Dunedin, yesterday. The Provincial Council was opened to-day by his Honor the Superintendent, who epitomised the province's progress during the year, and declared that tlio value of imports was £1,884,998, the duties of which amounted to £.6,000. The amount of gold exported was .109,211 ouuces as against 160,372 ouuces for 1872. The total value of Provincial produce exported was £2,279,603, as against £1,19 ',OOO for the year before; and equal to £7O a year per head each statute adult, a return, he ventured to say, unequalled in the old world. The total receipts from all sources were £338,000: as against £289,000 for 1872. Last y ar the Bank overdraft was £40,497 ; this year, they commenced with a balance in favor of the Province of £10,09 : , though they had expenditure on public works £82,874. At no period since the commencement of settlement has the province been in a more prosperous condition. He referred to the increased gold yield, as evidencing the great vitality, and the permanence of that industry. He said a bonus had been offered for the establishment of a paper manufactory, which had the desired effect, and the required bond had been entered into, which would result in the immediate formation of a paper manu factory on the banks of the Mataura river. Parties in the province were prepared to take up the sperm whale fishery, and he recommended a bonus of £SOO secured in the usual way by bonds. £27,000 was required for increased school accommodation. It was proposed to place aside £1,500 out of £ll,ooo, derived from educational reserve rentals for thirty years ; and if the Colonial Legislature would concur that £30,000 could be raised by loan, and made immediately available. An additional school iuspector, and the establishment of normal schools was advocated by his Honor. He next referred to the necessity that existed of connecting the Mataura, Clutha, Moeraki, and Port Chalmers railways. He feared that if left to the colony alono it would be years before it was done. He therefore proposed that the province should immediately proceed in the construction of the connecting link. The first with branchlet to Tapauui, at an estimated cost, independent of branchlet, £150,000, and exclusive of rolling stock. Between Clutha and Mataura there was 300,000 acres splendid land, which only required a railway to render it available for sale and settle ment. 