Provincial Council.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 348, 1 March 1856, Page 6

Provincial Council.

Thursday, Feb. 28,

On Thursday last, the Sixtli Session of the Provincial Council was opened in the Council Chamber. Christchmch. Owing to the illness of Ris Honor the Superintendent, the house was opened by commission shortly after 4 o'clock p.m. The Chaplain read prayers; after which the Provincial Secretary handed in to the Speaker the Address of His Honor the Superintendent, which the Speaker then read to the House. THE ADDRES S. "The Superintendent regrets that he is prevented by illness from addressing the Provincial Council in person, on the present occasion. "The Supeiintendent has called the Council together earlier than was previously arran<red, in consequence of the near approach of the period at which the General Assembly is convened, and in order that the business of the Session ini<rbi be disposed of so as to enable those Gentlemen who are meinber.s >>l' it to proceed to Auckland, -vithitiu biMiisr interrupted in the discharge of their duties in this Council. The same consideration has guided the Go vernment in the amount of business ihey intend to brinjj forward this Si-ssion. The time at uieii disposal beiti/ so limited, they have confined their measures to th'ise which are of pressing importance, so that they may receive mature deliberation, postponing for a time others of less pressing necessity.

" The Superintendent lias directed two hills to be laid before the Council referring to Pulilic Roads. One ti> provide for the construction and repair of roads and drains throughout the Province, the eiiber for the prevention of offences on roads. These bills appear to the Superintendent to be imperatively calied f.>r. In framing them, the objects sought to he accomplished are to divide the Province into distiicts. To euabl j the inhabit;*nts of those districts to elect WavWardens, who will act ijenerallv under the supervision of the Provincial engineer, and to enable them by voluntary self rating to obtain the means for making and repairing roads when the Government may not be in a position, from wain of funds, to perform the reipiired work. The Superintendent hopes these measures will meet wiih the approval of the Council, and invites th«ir careful consideration on their details to render them as complete as possible. "The Superintendent has also thought another bill imperatively called for. A bill to phice the law regulating the licensing of puliiio-hoiises and the sale of intoxicating dviuks on a better footing than «t present. Xot only are there ■Treat anomalies in the present iaw, which for the convenience of the licensees ii is desirable should be amended, Init it is aUo highly expedient that some restraint should he placed on the facilities at present existing f,, r t ] u . indulgence oi' habits of drunkeuiiess. To repress the progress of this vice is now the aim of almost every Legislature in every country, and the Superintendent calculates with confidence in tin? co-opcratio'i of the Provincial Council with his irowiiuneni in the endeavour to accomplish the same laudable object in t.hj. Province, ;in ,i he trusts ih,-.y will concur with hnn in thinking ihat the bfii which has been prepared will lead v, that end. whilst, at the same time, it will not interfere with the operations of coinmeice or the course of trade, iyr impose any unjust or vexation'- restraint on tne rational freedom of the individual. v It has become necessary to provide an Engusu Ajjcju's Bill, in u rdci- that an agent may Ik

appointed in the place of Mr. (jodlev, who has been compelled to resign that appointment, in consequence of his having accepted an ollioe under the Grown, the duties ol which render the discharge of those attendant on the agency for this Province inconvenient 10 him.

" Tlse Superintendent feels tlial in now terminating the poliiical connection which has so lono- existed between that gentleman ?uul this province, ho should fall short ol'lhe expectations of the Council il lie did not give expression to the deep sense of obligation felt by himself and them for Mr. Godley's continued ami valuable services,and ihe regret they feel at the separation which is about to take place. That regret is however greatly n iiigaied by the opportunity which is all'.irded the Council of appointing as his successor Mr. Selfe, a gentleman in every w;vy qualified, and who from the earliest hi.story of this settlement has manifested the wannest sympathy and interest in i w,, success, ami has ai various limes contributed' substantial aid towards its attainment.

■' The Superintendent anticipates that the financial stale ot the Government will bemads at an early period of the Session. The point in reference to (his branch of the public service to which it may be necessary for him to allude are few and may be briefly stated. The strictest economy consistent with the efficient working of the several departments has been observed. Nevertheless the ordinary Revenue can only be regarded as about t-qual to the ordinary expenditure of the Government, leaving the Land land as the only source of supply wherewith to promote Imini^r.ition, support the present arrangements for Education, and carry on the public works of the province. That supply is uncertain. During the past 8 months tiie provincial share of that revenue amounted to £'SA24 . But the Waste Lands' Regulations ha*iu«- received the sanction of his Excellency ihe Governor, and eoniiii'j into operation on the 1-tof Ap'.il next, a ne\v order ot things will arise, from which it is impossible to calculate

v.'ilh precision on the amount of fund"' winch may be derived. Under these circumstances it wiil bo for tlie Council to desermine what measures they will adopt for obtaining1 the necessary uunwis for c.uiyin<>- on the Public Works, in case the supply from the sales of Laud should not t-qual the- votes passed by them for different purposes.

" Whilst referring to the financial affairs of the Province, the Superintendent desires briefly to direct the utieiitioa of the Council to the present state of the C.tn.erburv Association's Debenture account. The Superintendent has directed a balance-sheet to be prepared and laid before the Coined, lie is happy in being able to state that considerable sales of the property acquired by the Ptovince have already taken place, and thus lat have more than realised the expectations formed by the (ioveinnient at the time the debt was undertaken. Tuose sales are not more satisfactory, as shoeing the coirect estimate tunned of the value of thai property and its sufficiency to provide for the liabilities incurred, than as showing tin; great increase in the value of land whiih lias taken place in the Province.

