THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, November 26, 1859. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 3, Issue 114, 26 November 1859, Page 4

THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, November 26, 1859. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

We can do nothing more in this issue than summarize the proceedings of Council during the four days of its present sitting, and give a rescript of some important documents laid upon the table by the Superintendent. A considerable portion of our next issue will be devoted to a full report of the proceedings. The Council met on Tuesday, at one, when His Honor the Superintendent read the following address ; — Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council, — "When we separated, last June, I did not, as you are aware, expect to have the pleasure of meeting you again in Session till the end of next December. Circumstances 'have arisen, however, since- then, which induced me, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, to anticipate by little more than a month, the time of meeting formerly proposed. J need scarcely say that the circumstances above alluded to are in connexion with the Harbour Improvements at this Port, which all feel to be imperatively required, and which — -having been able to secure the services of a competent professional man, able to devote himself almost entirely to this great work — ,\ve have thought ought not to be delayed in their commencement a day longer than is necessary. As it was almost impossible at the first session of this Council, to fix on any plan for the proposed works, when so many other matters presented themselves to our attention at the inauguration of the Government, no appropriation was made for this particular service ; and although it was first thought that the difficulty might be got over for a short time by obtaining the written consent of the different members to any ad interim expenditure — which in most cases was freely given — on further consideration we thought that, in incurring a heavy liability or pledging the Government of the Province for large amounts that had not been previously voted in open Council, a dangerous precedent would be established, which we unanimously determined to avoid, even at the risk of putting you to much inconvenience by meeting at the present time. Hence though, to save delay, tenders have been invited for certain works and supplies in connexion with the intended improvements, none have been, or shall be accepted, till your approval has first been obtained. Since our meeting in June last, your wishes in regard of the various roads and public works for which you made such liberal appropriations, as well as the inland mail service, and other matters, have received the careful attention of the members of the Executive and myself; and we have endeavoured to carry them out to the best of our ability, so far as the season, and the limited amount of labour and professional assistance we have yet been able to secure, would allow. Our financial position is at present most satisfactory, and although the actual returns of income and expenditure to the end of this year cannot be laid before you till your next meeting, I believe that the present balance of about £9000, available for Provincial purposes, will be maintained, or at an.y rate be but little diminished at the

beginning of 1860, notwithstanding the large expenditure now going on for public works ; — and that, with over 600,000 acres of new land, the property of the Government, yet unproclaimed, and which can be brought into the market in the course of the same year, when the surveys are complete and as occasion requires it, — you will agree in thinking that the amount estimated to arise from the sale of lands during that year, viz., — £36,000, is not an over estimate. Of this amount we should receive five-sixths or £30,000 ; and the revenue from all sources, including balance in hand at the end of the present year, will probably be not much under £43,000. Of this large sum you are invited at present to sanction the expenditure of only a small proportion, for works which it is not advisable to delay, viz., — £6000 for a Steam Dredge and improvements of the Harbour of Port Napier ; £450 to provide Buildings for the accommodation of immigrants constantly arriving ; and such an amount for the purpose of encouraging. Steam communication between this and other places, as you may think fit — leaving the ordinary expenses of the Government to be voted, and large appropriations for Public works and immigration, to be made at your next meeting, when your first business will, doubtless, be the election of a Superintendent, who, by your adopting the above course, would not be embarrassed by general estimates framed by a predecessor in office. I make reference to this, as you are all well aware that I accepted the office I now hold, in April last, on the condition of its being looked upon only as a temporary arrangement to avoid a difficulty that presented itself at the .outset of our political existence. And I have determined to fulfil the intention F then expressed of retiring as soon as the Government had been fairly set a-going, and consequently shall place my resignation in the ' hands of the Governor towards the latter end of next month, when the office will be again at your disposal. In carrying on the Government of the Province during the last 8 months, a great object that I and the members of the Executive have kept in view has been to secure abundance of employment to the working classes by the judicious expenditure of large sums on roads and useful public works: and so to render this Province attractive as a future home to large bodies of industrious settlers, who may be induced to come amongst us : and, at the same time, to provide this class with allotments of land suitable for agriculture, as in the case of Karanema's Reserve, which has been already surveyed and a portion of which will be offered for sale next January, — of Porangahau, which is now under survey, and several other localities where it is intended to survey suitable blocks and offer portions of them for sale every three months ; so that no great intervals shall elapse between the arrival of persons in the Province and land sales at which they can acquire suitable farms for settling d^wn upon, if they do not settle in those districts where the land may be already open for selection. We have hoped by such means to supply the great want hitherto felt in the Province of agricultural settlers who would grow sufficient bread stuffs to render us independent of imports from other settlements, which at the present drains away so much of the capital that ought to be retained in the place. In planning the different lines of roads, also, we have kept in view the great advantage to be derived by connecting Napier as speedily as possible by good practicable dray roads with all the outlying districts of the Province, as well as with a neighbouring Province, a good overland communication with which promises to us many advantages. The roads already in progress between Napier and Porangahau to the south, between Napier and Ruataniwha on the west, and the projected one to Mohaka and Wairoa, towards the north west, by way of the Pe-" tane valley and Tutira lake, about to he commenced, will effect the former of these objects ; while the proposed road to the Taupo country by the Tutaekuri andMangaone rivers, and passing close to the north end of the Kaweka range, would, it is believed, amply effect the latter. The Provincial Engineer is now engaged in examining this line, and should it prove as advantageous as is expected, no time would be lost in commencing a work from which incalculable benefits may arise to this Province, by placing the very extensive districts around Taupo in immediate and easy connexion with Napier ; and opening up a safe and practicable road for driving all the spare sheep arid cattle we possess to the

