PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3831, 3 May 1873, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thefßdwori bf the Primuoial ’Oofinoil was opened at 2 p.m. to-day. The following■ members were present:— Messrs Brett, Berwick, Webb, Kennaway, Fisher, Joynt, Eichardson, Bluett, SawteQ, Harper,Duncan, Andrews, Buchanan, Higgins, Rhodes,. Inglis, Toswill, Knight, Maude, Peacock, Cowlishaw, Studholme, and ■; Hayhurst. ' i-: >;; 1 NEW MEMBERS. The Speaker read a letter from the Superintendent, announcing that Messrs W. JT G. Bluett, C. J. Harper, and T. W. Maude had been elected members of the Council. His Honor the Superintendent delivered the following address: — “ Mb Speakes and Gentlemen—- “ I have called you together for the present special session, in accordance with what I understand'to have hem the Wish at year last meeting, that yon should be consulted before any new engagements were entered into in respect of the harbour works in Fort Lyttelton. In the meantime, a report has been obtained from' the principal engineers .of the colony, containing recommendations as to the best means to be adopted to increase to the utmost the wharfage and harbour accommodation. This' report; with plans, which have been prepared to give effect to the suggestions it contains, will be laid before you, and your authority will be asked to press on the works without delay. “ A farther reason for having recourse to your adyice has arisen from the failure of the negotiations for obtaining the eastern side of Cathedral square for a site for the public buildings of the General Government. The Synod of the Church of England having refused to sell the plot of ground which you desired to acquire, it becomes necessary to make other arrangements for the same object. I need scarcely point out the great inconvenience which the public departments Suffer from the want of those buildings, or the necessity which exists that the province should : immediately avail itself of the appropriations which have been made for the purpose of their construction. Correspondence and proposals upon this subject will Be placed before you. “ The estimate of the receipts from the sale of waste lands for the year ending September 30,1873, was £130,000. The receipts for the seven months of the year which have elapsed reach ah amount nearly £IOO,OOO in excess of the estimate for the whole year. “I may remind you that your appropriations were more than £IOO,OOO in excess of the estimated receipts, but as there is no reason to suppose that the land sales will fall off materially during the remaining five months of the year, I shall ask you to consider the propriety of making further appropriations to meet the largely increased demand for land ready of access and suitable for settlement. “. At the present the agricultural land on the seaboard eastward of the main trunk line of railway has, for the most part, been purchased, and will have reasonable facilities afforded to it by the existing and the projected lines of railway. “ Three branch lines are, already in. course of construction, giving railway communication to the Oxford, Malvern, and Pleasant Point districts, and opening up new fields for settlement to the westward of the main line. lam of opinion that the lands already sold in the Ashburton and Mount Somers districts, and the inducements offered to settlers in the country underlying the hills in that part of the province, will justify the construction of a branch line, similar in direction to those I have named, from the Ashburton township. “ I am further of opinion that a complete chain of road communication should be made along the foot of. the hill country throughout the province, by bridging the gorges of the principal rivers. “ With that view, yon will be asked to sanction the erection of bridges over the gorges of the WaiinOkariri and Eakaia rivers, and also oyer a branch of the Ashburton river. The forest, coal-hearing, and agricultural lands at the foot, of the hills will thus be brought into communication with each other, and with the main lines of railway. “ It is not unreasonable to look for the settlement of a considerable mining population in the Malvern district at no distant period. «It is worthy of your consideration, whether its resources should not be more fully and accurately tested and ascertained, by boring and other means of exploration. The practical and scientific research which has already taken place points to results of very considerable, importance. It is stated that there is evidence of one of the largest and most valuable coalfields in New Zealand, though “ these coal measures have not yet been half prospected.” “ You will be asked to press upon the consideration of the Colonial Government the desirableness of completing the portion of the trunk line of railway between Timaru and the Waitaki river. j “Yon will learn from correspondence between myself and the Colonial Government that that Government has undertaken to press on the opening of .better communijation with the West Coast of this island through the Armin' district. I look upon this as but a’ small instalment of that better coninunication between' the' 1 two' sides of this island, whi(h will ultimately prove Of the grefttei comtnircial value; as well/ to this province as to the. colony generally. , “ Correspondence of a subsequent date will, be placbd bMort'yoft,showing wh* has passed, between the Colonial and a committee of gentlemen in the Nelson province, as to' the: formation of a lino of ■ milway from* Nelson to. Greymouth, and from mme point of this lineto the northern boundary 1 of this province. When fuller information has been furnished, the subject will bo brought under your consideration. ,• : . , "Papers will he ’ laid • befort you showing the action taken through the Survey Office, ’to'prombte a more complete 'sysphi of'rba|B throughout the province. This is rendered necessary, By' thd rapid alieiatibn of the waste lands which is, taking jlaoe, both for the purpose Of giving facilities of selection and occupation to purchasers, aid for preventing the obstruotipn of> future Settlement by present purchasers, (ms and other matters fenneclm with the shrvey and wmihistration of . the waste lands are the subject of an important report; of, the Chief Surveyors of the Colony, which will be laid upon the table.

