The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 1 (May 1, 1931)
New Provincial Superintendent Elected
New Provincial Superintendent Elected.
On 6th February, 1863, Mr. W. S. Moorhouse resigned the office of Superintendent, and Mr. Samuel Bealey was elected as his successor.
At this time the date of termination of the financial year was altered from 30th September to 30th June. (The financial period which ended on 30th June, 1863, was, therefore, for nine months only).
The Provincial Council assembled on 15th July, 1863, when the Superintendent reported that the Province was in a prosperous condition. In addition to ordinary works on an increased scale, payments for the financial period (nine months ended 30th June) for the railway works, including the Ferrymead Branch and the main line from the Ferrymead junction to Christchurch, had been borne by the ordinary revenue. The Superintendent proposed that the bridging of the Rakaia River proceed at once, and that the expenditure of the loan of £500,000 authorised by the Canterbury Loan Ordinance, 1862, be allotted as follows:—Rakaia Bridge £50,000, Southern Railway £200,000, Northern Railway £200,000, leaving £50,000 for other works. He also proposed that a separate loan should be raised for harbour improvement works.