TARANAKI GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

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may be done safely, provided the light be at the extreme bend of the Cape, in which case let the wind be from what quarter it may vessels close to the light can clear the land, this, however, will not hold good should the light be erected at any other place along the coast than the apex or bend of the Cape, as vessels might through endeavouring to make it out get embayed and not able to work off a lee-shore; therefore the Government have determined that the light-house shall be erected at the proper place and that place is the apex or extreme bend of Cape Egmont. Moreover, the removing of a light when once erected and known to mariners may lead to trouble.

Gentlemen, I have named to the Hon. Mr. Vogel the great inconvenience and loss occasioned through the Telegraph wire not passing over the so-called Native land between Stony River and Opunake, a distance of some 22 miles, and I have endeavoured to impress upon that Honourable gentleman our desire for “reply telegrams” the same day; also, that we may be notified of the arrival and departure of English ships and business matters the same as other provinces. Mr. Vogel has assured me that efforts shall be made to get the wire joined on the present line, and if that cannot be done orders will be given for it to be taken inland of the Mountain. The arrival and departure of English ships shall be made known to us, and we are promised full consideration in this Telegraph matter. In the interval, before the wire is joined, we are to have “reply telegrams” if it can be consistently done.

In reference to the extension of the Waitara and New Plymouth Railway, and the survey of the line inland of Mount Egmont, as authorised by the last session of the General Assembly, I find on enquiry that a number of Natives and other people, under responsible persons have been, and several now are, employed on this work as directed by the General Government, and I am told that the progress made is satisfactory. I have in no way lost sight of the importance of connecting this place with Auckland by means of a railway, and had not circumstances prevented me from getting the necessary information for a general report on this Auckland line of country, I should have done so. I trust, however, that it will shortly be accomplished.

Respecting the making of a Harbor and giving facilities for our trading on a more equal footing with other ports, I would refer you to a copy of my letter addressed to the Honorable Julius Vogel, Premier of New Zealand, dated 29th December, 1873, No. 80. By perusing it you will, I hope, see that great facilities exist for making a first-class harbor at New Plymouth at comparatively small cost, nature having already done the greatest portion of the work. At all events, it is clear that until we can give protection to shipping and more convenient accommodation for the landing of passengers and goods, we shall continue much as we are—a poor and small community with tardy progress, disregarded by men of capital and enterprise, and debarred the freedom of trade. Moreover, until our facilities for trading be improved, we must remain subservient to harbor communities. I, for my part, shall use my best endeavours to remedy this evil, and I trust that in so doing I shall receive your earnest support which you can conscientiously give, knowing that we are backed by a valuable district of country, “The Garden of New Zealand.”

I will now only add that in my opinion the land of Taranaki and its natural concomitants, warrant the constructing of this harbor work at once.

Gentlemen, I shall not this session bring before you any Bills other than those which demand immediate action, one of which, the “Education Rate Ordinance,” it is imperative that we should pass or meet the case in some other way, otherwise, I fear there will be a large number of children who will continue to grow up in this Province without the rudiments of Education.

With desire that differences of opinion and objections to propositions may be avoided as much as possible, it is proposed by the Bill to increase our School funds, so urgently needed, from one additional source only. A more matured Bill can be brought forward next session should it be required.

Now that I have mentioned the depressed condition of our school funds, it occurs to me that I may very briefly observe upon the remarks which I see at times in reference to this Province and the little progress it has made when compared with the prosperous communities in the South. Here, we all know that we are in no way to blame for the humiliating position we occupy, and I think it right that the people of the South should also know the same, and that we have had to contend for many years with a Native difficulty (happily disappearing), over which we had no control. Also, that the Colonial Legislature have thought proper to deprive Taranaki of the funds derived from the sale of the Confiscated land, almost the only open and easily worked land we have. Were it not that the General Government have from time to time assisted the Province in some of its road works our case would have been sad indeed.