3

have been made to the General Government in
reference to the irregular sittings of the Su-
preme Court, have no doubt had their effect
in expediting the appointment which has been
lately gazetted of another Judge of that Court.
I trust therefore that on no future occasion
shall we have to experience the evils consequent
upon such a delay in the holding of a Session
of the Court as has now again occurred, three
months having elapsed since the period when
a gaol delivery should have taken place at
Nelson.

11. The increase of the value of the Imports
    and Exports, and of the amount of Customs
    Revenue for 1857 over those of 1856 is very
    considerable, and affords a good ground of
    present congratulation and of hope for the
    future. The Imports in 1856 amounted in
    value to £81,172 3s. 6d., and in 1857 to
    £125,708 19s. The aggregate value of
    Exports of New Zealand produce for the years
    1855 and 1856 amounts to £54,665 15s.,
    while for the single year 1857 these Exports
    amounted in value to £60,000, or more than
    double the average of the two preceding years.
    The Customs revenue amounted in the last
    quarter of 1857 to £5,000, and though the
    large quantity of goods lately imported, and at
    present in the warehouses, as well as the un-
    certainty attending operations connected with
    mining, may render it imprudent to calculate
    on the receipt of a Customs revenue fully pro-
    portionate to the amount just stated during the
    whole of the year 1858, yet the steady pro-
    ductiveness of the Gold-fields, the satisfactory
    prospects of the Copper and other mining
    operations, the usual increase of our Wool
    export, and the natural growth of a young
    colony, may remove all apprehension of any
    considerable decrease.

12. Our Land Fund, from various and ob-
    vious causes, which I need not detail, was,
    during the last year, much smaller than during
    the two or three previous years, the gross
    total of land revenue in 1857 (exclusive of
    scrip) amounting to £10,324 9s. 6d.; and
    though perhaps no great increase in that re-
    venue is to be immediately expected, there is
    still no reason to fear that it will fall below its
    present amount. This province has, no doubt,
    been saddled with an undue proportion of the
    debt of the New Zealand Company, compared
    with the other provinces of New Zealand,
    when the capital received in exchange in the
    shape of available land is taken into consider-
    ation. But even should any re-distribution of
    the burden of that debt among the provinces
    of the Middle Island be found impracticable, I
    still trust that the Land Fund of this province,
    relieved as it is by the financial arrangement

alluded to from all obligation to contribute to-
wards the purchase of native lands in the
Northern Island, will prove not only sufficient
to liquidate our annual share of the debt, but
to furnish a surplus of some importance, to be
expended on public works. It is a gratifying
fact, at all events, so far as I can learn,
that all the land scrip issued for this pro-
vince, except a very trifling amount, has
been expended, and that the future produce
of sales will therefore be almost exclusively in
cash. But to maintain the land sales at the
present rate, we must undoubtedly look to the
opening up of new districts. Explorations
should therefore be encouraged as much as
possible to discover any such districts we may
be still unacquainted with, and the construction
of roads carried on with the greatest practica-
ble celerity, to render available such districts
as are already known and unoccupied.
A deep conviction of the necessity of such
undertakings, to enable us to meet the liabilities
imposed upon us by the General Government
and the Imperial Parliament, induces me again
to lay before you, as I have already stated, the
Debenture Bill of last session, without propos-
ing any reduction in the amount of funds to
be raised for the purposes last mentioned under
its authority, notwithstanding the despatch of
the Secretary of State for the Colonies lately
received, which cautions the General Govern-
ment from assenting to any act of the Pro-
vincial Legislatures for raising money on
the future revenue of the Provinces. I
trust you will concur with me in the
opinion that either this province must be
relieved from a portion of the debt which has
been unduly imposed upon it, or your endea-
vours to provide the means of enabling it to
meet its liabilities by a moderate and cautious
anticipation of its future income, must receive
the sanction of the General Government.

13. Another ground for considering this pro-
    vince an exception to the rule laid down by the
    Secretary of State, is the existence of the gold-
    fields, and the consequent introduction into
    the province of a considerable number of per-
    sons who might often be without the means of
    subsistence were no public works to be under-
    taken, on which, from time to time, the unsuc-
    cessful diggers might be employed.

14. These matters, gentlemen, and any others
    which your experience may suggest, as requir-
    ing to be legislated upon, I leave in your
    hands, with entire confidence in your desire
    and ability to deal with them in the manner
    best calculated to advance the interests of the
    province, and to secure the highest amount of
    prosperity to all classes of its inhabitants.

J. P. ROBINSON,
Superintendent.

5th January, 1858.