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construction of roads by the Settlers of any
district, whether raised by rates or voluntary
subscriptions, and that if sanctioned by you, this
regulation should take effect from the com-
mencement of the present year. As the object
of this proposal is to promote the construction
of roads, in the districts where there is a sparse
population, it is not intended to apply to towns
—nor in any case to the repairs of Roads; but
in these cases to limit the grant as hitherto to
an equivalent—though it is to my mind ques-
tionable, whether when the roads are constructed,
they should not be kept in repair solely by rates
raised in the district.

The Bill for establishing a Toll Gate does
not seem to call for any special remarks. Tax-
ation, more especially when direct, is seldom a
popular proposal, but having regard to the in-
creasing demands upon the revenue, and to the
fact that those whose property abuts on the
trunk lines, and who are thus chiefly benefited,
escape all direct taxation, it does appear only
reasonable, that we should relieve the revenue
from some portion of this heavy outlay, and
throw it in some measure on all those who use
the trunk roads.

Before giving the details of the expenditure
proposed for the current year, I would wish
briefly, refer to some of the works for which
votes are asked. It must be admitted that the
Bridges hitherto erected—whether owing to
their faulty construction—or to the impossibility
of wooden structures resisting the forces to
which in this Colony they are exposed, there
are few of the Bridges we have erected, which
have stood more than three or four years. Their
rebuilding has thus proved a sad drain upon our
resources, and yet they are in many cases so
absolutely essential not only to traffic, but for
the protection of life, that it matters not how
often they are destroyed, means must be found
for replacing them. The Bridge over the Wan-
gaehu is a case in point; it has been twice
destroyed, and though the last time by a cause
which may never again occur—one half having
been swept away by a huge avalanche of snow
and ice, it is more than doubtful whether any
Bridge we can possibly erect over it will stand
many years;—still, dangerous as the river is at
all times; in floods, from the force and rapidity
of the current and the masses of floating timber
—when it is fordable, from its boggy and quick
sandy bed; unless we determine to stop the traffic
between the shipping port of Wanganui and the
important districts of Turakina and Rangitiki,
the Bridge must be rebuilt without any unneces-
sary delay. Another argument that may be urged
is, that until the Bridge over the Wangaehu is
rebuilt, the timber prepared at Rangitiki for the
Wanganui Bridge cannot possibly be conveyed
to its destination. With regard to the latter, I am
happy to inform you that the disputes between
the Contractor and the Government, have been
amicably arranged. The Contractor has been
permitted to give up his contract, the Govern-
ment taking all the timber at its cost price, and
reimbursing the amount already expended for
labour—but amongst other difficulties to be
overcome, before this great work can be re-
sumed—there is the ever recurring one of money.
Instead of £5000, the bridge will cost at least
£7000, if not £8000. My proposal is that you
should add another £1000 to the £5000 already

voted, and that the deficiency should be met by
the sale of the reserve, on the left bank of the
river, immediately opposite the town; the s[ai]d
however of this reserve, whilst strenuously urged
by the settlers resident between the left bank of
the Wanganui and the Rangitiki river, is strongly
objected to by a considerable number of the
inhabitants of the town of Wanganui; but I
am not without hope that in the event of your
agreeing to make up whatever sum may be
required over and above the proceeds resulting
from the sale of the reserve, the opposition to it
will be readily withdrawn.

In compliance with requests urged in various
memorials, and which are in themselves so just
and reasonable, that want of funds could alone
justify our not acceding to them, it is proposed
to build an additional bridge over the Tatae-
nut in the Rangitiki—Bridges over the two
streams in the Horokiwi Valley—to replace one
at Pahautanui, in such a state of decay, as to
be unsafe for drays—also to erect bridges over
the Silver Stream in the Upper Hutt—the Pa-
karatahi river—and lastly over the Taueru and
Koumingi, two rivers between Masterton and
Castle Point, a district which, while it has
contributed largely to the territorial revenue, has
as yet had little or nothing expended on impro-
ving its communications.

The benefits conferred, not only upon this
port but upon the whole province by the steamer
Wonga Wonga, have been so fully recognized
by preceding Councils, that I feel assured I
have merely forestalled your wishes in completing
an arrangement with the Steam Navigation
Company, under which upon my paying them a
sum of £500 in satisfaction of all claims for
alleged arrears of subsidy to the Wonga Wonga,
they engaged to purchase an additional boat—the
Storm Bird, and have agreed on your granting
an annual subsidy of £1000 to run the two
boats between this and such other ports as they
may deem advisable—it being, however a con-
dition that one of the steamers shall always be
in readiness to start for Wanganui immediately
on the arrival of the English mail. The under-
standing is that while the subsidy is to be paid
irrespective of any profits the Company may
make, no further claim, in the event of losses,
is to be made on the Province. There seems
every probability that by affording the Company
this very moderate subsidy you will enable them
to increase the number of their vessels, so as to
maintain a constant communication between
this and all the other Provinces.

Several applications having recently been
made to me from other Provinces to admit
patients into the Lunatic Asylum at Karori,
which I have been unable to accede to, owing
to the accommodation being barely sufficient
for our own unfortunates, I shall ask you to
sanction the building of an additional wing. I
do so the more readily, because, while I am
able to bear testimony to the very efficient man-
ner in which, under its present officers, the in-
stitution is conducted, the expenses of the esta-
blishment would be materially diminished by
payment for patients sent from other Provinces.
Leaving all other items of expenditure to be
explained by members of the Government, I
proceed simply to specify the various votes
proposed.

Taking the ordinary expense of the Govern-