✨ Governor's Speech to Parliament
June 11.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 747
The attention of my Ministers has been much directed to the development of
the great mineral wealth of the colony. The interest and enthusiasm awakened in
the miners by the lectures recently delivered on chemistry and mineralogy, and
their desire for the permanent establishment of schools of mines, demonstrate the
confidence these enterprising settlers have in their pursuits. You will be asked to
give further facilities to the mining industry.
There are other industries which require your careful attention. The forests of
the colony, if properly utilized, would not only give useful employment to many
colonists, but their value would be greatly enhanced. Much valuable timber is
now being recklessly destroyed, and it will be for you to consider whether, for
economic as well as climatic reasons, greater efforts should not be made to conserve
and utilize the forest lands of the Crown. A Bill on the subject has been prepared,
and will be submitted to you.
The fisheries, though known to be valuable, have hitherto received very little
notice. Proposals to found fishing settlements and to aid in the development of
fishing industries will be laid before you, and I have no doubt they will receive
your careful consideration.
The relations of New Zealand to the Australian Colonies and the South Sea
Islands have occupied the attention of Ministers during the recess. My Ministers
considered it their duty to oppose the Federal Council Bill, in the shape it was
brought before the Imperial Parliament, until you could have an opportunity of
expressing your views on the subject. The new mail service to the South Sea
Islands which you authorized will, it is hoped, strengthen the commercial relations
and increase the trade between them and New Zealand. Correspondence with the
Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with the Premiers of the
Australian Colonies, and with the King of Samoa, will be laid before you.
Dispensing aid to the poor and sick has proved, especially since the abolition
of the provinces, a difficult task. My Ministers think that such aid cannot be
effectively administered by a central Government, but should be locally controlled.
A Bill with this object will be submitted to you.
I commend to your careful consideration Bills which will be brought before
you for various purposes, amongst others for consolidating the Land Laws, for
limiting the Liability of Insurance Companies' Shareholders, for codifying the
Criminal Law, for consolidating the various Municipal Corporation Acts, the Native
Land Laws, and the Land Transfer Acts, and for establishing a system of Parcel
Post and for the issue of Postal Notes.
I earnestly hope that, with the blessing of God, you may be enabled to
discharge your arduous duties with good effect.
By Authority: George Didsbury, Government Printer, Wellington.
Next Page →
NZ Gazette 1885, No 37
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️
Governor's Opening Speech to Parliament
(continued from previous page)
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration11 June 1885
Speech, Governor, Parliament, Mining, Forests, Fisheries, Australian Colonies, South Sea Islands, Poor Relief, Land Laws, Insurance, Criminal Law, Municipal Corporations, Native Land Laws, Land Transfer, Parcel Post, Postal Notes
- George Didsbury, Government Printer