PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1823, 20 October 1866, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Yesterday the first session of the new Provincial Council was opened at 2 p.m, During the recess several alterations and improvements have been effected in the Chamber and the adjoining portions of the Government Buildings. The encaustic tiles have been placed in position in the Chamber, and gas lias been laid on in it, the corridors being also lighted in a similar manner. The lamps, however, are out of all keeping with the style of the building, and greatly tend to mar the effect of what is, probably, the finest hall in New Zealand. We hope that the arrangement is only a temporary one. Yesterday, the stranger's gallery was almost filled with persons anxious to witness the proceedings. The gangway below the bar was crowded with ladies, and so also was the Speaker's gallery. On casting a glance at the body of the Chamber, the wonted frequenters of the Council must have been struck with the number of new faces which met their gaze. Out of a house which numbers forty-four members, forty were present, and of these no fewer than twenty-four did not sit in the previous Council.

The following members were present : Messrs. Barff,Be3wick, Brown, B. Buchanan, H. Buchanan, Buckley, Davis, Delamain, Dixon, Duncan, Garrick, Gray, Hall, Hargreaves, Hoos, Hornbrook, Johnstone, Jollie, Knight, Matlock, Maskell, Maude, Montgomery, Moore, Murray-Aynsley, Ormsby, Potts, Rhodes, Sheath, Sterieker, Stewart, Tancred, Thomson, Waeckerlie, Walker, Whall, J. S. Williams, Wynn Williams, W. Wilson, and Wylde. Mr. Stewart rose to address the Council, remarking that the first business before the members was the election of a Speaker. He had great pleasure in proposing Mr. Tancred for this office. Mr. Tancred had been intimately connected with the affairs of the province for many years. He had proved himself a good public servant, having worked for Canterbury during eight Councils, and he had also rendered effectual service to the province by the manner in which he had represented his constituents in the General Assembly. Mr. Beswick had much pleasure in seconding the nomination of Mr, Tancred. Hon. members might think that it was strange that he should do so, because his own name had been mentioned as a candidate for the office. Recognising, however, the great ability, of Mr. Tancred, and his claim to the suffrages of the Council, he ("Mr. Beswick) felt great satisfaction in bowing to what he believed were the wishes ot the House. He thought it more graceful in him at once to retire in favour of a gentleman whose claims were infinitely superior to any that might be adduced in his (Mr. Beswick's) favour. The Clerk of the Council then put the question to the House, that Mr. Tancred be elected Speaker, which was carried unanimously. The proposer and seconder then conducted the Speaker Elect to His Honor the Superintendent, who signified his assent to the election. Mr. Speaker was then re-conducted by Messrs. Stewart and Beswick to the chair. Mr. Tancred, in assuming the office of Speaker, briefly returned his acknowledgments for the honour done him. He assured the Council that it would be his study to maintain the dignity of the House, and to follow in the footsteps of those who had so ably preceeded him in the office. He felt that he might rely on receiving the cordial co-operation of every member of the House in the discharge of the important duties dcvolvI in;; on the Speaker.

Prayers were then said by the Very Rev the Chaplain.

At 2.30 p.m., Ilia Honor the Superintendent was announced, and shortly afterwards entered the House, accompanied by the Members of the Executive. His Honor was received with the usual formalities. Having desired the members to be seated, His Honor read the following SPEECH. " Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council—- " I regret that unavoidable circumstances hare postponed your meeting to an inconvenient season of the year. " The General Assembly was in session before the provincial elections were completed, and it appeared to me advisable to delay calling you together, until after the rising of the colonial Parliament. " The Council has derived from the late proceedings of the Assembly an instructive experience preliminary to' iti own labours, and it is now able to measure with some accuracy its financial resources for the year ending June, 18G7.

,„" The matters! have to lay before you this

session, so far as I am at present advised, will embrace no novel propositions. I shall only request your attention to very few legislative measures beyond the granting of ordinary supplies, intending shortly to summon you to a more protracted session, prompt administrative action being at this season very much called for in various outlying portions of the province, particularly on the goldftelds. On this, among other grounds, I am very desirous that the present should be as brief a session as is consistent with a deliberate consideration of emergent business. "It will be necessary to agree upon resolutions suggesting amendments by the General Assembly of the waste lands regulations in the matter of pre-emptive rights, and in some other less important particulars. " You will be requested to pass an Ordinance enabling the Provincial Government to relieve the'road boards of the management of main trunk roads.

