THE PROVINCE OF MARLBOROUGH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4125, 10 June 1874, Page 3

THE PROVINCE OF MARLBOROUGH.

The Superintendent of Marlborough, at the opening of the Provincial Council, made the following references to the affairs of the Province : I think I may fairly congratulate you on the continued prosperity which the Province exhibits. "We have participated but little iu the results of the immigration introduced into the Colony by the General Assembly ; and consequently some Provinces show a larger centesimal increase, but we may fairly consider ours as satisfactory, and as indicating that the Province is not unattractive. The Treasurer, in making his statement, will he able to show that the financial position of the Province has greatly improved, although we have refrained from offering for sale lands in the Rai Valley, from which it was expected a considerable portion of our revenue would be obtained. The discovery of a variety of minerals, as coal, antimony, limestone, and slate, has led the Government to consider the propriety of modifying our Waste Lands Law so as to promote and encourage mining industries. Resolutions will he submitted to you for tins purpose, as well as to alter the mode of dealing with the forest lands, so as to enable the Government to dispose of the timber growing thereon, by encouraging the erection of sawmills, without parting with the fee simple. The opportunity will also bo taken to make some other minor but useful amendments ■which have been suggested by the Commissioner of Crown Lands in the administration of the Land Department. The late Provincial Council desired me to obtain from Parliament authority' to raise a loan for certain public works. X did not succeed, and the cause is so well known that I need not say more than that I am prepared to renew my efforts in the comings session of the General Assembly in favor of some works which I consider are very urgently needed. In the early part of the recess I was invited by the XXonorable Minister for Immigration to co-operate with him iu the introduction of immigrants. To this I gladly acceded, and he placed at my disposal a sum of £IOOO, to erect a depot at Blenheim, now nearly completed ; the depot at Picton was repaired, and the Agent-General has been directed to forward two direct shipments to the Province, one to arrive in October and one in December next. lam glad also to ho able to inform yon that the applications under what is called the nominated system have greatly increased in number. Some time probably during the ensuing summer the railway will bo completed, and as I believe it to be the intention of the General Government, when that time arrives, to hand its administration over to the Provincial authorities, I have added to the usual estimates what will probably he required for its management during six months. I ask yon to provide this, thinking it would better .serve your convenience to vote it now than to be called together specially for that purpose during the busy-season of the year. Although I am free to admit that they have been prepared without so thorough a knowledge of v/hat may he required as X could have wished, it is impossible to predict altogether what will bo necessary upon a new line witli heavy embankments and liable to considerable damage by floods.