They concur in the hope expressed by your Honor, that the administration as well as the Revenue of the Waste Lands of the Province, will at no distant day be committed to the Provincial authorities.

They entertain a deep sense of the importance of placing the education of the people upon a sound and efficient basis, and will give their earnest consideration to any measures which may be proposed to them on the subject.

The Council express their sincere hope that they may always be enabled to co-operate with your Honor, so that the Executive and Legislative Branches of the Government may work together harmoniously, in promoting the firm establishment of Responsible Government.

In conclusion, the Council wish to express their acknowledgment of the wisdom and goodness of the Imperial Parliament in bestowing upon this Colony the free institutions which it now enjoys, and their unfeigned thankfulness to Almighty God for having blessed the Province with so large a measure of present wealth and prosperity.

In the name and on behalf of the Provincial Council, this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight-hundred and fifty-three.

(Signed) CHARLES SIMEON, Speaker.

Resolutions on the Waste Lands. Adopted Thursday, October 13th, 1853.

1. That in the opinion of this Council, the administration of all the waste Lands of the Province ought to be committed to the Provincial Government of the Province.

2. That in the opinion of this Council, there is immediate and urgent need that the Funds arising from the Waste Lands of the Province, should be placed at the disposal of the Provincial Government of the same, to be expended by the Superintendent, or Executive Government, with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council.

3. That an address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, praying that, pending any laws to be made upon the subject by the General Assembly of New Zealand, His Excellency will be pleased to take such steps as may be necessary to carry the above Resolutions into immediate effect.

4. That in the opinion of this Council, the disposal of the Waste Lands of this Province, either by sale or by letting the same for pasturage purposes, the entire management and administration of the same, and the disposal of all the Revenues arising therefrom, subject to payment to the General Government of such portions as may be properly payable to the New Zealand Company, and for the service of the General Government, ought to be conducted solely according to laws to be enacted by the Superintendent and Provincial Council of the Province.

5. That addresses from this Council be presented to His Excellency the Governor, and to both Houses of the General Assembly, praying them to enact such laws as may be necessary for giving effect to the above resolution.

Resolutions on Education. Adopted 28th October, 1853.

1. That this Council is of opinion that some general plan for the Education of the people, ought to be adopted by the Government of the Province.

2. That it is expedient, in the event of other means not being available for that purpose, to raise the necessary funds for such Education by means of a special rate, to be levied for that purpose.

Resolutions on the Supreme Court. Adopted 1st November, 1853.

1. That none of the expenses of the Supreme Court ought to be paid out of the Provincial Revenues.

2. That it is desirable that a Court of Quarter Sessions should be established, having Civil jurisdiction in cases involving property up to £500, reserving in such cases an appeal to the Supreme Court on points of law.

3. That an Address be presented to His Excellency, and to both Houses of the General Assembly, praying them to pass a law for the establishment of such a Court.

Address on the subject of the Financial arrangements between the General and Provincial Governments; delivered by His Honor the Superintendent, November 1st, 1853.

GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL.—When I had the honor to address you upon the occasion of opening this Council, I stated to you that certain financial arrangements had been made by His Excellency the Governor, pending any laws which might be made on that subject by the General Assembly. You have subsequently been made fully acquainted with the nature of those arrangements by the papers which have been laid on your table; the main feature being that one-third of the Customs’ Duties is directed to be paid to the General Government, and two-thirds to be placed at the disposal of the Province.

As soon, however, as it became the duty of the Provincial Government to frame a