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fully form the first on your Provincial Statute Book.

What shall be the constitution of the Executive Government of the Province, is a question which will require your early attention and careful consideration.

While the Constitution Act was in progress much difference of opinion was expressed in Parliament as to whether New Zealand would be best governed solely by a General and Central Authority, or by a Local Government to be established in the several Provinces. Believing that this question would be best solved by those having local knowledge and experience, Her Majesty’s Government made no provision in the Constitution, for giving Executive authority to the Superintendents of the Provinces, leaving it to the Colonial Legislatures to make such provision on the subject as may be deemed expedient.

Amongst the Colonists I believe there is but one opinion, that under existing circumstances and in its present condition, New Zealand cannot be governed efficiently by a General Central Authority, and that the head of the Province should be clothed with such Executive powers as may be necessary for carrying on the functions of Provincial Government. Under the Provisions of the Constabulary Force, Slaughter House, Impounding, Harbour Regulations, Arms, Footpath, and other Ordinances of local operation, the Governor of the Colony, either alone or with the advice of the Executive Council, is authorized to exercise various useful powers of local interests. It will be competent for the Provincial Legislature to confer these powers upon the Superintendent. Whether these powers or any of them should be vested in that Officer, and whether the powers which it may be deemed desirable to confer upon him, should be exercised by himself singly, or with the advice of certain Officers of the Provincial Government, acting as an Executive Council, and if so, what shall be the constitution of such Council, are questions which will no doubt receive your careful consideration.

Under any circumstances it will be necessary that there should be a Provincial Secretary—Law Officer—Treasurer—Clerk of Works—and Auditor, for conducting the public business of the Province, and I have no doubt you will provide for these officers, such salaries as will enable me to secure the zealous services of trustworthy, able, and experienced men. I have no recommendation to make as to the precise amount of the salary to be attached to these several offices; but, I think you will agree with me that it is a sound principle, consistent with a wise economy, and applicable to every branch of the public service—that public officers should be fully employed and well paid; and that the Public will be best served and the duties of a public office will be most efficiently discharged when the office itself is made worth holding.

Amongst the subjects to which your attention will no doubt early be directed, will, probably, be the unsatisfactory condition of the City of Auckland as regards the safety, health, and convenience of its inhabitants—the prevention of fires within the city—the abatement of nuisances and the improvement of its sanitary condition, will doubtless form the subject of one of your earliest enactments.

The want of power on the part of the local authorities to punish desertion and other misconduct on the part of seamen belonging to foreign ships, has, I believe, had the effect of discouraging the resort of foreign shipping to our ports; the evil in question may, particularly at least, be remediated by an Act of the Provincial Legislature.

The Harbor Regulation Ordinance and the Ordinance subsequently passed for its amendment, power was given to the Governor in Council to make regulations of a temporary nature, for the safety of shipping, and for the prevention of obstructions to the navigation of our harbours and navigable rivers. The Regulations which were some time ago made by the Governor in Council for the harbour of Auckland, are, I believe, no longer in force; whether they should be re-enacted or whether other regulations should be framed to supply their place, is also a question which I would suggest for your consideration.

The Estimate of the Funds which will be at the disposal of the Council for the support of the Government of the Province, will shortly be laid before you.

You will be glad to learn that after providing for the payment of salaries, and the ordinary expenses of the various establishments, maintainable out of the Provincial Revenue, that a sum of £14,000 or £15,000, will be available for Roads and Public Works during the current year.

With regard to the salaries of public officers, two courses were open for me to pursue: either to estimate for them on such a scale as might appear to myself to be calculated to command the zealous services of able and efficient men: or, to place the salaries before you on the same scale at which they have heretofore been paid. I propose to adopt the latter course. Looking at the present state of prices, and the cost of most of the necessaries of life, none of these salaries can, I think, be deemed excessive; and I have the satisfaction to believe that, in proposing any alteration in the appropriation of this branch of the public expenditure, which the interests of the public may seem to require, you will not be unmindful of the just claims and reasonable expectations of private individuals.

The people of Auckland of all classes, but more especially the sick and needy, have recently had occasion to lament a public loss in the death of that indefatigable parish priest, and poor man’s friend, the late Colonial Chaplain. Provisions of a temporary nature were made for supplying the vacancy in the office until the 30th September last: you may not, perhaps, be prepared to make provision for the permanent maintenance of that office; but, I think that, in the midst of a season of great material prosperity, you would not willingly signalize the commencement of popular Government in New Zealand by refusing public aid for moral and religious purposes.

I am aware of the difficulties which are supposed to stand in the way of providing, by means of public grants, for the regular religious visitation of our hospital and gaol; but, approaching the consideration of the subject, with the desire to minister to the spiritual necessities of their unfortunate inmates, I feel assured that you will be able to devise a means, and that you will willingly vote the funds necessary for promoting so desirable an object.

As you are probably aware, the Bill for granting a Constitution to New Zealand, as originally introduced into Parliament, provided that the head of the Executive of the Province should be a paid officer, appointed by the Crown. But, it was ultimately decided that he should be chosen by the inhabitants of the Province, and that the question whether his office should be a paid or an honorary office should be left to the decision of the Provincial Legislature.