“ Through the courtesy of the Colonial Government, I am enabled to pUce before you detailed statements of what has been done to promote immigrationto this provence during the past year. It is needless for me to point out how far the results have fallen short of the requirements of the province. “ At a time when there is a largo accumulation of capital available for investment, the extension of the ordinary industries of the country, and the development of its resources, are likely to be seriously retarded unless more active steps are taken to meet our wants. “ The question is one which will no doubt have your serious consideration. For my own part, I may be permitted to reiterate my opinion that the attempt to bring exclusively under the central administration those works and colonising operations which have hitherto been carried out more immediately with the sympathy, and under the supervision and c&reotion of those most closely interested, and by whose taxation the funds are supplied, will prove a costly experiment. “ The resolution which was passed at a Conference of the Delegates of the several Australian Colonies, as to the prohibition of the importation of stock from Great Britain for a period of two years, will be brought under your consideration. “ The subject will be brought before the finlnnift] Assembly at its next session, and it will be desirable that an expression of your opinion should be on record upon a matter so largely affecting the interests of this province. “ I am in hopes that such precautionary measures can be adopted as wul render the absolute prohibition of importation unnecessary. “An Ordinance will be submitted to you providing for the establishment of a College, and for bringing under one body the administration of the Trusts and the management of the several departments of superior education, for which you have made provision, You will be asked to sanction the acquisition of ft site

suitahla fcnTthe erection of the buddings required for H d. “ The establishment of a free public library will be bronght tmder your attention. Private efforts have already been invited to raise a portion of the necessary funds. “ The benefits of such an institution are for all time,' confined to no one class, to no particular locality, and to no one period in’ the history of a community. As supplementing the Educational Institutions which you have so liberally endowed, I trust the proposal will have your favourable consideration. , “ I now declare this Council open for, the despatch of business. “ Wu. Eolleston, “ Superintendent. FATSES. The Provincial Secretary laid a number of papers on the table. Notices, of motion having been given, the Council adjolimed until Tuesday next, at 5 p.m. - NOTICES OP MOTION. Tuesday, May 6. , Mr Knight —To ask the Provincial Secretary if it is the intention .of the Government to lay on the table a return showing the number of immigrants, ordered for Canterbury by the Colonial Government, and the number that have arrived, distinguishing the assisted from the' nominated. Mr Peac(Xtk— To ask the Government, how the Charitable Aid Fond is administered at Kaiapoi, and by whom t The Provincial Secretary—-To move for leave to introduce a Bill intituled The Lyttelton Corporation Waterworks Ordinance, 1873. The Provincial Secretary to move—For leave to introduce a bill) intituled the Timaru Corporation Waterworks Ordinance, 1873. The Provincial' Secretary to move—For leave to introduce a bill intituled the Diversion of Eoads Special Ordinance, No. 1,1873. The Provincial Secretary to move—For leave to introduce a bill intituled the Canterbury College Ordinance, 1873. The Provincial Secretary to move—For leave to introduce a bill intituled the Canterbury Museum and Library Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 1873.:

The Provincial Secretary to move— For leave to introduce, a bill intituled the District Eoads Compulsory Land-Taking Ordinance, 1873.

