PROGRESS OF CANTERBURY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3364, 16 November 1872, Page 5 (Supplement)

PROGRESS OF CANTERBURY.

During his speech, in replying to the toast of his health, at the opening of the Rangiora Railway, the Superintendent of Canterbury made the following remarks:—

It is some three years ago since I first proposed the commencement of this milway. Railways are not made in a day, aud there have been considerable difficulties in the waj' which prevented tho construction of tho line as speedily as it might have been carried out; but 1 think, on the whole, we have every reason to be satisfied. — (Hear, hear, and cheers.) You have now got a lirst-clasa railway into the centre of.the town. —(Renewed cheers.) For my own part, I may say that I hope tho railway will not Btop hero.—(Cheers.) i believe that this is only a step in the great link of communication, by tho north, with the West Coast, and a great future of prosperity will open for this Province and Island from tho opening up of that communication with the West Coast.—(Cheers.) I have never been afraid of the. construction of railway*, such as these main lines of arterial communication, and I have done my best to promote their construction, with the assistance of those with whom it has been my privilege to be associated.—(Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, lam quite sure anyone studying the history of the past few years must be convinced that there is no reason, in this Province at least, to fear that we shall get ourselves into difficulties by improving our communication. —(Hear, hear, arid cheers.) The land sales havo iucreased, tho population has increased, the area of cultivation is increasing, our exports are increasing, and, on the whole, we have ov«iy reason to congratulate ourselves on a phase of prosperity such as has never yet been in the history of this Province.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, in the year 1854 there was an export of wool from this Province of tho value of £7000. Last year there was an export of wool to tho value of £(566,000. — (Hear, h«ar, and The export of grain from this Province during tho past year amounted to tho valuo of £130,000 —tho exports from the wholo Colony being £170,000. I think wo may congratulate ourselves on tho progress we have made in this Province by steady industry and perseverance, and without tho aids of gold discoveries and other helps A'hieh other parts of the Colony have had. —(Cheers.) For my own part I am proud to be head of a Province like this.—(Cheerj*.) I believe, and 1 am borne out by the opinions of all who visit thin Province and are capable of forming an impartial judgment, that it stands second k> none in New Zealand. — (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) I believe myself that there need bo no flagging in ita prosperity, if we keep our shoulders to the wheel and determine to go on in a Bteady system of progress. —(Hear, hear.) it would not bo right of me to sit down without acknowledging the able assistance I have had from other gentlemen in this Province, and whose names have boon associated with mine in this toast. The Superintendent does but represent the voice of the people here, and the voice of the people as represented in the Provincial Council and through his Executive Council.