Railway Necessary but Resources Limited.

This was the position when the Provincial Council met in its fourth session on 11th April, 1855. The Suprintendent, in his opening address, referred to the public misapprehension on the subject of the Sumner road. He stated that he entirely agreed with those who thought a railway between Lyttelton and Christchurch necessary to develop the resources of the province, and he believed that in a few years they would be in a position to undertake the work, but, in the meantime, they possessed neither means nor credit, public or private, for so large an undertaking. To undertake work far beyond their present means would be ruinous not only to that work, but also to future operations. On the other hand, the formation of a cart road from the Port into the interior would hasten the time when the province would be able to construct the railway, while the cost of the road was only a small fraction of the sum required for a railway. He was happy to say that, after careful and detailed survey and estimate, a road of full width throughout could be opened at a cost of about £12,000, and that the road now determined upon was the best that could be made. It was not only the cheapest in actual cost, but immeasurably the cheapest as regards advantages. Now that preparations were complete the work would be prosecuted with the utmost expedition.

The financial statement of the provinces for the year ended 31st March, 1855, showed the revenue as £29,028, which included receipts of £24,000 from land, and £3,450 from Customs. The expenditure was £19,118, and the credit balance on hand £11,703.

In closing the session on 10th July, the Superintendent stated that it was expected four ships with immigrants would arrive before the end of the year.

The Provincial Government had some experience of the extent of its credit in London, when, in consequence of some delay in the despatch of funds, it was found impossible to negotiate bills payable in the colony. But for the timely assistance of Mr. J. R. Godley and Mr. H. Selfe, the immigrant ships could not have been despatched.

Mr. Godley had returned to England when the affairs of Canterbury passed to the control of the Provincial Government, and he became English Agent for the province until he accepted a position under the Imperial Government. Mr. Selfe succeeded him as English Agent for Canterbury.