TARANAKI GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

16

To deprive a province of the proceeds of its land sales, is to keep it in difficulties and to perplex its Government.

I may now mention that the road from this place via Opunake to Patea is progressing in parts, and most of the troublesome river crossings are bridged. The bridge now erecting over the Patea River at Carlyle will be of immense benefit to that part of the country. The main line of road and bridges which have been made in the Patea and Hawera districts by the General Government, out of the money voted by the House for roads in the North Island, are a very great advantage to that part of the Province, and has no doubt greatly enhanced the value of land in that locality.

Portions of the Turnpike Road between Okato, this place, and the Waitara demand that I should propose for your consideration how best to effect the carrying out of this particular work.

Gentlemen, I am happy to inform you that a company has been formed in the Colony for the purpose of working the Iron Sand; the works are now in course of erection, and in a few months’ time will be completed. So soon as the building is sufficiently set and dry, the smelting will be commenced, which, I trust, will be successful in every respect.

The Estimates shall be laid before you, which, I hope, will meet your approval.

With reference to my taking a seat in the Council as permitted under “The Superintendent’s of Taranaki Empowering Act, 1873,” I beg to say that I shall have much pleasure in meeting you upon all occasions whenever you desire to see me, but if you consult my feeling in this matter I would much rather conduct the business of my office as I have done heretofore, with this difference, that whereas I was my own executive I would desire for the future that other members of the Council, say two, act and be responsible with me, and I should wish that you would make provision accordingly. By continuing the duties of my office as I have named I am satisfied that I can render greater service to the Province in every respect; but as this question was put to me previous to my election and I replied that I would take a seat at the Council table if you requested me to do so, I cannot do otherwise than leave this matter in your hands.

Gentlemen, I now declare this Council open for the despatch of business.

FRED. A. CARRINGTON,
Superintendent.

New Plymouth, Taranaki,
16th March, 1874.

TO THE HON. MR. VOGEL FROM HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT.

Superintendent’s Office,
New Plymouth, December 29, 1873.

Sir,—Your letter respecting Immigration, “such as you addressed to other Superintendents” in October last, was duly received, and I did myself the honor of replying to it on the 5th instant. Since then I have more thoughtfully considered this immigration question, and the great advantages the other Provinces are deriving from it, while, at the same time, we remain almost excluded from its benefits. Knowing as I do that unless we get a fair proportion of the people who are brought into the Colony, there will be but little chance of our progressing as we ought to do in this district, which is truly and proverbial known as the “Garden of New Zealand,” I beg leave to solicit the attention of the Colonial Government to that which I am about to state.

To me it is a matter of surprise and regret to find that the General Government consider “in present circumstances Taranaki is unable to take advantage of the immigration scheme to the extent designed.” I now, therefore, submit for their consideration and regard certain observations and remarks which, if aided the Estimates will quickly place Taranaki in the position she should and will hold.

Is it not clear to demonstration that the circumstances of Taranaki are such as should induce special consideration and judicious action, and that until the work which has been advocated for years, for the preservation of life and property, trade and commerce, be carried out, all efforts will avail but little in making this Province what it is ordained to be—a manufacturing, commercial, populous, and wealthy portion of the Colony.

No one is more alive than myself to the value and importance of immigration and railway communication, and I am free to admit all that can be said both for the making of through lines of railway and the introduction of immigrants—indeed we are most anxiously expecting the people I so long since applied for, and unless they arrive shortly, we shall be in great straits for the coming harvest and work in hand; and while at the same time I express the great pleasure I feel in learning that all the other Provinces are getting a considerable number of immigrants, I cannot but remark that in all fairness we ought