Auckland Provincial Government Gazette.

269

short time absorbs so large a proportion of the goldfields revenue which remains available after the permanent charges on it have been paid, that your power of causing useful works to be carried on upon the goldfields will now be very small. I shall, however, gladly co-operate with you in all measures which may promote the welfare of the population settled upon the goldfields, who, by their industry and respect for law and order, which are remarkable, and save us from a large police expenditure, have established the strongest claims upon our consideration. On the full development of the important Thames goldfields hangs also, in a great degree, the future prosperity of this Province.

The Governor has recently, by orders restricted the powers of legislation conferred upon the Provincial Council by the Constitution Act. I was not satisfied that these orders could be lawfully issued. I have, therefore, raised doubts upon this point, and the orders will remain in abeyance until these doubts have been solved. The correspondence relating to this subject will be laid before you, to afford you an opportunity of addressing me in regard to it, if you think it necessary to do so; but, I believe, I have acted with caution, and have done all that was necessary to protect the interests of this province.

The system of education in operation, though greatly cramped from want of funds, appears to be producing very satisfactory results. The number of European children in the Province between five and fifteen years of age, on the 31st March, 1874, was 16,718. Of these 8,265 are upon the rolls of the 140 schools which have been established, and extend to the most remote parts of the Province. The cost of education during the past year has been about £21,000. If a building fund were provided, the expense of the present system of education could be for some time conducted on an expenditure which need not much exceed £20,000 in each year. The subject of education is one of the very highest importance and interest, and in every way worthy of your consideration; and I hope to bring it before your attention in greater detail.

I propose to ask you to make provision for the ordinary Provincial services for a period of six months, from the 1st of July to the 31st of December, 1875. In the meantime the General Assembly will have met, and we shall understand our future financial prospects more clearly than we can at present.

The amount of legislation I shall ask you to perform will be but small, consisting chiefly in the amendments of Acts which shall be without delay laid before you.

The constitutional changes proposed by Ministers at the last meeting of the General Assembly, and my own opinions in reference to that subject, are so well known to you and to the inhabitants of this Province, that it appears unnecessary for me to trouble you upon that point further than to say that any opinions you may think necessary to express in relation thereto shall be considered by me as Superintendent of Auckland with that attention and deference with which I shall always treat suggestions made to me by the representatives of the inhabitants of this Province, who, by having placed their interests in my hands, have made me feel what a deep responsibility rests upon me to move in all great measures with caution, and the most careful regard to their interests and future welfare.

G. GREY,
Superintendent.

Auckland,
10th May, 1875.

Printed under the authority of the Provincial Government of the Province of Auckland by HENRY BRETT, Printer for the time being to the Provincial Government, at his General Steam Printing Establishment, Wyndham-street, Auckland.