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ADDRESS
OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR,
ON OPENING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

It has been my duty to assemble you under cir-
cumstances of no ordinary kind, and which are, indeed,
so unusual that they must, I fear, necessarily impart to
my opening Address a character somewhat different from
that which such documents usually wear.

You will see from the extracts of a despatch which I
have directed to be laid before you, that Her Majesty's
Government contemplate introducing some great
changes into the constitution of this Colony. It seems
very probable that this territory will be shortly divided
into two colonies; the Executive attached to one of
which will, in some respects, exercise a superintending
controul over that of the other Colony. This change
in the existing constitution will, I believe, be accom-
panied by the introduction into the Legislative body of
members elected by the Colonists; and it is probable
that a still more extensive developement will, at an early
period, be given to the representative principle.

In the meantime, as I am not only ignorant of what
may be the exact form of the future government of this
Colony, but also of the extent of naval and military
protection which Her Majesty's Government may be
able permanently to afford it, as well as of the extent of
pecuniary assistance which may be granted in aid of its
revenues by the Imperial Parliament, it is not in my
power to submit to you such definite and precise mea-
sures as I could have desired, nor to ask you to assent
to any Estimates for the future expenditure of the
Colony, which can be hoped to wear any character of
permanence.

At the same time that I labor under these disadvantages
from the change which the Colony is about to undergo,
I have to encounter the still greater disadvantage of find-
ing nothing settled upon a fixed and permanent basis.
I have not to conduct a change such as frequently takes
place when a Colony, having attained to a high degree
of prosperity and advancement under certain institutions
which have worked well for years, its inhabitants are ad-
mitted to a share in the administration of its government.

But, in the present case, the form of government estab-
lished having admittedly failed to give either contentment
to the people, or peace or prosperity to the country, and
rapid and frequent changes having taken place in the mode
under which its Revenue was collected, and Justice ad-
ministered between the two races, and the whole country
having been involved in a state of embarassment and
difficulty, I am required not only to advise as to the
form of Government which should be introduced here,
but I am also required during the time my suggestions
are under consideration, and then until effect can be
given to them, not only to carry on the government un-
der its present constitution, but at the same time to
make preparations for the great changes which are about
to be introduced into it.

Under these circumstances it becomes necessary for
me to request you to lighten, by your advice and assis-
tance, those difficulties against which I have to contend,
and to afford me that large confidence which is abso-
lutely requisite to enable me to overcome the difficulties
of my position. In order that I may establish a just
claim upon you for the assistance I require, and for the
confidence which I solicit, it is right that I should un-
reservedly put you in possession of the principles on
which I propose to conduct the Government until such
time as our Institutions have taken a settled form.

I intend then, in as far as practicable, to submit to this
Council nothing but measures of a general character
and which affect only general interests, leaving to each
Settlement, as soon as the new form of constitution is
introduced, the consideration of those measures of a
local character, which it is hardly probable a Council,
sitting at so remote a distance from some of them, could
arrange in a manner satisfactory and advantageous to
all.

The general measures which I propose to sub-
mit to you, will have for their object, in the first
place, the settlement of the revenue of this country upon
such a satisfactory basis, as to the sources from which
it is to be raised, as well as to the prospect which it
holds out, of this country being at no very distant pe-
riod able from its internal resources fully to provide for
its own expenditure, as will justify the British Parlia-
ment in continuing to afford to it the pecuniary aid it
at present requires, and at the same time shew that the
principle of popular representation may be safely ex-
tended to it. Whilst, in the second place, the objects
of the measures I intend to submit to you, will be, to
give to the Laws of Great Britain a practical adapta-
tion to the circumstances of this country; to afford the
benefit of a prompt and vigorous administration of jus-
tice to as large a proportion as possible both of the
European and Native population; to provide for the
safety of life and property, and to secure to the native
population benefits and rights which they have not hi-
therto enjoyed, and which will, I believe, tend greatly to
promote their morality and social advancement.

With regard to the sources from which a Revenue
can be most advantageously raised in this Colony, I
think it right to offer the following remarks to the
Council:—

In the lowest estimates of the native population, it is
admitted that they at present exceed the Europeans in
the ratio of, at least ten to one. Hence I have been led
to conclude that if any attempt is made, as was
formerly the case, to obtain a Revenue by direct tax-
ation upon the property of the Europeans alone, from
which that of the natives is to be exempted, it will be
found impossible to raise the funds absolutely requi-
site for the protection, controul, and good Government
of the Natives. Indeed, it would be essentially unjust
and ruinous to the European population to attempt to
do so. In endeavouring, therefore, to raise a revenue
by taxation of this nature, the Government must neces-
sarily forego all intention of maintaining the Establish-
ments requisite to attain the above mentioned objects;
—that is, it must abandon all hopes of rendering secure
the lives and properties of Europeans, and of promoting
the civilization of the Aborigines, by protecting the
well disposed, but weak, against the violence of the tur-
bulent and strong.

No reasonable expectations could at present be en-
tertained of successfully amending the former system
by subjecting the property of Europeans and Natives
alike to direct taxation. No establishments are in exist-
ence which could collect such taxes, nor do I deem it
probable that the large warlike population of natives,
who are yet to a great extent ignorant of our customs
and laws, could be brought quietly to submit to a tax-
ation of this nature.

Whilst these objections, and many others of great
weight appear to me to render it hopeless to expect to
raise a Revenue by direct taxation, I entertain no doubt
whatever, that a revenue which will amply suffice to defray
all the expenses (excepting those of Naval and Mili-
tary protection) which need be incurred in providing
establishments in all respects adequate for the good go-
vernment and complete controul of both races, can, in
the course of a few years, be provided by a judicious
system of indirect taxation;—that is, by levying mo-
derate duties of customs upon all imported goods, these
duties being so arranged as to press in a fair degree
upon the population of both races.

An undoubted necessity exists for raising a revenue
of this nature. The present condition of this Colony in
reference to its financial state is different from that of
all other portions of the empire It is not in the or-
dinary position of a young country, the establishments
of which could grow in the same proportion as its po-
pulation, commerce, and revenue. The fact is, that a
large population rapidly becoming civilized, and capable
shortly of affording a considerable commerce and re-
venue, already exists here, but no establishments have
yet been formed for the protection of life, property or
commerce, or for the collection of a sufficient revenue,
or indeed for the good government and controul of this
large population, who if their energies are not directed
into proper channels, and if they are not well governed
and kept under controul, will certainly be the cause of
continually repeated disturbances and of a great ex-
pense.

It is therefore, clear, both that a considerable expen-
diture in excess of the revenue will be necessary for
some years to come. and that the Local Government