OPENING OF THE CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 28, 5 March 1868, Page 9

OPENING OF THE CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The Provincial Couucil of Canterbury assembled on the 17th February, when the following important speech avus delivered by his Honour the Superintendent : — Mb. Speaker and Gentlemen or the Provincial Council— Circumstances havo prevented your being called together as early as I wished. An' early session would have been inconvenient to many on account of tho harvest and sheep shearing. It is a matter for profound regret that this province, in common with the greater part of tho Middle Island, has been visited by unexpected and disastrous floods, causing damage to an unprecedented extent. Measures have been taken to ascertain the actual amount of damage sustained by public and private property throughout the several districts, so that a report may be laid before you for your guidance in repairs of works, and in sonic degree relieving distress. In introducing the business of the session, I would suggest that what revenue we can command must be expended upon absolute necessaries. Our principal care should bo to invest money in reproductive undertaking?. Estimates will bo laid before you disclosing proposals for very considerable reductions in every department of the provincial service. Public opinion lias been agitated b} r discussions on the adaptability of the existing provincial constitution to the present advanced stato of the colony, and it is generally supposed that tho central legislature will, during the next session, earnestly debate this subject. The ablest public men in tbe colony are much divided in opinion — one party favouring the abolition of the provinces j another loudly advocating their continuance with increased legislative powers. A third class desires to retain them under conditions, which, while divesting them of nearly all their present legislative functions, would still leave them absolute legislative and administrative powers in tbe Crown Lands and public Works departments. The Council has no power to make any alteration in the constitution. But as representing reliably the public opinion of the province, it may express to parliament its feelings in regard to any proposal affecting alterations or reforms. I may at once express my entire approval of tho reliuquishment of most of our powers of legislation. Although at law wo may not enact any change of our constitutional powers, still it is competent for your majority to decline legislation on any save a given class of subjects, and so voluntarily impose limits on your action to the great saving of time and money. I propose to tend down for your consideration a memorandum describing certain alternative schemes of reform. I incline to a prevalent idea that great waste of time and power is involved in the present scheme of responsible government. It appears to me that the responsibility of the Superintendent is of a very mythical order, except that he is responsible at law upon breaches of certain statutes. In fact, under the existing order of things, the Superintendent has a merely nominal political responsibility. lam of opinion that the original constitution never intended the addition of responsible government, in its present shape, to the then cumbrous machinery of Provincial Government; and recent enactments by tho General Assembly of very cogent and fitting statutory restraints upon Superintendent?, renders the continuance of responsible Ministers in the provinces altogether unnecessary. The Council will condole with mo on tho loss of our common friend and distinguished public servant, Mr. Crosbio Ward. His loss will be felt severely by the province and tho colony at large. On many grounds the separation from this province of the County of Wcstland is to be regretted; but material reasons exist for congratulations to ourselves and tho county on its having attained distinctive existence. On behalf of this province, I have to thank the Chairman of the county for the cordial way in which ho testifies to the deairo of this Government to facilitate the transfer of tho administration. I am assured that you join mo in a wish that the Government of Wcstland may succeed in subduing every difficulty attending its initiation, and that it may crow in wealth and importance, and usefulness to tho colony. In view of the depressed state of the finances of tho province, I proposo that immigration should for tbe present cease. I recently received intimation that his Royal Highness tho Duke of Edinburgh would honour Canterbury with his presence. 11. R.H. will be received with the greatest enthusiasm by a loyal population. This province has now tlic remarkable gratification of welcoming, as visitors, Lord Lyttelton and Mr. Selfe, to whom we owe many and great benefits. Trusting that your deliberations may result in great advantage to this provinco and to the colony, I havo now to declare this Council duly opened for the transaction of public business. Bri.T,i:it Rivru Diogixgs. — We learn from the Wvsl purl Star, of the :28th ultimo, that a number of .■iiimll parrels of tfolil were brought into town that tiny from the Lyell and other up-river diggings. Tho population up tho river is increasing, and tho miners us a rule are doing well.