THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 291

apprised you of the probability of this visit, as I am aware that you, and all
Her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand, will desire to make the best possible
preparations to testify to His Royal Highness the pride and pleasure with
which they receive a Prince who has made so favourable an impression in other
parts of Her Majesty's dominions, and to show by their reception of one of
Her Majesty's sons how sincere and earnest is their attachment to that
Sovereign who has established such lasting claims upon their gratitude and
love.

In accordance with the intimation made to you when I last released you
from your duties, my Government have earnestly applied themselves to the
preparation of a measure for the establishment of local self government
generally throughout the country. This measure will shortly be submitted to
you. The growing demand from all parts of the country for the establishment
of institutions so congenial to our race, and which have largely promoted its
prosperity and developed its habit of self-reliance, will secure for this Bill your
earnest and careful consideration, and you will discharge an important service
if you meet this demand in a just and comprehensive spirit by providing the
means whereby the Public Funds shall be equitably expended on works of
local improvement under the management and in accordance with the wishes of
those immediately interested in their construction. Measures of this character
tend to diminish the expense of governing the country, to increase the efficiency of
such government, to promote settlement by stimulating local energies, to extend
and maintain the rights of the subject, and to train and encourage all classes of the
people in the performance of National duties.

The large mining population on the West Coast Gold Fields justifies an
increased representation, in Parliament, of their interests: a Bill to effect that
object will consequently be introduced.

The establishment of Friendly Societies in New Zealand has been productive
of great benefit to large classes of the community, and their daily increasing
number and importance render it advisable to improve the existing law. A Bill on
this subject will accordingly be submitted to you.

Several important Bills will also be brought under your notice, with the
object of consolidating and improving the Statute Law, and of otherwise
providing for the growing requirements of the country, which looks to Parlia-
ment for such salutary measures as changing circumstances demand.

The repeated recommendations of the Judges of the Supreme Court, and the
proved necessity of providing more effectively than at present for the custody
of persons convicted of serious crimes and sentenced to long periods of imprisonment,
demand attention. It is therefore my intention to appoint at an early date
a Royal Commission to inquire and report on the best mode of instituting a
General Penal Establishment for the Colony, or such other means of meeting the
necessity referred to as may suggest itself to them in the course of their inquiries.

I submit to your wisdom the consideration of these various important subjects,
and I pray that the blessing of God may attend your deliberations, and may guide
them to the promotion of the welfare of this Country.

Printed under the authority of the New Zealand Government, by GEORGE DIDSBURY, Government Printer, Wellington.