682 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. [No. 43

these Islands to Australia. My Ministers consider that this strange phenomenon—for such it must be considered in so young and richly-endowed a country as this—is well worthy both of systematic investigation and of the application and persevering use of rational remedies.

The alienation of the waste lands of the Crown has been going on during the last twelve months at a rapid rate. My Ministers, however, are of opinion that for some years past the amount of actual settlement effected has not been quite commensurate with the somewhat large area of land disposed of. While it is doubtless true that a number of genuine settlers have taken up land, it seems also unfortunately to be the case that in many instances selection, instead of bringing about occupation and cultivation, has only meant acquisition for speculative purposes, or additions to estates already sufficiently, if not, indeed, injuriously large. Amendments in the land-laws, designed rigidly to reserve the remainder of our Crown lands for genuine occupation and improvement, will therefore be laid before you. My Advisers propose that the utility of this legislation shall be augmented by regulations designed and administered with the view of planting an increasing number of small but thriving occupiers upon the soil.

My Advisers are convinced that improved and vigorous methods of settling the waste lands of the Crown, however necessary and valuable, do not by any means comprise the whole scope of the work of settlement. Side by side with the opening-up of Crown lands should go the acquisition of portions of the vast tracts still held by the Native tribes of the North Island. Moreover, the time seems to be approaching when the immense task of repurchasing parts of the large private estates which now bar settlement in some of the most fertile parts of the colony must be entered upon, and undertaken with caution, justice, and discrimination. During the recess a Royal Commission, composed of gentlemen of long and special experience of the customs and opinions of the Native race, has carefully investigated the working of the complicated, costly, and cumbrous array of laws which has for so many years rather hindered than advanced the course of dealing with and settlement upon Maori tribal lands. The full and interesting report prepared by the Commissioners will be laid before you, and you will be invited to give your assent to laws carefully framed to further the undoubted desire of the great majority of Native owners to dispose of their superfluous lands on fair terms.

I have observed with regret that the past year has been marked by a distinct and discouraging decline in the yield of our goldfields. During the last three months, however, the mining returns indicate a considerable improvement.

It is very gratifying to find that the output from the several coal-mines of the colony is steadily increasing, and has attained an amount hitherto unknown in the colony. With this increased output from our own coal-mines, there is a corresponding decrease in the quantity of coal imported. Proposals for promoting the development of the mining industries of the colony by legislation and other means will be submitted to you.

In accordance with the decision arrived at by the late Parliament, three delegates from this colony attended the National Australasian Convention held at Sydney in the months of March and April last. The Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson, Sir George Grey, K.C.B., and Captain Russell were accredited for that purpose. The official record of the proceedings of the Convention will be laid before you. At the Postal Conference held at Sydney about the same time this colony was represented by the Postmaster-General.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,—

I deeply regret that within a period of a very few months your Council has been deprived by death of three much-esteemed members. One of these—your late Speaker, Sir William Fitzherbert—had completed a public career of more than ordinary length and distinction.

GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,—

The estimates of revenue and expenditure will be laid before you. The estimates of expenditure have been framed with a due regard to economy. In continuance of the work of retrenchment begun in 1886 and carried on by the last