DIEU
SOIT QUI MALY PENSE DROIT
NEW ZEALAND
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

Published by Authority.

All Public Notifications which appear in this Gazette, with any Official
Signature thereunto annexed, are to be considered as Official Communications made
to those Persons to whom they may relate, and are to be obeyed accordingly.
By His Excellency's Command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR, Colonial Secretary.

VOL. II.] AUCKLAND, THURSDAY, AUG. 31, 1854. [No. 24.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THURSDAY, 31ST AUGUST, 1854.

The Officer Administering the Government
opened the General Assembly at the Council
Chamber, at 12 o'clock noon, when his Excellency
delivered the following

ADDRESS.

Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Coun-
cil and Gentlemen of the House of Representa-
tives,

My anxiety to promote beneficial Legislation
for the Colony, notwithstanding the circumstances
by which that most desirable object has been im-
peded, induces me to abstain entirely from allud-
ing on the present occasion to the differences
which have taken place between myself and the
House of Representatives, except for the one pur-
pose of declaring to you my sincere wish, that the
whole subject may be henceforth buried in ob-
livion.

2. Nevertheless, I am conscious, as you must
   be, that the present Session of the Legislature is
   of an unusual character, and must be considered
   as taking place, rather for the purpose of dispos-
   ing of a few matters of great and urgent impor-
   tance, than of carrying into immediate effect a
   comprehensive policy, suited to the exigencies of
   the Colony. Accordingly, in deciding upon the
   measures which it is my intention to recommend
   to your adoption, I have had more regard to the
   means of obtaining for you, at a future time,
   powers which the Constitution Act withholds
   from the General Assembly, than to accomplish-
   ing at this moment many objects. which might
   have been pursued with propriety during an ordi-
   nary Session, when the members had not been fa-
   tigued by long previous labours, and were not dis-
   turbed by a natural anxiety to return as soon a
   possible to their homes. At the same time it ap-
   pears to me, that there is matter for congratula-
   tion in the circumstance, that the labours of the
   past Session have operated beneficially, in matur-
   ing the opinions of the Legislature upon many
   subjects of importance, and, therefore, contributing
   valuable facilities towards the work of Legislation
   at the present time.

3. In compliance with engagements into which
   I consider myself to have entered with both
   Houses of the Legislature, and with the Colony,
   I have endeavoured, by appointments to my Ex-
   ecutive Council, to give to all the Provinces an
   effectual voice and influence in both the Legisla-
   tive and Executive proceedings of the Govern-
   ment; and although the extent to which I have
   been able to accomplish this object is not yet sat-
   isfactory to me, especially with regard to the Leg-
   islative Council, I am in hopes of being able, ere
   long, to complete the work in a manner altogether
   unobjectionable.

4. In compliance with the same engagement, I
   now proceed to lay before you my views of what
   the wants and best interests of the Colony de-
   mand. This shall, as far as possible, be done in
   the practical form of measures suggested for your
   adoption, and of statements of my own intentions,
   with regard to the exercise of powers exclusively
   vested in the Crown.

5. With regard to Legislative measures, I con-
   sider it expedient to divide these into three classes.
   First, such as are of great importance and urgency
   with regard to time. Secondly, such as, though,
   perhaps, of equal importance, might be postponed
   if you should be indisposed to devote sufficient
   time for their enactment; and, thirdly, measures
   of less consequence, not involving any important
   political principles, and concerning which it may
   be presumed that no material difference of opin-
   ion exists, either in the Legislative Council or in
   the House of Representatives.