952
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

A Bill to amend the Law relating to Electors qualified to vote at the election of
Members of the House of Representatives; and a Bill to make provision for the
representation of the people in the General Assembly.

These measures, if they receive your sanction, will secure manhood suffrage on a
residential qualification to Europeans, and will give the franchise to men of the
Native race who are enrolled on a ratepayers' roll, or who hold individual or
undivided grants from the Crown of land to a certain value. The effect of the
measures will also be to adjust representation, as far as practicable, on the basis of
population, and to limit the duration of future Parliaments to three years.

A measure will be submitted to you providing that in future Native reserve
lands shall be dealt with only by public auction or public tender : thereby abolishing
the present monopoly of dealing in such lands, securing the best price for the Native
owners, and giving to every one an opportunity of competing for sales or leases.

It is also under consideration how far this principle of public auction might be
fairly and beneficially applied to such Native lands as now remain unsurveyed, or the
titles to which have not yet been investigated by the Court. The disposal of such
lands, with the consent of the Native owners, under the existing land laws of the
colony, would greatly promote the increase of settlement, while at the same time it
would secure to the Native owners the full value of their estates. Inquiries are now
being made to ascertain the opinions of the Natives generally, and, if acceptable to
them, a Bill for this purpose will be laid before you.

The fanaticism which has prevailed on the West Coast of this Island for some
years past has, during the recess, assumed a somewhat alarming appearance. The
necessary steps have been taken to secure the peace of the district, and it is
possible that a peaceful solution of the difficulty will be found. Papers in reference
to this matter will be laid before you.

The negotiations with the Waikato Natives have been suspended, and all offers
of settlement have been withdrawn, so that any future negotiations must be com-
menced on a new basis. The behaviour of Tawhiao and his people continues friendly
and peaceful; and my Advisers have good reason to believe that these relations will
be maintained. At the same time, the well-known Chief, Rewi, has given further
important proofs of his good faith and loyalty. The attitude taken by him affords
a guarantee for the continuance of peace; and the maintenance of this would, in a
short time, lead to the opening up of the interior for settlement.

Generally the behaviour of the Native people has been loyal and peaceful.
Very great progress has been made in the acquisition of Native lands as public
estate, especially in localities through which the proposed trunk lines of railway in
the North Island are likely to pass.

GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, —

It will be gratifying to you to learn that the revenue received under nearly
all heads during the past year has exceeded the estimated amount, the excess under
such heads having amounted to about £190,000. Under the head of Land
Revenue, a large deficiency has occurred; but it must be borne in mind that,
whilst a deficiency of the Customs Revenue, or of any revenue of that character,
would be an absolute loss to the Colony which could never be replaced, a falling-off
of Land Revenue practically means only that so much less Crown land than was
calculated on has been sold during the period in question. The Crown land, which
is the capital of the country, still remains for sale, and can be sold when the progress
of settlement will give it an enhanced value. The policy which you sanctioned last
year, of reserving Crown land from sale in districts through which railways are in
course of formation, until their construction is complete, will necessarily add to the
value, and to the proceeds which may be anticipated from the sale of such
lands. The falling-off in the sale of Crown land during the year may be attributed
in part to the commercial depression which has prevailed throughout the world—
fortunately less in New Zealand than elsewhere—but chiefly to the postponement of
the sale of confiscated lands.

The probable continuance during the current financial year of a decreased Land
Revenue renders it requisite, in the opinion of my Government, to impose fresh