ADDRESS
OF His EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-IN-CHIEF
ON OPENING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

The recent calamitous accounts which have reached us from the Southern Province have induced me to summon you suddenly, and at an earlier period than I had previously contemplated.

I had hoped to have assembled in Auckland, the Lieutenant-Governor of New Munster, and other gentlemen from that Province, to have associated with them various other officers, and the Members of the Legislative Council of this Province, and then to have availed myself of the wisdom and experience of the Council so constituted, for the purpose of making several changes in, and additions to the general laws of the colony, which circumstances have rendered requisite.

The recent calamities at Wellington, have, however, rendered it hopeless for me to expect that the Lieutenant-Governor of New Munster, and the other gentlemen from that Province, upon whose aid I had relied, can, for a considerable period of time, abandon those calls which recent events have imposed upon their time and their energies.

I also feel that at the present moment, the restoration of public confidence, and the whole future prosperity of Wellington, depend upon prompt and energetic measures being taken, to remedy the disasters which have occurred, and I am anxious that, in so far as depends upon the general government, the local authorities, and settlers, at that place, should have placed in their own hands, the means of adopting those remedies which their local experience may point out to them as those best suited to the urgency of the case. I, at the same time, indulge the hope that, whilst they bow with entire resignation to the blow which Divine Providence has inflicted upon them, they will, with that energy they have so often exhibited, strive to repair their present disasters, and show that they are both able and willing to aid themselves, and that they have a becoming confidence in their own constancy and resources.

I propose, therefore, that with the least practicable delay, the powers which by Act of Parliament are vested in the Governor-in-Chief, conjointly with this Council, should be exercised for the purpose of calling into existence Provincial Legislative Councils, in the Colony of New Zealand, to which Councils I propose to entrust all those powers which were vested in the local Legislatures, by the 9th and 10th Victoria, cap. 103, being An Act to make further provision for the Government of the New Zealand Islands.

The large powers which will thus be vested in the local Legislatures, will enable the Provincial Legislative Council of New Munster, not only to devise and frame all those measures which are necessary to meet the urgent demands of the present crisis, but will enable them further to provide for various matters of local concernment, which are of such pressing importance that any longer delay in their adjustment would inflict a serious injury upon the Southern Province, and greatly increase the disasters, against which they have at this moment to contend.

A Bill for the purpose of providing for the establishment of Provincial Legislative Councils, has therefore, by my directions, been prepared, and will be laid before you.

When this Bill is read, I will explain in detail the reasons which have induced me to regard the proposed measure as the one which is best suited to the immediate circumstances of the colony. It may be sufficient for me now to say that after having bestowed many months most careful attention upon the subject—after an extensive personal acquaintance with, I believe, every settlement in New Zealand, and after having enjoyed the benefit of frequent conversations with some of the leading men in all parts of the colony, and of every shade of opinion; under also an entire knowledge of the magnitude and difficulty of the task which has been imposed upon me, and from which I would willingly have shrunk, I have been unable to devise any other measure which, in the exciting state of New Zealand, appeared to me to present so many advantages, and to be so free from defects.

Remembering therefore the great interests which were dependent on the course I pursued, and that, in some sort, the present happiness and concord and the future amalgamation of two races were involved in my doing that which was right, I felt it to be my duty, after having bestowed the greatest attention upon the subject, and having carefully weighed the opinions of others, to form my own deliberate judgment as to the line of proceeding which my duty required me to pursue, and then to adopt that, and, as far as in my power lay, to follow it out, although it might be opposed to the views and wishes of those whose opinions I respect, and whose interests I have, to the utmost of my power and to the best of my judgment, hitherto—as in this instance—endeavoured to promote. I am sure that the many persons in this country, with whom I have communicated on this subject, will at least admit that I have spared no pains to acquire information concerning it, and that I have attentively heard and carefully weighed the numerous and conflicting opinions which have been expressed to me regarding it.

I am fully aware, however, that this measure can only be regarded as a temporary one, and I trust that it may be found that I shall always be ready cheerfully and anxiously to consider any proposed amendments in the form of the Local Legislatures which the circumstances of New Zealand may appear to call for—and which may prove to be more in consonance with the wishes of its inhabitants than those which I have proposed for adoption.

I shall only have to request your attention to two other measures:

1stly. To a Bill, the object of which is to place the Post Offices in New Zealand under the control of the local Government.

2ndly. To a Bill for the purpose of enabling Barristers of the Supreme Court to practice as Solicitors, and Solicitors as Barristers for a further period of five years.

The first of these measures is one which admits of no delay, as you will find from the despatches which I have laid upon the table that it is doubtful whether any law at present exists which authorises the levying of Postage in New Zealand.

The second measure also admits of no delay; for, should not some legislative enactment be passed upon this subject before January next, the legal profession might be subjected to the most serious inconvenience.

I do not propose on this occasion to bring any other measures under the attention of the General Legislature of New Zealand—firstly, because, as I have before stated, circumstances have prevented me from presenting imparting to this Council the general character which I had desired, and which I yet hope to be able to give it; and secondly, because I am anxious, as speedily as possible to reach Wellington to assist, in as far as I am able, in devising and carrying out those measures which may appear most likely to restore public confidence, and to secure the future prosperity of that settlement.

Had I met this Council a few days since, it would have been my pleasing duty to have congratulated you upon the great measure of tranquillity and prosperity with which, for some time past, it had pleased Divine Providence to bless every portion of New Zealand; the recent calamitous events at Wellington have now, however, shed a deep gloom over one portion of this Colony, whilst the other portions of New Zealand are still left in the enjoyment of, I believe, a more than usual degree of wealth and prosperity. I have no doubt that those who are so blessed will extend every aid in their power to those of their fellow colonists upon whom such a disaster has fallen; and I trust that the assistance which, by your aid, I hope it may be in the power of the Government to afford to the inhabitants of Wellington may enable them speedily to repair their present losses, and still fully to develop the great resources of their adopted country.

G. Grey,
Council Chamber,
November 16, 1848.

Printed by Williamson and Wilson, for the New Zealand Government—Auckland.