JUNE 14.]
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
775

I have been able to give effect to the wishes of the Legislature by arranging
for the continuation of the San Francisco Mail Service for a period of two years
beyond the termination of the existing contract, at a cost to this Colony something
less than that prescribed by the resolution passed last session. The particulars are
contained in papers which will be laid before you.

Tenders for the establishment of a direct line of steamships between Great
Britain and the Colony were advertised for here as well as in the United Kingdom;
but neither the Agent-General nor the Postmaster-General received any offer. Your
renewed attention to this subject will be invited during the session.

GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, -

The estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current financial year will
be laid before you in the course of a few days.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, -

Returns will be presented to you which will show that, notwithstanding
considerable commercial depression during a part of the past year, the public revenue
has been well maintained.

The increasing receipts from railways are satisfactory evidence of the general
progress and well-being of the country.

The frequent applications that are made to this Colony to take part in Exhibitions
in various parts of the world, have led my Advisers to give careful consideration to
this subject; and they have come to the conclusion that the object sought by Exhibi-
tions would be more effectually promoted, and at a less cost, by the establishment in
London of a permanent Exhibition for the products of the industries of Australasia.
It is proposed to submit to you resolutions, with a view of inviting the co-operation
of the several colonies interested.

It is, I think, generally conceded that the Legislative Council has for the most
part discharged its functions with credit to itself and with advantage to the Colony;
but public opinion has, I believe, come, or is fast coming, to the conclusion that the
time has arrived when an elective should be substituted for a nominated Chamber. It
is obvious that a constitutional change of such magnitude should not be attempted with-
out mature deliberation, the more so as opinion is very much divided as to the mode
in which a suitable constituency should be created. The views of my Advisers on this
very important subject will be laid before you during the session.

There are a number of subjects in reference to which legislation is more or less
urgently required, but which, for the last two sessions, have had to give place to the
several very important measures that have been submitted by my Government for the
consideration of Parliament and engrossed its attention. Those measures having for
the most part become law, the present session will, I hope, afford a convenient oppor-
tunity of dealing with the subjects to which I have referred, with a reasonable
expectation that they may be satisfactorily disposed of.

The work of Consolidating the Statutes of the Colony has been steadily pro-
ceeded with during the recess, and is now fast approaching completion. Several con-
solidating Bills of importance will be brought before you without delay.

I do not doubt that all the business submitted to Parliament will receive that
attention to which it may be entitled; and I earnestly hope that, under the blessing
of God, your deliberations may result in promoting the happiness and welfare of all
classes of Her Majesty's subjects in this portion of her dominions.

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