✨ Governor's Speech Continuation
49
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
It will be necessary to consider measures to provide for the future
disposal and management of the Public Lands, with a view to render the
security to the public creditor as perfect as possible, and at the same
time to ensure the settlement and improvement of the country from
which the Land Revenue is derived.
In accordance with your wishes every exertion has been made for the
establishment of Inter-Provincial Steam Communication, and to secure an
extension to the Colony of the English Mail Service. It has not, however,
been found possible hitherto to effect either of these objects, except at
an expense far exceeding the legal provision for the purpose, and greater
than the Government felt itself justified in incurring without the sanction
of the Legislature. This failure, as regards the Inter-Provincial Service
especially, is much to be regretted, as a speedy and regular
communication between the Provinces is absolutely essential to the good
government of the Colony. Negotiations for both an Inter-Colonial and
Inter-Provincial Steam Service are still pending, and it may reasonably
be hoped will be brought to a successful termination.
During the recess a provisional arrangement was entered into by
the Governments of New South Wales and New Zealand with the Royal
Mail Company for the establishment of Steam Communication with Great
Britain, by way of Panama, but that arrangement has been abandoned
in consequence of the refusal of the Company to ratify the proposals
made by its agent.
The discovery of a Gold Field of considerable extent in the Province
of Nelson is an event of importance. Having regard to the
known existence of gold in the Province of Auckland, and the late
discovery of auriferous indications at the opposite extremity of these
Islands, in the Province of Otago, there is reasonable ground for
anticipating that the material interests of the Colony will receive a
powerful stimulus from the new source of wealth thus made known.
Measures having for their object the maintenance of law and order
amongst those who resort to the gold fields will be submitted to you.
I have to inform you that during the recess the Territory open to
settlement in this Island has been extended by the cession to the Crown
of the Native rights over about one million of acres. The newly
acquired lands are situated, in nearly equal proportions, in the Provinces
of Auckland and Wellington; and negotiations are in active progress
in both Provinces for further purchases.
I congratulate you on the steady advancement of the Colony as
manifested by the increased Revenue of the Customs during the last year.
There is every reason to expect that the present year will exhibit the
same indication of progress.
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, —
I am happy to be able to state that the expenditure for the year
1857 has been kept considerably within the amount granted to Her
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NZ Gazette 1858, No 11
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️
Continuation of Governor's Speech Opening General Assembly Session
(continued from previous page)
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration10 April 1858
Public Lands, Steam Communication, Mail Service, Gold Fields, Native Rights, Revenue, Expenditure, House of Representatives