✨ Conclusion of Governor's Speech
786
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
proposals were first submitted to Parliament. The 764 miles of railway which
you have authorized at this rate must largely develop the resources of the country.
It will now be the duty, as it will, I believe, be the aim of my Ministers, to
construct these works with all the speed that the state of the labour market and
other considerations will prudently permit. The Tramways Act is an important
supplementary measure to your railway legislation, and will, while opening up the
country, at the same time provide the railways with a network of feeders to their
traffic.
I regret that the measure introduced by my Government with a view to
providing greater security to life assurers has not passed into law. I hope,
however, that eventually this or some similar measure may receive the sanction
of Parliament.
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, —
I thank you for the Supplies you have granted for the Public Service, which
shall be administered with all due care and economy.
I am pleased to notice the increased attention which is being devoted to
administrative and financial questions. By the Public Revenues Act you have
provided a much more efficient system of control over public moneys than pre-
viously existed, and I have little doubt that the measure will prove extremely
beneficial. During the recess it is the intention of my Ministry to investigate
the condition of the Civil Service, in order to decide to what extent administrative
and economical reforms are practicable.
HONORABLE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, —
The abundance of employment which exists, and the readiness with which
recently introduced immigrants have been absorbed by the labour market, prove
the wisdom of Parliament in recommencing active measures of colonization.
It will be the earnest endeavour of my Government to continue to carry out
the conciliatory policy towards the Natives which has been so successful during
the last few years. I have felt great pleasure in summoning, in Her Majesty's
name, to the Legislative Council two Maori chiefs—Mokena Kohere of the East
Coast, and Wiremu Tako Ngatata of the West Coast.
In bidding you farewell, I desire to congratulate you on the general and
growing prosperity of the Colony. The official statistics recently published by
the Imperial Government show that New Zealand, although only thirty-two years
have elapsed since the beginning of colonization here, is already fourth in rank
and importance on the long list of British Colonies. In its public revenue, in its
trade (including imports and exports), and in the other elements of material
progress, it is now surpassed only by the Dominion of Canada, by Victoria, and
by New South Wales. It may be confidently expected that, through the blessing
of Providence on the energy and industry of its population in developing the vast
and varied natural resources of this country, New Zealand will soon rise to a still
higher place among the Provinces of the Empire.
Printed under the authority of the New Zealand Government, by GEORGE DIDSBURY, Government Printer, Wellington.
NZ Gazette 1872, No 56
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️
Conclusion of Governor's Speech at Prorogation of Parliament
(continued from previous page)
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration25 October 1872
Parliament, Railway construction, Tramways Act, Public Revenues Act, Civil Service, Immigration, Native policy, Legislative Council appointments, Colonial prosperity
- Mokena Kohere, Appointed to Legislative Council
- Wiremu Tako Ngatata, Appointed to Legislative Council