" The Superintendent regrets that it is not in his power to place before the Council the abstract of the Cen.-us which has recently been taken, livery effort bar. been made to prepare that document, but some time must yet elapse before the el-is-ifieation is completed. So soon as it is road), it shall be laid on the table of the House. Ijlu, whatever may be the exact increase of the population, the amount of slock, and the laud brought into cultivation during the last two years, which the pre>ent census may show, there can be no doubt but that the Province has, under the Divine blessing, made great and healthful proOn eveiy side, in every district, whether in or around the bus- marts ol commerce, or in the remoter districts, the evidences are alike conclusive and satisfactory of the occupation of the country by a prosperous and happy peonlO?'

'I'lie Provincial Sj;crkt-vry then moved thai the address he printed, which was seconded l»y Mr. Tanciikd.—Cinied.

Afterwards ihc Provincial Skcrktary laid on the lalili; copies ol pajit-rs in euiuimiutitm uf the series (if ih« lust session : —

1. Currespi.iKlcnce (if the Hon. Colonial Secretary and His Honor tin: Superintendent on tin Waste Lauds' Regulations. 2. Correspondence of the Lion. Colonial Secretary and His Honor the Superintendent on the power of Provincial Legislatures us to Waste Lands.

;] Correspondence of the Hon. Colonial Sccreiarv and "'s Uu»">' l' llJ Superintendent on the I'jiiutl Fund. 4 Correspondence of the Hon. Colonial Sec retarv and His Honor the Superintendent «>n i 1,,. Iv.uid Office Properly. ;'). Correspondence relative to the steamer Alma. 6. Correspondence with Mr. Spowers relative to an advauue in aid of Imini<»niiion. 7. Correspondence with Hie English Ayfmit. 8. Return ol sheep inspected in 1 805. The following Notices of Motion were then given : — The Pnovt.s'ciAr, Skckktauv to move on the 29th insi., a reply to His Honor's address; also, on the same day, t" lay before the house the business proposed for the present session. Mr. Thomson, on tin: same day, to move that a Select Committee be appointed to c< quire into the administration of justice in the Piovince of Canto bury, and to report on the same. The committee to consist of Messrs. Britlan, Packer, Blakiston, Hull, Ollivier, Dampier, and Thomson. Also, on the same day, to move for the re-appointment of the committee of last session "ii the Trespass of Cattle Ordnance. A No, on the same day, to move for the re appointment of the House and Library C'liuniitee of last session. Mr. IJai.l, on an early day, to move that orrtain resolutions, which he then read, be tab'ii info the consideration of the house, in onl.T t» form the basis ■ >(' an act for encouraging the planting and growth of forest timber in this Pm> ii.cc. The Provincial SfccKKTAitY to move, ou the -Ith .March, for leave to bring in a hill for the milking and repairing of the roads and drains in ihe Province. And, on the same day, a bill for regulating the use of public roads and the prosecution of offences thereon. Mr. Dampibu on Feb. 29, to move for leave to brins: in a bill for regulating the public beach aiii! river road reserves* of the Province. Tne Provincial Seoretarv in move lhal Messrs. Seivell, Bray, Thomson, Hall, Briltan, be appointed a select committee to consider the state and iiro»re«s of the public work*. Mr. Hall to a.-k ihe Provincial Secretary whether the communication received from the (i'-neral Government, in relation to mill-dams, an i obstruction nf rivers, had been submitted to the letrnl adviser of the Province, and if so, what was his opinion. The house afierw-rnls adjourned to Friday 29. There were 1(5 members present. Friday, Feb. 29. The following1 Noticks ok Motion were given this day Mr. Olmtiku, to move on March 4, for returns oi correspondence between His Honor the Superintendent or the Provincial Government, ami the Provincial Engineer, during the past year, re>jm!iin» the winks mi the Sunnier Mad and the other Public Wotks of the Province. AUo, .in March 6, to ask if it is the intention of tii" Government to iutrnducc an amended I'esicinu Ordnance. Also, to move for a return showing the expemiituie of the £'200 voted for the entertainment of His Excellency the Govt'iuor. Mr. Rhodes, to askifary steps hud been taken hv the Government towards the erection of a school sit Okain's Bay. Mr. iJAMriKii, to move for leave to bring1 iv •Video's Improvement Bill. Mr. Hall, to ask several questions of the Sheriff, respecting the granting of a free pardon to Mackenzie.

Union Bank «r Australia.—By the last mail inielligemie lias been received of the appointment of Mr. Joseph Palmer as successor to Mr. S|)D\vors (wiio now retires from (lie B.uik's service) in the manapeim-nt of the Lytielton Branch. Mr. p,i|,, u . ri «•(• uiiilerstiuul, iil.s been f'^r some Cdiisidfialtlo lime cimuecled with tin.iJiiion B.mk, and lor tlie last few yeai> has held '•'<-* ullice „f Aceouiitaiil at the Adelaide uraiidi. Mr. and .Mrs. Palmer were to leave A-iolaidcahout the laiier end of last month, and, therefore, , nilv i, t . ,i a j] v rX pc<<tcil. I lie Wrstininlsn-, a m:\v elinpor ship, of l;~ (l° l("'s hunien, was to saii f.ir Wullinjrlon, Canterbury, and oilier ]v>rt.s, «,n the 20.1 iof iNovemlier. JShe was expeetod to inukc the passage in 70 du^s..

We are glad to find that the first woolship tluit has been loaded in this Province lr-is filled so rapidly. We understand that with the exception of engaged freitrhts.no m -re wool can be taken on hoard the William and Jane. She will be reaily to sail next month, alT.irding a urood opportunity for mails direct to England.