" The fencing Ordinance has been found to work imperfectly and requires remodelling. And I shall request your sanction to a few other measures of general interest, although of comparatively minor importance. "During the session I trust to receive your sanction for the erection of bridges over the Hurunui and Waitangi; one half the cost in each case being offered by the adjoining provinces. Government is also contemplating the erection of bridges over some other of the larger and more dangerous rivers intersecting the Southern plains, and probably you will be asked, on an early day, to authorise their construction.

"With considerable reason the settlers of the South have complained, during some years past, of inattention to their demands for public works. I believe you will concur in the propriety of at once, and in future, awarding to the Timaru district a full proportion of the public revenues. With your assent it is purposed to hand over to the Municipal Council of Timaru the steam landing service and warehouses, with all the boats, gear and appliances. "The presence in the Council of an increased number of representatives from the goldflelds is justly a subject for general congratulation, as being evidence of ;the serious desire of our fellow-subjects on the West Coast to contribute their valuable assistance towards the government of this province, and to become permanently identified with all its fortunes.

" There will be laid before you a plan for enabling the settlers in Westland to become purchasers of rural lands, and also regulations for the sale of lands within the limits of the towns in that district.

"Ishall request you to confer upon me powers to expend considerable sums of money in opening up the amazing resources of Westland, by means of various public works throughout its districts. "Among other measures, I shall invite your concurrence in a bill for leasing the coalfields at the Grey to a public company, under conditions calculated to ensure large commercial benefits to the province. "During the recess, an extension of the Western telegraph from Hokitika to Greymouth has been completed at a moderate cost, and I purpose taking authority for some very desirable extensions in a southerly direction.

" With regard to the condition of the province generally, I am hopeful that, with your assistance, Government will succeed in meeting all its present engagements, and completing all those works which have been commenced. But at the same time it cannot be concealed that the extraordinary drain upon our resources in favour of the Northern Island lias during the last few years very materially affected our powers of sustaining large public expenditure in reproductive works.

" Under these circumstances, it will be imperatively necessary to exercise the most watchful precaution against incurring financial embarrassments, and at the same time employ ourselves in preparing plans for a more rapid progress, when the southern provinces have recovered from the comparative prostration into which they have been thrown by their misalliance with the Northern Island.

'• I may be permitted to express a confident hope, that by some fitting measure of the General Legislature, the Middle Island will speedily be relieved from a pressure, which is not only unnecessary but unendurable. • "Recent eventß in Hawke's Bay, added to a dozen parallel facts, prove very conclusively that the Provincial Governments of the Northern Island, if let alone, and relieved from the pressure of Southern interference in native affairs, are, with their own resources, capable of reducing the native population to a condition of usefulness and contented subjection to law and order. And, although somewhat late in the day, the leading men in the colony are beginning to confess that the interference of Southern statesmen in native matters is, and has been, a most fruitful cause of embarrassment and expense to the North Island, while it has resulted in an enormous injury to the Southern Island. In the certainty that henceforward the people of the Middle Island will not make any further sacrifices of their means to sustain the expenses of meddling in matters naturally the business of the Northern Island; and further, taking into consideration the rapid increase of our population and commerce, we are quite warranted in looking for a speedy restoration to that healthful financial condition formerly enjoyed by the province. "It is the intention of Government to ask you to sanction the continued immigration of single women only. " The anticipations of engineers who have, at various times, reported upon the Hirer Waimakariri, have been verified during the recent freshets. I shall cause a report of the state of the river, and an estimate of the expenses of protective works, to be laid before you shortly. " I shall have the gratification of forwarding, for your information, copious reports of the scientific labours of the Provincial Geologist (Dr. Haast), which reports are to be accompanied by elaborate maps and illustrations. ' The tunnel of the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway isprogressing favourably,only about 245 yards of the centre remaining to be executed. " I am advised that the line from Lyttelton to the Selwyn will be ready for traffic within nine months from this date. " As you are aware the railway is now working regularly between Kerrymead andßolleston, a distance of about nineteen miles, it will be necessary to take steps for providing wharfage to serve shipping in connection with the railway immediately.

"You will be glad to learn that my Government is in the enjoyment of a most cordial understanding with the governments of the adjoining provinces of Nelson and Otago, a condition of things highly conducive to the advancement of the colony, and which I shall take every care to preserve ; henceforth, let us hope that unprofitable jealousies will be displaced by a mutual desire to co-operate in the real work of colonisation. " The public will join me in deeply regretting that our old and faithful friend, Mr. Selfe, after a long course of gratuitous services to the province, as its agent in London, has found it necessary to forward his resignation. The province, I trust, notwith-tand-ing that Mr. Selfe has to a great extent discontinued his official relations with us, will, lit the same time, retain a most grateful recollection of Mr. Selfe's labours, and enjoy the advantage of his continued friendship. " Gentlemen, I am confident that the very pleasant relations that have always subsisted between the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Canterbury will be continued in these times. "I trust that it may he my privilege to see our united labours attended by profitable results. " I now declare this Council open for the transaction of business, " WILLIAH SKMOH MOORHCUSE, " Superintendent.''

