HONI SOIT
QUI MAL Y PENSE
DIEU
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. III.] AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, SEPT. 15, 1855. [No. 21.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SATURDAY, 15TH SEPTEMBER, 1855.

His Excellency the Governor pro-
*rogued the General Assembly at the
Council Chamber, this day, at 3
o'clock, P.M., when His Excellency
delivered the following

ADDRESS.

Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,—

I consider myself fortunate in having arrived
in New Zealand at a time when the General As-
sembly is in Session, as it affords me an opportu-
nity of stating the views I entertain on certain
subjects.

Before entering on other matter, I desire to
announce my intention to continue the policy
hitherto adopted towards the Aborigines, in
maintaining inviolate their right to their land,
and securing to them an impartial administra-
tion of justice.

The communication which I took the earliest
opportunity of laying before the two Houses, will
have satisfied you that it is the desire of her Ma-
jesty's Government that this Colony shall enjoy
the fullest measure of self-government which is
consistent with its allegiance to the British
Crown. Nor are these sentiments confined to
any particular party in the Imperial Parliament,
but are shared in by those who differ on most
other subjects.

Animated by the same feeling, I am prepared
to carry out in its integrity the principle of Mi-
nisterial Responsibility, being convinced that any
other arrangement would be ineffective to pre-
serve that harmony between the Legislative and
Executive branches of the Government which is
so essential to the successful conduct of public
affairs.

Entertaining these views, it will be my object
to secure, as early as possible, the introduction of
this form of Government, which has been so
earnestly solicited by the popularly constituted
legislature of this Colony. Indeed, the public
interest demands that the present state of transi-
tion should be allowed to continue no longer
than circumstances peremptorily require.

As soon as the necessary arrangements have
been made, I shall be prepared to give my confi-
dence to those gentlemen who possess that of the
Legislature, and whenever changes may become
necessary, I shall permit neither private interests
nor private friendships to influence my public
conduct.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,—

I have much pleasure in thanking you for the
liberal provision you have made for the public
service, and you may rest assured that the sup-
plies voted shall be expended with the utmost
economy consistent with efficiency.

Gentlemen of the Assembly,—

Under the peculiar circumstances of the pre-
sent Session, legislation has not been of an im-
portant character.

Questions of great public interest have not
been dealt with; these have been rightly deferred
until they can be considered by a Legislature
more fully attended, and assisted in their delib-
erations by a responsible Ministry.

All the Bills which have been passed by the
Assembly I have had much pleasure in assenting
to on behalf of Her Majesty, and I trust these
measures will be found to effect beneficial changes
in the Law.