732

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 47

The success of the scheme which has been adopted at Rotorua, on a limited
scale, for administering Native lands on behalf of the Native owners, leads me to hope
that it may have a beneficial and more extended operation in the future.

My Advisers are of opinion that a plan for leasing agricultural lands, with fixity
of tenure, upon reasonable terms, may with advantage be incorporated into the
general system of administering Crown lands of the colony, and a measure will be
submitted to you with this object.

Towards the close of the last session of Parliament, the aspect of affairs on the
West Coast of the North Island appeared to my Government to have become more
threatening than had previously been the case; and my Advisers felt themselves com-
pelled to consider whether more active steps than had yet been taken might not be
required for the repression of lawlessness, the protection of Her Majesty's peaceable
subjects, and the termination of the increasing excitement in that district. At their
request, the House of Representatives voted a sum of £100,000 to meet such a
contingency.

In the month of October, the time arrived when, conciliation having, in the
opinion of my Ministers, failed to effect its object, they considered the adoption of
more vigorous measures to have become necessary. A Proclamation was accordingly
issued, during my absence from the colony, by the Administrator of the Government,
calling on Te Whiti and his adherents to accept within a specified time the lands
offered to them—a requisition with which Te Whiti failed to show any sign of
compliance.

The dangers and difficulties of the position were judged by my Government only
to increase with the continued exercise of forbearance, and it was resolved that
the periodical meetings of Natives at Parihaka should be no longer allowed to be
held, that the numerous Natives from other localities congregated there should be
compelled to return to their own districts, and that Te Whiti and Tohu should be
removed from a position which was deemed by my Advisers to constitute a standing
menace to the peace of the colony. Te Whiti and Tohu were therefore arrested,
and were committed for trial on a charge of sedition.

In order to secure the success of the operations necessary for these objects, the
Volunteers were invited to leave their districts to render assistance; and a large
addition was made to the Armed Constabulary.

The thanks of the colony are due to the Volunteers for the readiness with which
they answered the call made on them, and for their soldierly conduct while on active
service.

The discipline and good conduct of the Armed Constabulary entitle them to the
highest praise.

My Government desire it to be recognized that in the course pursued they have
been, and are, actuated by anxiety to avert consequences disastrous to all classes of
Her Majesty's subjects, rather than by any desire to inflict punishment. A Bill will
be laid before you having for its object to render the trial of Te Whiti and Tohu
unnecessary, and at the same time to prevent them from returning for the present
to Parihaka, or recommencing an agitation which has long caused alarm and appre-
hension of danger among the settlers on the West Coast.

I am assured that confidence in the tranquillity of the district is established, and
that a feeling of security exists among its inhabitants which has been long unknown
to them.

GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, —

The Estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current financial year will
shortly be placed before you.

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

Returns will be laid before you which show that the revenue has con-
siderably exceeded the amount estimated.

The railway returns especially show a gratifying increase. The surplus of
receipts over expenditure during the past year amounts approximately to 4 per
cent. upon the cost of construction.