "Hospital Ordinance,"
• "Common Lodging-houses’ Ordinance,"
• "Pauper-burials Ordinance,"
• "Hawkers’ Ordinance,"
• "Licensed Theatres’ Ordinance,"
• "Licensing Amendment Ordinance,"
• "Sheep Ordinance (1862), Amendment to a Clause (Ordinance 1863),"
• "Cemeteries Ordinance,"
• "Church of England Cemeteries Ordinance,"
• "Oreti Railway Ordinance,"
• "Debentures Ordinance,"
• "(Railway) Appropriation Ordinance,"
• "Educational Rural Endowments,"
• "Alteration of Education Reserve,"
• "Election of Education Board,"
• "Appropriation,"

it is my duty to reserve for the consideration of His Excellency the Governor. When transmitting them for his assent, I shall give expression to my own concurrence therewith.

The Marine Boards Ordinance will be referred to the Governor with an intimation that this Council has accepted the amendments there proposed by his Excellency.

The Resolutions which you have passed with reference to the Extension of the Bluff and Invercargill Railway, I shall have pleasure in supporting when brought forward in the General Assembly. The other works on the same line of Railway will be vigorously prosecuted in accordance with the opinion which you have expressed.

In the present session of the General Assembly I trust that the members for Southland will be enabled to obtain an Act embodying the views of a Resolution on the subject of the Land Regulations in operation in this Province, which formed the substance of a Resolution which passed by this Council at its last Session. This measure will receive my hearty support.

The business of the session being ended, I have now, gentlemen, to relieve you from further attendance, and declare that this Council is prorogued.

THE CHIEF SURVEYOR'S REPORT

ON THE NEW RIVERE HARBOUR

SIR,— Some months ago, the changes perceived to be taking place in the Channel of the Harbour, near the Bombay Rock, began to excite attention and solicitude.

As it was impossible to form any clear views upon the subject without accurate plans, I took the very first opportunity of sending a competent Surveyor to Survey the Harbour, and I have, as far as my other engagements would permit me, watched and assisted in this work.

The map is not yet quite complete in its hydrographical portion, but it is sufficiently advanced to show very clearly the nature of the action which has been going on.

I submit herewith plan No. 1, executed by Mr. Baker, showing the form of the Shoals and Channels as they now are; and No. 2, which is an enlarged copy from Mr. Thomson’s survey taken in 1856.

On comparing these two it will be seen that the convex side of the great shoal, which formerly extended from the northern shore in the direction of the Pilot Station, has been worn away by the action of the tide; and that a spit which in 1856 was quite narrow and ran inwards from the bar, only approached to within less than half the distance of the Bombay Rock, and approaches the Ocean Rocks so closely as almost to close the inshore channel at that point.

It is evident that this action, which has about one and a half millions of cubic feet of sand, has been deposited in continuation of the spit as it then stood, must have been going on ever since 1856.