Document Information

Date: 1865-05-02
By: Nova Scotia (House of Assembly)
Citation: Nova Scotia, House of Assembly, Debates and Proceedings, 23rd Parl, 2nd Sess, 1865 at 298-299.
Other formats: Click here to view the original document (PDF).

Click here to view the rest of Nova Scotia’s Confederation Debates for 1865.

DEBATES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF NOVA SCOTIA. 1865.

TUESDAY, May 2.

PROROGATION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

The session of the Provincial Parliament was prorogued this afternoon at half-past four o’clock, by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, with all the usual formalities. After the usual preliminaries, His Excellecny Sir Richard Graves Macdonnell closed the session with the following

Speech:

Mr. President and Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council:

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly:

1. I am happy that the state of the public business enables me to release you from further attendance on your legislative duties.

2. It gives me much pleasure, in closing the second session of the twenty-third General Assembly of the Provincial Parliament, to be able to congratulate you on the many useful and important measures which your labours have mattered.

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly:

3. I have to thank you for the liberal provision which you have made for the public services.

Mr. President and Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council:

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly:

4. The action taken by New Brunswick early in the session, apparently placed a decision the question of a general Confederation of British North America, to which at the opening of the session I had invited your attention, under the disadvantage of leading to no immediate practical result. I am confident that otherwise you would have felt it your duty to have fully discussed the most important and interesting question, with an earnest desire to meet the views of Her Majesty’s Government, in every way compatible with the wishes and interests of this Province.

5. Under the impression, therefore, that the above circumstances, over which you could have exercised no control, had for a time precluded any useful consideration of the larger question, you have meantime reverted to the project of a Union of the Maritime Provinces, and reiterated your opinion of last session as to the expediency of appointing Representatives of this Province to confer thereon I shall have much pleasure in transmitting that resolution to the Lieut. Governors of the adjacent Provinces.

6. I most sincerely hope that the important principle fo Free Schools, based on a moderate county assessment, may realize your expectations, by obtaining the support of all classes of the people, and effecting the most valuable results in the general diffusion of education.

7. The largely increased provision for the local defence of the country conclusively proves the importance which, as Representatives of a loyal people, you attach to British connection, and the determination of this Province to assume a fair share of the burdens of protecting her existing institutions.

8. The increased provision made for extension of Railway communication the borders of New Brunswick and Annapolis will, I hope, ensure those undertakings being effectively prosecuted at an early day, with the happiest results to the trade and general prosperity of the Provinces.

9. I am gratified to learnt hat an Act has been passed providing for the completion of the St. Peter’s Canal, and that provision has been made for the extension of the Hospital of the Insane.

10. With heartfelt thankfulness for the continued peace and prosperity which, under Providence, we have so long enjoyed, and with sincere prayers for the continuance of these blessings, I now declare this Session closed.