Auckland markets. Should the two lines of road to the north east as far as Mohaka and Wairoa, and to the north west as far as Taupo, be speedily and energetically carried on and completed, we believe that, in place of almost the whole wealth of the province coming, as it now does, from the south of the Tutaekuri river, and the proceeds of land sales almost entirely from the same quarter, we should in a short time see valuable produce of different kinds brought in from the different localities through which these roads would pass, and the purchase of large blocks of land induced in places hitherto deemed inaccessible or of little account. The contemplated Harbour Improvements would complete and render fully available the great highway of the sea from the east, which is at present deprived of half its value, from being available only to vessels of small burthen, without running the risk of loading or unloading in the outer roadstead. No question can, I think, be for a moment entertained as to their expediency and the great general benefit to be derived from them, besides which it is beyond doubt that, if judiciously managed, the land to be reclaimed in progress of the works will when sold pay a very large proportion of the expenditure to he incurred on them. We propose, however, that certain reserves should be kept, forming a fixed per centage on the whole of the reclaimed land and be vested in a Board of Commissioners for the future improvement and maintenance of the harbour. The question of subsidies for Steam Communication will require your imme- ; diate attention, in consequence of a communication from the Colonial Secretary that will be laid before you, and an application on this head from the owner of the "White Swan." Many important subjects, which time will not permit us now to enter upon, wiil probably be brought before you at your next meeting ; such as the Land Regulations, the repairs and maintenance of Town and Country Roads, &c, which I will not now occupy your time by dwelling on. But I must refer to the present prosperous condition of the Town of Napier and Province of Hawke's Bay as proof positive of the wisdom shewn by His Excellency the Governor and his advisers, in putting within our reach the institutions which now enable us to manage our own local affairs, and make the most of our position and prospects ; and so long as we possess the substantial reality of being able to spend the greater part of our revenue as we please, and practically to direct the administration of our waste lands, with all other local and necessary powers, we shall have little reason to complain if our sphere of legislation is restricted to only the legitimate subjects that Provincial Councils should have under their control. The only apparent drawback to our present prosperity and rapid advancement is the possibility of being saddled with a portion of the debt contracted by the Province of Wellington against our wishes, and spent wholly for the advantage of that Province, before the separation took place, which would cripple us very much, and for a considerable period. All we have to ask for, however, is a fair investigation into the case and a judgment on it by the House of Representatives, which I am still of opinion must be in our favour ; but you will have to consider whether it would not be wise at the next meeting of this Council, to embody our chief arguments and views in a paper to be presented by our member to the House of Representatives, in support of the case he will be called upon to defend. In conclusion, I can only assure you that although this may be the last time I shall have the honor of addressing you in my present capacity, I shall entertain a grateful remembrance of the courtesy and consideration I have received at your hands, and hope that the future deliberations of this Council may at all times be marked by the spirit which pervaded its first session, and tend to the quick developement of resources that are now causing this Province to assume no inconsiderable position among the other Provinces of New Zealand. On Wednesday the following " reply " to His' Honor's address was moved by Dr. Hitchings, and carried : — " That this Council have received with feelings of strong gratification your Honor's statement of the satisfactory financial position of this province, and beg to express to your Honor their general concurrence in the views therein contained. As, however, important subjects are initiated in your Honor's address, which require some