. The Provincial , Secretary to move— For leave to introduce a bill intituled the Education Ordinance, 1873.

The Provincial Secretary to move— That a select committee be appointed to consider and report on such petitions for the severance and division of road districts as may be referred during the present session by. his Honor the Superintendent to the Council for their consideration ; the committee to consist of .Messrs Maskell, J. T. Fisher, A. C. Knight, G. Healey, and the riiover.

The Provincial Secretary to move— That one hundred acres of the Township Reserve, No. , situated on the South Bank of the Eakaia, be laid out in sections of onequarter of an acre each, and sold under the provisions of the Waste Lands Eegulstions at the upset price of twelve pounds ten shillings for each section; provided that certain suitable portions of the township, be reserved for such public purposes as his Honor the Superintendent may direct. The Provincial Secretary to move— That a respectful address be presented to bis Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the estimates a. sum not exceeding two thousand pounds as a bonus to be paid, under suitable conditions, to the first company or private individual who shall successfully establish in the province of Canterbury a woollen manufactory; such bonus not to be paid until satisfactory proof be given of the production of auch quantity of woollen fabrics as may be determined on by the Government. The Provincial Secretary to move— That this Council is of opinion that the portion pf the trunk line of railway between Timaru and the Eiver Waitaki should be constructed as soon as possible, and that his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requited to forward a recommendation to that effect to the General Government. 1 The Provincial Secretary to move— The Council into CoiQHiittee of Supply. Mr Maskell to move—That bis Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to take immediate steps for adding a footbridge to the railway bridge over the river Ashley. Mr Westenba to move—That a library and house committee be appointed; the committee to consist of the a Hon. Colonel Brett, Messrs Parker, Jollie, Ormshy, and the mover. Wednesday. May 7. The Provincial Secretary, to move— That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the estimates a sum not exceeding £150,000 for the purpose of carrying out the system of harbour .works at Lyttelton recommended by Messrs Carruthers and Blackett in ' their report dated January 20th, 1873. - That - £IOO,OOO of thp above amount be raised when required by loan under the provisions of the , Lyttelton Harbours, JYorks Loan Act, 1872, and the "balance be' provided odt Of the revenue of the primnee,' ■ : Thursday, May 8. The Provincial Seceetaei? to move—; That this Council is pf opinion ( that the offices; of the Eeghltrar of Deeds, the (jorninissioner of Stamps, :and the Resident Magistrate’s! Court should be erected on the land belonging; to thd Previn dial! Governihenff ori -<hd north' side of Armagh street- and western bank of; the Eiver Avon-; and thkt /the toffioes Toff the. Telegraph, Post-office, atfd i Custom House* should Be .erected pn: (he > laqdj belonging to) the Provincial Government on the south side,* of Cathedral, square.- , - > ’ The PRoViifclAjTj secretary— Td move; That this Council, seeing that the steps; taken by the General Government in respect of immigration to this proViface have proved,' hitherto ‘ inadequate to, meet its requirements and feeling convinced that jjpy . failure in that direction seriously impedes the settle* ment of the waste'lands of the'prdrihce, the development of industries, .the, extension of public works, and, ( the' general, prosperify of all elksses of the ebrnmunity, are of opinion that a system pf iihnugratibn should Be re: established under the control and managemenfc of the Provincial Government, and that immediate steps be token for effecting this object; that Ms Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the estimates a sum not exceeding £50,000, for the purposes of carrying the above resolution into effect. ! a ~ Mr Maskell to in the opinion of this House aid should not be withdrawn, from the existing denominational schools so long as they are found,to satisfy the requirements of the Board of Education with regard to numbers, discipline, and secular instruct tion; and that legislative provision be made for granting such assistance to them. , Mr Williams to move —Return showing the number and names of district schools in the province brought under the new system. The number of school buildings erected since, the amount of rates levied in each district as contributions; also, the number and names of school districts not under the new system. Mr Harper to move —A reply to his Honor the Superintendent’s address.