tatitmof fresh blood into it; and with re* gatd to Provincial institution* generally, be thought that they might be conducted on a leu expensive scale. The survey depart ment, for instance, might be advantageously curtailed. Since the establishment of Road Boards, a great amount of work that was formerly done by the Provincial Government was now carried out by these Boards, and therefore a reduction might be made in the staff of Provincial Government officials. Although it was positively necessary that the Provincial Council should be maintained for the purpose, it for none other, of com plying with the compact entered into in reference to the land fund, still he did not think it necessary that Provincial Govern ment should be kept up in that ex pensive form which prevailed at the pre sent time. It was necessary that public works should be carried out, so as to give employment to those whom the farmers -could not find work for in the winter months; and immigration ought to be connected with public works; that was to say, they should run concurrently. It was an admitted truism that no country could exist without popula tion ; therefore, let them inaugurate a steady system of immigration—not such a system as would have the effect of flooding the labour market, but a system commensurate with their requirements and their means—in a word, such a system as would afford a suf ■flciency of hands to the farmers at a season when they most required assistance ; and in the dull seasons of the year, the accumulated labour could be profitably employed in the ■prosecution of tho,-e large public works which were essential to the progress of the province, and the prosperity of all. In connection with this subject, bethought that Canterbury should be made so attractive as to induce voluntary settlement He thought the provisions of the Fencing Ordinance did not apply fairly as between the squatter and small freeholder, and be would be prepared to advocate an amendment in the Ordinance, so as to make its provisions of a more equitably nature. The Kegistration Act required amendment. He was in favour of vote by ballot, so as to prevent the exercise of an undue influence by one elector over another. At the conclusion of bis address, a vote of confidence in Mr Hart was moved and seconded. 