expression of opinion by this Council, we now proceed to comment upon those which, appear most urgent ; we refrain from expressing our opinion upon the proposed Harbour improvements, as the subject will receive the immediate consideration of this Council. "We feel that the settlement of our financial position with the province of Wellington is a subject of vital importance to this province, and trust that your Honor will prepare for our consideration at our next meeting a full and equitable statement of the case, with a view to its being transmitted through our representative to the General Assembly. In conclusion, with reference to your Honor's intimation of your intention to resign the office which you have hitherto filled in so able a manner, and by which you have gained both the entire confidence of this Council, and, we believe, that of the inhabitants of the province generally, — we venture to hope that you will re-con-sider the subject, and continue to hold this office, to which we propose to attach a suitable salary." The Council then went into committee upon the estimates, and after some discussion (more by way of eliciting information than otherwise)- voted the respective sums of £6000 for the purchase of a steam dredge and harbour improvements ; £450 for immigration barracks ; and £1500 for purposes of steam communication ; the latter to be disprsed of at the discretion of the Superintendent and Executive Council. A select Committee was appointed to examine and report upon the subject of the revision of the electoral roll ; and the Superintendent was requested, on the motion of Mr. Tucker, to furnish estimates of expenditure for the first three months of 1860. On Thursday, in consequence of the estimates not being ready, the Council only met pro forma. On Friday (yesterday) the Council was engaged till an advanced hour in the afternoon in considering the estimates, all of which were passed as sent down, with the following alterations : — Salary of Superintendent fixed at £600 per annum, on the motion of Mr. Ormond, and £200 voted by way of compensation for the past, on the motion of Mr. Colenso. Salary of Speaker fixed at £50. £150 for Milton road and £100 for Carlyle street | struck out on the motion of Mr. Orraond. £50 voted for the expenses of members. The estimates in full in our next. The Speaker having resigned, a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to him, and Mr. Rhodes elected his successor. The following letter from the Superintendent was read, after which, on the motion of Mr. Riddell, the Council was adjourned till Saturday, Feb. 27th, at one o'clock, p. m. Superintendent's Office, Napier, Nov. 25, 1859. Sis, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, of your letter of 23rd inst., enclosing the reply of the Provincial Coimcil to my address of 22nd. inst. ; in reference to the latter part of which I can only say that I feel much obliged for the expression of their good opinion and reference to my past conduct as Superintendent, contained therein, and state that the unanimoxis -wish of the members of the council that I should retain the office renders it of course unnecessary that I should forward my resignation to the Governor, or put them to the trouble and expense of a re-election, the result of which would, from the reply just raceived, be certain. I can only, however, consent to hold office conditionally, /. c., siibject to the approval of the constituency that I have the honour to represent, and to whom I intend to make reference in regard of this subject with the least possible delay. And should they approve of my continuing to hold office, I shall have much pleasure in acceding to the desire you have so kindly expressed, so long as I may have the honor to retain your confidence and be able to perform to your satisfaction the duties of the office you have placed me in. I have, &c, (Signed) T. H. FITZGERALD. J. D. Ormond, Esq., Speaker of Provincial Council.