His Honor having retired, the report of the Acting Provincial Auditor was read, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Stewart moved that the Standing Orders of the previous Council should be adopted by the present one.

Mr. Garbick seconded the motion, which, haying been put to the House, was carried,

Mr. Stewart laid upon the table of the House the following papers : 1. Eeport on the head-waters of the river Waimakariri by the Provincial Geologist. 2, Correspondence with the Domain Board respecting the management of Haglcy Park. 3, Correspondence respecting Messrs. Holmes and Oo.'s claim for payment in respect of additional ombankment connecting the railway with wharves under construction at Lyttelton. 4. Eeturn of progress of tunnel of lyttelton and Christchurch railway from Nov. 1,1866, to Sep. 29,1866. 6. Correspondence relative to oxpondituro of £6OO voted by Council for protection of Kaiapoi. 6. Eeturn «f public works paid for in land during the year ended Juno 30,1866, and contracts then out-standing and since paid for in land. 7. Correspondence respecting completion of the works on the north Eakaia route. 8. Correspondence in construction of water race from the Wareora to Timaru. 9. Eeports and correspondence relative to damage done to property on Kaiapoi Island by floods of Christmas, 1865. 10. Correspondence rolativo to Mr. W. Wilson's claim to compensation, 11. Statement of Forgan and Son's contract for erection of now Council Chamber and Befreshment Booms, 12. Eeport by| J. Eochfort, Esq., on Government Buildings and works on tho West Coast, with statement of present means and prices of conveyance of provisions to the various diggings. 13. Monthly reports of the Chief Surveyor of land sold or granted, but unsurveyed, during year ending June 30,1866. 14. Monthly reports of the Chief Surveyor of arrears of Crown Grants, 16. Eeport of the Eesident Engineer upon progress and state of works on the Great Southern Eailway, 16. Eeport by the Chief Surveyor on progress of surveys during the year ending June 30,1866. 17. Eeturns of land sold and granted during tho year ending June 30,1866. 18. Eeturn of arrivals and departures in port of Lyttelton, for year ending June 30,1866, 19. Gazettes [containing proclamations by his Honor the Superintendent under the Diseased Cattle Act, 1861. 20. Eeport of the Chief Inspector of Sheep on the state of the flocks in Canterbury for year ending June 30, 1886.

21. Eeturn of fines received in Eesident Magistrate's Court under tho Sheep Ordinance for year ending June 30,1866. 22. Eeturn of sheep over six months of age in province on January 1, 1866. 23. Letters from J. Marshman, Esq., to the Provincial Secretary, from September 26, 1865, to August 1,1866. 24. Letters from Provincial Secretary to J. Marshman, Esq,, from March 16 to October 17, 1866.

25. Letters from H. Selfe Selfe, Esq., to his Honor the Superintendent from January 25 to June 26, 1866.

26. Letters from his Honor the Superintendent to H. Selfe Selfe, Esq,,, from March 16 to September 6,1866.

Notices of motion were given, and the House adjourned until Tuesday next, at S p.m. NOTICES OF MOTION. Tuesday, Octobeb 23. Mr. W. Wilson to ask,—"Whether the Government can afford to the Council any information aa to the causes which havo led to the withholding of the grant of land made during the last session to the inhabitants of Kaiapoi island, who were sufferers from the recent floods." Mr. Joseph Beswick, to move,—" For leave of absence for Mr. Hawkes, for a fortnight." Mr. W. Wilsoh to move,—" That in the opinion of this Council it is eipedient that steps should bo taken by the Provincial Government to widen the culverts on the North road from White's bridge across the Waimakarifi to Kaiapoi, in order to prevent the recurrence of accidents." Mr. Wykk Williams to move, "That this House do sit at the usual hour of five o'clock on Mondays, for the remainder of the present session,

Mr. Haegeeaves, to move—"Thatcopies of the contracts for building the sea wall, and eitonding the jetty at lyttelton, and all correspondence relating thereto be laid upon the table. The Peovincial Seceetaet, to move—" That a select committee be appointed to consider the Standing Orders, consisting of Mr. Hall, Mr. Beswick, Mr. Maude, Mr. Wynn Williams, and the mover."

Thuesday, Oct. 25. Mr. Wilds, to movo—" That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to take into consideration the desirability of appointing a Board of Conservators for the river Waimakariri,