New Zealand Gazette – 1873 – No. 45

Page 425

Page 426 →

✨ Governor's Opening Address

Numb. 45.

425

THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
EXTRAORDINARY.

Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1873.

HONORABLE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, —

It gives me pleasure to meet you at so early a moment after assuming the
charge of the Government of New Zealand, to which Her Majesty has been graciously
pleased to appoint me.

I am gratified to learn that the condition of the Colony is extremely prosperous ;
and that the Colonists at large, manifesting faith in its resources, are developing them
with energy and enterprise.

The Public Works already authorized have been proceeded with as rapidly as
circumstances have permitted. But in order to render effectual the policy of Public
Works which has been adopted by Parliament, you must bear in mind that the
principle upon which those works were undertaken involved not only a system of
arterial communications throughout the country, but a concurrent settlement by
numerous occupiers of the lands so opened up.

Papers will be laid before you indicative of the anxiety of the Government to
promote and assist Immigration.

The increasing success of the Life Assurance and Annuities Department is
highly satisfactory. Whilst the system of State Insurance affords great advantages to
the Colonists, it does not close the door to private associated enterprise in the same
useful direction.

At the Intercolonial Conference held during the recess, many important results
were arrived at, to some of which your attention will be directed. In consideration
of the unanimous desire of the Conference, Her Majesty's Government have obtained
the assent of the Imperial Parliament to a measure by which the Australasian Colonies
will have a right to enter into reciprocal tariff arrangements. I do not doubt that
this concession will be gratifying to the Legislature of New Zealand, which has con-
stantly advocated its justice and expediency, and I express the hope that such care
will be exercised in making a proper and reasonable use of it as will prove that it
has been wisely sought and granted.

Arising out of the Conference, though not directly associated with it, are proposals
for the establishment of Cable communication between Australia and New Zealand,
and Normantown and Singapore, in joint connection with other Colonies. Your
early attention will be invited to these proposals, which await and are subject to your
concurrence.

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