227

repairing Roads, and for Bridges, making with
the rates of the several districts an aggregate of
about £2000, largely enhancing the value of pro-
perty and supplying important facilities to the pro-
ducers of the several districts. Also from the
surplus fund, in a more prosperous state of the Re-
venue, a thousand pounds, of which a large portion
will be repayable into the Treasury, was remitted at
the close of last year to assist the relatives and
friends of settlers to come out from England, and
the Immigrants are expected shortly to arrive. And
another sum of about £350 was expended in pro-
moting Immigration from Victoria, the results of
which have been very satisfactory.

In common with the rest of the colony this pro-
vince is at present suffering great commercial de-
pression, and all the inconveniences of a diminished
revenue, but although the present pressure is great,
we owe it to the large amount in the Provincial
Treasury at the commencement of this year
that the amount receivable by the Provincial
Government under the new dispositions of revenue
made by the General Assembly, and from other
ordinary revenue, and from other sources, will pro-
vide ample funds for all the present and accruing
liabilities of this year, and the Province will com-
mence the coming one with a balance in the Trea-
sury.

But amongst other things, and perhaps before all
besides, we should congratulate ourselves that our
united efforts succeeded in obtaining for the Pro-
vince the military protection which had become
necessary to its very existence. The time had then
arrived when the point was to be determined whether
New Plymouth should exist as a Settlement or be
given up to the Natives as a reserve in fulfilment of
the former policy of the General Government. But
with our self gratulation should be mixed a large
measure of thanks to the officer then administering
the Government of the Colony for having under his
temporary authority undertaken the responsibility
of the measure.

Several measures, which had been prepared before
I was made acquainted with your intention to address
His Excellency to dissolve the Council, will be sub-
mitted for your consideration.

CHARLES BROWN,
Superintendent.
New Plymouth,
17th November, 1856.

TOWN RATES.

Speaker's Office,
New Plymouth, 20th November 1856.
Sir,—I have the honor to forward a certified
copy of a certain Resolution adopted by the Pro-
vincial Council at the sitting held on Wednesday
the 19th November, 1846.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
I. NEWTON WATT,
Speaker.
To His Honor
The Superintendent, New Plymouth.

Resolution of the Provincial Council at the sitting
held on Wednesday the 19th day of November
1856.
Moved by R. Parris, seconded by G. R. Burton—
"That this Council, (in conformity with the Pe-
tition signed Hurathouse & Smith) do recommend
to His Honor, the Superintendent the suspension of
the sale of Town Sections as advertised by his Ho-
nor the Superintendent until after the next meeting
of the General Assembly."

THE Ordinance under which the
Rates were imposed provides for "ap-
peals against the validity of all proceedings
at meetings held there-under, and declares
that the validity of such proceedings shall
in no other way be called in question. Pro-
vision is also made for the hearing and final
determination of all appeals against the
rates imposed thereunder; and with a spe-
cial view to the position of absentee Pro-
prietors it further provides that no sales
shall take place until eighteen months after
the date of its being passed. A period of
nearly two years has elapsed, and two ses-
sions of the General Assembly have already
taken place since these rates were imposed.
Of these various opportunities of offering
objections the agents of the absentee hold-
ers have not seen fit to avail themselves,
nor are any objections urged until the final
clauses of the Ordinance are brought into
operation.

The rates imposed on Residents have all
been paid, and the amounts due by absentee
owners have been advanced by the Govern-
ment, and applied for the maintenance of
Public Works as provided by the Ordinance.
Under these circumstances, and in justice
to those by whom these rates have been
cheerfully paid—without reference to its
mischievous tendency as a precedent—no
reason appears to exist for compliance with
the foregoing resolution.

CHARLES BROWN,
Superintendent.

Superintendent's Office,
50th November, 1856.

THE following Memorial and reply to it
are published for general information.
CHARLES BROWN,
Superintendent.
Superintendent's Office,
19th November 1856.

To His Honor the Superintendent of New Ply-
mouth.

The Memorial of the undersigned Electors hum-
bly sheweth—
That your Memorialists understanding that a
dissolution of the Provincial Council of this Pro-
vince is impending, rendering fresh elections ne-
cessary, beg to call the attention of Your Honor to
the (in your memorialists' opinion) imperative ne-
cessity of an increase of the number of members
of the Provincial Council, and an Executive Coun-
cil to be responsible to the Provincial Council for
the fair and proper government of this Province, so
as not to leave the entire control of the business of
the Province to the Superintendent, who has in
your Memorialists' opinion been hitherto irrespon-
sible.

Your Memorialists do therefore most humbly
pray that your Honor will be pleased, prior to the
dissolution of the Council, to introduce a Bill to
meet the above requirements.

And your Memorialists will ever pray, &c.
[Here follow 47 signatures.]

Superintendent's Office,
New Plymouth, 18th November, 1856.
Gentlemen—
I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your Memorial requesting me, previously
to the impending dissolution of the Provincial
Council, to introduce a Bill to enlarge the number
of its members, and to constitute an Executive
Council for the government of the Province.
As I have, since its receipt, been informed that