38

and take part in the management of its
public affairs—while it would materially
assist in establishing efficient lines of com-
munication, than which nothing can confer a
greater benefit upon any country, and which
are especially needed in this Province at a
time when facilities for transporting various
articles of production require to be much
increased. To enable certain of the main
roads to be put into an efficient state as
speedily as possible, I propose that some
portion of the cost of repairing them should
be defrayed from the ordinary revenue, in
proportion to the nett amount actually spent
within the district in the construction and
repair of roads under the provisions of this
Bill; but I believe that you will agree
with me, that for the future, the greater
portion of the sums available for public
works would be most properly expended in
opening out new districts, and thereby
facilitating the settlement of the coun-
try.

The necessity of considerable alteration
in the lines of roads originally laid out,
whereby a great saving will be effected in
their construction, and the means of com-
munication much increased, requires that a
Bill authorising such alterations should be
considered by you, and with that object
one will be laid before you.

The recent purchase from the Natives of
a large tract of country for the sum of five
thousand Pounds, by which all the lands
within the Province, with the exception of
D'Urville's Island, have become the pro-
perty of the Crown, is calculated to add
most considerably to the future importance
of the Province. Within the limits of this
purchase many of the finest harbours in New
Zealand are situated, some of them in con-
nection with tracts of most fertile land,
containing large quantities of valuable
timber. An opportunity is thus afforded,
to an extent which did not previously exist,
for the exercise of that enterprise and in-
dustry for which the inhabitants of Nelson
have always been distinguished—a large
field added to the future producing means
of the Province—and the capability of ac-
quiring valuable properties and comfortable
homes by any of the older settlers who
have hitherto been unable to do so, or by
those who may hereafter arrive, much in-
creased. Two thousand pounds of the
purchase money has already been paid, and
the remainder will be paid in six annual
payments, for which provision has been
made from the territorial revenue. Before
this block will be open for settlement, it is
necessary that a meeting of the natives

Nelson, November 3, 1853.

concerned in it should take place in Nelson.
This meeting has been appointed for next
January, at which Mr. M'Lean, through
whose agency the purchase was principally
effected, will be present, when the appor-
tionment of the remaining payments amongst
all the natives interested in it, and the
reserves to be made for their use, will be
finally settled. It will also be necessary
that surveys to some extent should be
undertaken in this district, for the purpose
of reserving the sites required for towns and
public purposes, and of laying out the best
lines of communication before any portions
become private property. By which means
the possibility of much future expense and
inconvenience will be avoided.

The evidence daily received of the exist-
ence of many valuable minerals in different
parts of the Province, affords the most grati-
fying prospects for the future. I have been
requested to invite your attention to the
question of the leasing of the mines on
Crown lands, when I believe that you will
carefully consider the manner in which such
an important element of wealth, and means
of employment, can be most rapidly de-
veloped.

The absence of any sufficient Council
Chamber, and the offices necessarily con-
nected with it, will require that you should
make provision for these objects. I would
also suggest that a small sum should be
devoted annually to the purpose of pro-
curing a Council Library, which is much
required, and which might, under proper
arrangement, become a source of great
benefit to the whole community.

For the purpose of enabling the Council
to obtain a knowledge of all questions
affecting the public interests, it might be
advisable for you to enact an Ordinance
compelling the attendance and production
of persons and documents: should you
desire to enact any other Ordinance estab-
lishing your own privileges, it will afford
me much gratification to co-operate with
you for that purpose.

Returns on various subjects will be sent
to you. For the comprehensive nature of
these Returns, and the information afforded
by them, I am much indebted to the officers
in the respective departments from which
they were received. Should you desire any
additional information which can be supplied
from the Public Departments, it will be im-
mediately furnished to you.

With reference to any other subjects upon
which I may desire to address you, I will
communicate with you by message.

EDWARD W. STAFFORD.